I think fans themselves are the reason K-pop is so boring nowadays

Before I get into, I'd like to mention that I'm very into collecting and cherishing physical media. I have a cd-player and about 12 cd's at home, both old and new. I have 2 kpop albums, the chaos chapter freefall and the star chapter together. I have to say, listening to an album from beginning to end with a CD you can actually hold is such an underrated experience. I really do consider kpop albums to be art, they're on another level with amazing inclusions. My favorite examples are Aespa's album that comes with its own cd player and Yeonjuns GGUM packaging. You can clearly tell that staffs put so much effort in them. Thats why I get really bummed out when I see unbought albums ripped open for the photocards, stacks of brand new albums out on the street for the sake of "achievements" and getting into fancalls. These albums are not cherished properly and are bad for the environment as well. The kpop industry is responsible for making album sales such a big deal, but so are kpop stans for prioritizing photocards above everything else. I can't be the only one who thinks this way, right? submitted by /u/Confident_Adagio9893 [link] [comments]

Maybe it’s just me, but I found it really suspicious how NewJeans and aespa suddenly got all “close” right at the peak of the HYBE vs Min Hee-jin drama. Before that, there were barely any interactions between the two groups, and then out of nowhere they’re taking pictures together, praising each other in interviews, and sharing moments at award shows. Not trying to push conspiracy theories, but let’s be real: moves like this in K-pop are rarely innocent. Companies use idols’ images as chess pieces, and this sudden bond feels way more like a strategic move than something natural. Almost like SM and ADOR were sending indirect messages in the middle of this whole narrative war. And it’s funny how some fans sell it as “genuine friendship between the girls” when, realistically, it could’ve just been a calculated PR move. Obviously it’s not the idols’ fault — they just go along with what the companies plan — but I can’t help thinking the timing was way too convenient. submitted by /u/Sensitive-Wing1066 [link] [comments]

I always wonder about this: why do stans hate HYBE so much? From the outside, it’s not really that different from any other big K-pop company. All of them have histories of exploitation, strict control, and shady decisions… so I don’t understand why all the disproportionate hate seems to go directly to HYBE. What I notice is that this narrative mainly comes from Big 3 (SM, YG, JYP) fans. During all that HYBE drama last year, I saw tons of tweets praising the Big 3 like they were saints, while dragging HYBE and its groups, almost like it was some status war. But if you look closer, the Big 3 also have long histories of scandals, mistreatment, and practices just as bad — if not worse. It feels like, deep down, it’s more about fandom rivalry and company hierarchy than actual critique. HYBE grew too fast, challenged the old system, and that bothered people who were used to the Big 3 monopoly. So now, hating HYBE has become a way to “defend tradition” in the industry. At the end of the day, none of these companies are innocent, but the way HYBE gets singled out feels really selective to me. Does anyone else notice this double standard, or do you think HYBE is actually worse than the others in some way? submitted by /u/Sensitive-Wing1066 [link] [comments]

Let’s Build a Multinational Girl Group! Day 2 - The Philippines Let’s Build a Multinational Girl Group! Let’s build a girl group with each member representing a different Asian country! Here are the rules: 1) Comment only 1 girl per country along with a picture. 2) They DO NOT have to be from a K-Pop group specifically, but they do have to be from a girl group! 3) Bi-racial idols are allowed, however, if they win for one category, they are ineligible for another. 4) Votes will be calculated after 24 hours. Sophia of KATSETE is our Filipina representative!! Next up, mainland China! I made the decision to keep mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan all completely separate simply because of the amount of idols from those places. South Korea: Jihyo (TWICE) The Philippines: Sophia (KATSEYE) Once we complete this chart, we’ll do the same with a bit group! submitted by /u/sailormusic [link] [comments]

I’ve been thinking about this for a while and wanted to know if anyone else feels the same: groups like hearts2hearts, meovv, and kiiikiii have good concepts, decent songs, and polished visuals… but it feels like something is missing that stops them from really standing out. It’s like they’ve got the nice packaging, but they can’t quite create that impact that grabs the public’s attention. It’s not that they’re bad, but it seems like they’re lacking some kind of “X factor” — whether it’s stronger charisma, a clearer musical identity, or just a more distinct angle in the scene. With so many groups debuting nowadays, just having good songs and concepts isn’t enough. You need to build a narrative, create a real connection with the audience, and offer something nobody else is offering. And with these groups, it always feels like they’re almost there… but never quite hitting the mark. Does anyone else feel this way? Or do you think it’s just a matter of time before they find their identity and really break through? submitted by /u/Sensitive-Wing1066 [link] [comments]

