(CNN) On a brightly lit stage, two male K-pop stars with glowing skin and perfectly coiffed hair are nibbling either end of the same long, chocolate stick. According to Kwon, fans were inspired by "yaoi" -- a kind of Japanese manga that features gay relationships between male couples -- and began making up stories about their favorite stars. The stories often featured romance between same-sex stars. K-pop stars are often subject to strict rules -- many are not allowed to date publicly, as labels worry that any relationships make stars lose their mystique among fans. But ultimately, experts believe a time when gay stars are accepted in mainstream K-pop could still be some way off.

Source: CNN January 26, 2020 00:45 UTC