What are some signature styles of idols?

When my wife and I found ourselves with a long layover in Seoul, South Korea in early April, we assumed that we knew enough about the phenomenon of Korean popular music to go see the girl group IVE perform its Third Fan Concert at the KSPO Dome, the capital city’s 15,000-capacity Olypmic gymnastics arena. We went into our crash course in K-pop curiosity expecting to find familiarity amid the inevitable differences. We left feeling bewildered and fascinated and alien, like unwitting impostors on the verge of being outed. At every step along the way, our evening at IVE’s Third Fan Concert in Seoul was a jarring reminder of the world’s vastness—of just how much we didn’t know. Read the full story here. Signed, Two new IVE superfans. ----- Table of Contents – Fear & Posing In Korea: A Crash Course In K-pop Curiosity 1. GETTING IN 2. CONCOURSE OF CURIOSITY 3. HELL YEAH, K-POP! 4. POSING 5. SPIRALING 6. SURFACING 7. FEAR 8. GETTING OUT 9. FRIED CHICKEN & FAMILIAR FACES submitted by /u/contemplatingjazz [link] [comments]

I haven't been active in any fandom in years and was pleasantly surprised by the recent developments since their return from the military. Since then a lot of things have happened and one of them being Jimin's privacy being invaded (the video that released today) That particular subreddit has been active and raving about it since the morning and it's honestly disgusting. People over there are clearly on some sort of drugs?? I'm in med school and this type of behaviour is clearly dubbed as a mental illness. I scrolled through some posts and it's pretty much the same thing over and over again. They have come up with some disgusting takes and the way they call out the members of the group by really gross names was terrible to read. A subreddit like that deserves to be banned. Hate like that shouldn't be normal anywhere. This applies to pretty much any snark subreddit of any other group. This is insane. People are entitled to have a view but not to the point it's just blind hate. Because God damn what is wrong with those people?? How can someone be so full of hate? It was gross and honestly made me nauseous. I hope whoever they are seek help and genuinely get better. Because hate like that is horrible. I genuinely hope they find peace and get a life. submitted by /u/mewmew0012 [link] [comments]

I was thinking about this earlier... Itzy ARE being promoted well. It's just that news sites only choose to broadcast criticism and a lot of MIDZYS end up complaining about the girls not being treated well by the company because whatever they're doing gets overshadowed by it. Yeji had her amazing solo debut, 'Air', which did extremely well with album sales. She also became the brand ambassador for a luxury french brand (roger vivier, iirc?). The only recent thing that jype messed up was by declining offers from ck using not accepting solo activities as an excuse even whilst other members were doing their own things. Lia has the most OSTs out of 4th gen female idols even with a year long hiatus Chaeryeong has hosted three variety shows, has done several solo cfs (binggrae, google ect) Yuna has her own youtube channel, is a muse and face for three brands (dynafit, naming, viewmap) and is about to debut in tvn's new drama next year, she gets special stages at the end of every year Only Ryujin's activities, or lack thereof, are slightly questionable The girls just sold out three venues for their fanmeetings in September/October super quickly, they performed in a nearly 50k (?) arena in Taiwan where literally everyone was screaming and holding lightrings, they had a huge collab with fc barca, they're collaborating with spice girls (well, only Mel & Emma lol) But it all gets overlooked (by midzys themselves sometimes, and by other stupid controversies). Anyway, just wanted to make this post because as terrible as jype is sometimes, they're promoting Itzy well as a group and also a lot as individuals. As a Midzy, it gets annoying how people have a narrative of the girls being in some kind of unpromoted dungeon when they're literally everywhere I just realised this was longer than I thought it would be 😭 submitted by /u/Gold_Meaning3688 [link] [comments]

