Holland, the first openly gay K-pop idol, has been assaulted in Seoul, South Korea in what he described as “obviously a hate crime.”
The 26-year-old singer debuted in Korea in January 2018 with the single “Neverland.”
Holland posted photos of himself with cuts on his face on Instagram and revealed that he was assaulted by a man in Itaewon, Seoul on May 4.

“Last night, I was walking around Itaewon with my manager and a friend. Suddenly, a stranger man approached me and hit me on the face twice, calling me ‘a dirty gay,’” said Holland.
He added, “Now I have a scar on my face and I’m going to the hospital soon.”
“This is obviously a hate crime. The fact that my sexuality as gay is public should never expose myself to this kind of violence. Nor any other LGBT+ and all elders, women and minorities in this world. This happening in 2022 shows the sad reality of LGBT+ human rights,” he said.
Holland said he “reported to the police and I hope the case is well solved. This should never happen to anybody in this world, no matter who you are. I wish our world is filled with more love and hope rather than hate and violence.”

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people often face discrimination in South Korea.
According to the Human Rights Watch website, South Korea “is an established democracy that largely respects civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, although significant human rights concerns remain.”
“Discrimination against women is pervasive, as well as discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, racial and ethnic minorities, and foreign migrants and refugees,” it said.