as the title says, i feel like the reason most people who don’t get into kpop are so critical of it is because of the fandom.
don’t get me wrong, sometimes it IS about the group (like concepts, dance moves, etc.) but im sure most of the time its about the fandom.
the best kpop stans are the ones who are supportive, aware that kpop is not something that should consume you, and are aware that no matter how beautiful and perfect an idol is, they are still human. their voice will crack. they might miss a step. they won’t always look like that. (and not to mention kpop idols spend hundreds on their visuals, not saying cosmetic procedures for every kpop idol, but definitely treatments to some extent. and that is all ok as long as it was consented by the idol and the idol is happy)
the issue even i find as a big kpop fan is that the fandom sometimes chooses not to see the humanity of their idols, which makes them incapable of wrong in any way, shape, or form. and this not only objectifies the idol as nothing more than their job, it also creates fanwars that are exhausting. people who aren’t into kpop just see the fandom fighting within itself, which is probably one reason why they are critical of the genre.
not only that, the incapability to see wrong in idols also glorifies the extent to which weight (and beauty) is taken in the industry. women especially are forced either into too skinny or too fat, which are both harmful to the idol and the viewer. (i said women especially because they often face more criticism for their body, but that is not to downplay what male idols face.)
this is just the tip of the iceberg of the kpop community, and though there are many kind and genuine fans, we all cannot deny how tiring it is to see the toxic side of kpop. thats why im not surprised that some people are against it, because they only see the parasocial, overly obsessed fans.
does that warrant any genuine hate to kpop fans? (even if they act wrong) no, of course not. but do i think we have every right to respectfully criticize the people that act this way? absolutely.
please do not forget that kpop is not something that consumes you, and that each idol is curated to fit the unattainable concept of perfection.
submitted by /u/Boring-Roof-3227
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