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I was thinking about this earlier... Itzy ARE being promoted well. It's just that news sites only choose to broadcast criticism and a lot of MIDZYS end up complaining about the girls not being treated well by the company because whatever they're doing gets overshadowed by it. Yeji had her amazing solo debut, 'Air', which did extremely well with album sales. She also became the brand ambassadir for a luxury french brand (roger vivier, iirc?). The only recent thing that jype messed up was by declining offers from ck using not accepting solo activities as an excuse even whilst other members were doing their own things. Lia has the most OSTs out of 4th gen female idols even with a year long hiatus Chaeryeong has hosted three variety shows, has done several solo cfs (binggrae, google ect) Yuna is a muse and face for three brands and is about to debut in tvn's new drama next year. Only Ryujin's activities are a bit questionable, but i've heard a lot of fans say it's probably her own choice The girls just sold out three venues for their fanmeetings in September/October super quickly, they performed in a nearly 50k (?) arena in Taiwan where literally everyone was screaming and holding lightrings, they had a huge collab with fc barca, they're collaborating with spice girls in like 2 days (well, only Mel & Emma lol) But it all gets overlooked (by midzys themselves sometimes, and by other stupid controversies). Anyway, just wanted to make this post because as terrible as jype is sometimes, they're promoting Itzy well as a group and also a lot as individuals. As a Midzy, it gets annoying how people have a narrative of the girls being in some kind of unpromoted dungeon when they're literally everywhere I just realised this was longer than I thought it would be 😭 submitted by /u/Gold_Meaning3688 [link] [comments]

Though fandoms may fight for no sensible reason, I wanted to share this ISAC 2025 interaction I just saw. Highlights: Kya holding hands with Ian. They seem to know each other previously. Haum and Jiwoo getting handsy tickling each other. They must be friends previously too. New few friends don’t touch each other’s waists I’d imagine. Jiyu exchanging phone numbers with Yunah from Illit (and Illit covering the phone so the numbers don’t get picked up on camera). They’re so sweet. Support one, support all! All good vibes! submitted by /u/webedrammin [link] [comments]

People call groups like CLASS:Y, Rescene, ifeye, Young Posse, WJSN, Say My Name, Cherry Bullet, Elris/Alice, Cignature, Purple Kiss, H1-KEY, Billlie, and TRI.BE "nugu" which isn't even true. Say My Name has a former IZ*ONE member (Honda Hitomi), how can they be "nugu"? Examples of actual "nugu" groups: LA FLOR, D.el, Blity, Pungdeng-E, Baby Boo, RoseVary, Fantastie, A-Daily, LoveUs, Switch Berry, PPL, YJIG, and N*White. Calling a group that is not mainstream popular "nugu" is not only false but it's hurtful to actual "nugu" groups. submitted by /u/freezerkeeper [link] [comments]

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Anyone else have favorite commercial or advertising campaign songs that are way better than you would expect them to be? The song that inspired this post is Take My Hand by Fifty Fifty, which is a song for a campaign with the Ministry of Education, but it’s so good?? Why is a song for a school campaign so catchy?? It got me thinking about other great commercial/advertising songs, and here are some of my faves: IVE - I Want (Pepsi ad). Doesn’t sound like an ad at all to me, it’s so good. Totally stands on its own as a song. Aespa - Hold on Tight (Tetris OST). Technically an OST, but come on, they made the Tetris theme into an absolute banger. Le Sserafim - Perfect Night (Overwatch 2 ad). Obviously this song totally blew up when it came out, and for good reason. It slaps! Wild that it’s a basically just an ad for a video game. Are there other great commercial/advertising campaign songs? submitted by /u/GeometryLobster [link] [comments]

I am a bit bored so I do this again. You will get a total of 12 songs from 4 Playlists. I have JPop, CPop, KPop and a playlist for all music that is non of the first 3. Maybe you will find some new songs you might like from the recommendations I put up for you ~ Also I will shuffle my Spotify playlists for the songs to make it as random as gets lol submitted by /u/Beautiful_Yellow_682 [link] [comments]

