'Hong Seok-Cheon’s Jewel Box' is exactly the kind of talk show Korea needs right now. Here’s why!

Hong Seok-Cheon is probably the only openly gay celebrity in Korea who has a talk show of his own. Here’s how he is shattering stereotypes one video at a time!

‘Hong Seok-Cheon ae Beo Seok-Ham’ or known as Hong Seok-Cheon’s Jewel Box in English is a variety/talk show where Hong Seok-Cheon invites the most popular and quintessentially handsome men in Korea to have fun conversations with. But before this became his main gig and was largely spoken about on social media, his journey to the top was anything but easy! While Korea is looked at as a superpower today because of the way it's taking over the world with K-dramas, K-pop and K-beauty, a huge section of their society is still pretty conservative in certain aspects. Talking about being a queer individual in Korea is risque in itself and being a celebrity on top of that is a whole other ball game altogether.

Hong Seok-Cheon came out to the public in the early 2000s when he was asked a question about his sexuality on a variety show that he was a part of. Instead of lying about it, he decided to own his truth in front of the world and of course that came with its consequences. Not only was he removed from the show at the time, there was an outrage amongst the public and he wasn’t given work for a pretty long time as well. Even the ads that he was endorsing severed ties with him post the infamous moment. He initially considered leaving his country and studying in New York but he stayed and decided to work hard to show his haters that he could be something regardless of his sexuality. 

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There began his journey from being an underdog to one of the top comedians in Korea today. He first wrote his memoir where he addressed a lot about him exploring his sexuality, his heartbreaks and unsuccessful relationships. He even had a short political career for a while, until he jumped back into acting and post a couple of roles, finally found his footing back in variety shows and hosting as he always loved to do.

‘Hong Seok-Cheon’s Jewel Box’ came into existence last year. Produced by Kim Na-Hun, the show works solely by inviting men that Hong Seok-Cheon follows on Instagram and finds attractive. The fact that he is so open about inviting only the men he finds rather hot is a bold yet hilarious move on his part. It is one of the first things you notice on his channel. It’s a swarm of thumbnails featuring Korea’s top actors or K-pop idols. 

With 41 episodes so far, he has managed to bring in the same kind of views that prime time Korean talk shows pull these days. Through Hong Seok-Cheon’s Jewel Box, he invites his guests at home which is decorated like a variety show set. His intent for the talk show is for his guests to be happy and share anything and everything that they want to talk about. The show also consists of segments where he plays games with celebrities while humorously flirting with them as well. So far, some of his most popular videos are with Byeon Woo-Seok of Lovely Runner fame and Felix of Stray Kids. While many actors and singers have been on his show, these were the two episodes where a prime time leading actor and singer have willingly participated in his show. 

He has contributed to breaking stigma around the LGBTQIA+ community and let his work make people look at him beyond his sexuality. He totally could be the flag bearer for what a new Korea could look like in the upcoming years and probably be a beacon of hope for any queer individual who is afraid to come out in society. 

Have you watched Hong Seok-Cheon’s Jewel Box? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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