I wasn’t a big fan of these 2 groups until I saw every fandom piling on them due to either so called poor live performance and vocals or alleged plagiarism. That’s right, I am talking about LSF and Illit. Both groups withstood the hate storm only to bring sunshine with their amazing comebacks the past year, which I find inspiring. Did anyone else enjoy LSF and Illit more after seeing how K-pop stans rolled out a whole hate campaign against these young women? Jellyous dance is going viral and LSF are become international darlings like Kateyez whom I also love. I’m proud of these groups and their maturity! submitted by /u/EducationalPersonel [link] [comments]

I just watched a Chimchakman podcast episode that was uploaded some months ago where NMIXX were the guests. At one point, the host brought up JYPE’s monthly evaluations, and Haewon shared her thoughts on what it really takes to debut as an idol. She said it’s not simply about having the best visuals or the strongest skills. Those alone don’t guarantee anything. Other factors like “star quality” or whether you fit the concept of the group the label is building also may come into play, but the one factor she highlighted above all was timing and luck. She explained that even if a trainee has all the talent and star quality in the world, if the company isn’t planning to debut a boy group at that time, there’s no chance. And as trainees get older, their chances shrink even more, since in the unfortunate reality of the industry, age often works against them. The NMIXX girls reinforced that point by recalling that they had seen far too many trainees who clearly had what it takes to debut, but whose opportunities slipped away because of circumstances like that. Diving into the core of the discussion, they went deeper into the topic of monthly evaluations. When it came to the monthly evaluations, Haewon clarified that they aren’t exactly score-based. Instead, JYPE looks at whether trainees are improving or stagnating to decide if they should continue training. More than anything else, though, “daily attitude/behavior” and “class evaluations” carried the most weight. It’s not that the monthly evaluations are meaningless per se, but day-to-day conduct mattered most. A trainee could have the best visuals, incredible vocals, and flawless dancing, but if their attitude is poor, their chances took a massive hit. According to her, JYPE even has a point penalty system similar to Korean schools. Trainees who accumulate penalty points from poor behavior and daily conduct can be suspended, and in the worst cases, expelled altogether. This lines up with something I’d read before. Back in 2018, on a Japanese community post, Mako’s mother (from NiziU) gave advice to another parent asking about JYPE trainee life. She explained that the company values character more than raw talent. In her words, trainees are expected to show proper lifestyle habits and personal growth. If they don’t, and even slightly display a bad attitude, their contracts can be terminated immediately. And of course, we’ve also all heard TWICE members talk about how much importance JYPE places on maintaining good character for the trainees. I found all of this really interesting because if I were running a label myself, I probably would’ve leaned toward prioritizing the most talented or best looking trainees first and foremost. Of course, attitude matters, but as long as they're not committing major crimes, I’m not sure if I’d put it above everything else the way JYPE does. Maybe I’m just biased because I’ve always had a soft spot for the rebellious types. What do you guys think? Is JYPE too strict with enforcing good character, or is this actually the smarter long-term approach compared to chasing pure talent and visuals? This is the link to the full episode if anyone's interested in watching. submitted by /u/Acrobatic_Prize_7749 [link] [comments]

Honestly, I don’t think any fandom causes as much chaos as aespa stans do. It feels like almost every hate train in recent years has their fingerprints on it. Whenever a new girl group starts gaining traction, they’re right there spreading rumors, flooding hate, and making unnecessary comparisons. The most ironic part is how they love to lecture everyone about “misogyny in K-pop,” but they’re probably the most misogynistic fandom out there. The way they talk about other female idols is disgusting: reducing talented artists to “aespa copycats,” attacking looks, sexualizing them, or downplaying their achievements. As if aespa were the only girl group that deserves success. And now, more recently, they’ve started throwing hate at Cortis (who aren’t even direct competition). Like… what’s the point? It’s not enough to attack groups in the same lane, they have to go after anyone who gets attention. The problem isn’t liking aespa (no one’s blaming the girls themselves, they’re talented), it’s the fandom acting like they have the right to be judge, jury, and executioner of the whole industry. They talk about misogyny but reinforce it every single day by tearing down other women in the industry. They preach “peace in K-pop,” but they’re the ones fueling hate trains nonstop. At the end of the day, aespa stans have become exactly what they claim to fight against. submitted by /u/Sensitive-Wing1066 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/fried_chicken03 [link] [comments]

