Stop Throwing Shade

K-Pop at first glance is a superficial, one-dimensional entity, with its weird dance moves and lyrics we Americans can’t understand. Just like everyone else I know, I hated the idea of it. Of course, after learning more about it, I began to actually listen to it and I started to enjoy it. But what made me hate K-Pop before I heard it?

Obviously, Korean and American cultures differ greatly, but the mass amounts of hatred associated with K-Pop are extremely unnecessary.

For example, there are many Korean beauty standards that are customary for K-Pop idols to meet. These include having a slim figure, a v-shaped jaw, wide eyes, flawless skin, and for the men as well, to have a very feminine, child-like look. In American culture, these aren’t necessarily what most people think of as benchmarks.

The pressure in the Korean music industry seems to be far more rigorous than in America. Prior to debuting, solo or group, the idol must undergo intense training under the company for up to ten years. In the end, the idol might not even be able to debut. It definitely takes a lot of work and effort to achieve what we see on stage and in the music videos. Yet, this hard work is hardly recognized by us. 

Regardless of the song being in another language, there is always a way to translate the lyrics. The majority of songs have a much deeper meaning than how we perceive them to be. Of course, there are still songs with a lack of what we qualify as “meaning,” but not all the songs have to explicitly mean something—it’s pretty nice to just enjoy the music as is. 

Currently, Korean pop is getting more and more popular in America. Groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, Seventeen, and EXO have become well known, even by non K-Pop fans, and have even been featured at events including The Ellen Show and Coachella. Some K-Pop idols have even spoken at the UN General Assembly. 

K-Pop really isn’t that bad, it’s just different. There are quite a few elements that Americans, as well as other cultures,  aren’t used to. Try listening to some K-Pop today. Who knows? It might just be your cup of tea.