I’m Korean, and I agree with most criticisms of the K-pop industry. It’s a highly exploitative and hyper-capitalist industry that preys on minors. The music in the industry is heavily influenced by Western music and culture, especially Black music/culture, and often has cultural appropriation. There are several Kpop idols who have exhibited racist behaviors.
BUT, I am always confused when I see Western fans bemoan their lack of representation in K-pop groups. Ethnicity and race are absolutely important factors here. If you’re of Asian descent (East Asian and South Asian), your only chance of making it “big” in the pop industry globally is through being a K-pop artist. Before BTS emerged on the scene, most Western audiences had never seen an East Asian male artist succeed in the pop industry. Same with Blackpink.
That’s not the case for people who are White, Black, Latino. Just from the top of my head, I can think of pop artists like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello, Becky G, Tyla, Ariana Grande, Normani, and more. Non-Asian artists have so many ways that they can make it big in the pop industry, and they can do so without being a part of an uniquely exploitative industry like K-pop that places severe restrictions on artists’ personal life and creativity.
As a Korean in my late twenties who’s also lived in the US for many years, the only time I ever saw people who looked like myself on stage was through K-pop. That’s not the case if you’re not Asian.
Girl groups and boy groups exist outside of K-pop. Artists who sing and dance also exist outside of K-pop. Asking for increased representation in K-pop when you can easily see people who like you outside of the K-pop industry feels like a really privileged take.
Racism and cultural appropriation in K-pop are absolutely important issues that companies and the idols themselves need to uproot. But I think we can criticize those issues in K-pop without asking for what is often the only platform that exists for Asian pop artists to be overtaken by those who have other platforms available.
submitted by /u/whimsical_041926
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