More specifically, I'm talking about Giselle and even more specific i'm talking about clothes. I hate when groups have this only member looking so different from the rest, like standing out in a way if feels like a feat. At first, I thought this type of mistreatment was inexistent, and actually a strategy from companies to us make more big of a deal with these less known idols but this is rarely used. I just realized it's just more of a "filler member" thing. Like in 2nd gen when this type of mistreatment was seen with Hyoyeon, but people didn't care at all since she was just considered a side rapper/dancer right along with her visuals which weren't acceptable in the KBS so it was just like "Oh, she's ugly so her clothes doesn't matter at all". Like with Wendy Red Velvet, Jeongyeon from Twice and many others big girl groups who's company don't care about them visually so treat them as "Fillers" or how I like to call:Feats who have a position. It's crazy that you can't be one of the most important parts (Technically speaking) in your group, but still if you're not incredibly stunning your company will throw you at the back. If you're years in a group, it'll definitely make a big deal for me how your company treats you. It's a competitive place, you can be replaced anytime, but when you already earned your spot and your company still acts like you're some replaceable trainee it's really disrespectful. I would be like "Btch? Part of me makes you gain money, dumbass." And while I'm talking about AESPA, NingNing was also a "Victim" of ugly clothes and being in the back, but she lost enough weight to be seem again by her company and that's my best guess because In their debut/comeback she was also caught with some ridiculous fits too. The fact she's a lead vocalist has not much to do about it. submitted by /u/0110I1I [link] [comments]

Here's mine: Blackpink: Shut down, lovesick girls, pink venom Le sserafim: Antifragile, smart, come over Twice: Strategy, one spark, what is love? Aespa: Supernova, armageddon, drama Ive: Crush, heya, i am I-dle: Queencard, nxde, hwaa Itzy: Imaginary friend, dalla dalla, cake Stray kids: Chk chk boom, maniac, s-class Enhypen: Bite me, drunk-dazed, moonstruck Bts: Dynamite, butter, miss right Txt: Upside down kiss, deja vu, love language Groups i casually listen to but im still adding them: Red velvet: Cosmic, feel my rhythm, psycho Girls' generation: The boys, gee, into the new world Illit: Magnetic, do the dance, cherish my love Newjeans/njz (they used to be my ults i miss them sm): Bubblegum, ditto, hype boy Momoland: Baam, wrap me in plastic, bboom boom Soloists(both actually solo and from groups): Rosé: Apt,toxic till the end, 3am Jisoo: Flower, your love, earthquake Jennie: Spot, ExtraL, seoul city Lisa: Rockstar, born again, dream Nayeon: Pop, abcd, no problem Minnie: Cherry sky, blind eyes red, obsession Jungkook: Seven, 3D, still with you J-hope: Monalisa, killin it girl, sweet dreams Kai: Rover,wait on me, adult swim Joy: Hello, love splash, Je' taime Iu: Lilac, blueming, good day Bibi: Vengeance, scott and zelda, bam yang gang submitted by /u/Electronic_Fix_4551 [link] [comments]

Gosh... I love watching this group! These girls really know how to sell a performance. They work the camera effortlessly and just radiate charisma. Lately, I’ve also noticed how much better they’ve gotten with fan interactions. I’ve never been someone who’s into aegyo, but they really know how to make it work without making it feel too forceful. Everything they do just feels so natural and easy. We’re honestly blessed to have a group like this in this era. They have good discography, ethereal vocals, and captivating dancing, they truly have it all. My only regret is not being able to see them live during this tour... please, I’m begging you HYBE and Source Music... add more cities next time. I've been vicariously experiencing the concert through fancams but it just makes me even more upset that I’m not there T.T submitted by /u/Carelessies [link] [comments]

LE SSERAFIM is probably the 4th-generation group with the best balance of growth and stability in their career right now. They’ve been doing well with each of their comebacks, but their growth feels more stable—not too overwhelming, and of course, not underwhelming either. Their stats for each comeback have been consistently growing at a good pace. That said, I think that’s a good thing because they don’t have too much pressure for each release to top the previous one. As a result, they have more freedom to explore, which is also why their music is diverse yet still consistent with their fearless identity. submitted by /u/why_dmn [link] [comments]

