Did you know that South Korea once had a K-Pop group made up entirely of transgender members? Their name was Lady, and they were far from your typical girl group. As the first-ever transgender group in South Korea, they made history in the industry.
Who Were Lady?
Inspired by transgender Korean singer Harisu, Lady was a four-member group that included Sinae…
…Sahara…
…Yoona…
…and Binu.
In an interview with The Chosun Ilbo, the group members expressed that they had always identified as women, emphasizing that the only difference between them and cisgender women was a physical change they had undergone.
“We love chocolate, shopping, and gossip. Mentally we were always women, the only difference being that we changed something physical, simply we are women with an extra scar.”
— Lady
The members secured their spots in the group after competing against over 400 applicants, proving that they weren’t just selected for their looks—they also took pride in their singing and dancing abilities. They expressed confidence in their skills, saying, “Soon we’ll show everyone what we’ve got on stage.”
Debut and Musical Career
Lady officially debuted in 2005 with their self-titled album, which contained eight tracks, primarily remixes of their songs Attention and Ladies Night.
True to the title of their song Attention, they garnered significant media interest both locally and internationally.
However, due to South Korea’s conservative cultural landscape, they were only granted a handful of opportunities to perform on music shows. Unfortunately, their music did not resonate with the general public.
The Photobook Controversy
Following the challenges of their debut, Lady sought alternative ways to gain recognition. This led them to release a mature photobook titled Women, Reflect! The collection featured provocative images of the members, including full nude shots and intimate poses with male models.
The decision to take part in the photoshoot was not made lightly. The members understood the backlash they might face and took considerable time to deliberate before proceeding. Ultimately, they saw the photobook as an opportunity to affirm their identities as women.
“We thought it would be an opportunity for us to get recognition as real women. We ask that you think of the photographs as works of art.”
— Lady
Despite their hopes, the photobook did not bring them the success they sought, and the group ultimately disbanded in early 2007.
Where Are They Now?
Little information is available about the members’ current lives. While their time in the spotlight was brief, their contribution to K-Pop history remains significant. Wherever they are today, we hope they are thriving and doing well!
