Tag: K-pop

Some people look for racism any chance they can get:

As a K-pop fan, I was delighted that Stray Kids were attending the Met Gala on May 6, 2024. K-pop fans generally and Stays (the name of Stray Kids’ fandom) specifically celebrated the increasing inclusion of K-pop. Perhaps the US media now took K-pop seriously and would treat its artists respectfully.

We were wrong.

A few members of the paparazzi’s treatment of Stray Kids was shameful and racist, and embarrassed me as a fellow American. However, none of it was surprising and all of it was reminiscent of America’s history of racist treatment of Asian Americans.

I watched the behind-the-scenes footage shot by someone standing behind the photographers first posted on X and later to YouTube. Many K-pop fans have commented on this viral video. Below, I’ve transcribed what I could hear. It is loud in the room, and everyone is shouting. These lines are spoken by the photographers, but it was difficult to hear all of them. They are mostly shouting at the group members, but some commentary takes place amongst the photographers. My comments are in parentheses.

“How many are there? Guys, can you step back?”

“Guys, you need to be on the same level.”

“You all look crooked.”

“Get close. Move back, move back.”

“Can everybody face us? They’re diagonal.”

“Annyeonghaseyo” (mockingly).

“That guy is like 20,000 feet back.”

“We need them straight.”

Korea Herald

You can read the rest at the link or watch the video and judge for yourself, but in my opinion this all just the paparazzi being their normal rude selves. The paparazzi are well known for how rude they are and you can watch whole Youtube videos of this. Being rude doesn’t make you a racist unless your a sociology and professor of ethnicity, race and migration professor at Yale University where everything is viewed through a racist lens.

Here is one of these only in Korea stories where a K-pop star had to apologize for (gasp!) dating somebody:

Karina, a member of K-pop girl group aespa, issued a handwritten apology on Instagram, Tuesday, saying she was sorry for failing her fans. Although she did not specify what she was sorry for, people could easily determine that the SM Entertainment star was apologizing over recent news about her love life. But this has sparked a debate among internet users: Did she really have anything to apologize for?

Karina’s letter came about a week after she admitted to having a romantic relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook, confirming a report by Dispatch, a local media outlet, that broke on Feb. 27. The news that a popular K-pop star and a prominent actor who starred in a series of Korean dramas including, the “Alchemy of Souls” series (2022-23) were dating immediately generated a buzz online, triggering mixed reactions among fans.

“I am sorry to have surprised you,” reads Karina’s apology. “I know many of our fans must be disappointed and upset … I want to heal the wounds that I have inflicted. I will become more mature in the days ahead, so please keep an eye out for that.”

In the wake of her “scandal,” some fans criticized the 23-year-old for being an “irresponsible” leader of her group, insisting that the “scandal” will deal a critical blow to aespa’s future career prospects.

Many K-pop fans are very sensitive about their singers’ love lives as they believe romantic relationships can hamper their stars from focusing on their jobs and elevating their careers. Interestingly, some passionate followers also perceive them as their potential love interests, so they easily feel betrayed when dating news about their favorite singers arises.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but Karina has had protesters criticizing her for dating. You have to be quite the loser if a K-pop star you like dating someone causes this type of reaction.

These outfits remind of the ones the so called fitness influencers wear to the gym and then complain they are being objectified by men looking at them. Here is a reality check for people who dress like this, men are not objectifying you, you are objectifying yourself because you know these provocative outfits will lead to more clicks and attention not so called female empowerment:

Huh Yun-jin of K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM with no-pants look / Captured from Instagram

The K-pop industry is known for its pioneering and bold fashion statements, but the recent emergence of the “no-pants” look — where individuals wear micro shorts or pair briefs with tights — has ignited a contentious debate.

One of the singers at the forefront of this hot yet controversial trend is Huh Yun-jin, a member of girl band LE SSERAFIM. The 22-year-old generated buzz after sporting only gray briefs and black tights under a pink puffer jacket in a teaser for the group’s upcoming EP, “Easy,” unveiled on YouTube, Jan. 26.

K-pop act (G)I-DLE also grabbed headlines for making a similar wardrobe choice, with all four members putting on bodysuits with no pants in the music video for its latest release, “Super Lady,” which came out on Jan. 29. SISTAR19, a sub-unit of the now-defunct girl group SISTAR, and Lisa of BLACKPINK also displayed pants-free fashion, which has been in vogue around the globe since last year.

In the U.S., a legion of high-profile stars including Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner are known as the pioneers of this trend.

The pantless look, however, is not without its controversies, especially in the K-pop universe where a large portion of fans are teenagers.

Concerns have been raised about the potential for young fans to blindly imitate these styles, with some critics arguing that this trend represents the commercialization of sexuality masquerading as fashion innovation.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

This is kind of funny, but I have to wonder where in Texas did they purchase jerseys from a Scottish professional soccer team?:

STAYC was seen wearing the wrong “Rangers” uniform during the girl group’s concert held in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday as part of its world tour.[JUN.DY]

STAYC was seen wearing the wrong “Rangers” uniform during the girl group’s concert held in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday as part of its world tour. 
  
Instead of wearing jerseys for the Texas Rangers baseball team — a Major League Baseball team — the group’s members wore uniforms of Rangers Football Club, a Scottish professional soccer club based in Glasgow, Scotland, during the performance, leaving fans to wonder whether the agency didn’t know they are two different teams. 
  
“We had a bit of a mix-up as we were purchasing the uniforms,” STAYC’s agency, Highup Entertainment told the Korea JoongAng Daily on Wednesday, admitting there was a mistake.

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.

Does anyone think the album would have been recalled if someone claimed it looked like a Bible or a Torah?:

The first production copies of K-Pop boy band Kingdom’s latest album are being pulled off the shelves and discarded amid a controversy over the album cover’s resemblance to the Quran. 

Kingdom’s agency GF Entertainment announced Monday that “There were concerns expressed that the Kingdom’s seventh mini-album cover, which was due to go on presale on Sept. 21, bore a striking similarity to the Quran.” 

The agency added, “In light of the circumstances, we have decided to recall, discard and redesign all 70,000 initial production copies of the album.”

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.