-ZBTVing (World tour Special), not the typical 20 minutes episodes, good 1 hour long ones, traveling in each members hometown/homecountries and that members become the "tour guide" for the trip. As a Canadian Zerose, nothing would make me happier than seeing them visit Vancouver and Matthew showing them around the city! -Matthew's cooking show, imma need the recipe to his protein pancakes to see if Ricky is truly on to something... -Gyuvin & Hanbin mukbang show trying out different restaurants and cuisines. I absolutely love the 2binz vlogs, they mostly go to restaurants in them so i feel like a mukbang series would be accurate to them -Zhanh Hao's hotpot variety show, he mentioned multiple times that he wants to open his own Hotpot restaurant in Korea, i would love for him to have his own show, invite guest, have hotpot together and discuss abt anything, I feel like it's only right for Yuqi to be the first guest -More of the members original songs and writting process behind the scenes -Say Yes by Matthew on Spotify, PLEASE!! submitted by /u/42_Yudoz [link] [comments]

Welcome to "The Ultimate K-pop Performer" Day 4 ! Day 3 was "Who is the kpop performer with the best Stage Presence." The winners are : Female idols : 👑) Syheon 2) Seulgi 3) Nayeon Male Idols : 👑)Hongjoong 2) San 3) Kai/J-Hope Today, we go for the Kpop Performer with the best rapping skills. Simply comment with the name of the idol you think deserves this title. The idols both males and females with the most upvotes on their comment after 24 hours will be the winner for this category. An Idol can't be in two categories except for the "GOAT" Day 5 will be "Who is the Kpop performer with the best live vocals ?" Spoiler : That's Lily submitted by /u/Gullible_Gear_5543 [link] [comments]

I’m a woman and I mostly listen to GGs and attend GG concerts. Recently I’ve been wanting to share some appreciation with the fanboys that truly show up for and support their fave groups. I think there’s often a question that comes up about why BGs tend to have more successful fandoms than GGs, and I think the answer is simple: a lot of women prefer bgs and a lot of men prefer ggs, but society views this kind of fan behavior as “feminine”, and discourages men who engage in it. Both toxic masculinity not allowing men to express themselves that way, and women who deem it as “weird” or “creepy”. But that has totally not been my experience. I recently went to VIVIZ and was super impressed by all the fanboys who were super excited to engage with the show, sing and dance along and just support their faves. I also went to LSFM and handed out freebies and all the fanboys I met were super polite and respectful, appreciated the freebies and complimented my outfit just like it was BG show. One of my fave groups, QWER, is touring soon and their fanbase is known for being majority male. All the Bawiges I’ve been chatting with leading up to the tour are super nice and supportive of the banner project and freebies I’m planning to make. Some people at other stops have also planned banners as well. As a GG stan it sometimes feels like an uphill battle when it comes to getting people hyped up to support them, so whenever I see fanboys being super active and engaging and supporting their faves fully, it truly makes me happy. And it’s a side note, but female fans of BGs can also be extremely weird and creepy. We’ve recently had incidents like a fan at Ateez send off asking one of them (San or Mingi?) if he “prefers chocolate or vanilla”, had a fan try to kiss Jin without consent, women showing up in lingerie in fancalls, and fully grown women lusting after underage members of Cortis. There’s issues and weirdos in all fandoms and while I’m sure I’m bound to meet some weirdo fanboys as well, I just don’t find the idea that fanboys are somehow weirder than fangirls to be fair or true at all. I know the social climate in Korea also may be different, so I’m just talking about my experience as an American meeting other American fans. submitted by /u/talixsims [link] [comments]

Rules: - keep it lighthearted please - no serious submissions! Ex: Kim Seungmin for Main Vocalist - you may submit multiple people but make multiple comments for them - disbanded idols and survival show contestants count - all generations and all genders - ai/digital idols count - people who have collabed with Kpop groups can be submitted (ex: Terry Crews because he did a collab with le sserafim once) - an idol can win multiple spots, there’ll just be a clone of them - most upvotes comment wins - roughly every 24 hours there will be a new vote - if there are multiple comments for one idol, the highest will be counted Winners of day 3: Conan o‘Brien Sungjin (Day6) Sho (Boys Planet) (aka the guys who covered Super by svt) Now let the chaos continue, who’s our main dancer? submitted by /u/DaGayEnby [link] [comments]

On October 13th, TWS are coming back with their 4th mini album "Try Hard", and tmrw, September 22nd, their releasing their Pre-Release Track "Head, shoulders, knees, toes". Please start collecting for pre-votes, the earlier the better, stream the mvs and join radiohead if you can, lets make this a successful comeback! submitted by /u/42_Yudoz [link] [comments]