KPOP, K-Dramas, Webtoons, whatnot are not accurate representations of real Korean culture.
I know it’s an already heavily discussed issue but I don’t think many people realize how detached the Korean media and “culture” exports are from the actual everyday cultural things that Koreans enjoy. Following K-Pop and watching K-Dramas and thinking you’re somehow getting an actual slice of life in Korea is like going to Panda Express and thinking you’re getting an authentic Chinese dining experience. Kpop and Korean dramas take a small, niche part of Korean culture, exaggerate it for marketability and sell it off as a fantasy disguised as reality. Harry Potter and Bridgerton also sell you a fantasy, while Brits are shirtless getting piss drunk at a football match on a Saturday.
Most adult Koreans don’t even listen to KPop for the most part. You may see some rabid Korean fans on Twitter or whatever but they are an extreme minority. It’s mostly teenage girls who casually follow a boy group or two, and they grow out of it by the time they hit mid-20s.
Also, there is a pretty big divide in the groups that are popular in Korea vs. groups that are popular amongst international fans. KPop sold and covered in export markets are heavily modified and catered specifically to that market, whether it is Japan, SEA, NA, LATAM, etc. The most popular group in Korea right now is probably Rescene but most international fans don’t care about Rescene because their popularity is heavily based on understanding the subtle sub-context of actual language, society, and local customs of South Korea. Most Koreans don’t even know groups like Katseye exist. Apparently Babymonster does well overseas but they’re relatively unknown in SK. Most boy bands have become extremely niche outside their circle of fans, 9/10 Koreans on the street won’t even recognize the group’s name. People barely showed up to the most recent BTS concert in Seoul.
All I’m saying is, the KPop fans’ culture and behavior in general and especially the arguments and discourse amongst international fan base are very alien to average Koreans too.
I assume most of you can differentiate between between KPop and reality. It’s just a bit annoying whenever some niche KPop drama makes the headlines in English speaking social media and there is an entire bandwagon of “Korean culture is so toxic!” “Why do Koreans behave like this” when all of it is mostly outside noise to actual Koreans.
submitted by /u/SuddenFlatworm7971
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