8. Thoughts on K-pop | K-popについての考え

Thoughts on K-pop

5 minute read

There's no denying the global effect of K-pop. It has such a big cultural effect even outside South Korea, but what many don't realize is that the K-pop industry isn't just about the music. The culture surrounding idols is wild to say the least, and the fanbase is known to be horrible at times. However, it's pretty nuanced, and I'll give my thoughts on the industry as a whole.

I wouldn't call myself a fan of K-pop, but I do listen to a few groups. I mainly listen to IVE and LE SSERAFIM, and I listen to a few TWICE songs. (Don't ask me why the group names are stylized in all caps.) Even then, I hesitate to call myself a DIVE or a FEARNOT (the official name for fans of IVE and LE SSERAFIM, respectively), because of the negative connotation that comes with being a K-pop fan. Even though I genuinely enjoy some of the songs produced by these groups, I have my more-than-fair share of reservations about the industry, so I hope to share them with you.

Beauty

Literally every K-pop idol is pretty or handsome. Hundreds of these beautiful people are getting pumped out as idols from these entertainment companies. But the truth is, many idols receive plastic surgery before debuting. While plastic surgery itself isn't a problem, many idol trainees are pressured by the companies to receive plastic surgery at such a young age. Cosmetic surgery is extremely common in South Korea, even given commonly as a gift for high school graduation.

But when you consider the unrealistic beauty standards in South Korea (and East Asia in general), it starts to make a little more sense. These standards include, but are not limited to, double eyelids, plump lips, a v-shaped jaw, a high nose bridge, a small nose, and flawless skin. Don't forget the weight expectations; female idols are often pressured to lose weight, and they're expected to weigh around 45 kg (99 lbs), which, while isn't impossible, is unrealistic for many. Needless to say, it's extremely rare for people not only to be extremely skinny, but also be Asian with generally more Caucasian facial features. Is it a coincidence that most East Asians are born with monolids and generally low nose bridges?

And beauty isn't just an added bonus for K-pop idols, it's pretty much a necessity. K-pop groups aren't just judged on the quality of their music, but they're also judged based on their looks. There's even a word for this: "visuals." People judge the visuals of groups and even of individual members, just like they judge their singing and dancing skills. And generally, better visuals are correlated with more success (for example, Jang Wonyoung (장원영) from IVE), so it's no wonder idols and trainees feel pressured to look as beautiful as possible.

Another thing I wanted to add was the expectations with age. On one end, we have idols being called "old" even when they're not, and on the other, we have idols debuting at concerningly young ages. Jin (진) from BTS received criticism for his age just a while ago. He's 32. Leeseo (이서) from IVE debuted at fourteen years old, and Eunchae (은채) from LE SSERAFIM debuted at fifteen. While they have performed extremely well, it takes a lot of effort to debut at such a young and impressionable age, and the professionalism they display is commendable and very rare for young teenagers.

Exhaustion

Before debuting, idols train for months or even years. People often hear about the tireless hours trainees spend every day just for a small chance to debut. But you have to remember that they have to train on top of an insanely rigorous education system. And after debut, their schedules only get even tougher. There have been many cases of idols collapsing on-stage and receiving little to no sleep for many days. Point being, the lives of idols aren't nearly as glamorous as it looks, and the smile they put up for the camera is in no way a reflection of reality. Additionally, idols who debut often sign what are called "slave contracts," which are exploitative contracts issued by entertainment companies that idols sign, but there's not much to say there, other than the fact that they're predatory.

Hatred

This one is interesting. So many K-pop idols receive hate for the stupidest reasons, and the wildest part is, it almost always comes from fans. Here, have a few:

• Jang Wonyoung received hate for eating a strawberry with two hands.
• Liz (리즈) from IVE received hate for "being overweight." Judge for yourself:

Source: Promotional photo for LOVE DIVE, 2022
(No, this isn't an excuse to put in a picture of Liz.)

• Sakura (宮脇咲良) from LE SSERAFIM received hate for subpar singing abilities, or vocals. She then got even more hate because she broke down into tears due to the immense hatred targeted at her and her group.
• Karina (카리나) from aespa received hate for dating. (Parasocial relationships run rampant in the K-pop industry). 
• Tzuyu (쯔위) from TWICE received hate for waving a Taiwanese flag.
• Ningning (宁艺卓) from aespa received hate for being Chinese. I wish I was kidding.

Frequently, I think this immense hatred comes from jealousy or insecurity. Fans will project their hatred onto idols because the idols are who they aspire to be. They feel better about themselves when someone who appears to doing better than them receives hate. It's the reason the more popular idols like Wonyoung seem to get hate for almost everything. But no matter the reason, the hate is unnecessary and it's one of the main reasons that K-pop fans have such a bad reputation.

Introspection

Sometimes, all we notice are the flashy, vibrant colors, the catchy music, and the seemingly perfect lives of the idols we adore. But sometimes, we take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Sometimes, it seems like these groups are just a bunch of overworked, underpaid, underweight people dancing and singing to entertain the masses. Sometimes, it seems like these people are only 20% singers and 80% models. Sometimes, the music seems to lack true emotion and just sounds bland. But in the end, there isn't anything wrong with listening to K-pop. If the songs are enjoyable to listen to, then who's to stop you?

Just know that Leeseo is the best. If you disagree, then you are wrong.

(Yes, this is an excuse to put in a picture of Leeseo.)

(Yes, this is an excuse to put in a picture of Leeseo.)

(No, this is not Leeseo.)

But yeah. That's all. No inspirational quote, but just listen to whatever sounds good. You don't need to be a fan of IVE to listen to their songs.

Life Update!

This was requested by a few people so I was like, "why not?" It was fun to write, but it is a change from what I usually write about. I still have to study for AP Lang, which is going to suck. However, I did take APUSH already on minimal studying, and I feel great. Over the next few weeks, I should probably prepare for a math competition and get a job over the summer. My birthday is tomorrow as well, so that's great.