Yes, I am back with more realisations that I had no clue about the greater music industry, especially kpop as a whole. In this post, I will only be sharing JYP and KPOP DEMON HUNTERS as examples. I cannot focus on everything, unfortunately.
Recently there was a instagram video of JYP leading Bible Study seminars (YT sermon here). At first, this may seem like nothing much- but when considering that he rules over megahouses like Stray Kids and TWICE; it makes sense why a lot of kpop may be more old school in its expression of values and sentiments- this man has got a HUGE hand in the way kpop music is shaped- and hell I now understand more why people moan about CEOS of certain companies like HYBE, and why some situations reflect the more dominant traditional views. And with his role in politics, this guy can further influence and change the balance of what kinda kpop is released and what kinda kpop is cancelled. And yea I get it, a lot of countries are ruled by more traditionally-leaning CEOS and companies, so this isn’t unique to South Korea nor KPOP alone, but this is a kpop forum.
And then in regards to KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, people state that EJAE and Maggie Kang’s (in regards to Maggie Kang, all I could find were suggestions on Instagram, so do not quote me on that) Christian values have influenced the storyline of this movie. Now, in regards to Christianity as a whole, it’s okay as a faith but can vary in terms of which sects are more open to diversity and newer, more liberal perspectives on politics, media and daily life.
EXO’s music isn’t afraid to touch upon very dark topics so it’s interesting to see her contrast the Saja Boys to EXO’s music. It seems that the groups with concepts that touch upon darker topics are seen more as ‘sin’ than entertainment; and it’s an interesting perspective for EJAE to share.
When I consider this, I wonder- is this partly why ATEEZ is often so outwardly contrasted to the Saja Boys? A lot of ATEEZ songs are about breaking walls, overthrowing regimes, seeing through propoganda and facing the very darkness that some Christians would abhor thinking of; songs that completely dismantle the status quo. It makes me wonder if these people may not be a fan of the messages showcased in ATEEZ music, hence why the Saja Boys are portrayed as evil demons who take souls- though to me personally, ATEEZ music helps me face my own demons and reclaim my own self worth from society’s messages and pressure to uphold the status quo, so I kind of view ATEEZ music from a completely opposite lens. However, I don’t want to assume anything negative, as Maggie Kang herself visited ATEEZ, and this is not aimed as a critcism of either side, just a possible interpretation.
I wonder how this links to the greater KPOP industry as a whole- I think I was very blind to how it faces basically identical issues in Hollywood as well. I guess I was very naive again, as it makes sense for more traditionally minded people to be at the top of any industry in many countries, not just South Korea. Of course music has incredible power in shaping societal views and perspectives, and these are just a few basic examples (I can’t list everything here).
It makes sense that traditional stuff is the tea in kpop, it’s the tea in everything. I can’t even watch a movie without something getting censored or ripped out because it doesn’t fit the dominant ideologies of this era; but hey! At least things are more open than they once was in the past.
submitted by /u/AngleFormal
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