and specifically seventeen, txt, and enhypen. everyone’s aware of the current tour epidemic in k-pop. too many tours, too many cities, expensive tickets, etc. something i noticed however is that the three groups i mentioned have been actively touring every single year since 2022. basically when tours started up again. here are some timelines for context. SEVENTEEN 06/25/2022 - 12/28/2022 - Be The Sun 07/21/2023 - 05/26/2024 - Follow 10/12/2024 - 02/16/2025 - Right Here 09/13/2025 - 12/21/2025 - New_ TXT 07/02/2022 - 10/28/2022 - Love Sick 03/25/2023 - 12/03/2023 - Sweet Mirage 05/03/2024 - 05/25/2025 - Promise 08/22/2025 - 12/28/2025 - Tomorrow ENHYPEN 09/17/2022 - 02/05/2023 - Manifesto 07/29/2023 - 09/01/2024 - Fate 10/05/2024 - 10/05/2025 - Walk The Line none of these groups have given fans the chance to breath. with them always going on tour under a year after finishing one, fans don’t have to worry about missing out either. if you can’t go to this tour, 99% chance they’ll be back within the next year anyways. except they not only return to the same venues, ticket prices go up and up each time. for example in 2023 TXT sold out two nights in a row at BMO Stadium. As of now they’re struggling to sell out the one night they have. The concert’s in two weeks. I noticed enhypen also struggled but managed to sell out by the time the concert arrived. Seventeen has two nights scheduled and neither one has sold. There’s already resale tickets for those dates as well. I wouldn’t worry too much since it is a bit till the U.S. leg but last year they sold it out quickly so it can be worrying. By the time SEVENTEEN embarks on tour, they’ll have 4 groups touring at once. The three mentioned plus LE SSERAFIM. Not to mention in those breaks between tours, these groups are usually having comebacks and promoting. Offering little time for rest for both fans and the idols. These tours stop feeling like events and more like easy money for the company. What do you guys think though, this is just something I’ve noticed for a while now. submitted by /u/Outrageous-Ad7806 [link] [comments]

You know those fans who cannot praise their faves without dragging another group? Like… their whole full-time job is hating. They claim they “hate” certain groups, but then keep their names in their mouths 24/7. Honestly, that’s fan behavior. If you put half that energy into actually supporting your fave, they’d be thriving even more. Instead, you’re wasting all your time on a group you claim you don’t like. It gives obsession, not hate. submitted by /u/Desperate-Gur-6776 [link] [comments]

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I’ll go first. So many people don’t know this album and it sucks. These boys are so damn talented submitted by /u/MiniJ1021 [link] [comments]

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~Vocalist: Minami ~ Dancer: Momo ~ Rapper: Yuki ~ Leader: Sakura ~ Center: Mina ~ Visual: Kazuha ~ Ace: Kaede ~ FOTG: Sana ~ Maknae: Iroha ~ submitted by /u/Ok-Database9509 [link] [comments]

K-pop has always innovated new ways to consume idols parasocially. Each generation's most successful artists pioneer new approaches to parasocial intimacy from the unique circumstances in their particular zeitgeist. After their models are codified, subsequent generations build new fantasies on their bedrocks to create a stratified lexicon of parasocial intimacy. For TLDR, just read the bold. I also have personal commentary at the end when you scroll down :) **First Generation → Idol as Partner (HOT, Sechs Kies, S.E.S)** In the first generation, companies primarily marketed idols as surrogate partners. This was the origin of the “boyfriend/girlfriend” fantasy driving fans to groups like HOT, Sechs Kies, g.o.d, S.E.S. Broadcast Television gave artists controlled exposure that framed their images as idealised yet reachable. Fans consumed them as blank slates onto which they could project all manner of desire, but never had reciprocal access. **Late Second Generation → Idol as Friend / Variety Star (SNSD/SUJU)** By the late second generation, the ideal partner fantasy had become canonised in idol marketing. But now, idols sought favour of the general public by appearing on variety shows and groups such as SNSD and Super Junior showcasing their humour and relatability. Television now mediated intimacy by revealing offstage personalities, shifting the parasocial product from pure idealisation to relatability. **Late Second Generation subversions→ Idol as Artist/ Rebel (BIG BANG, 2NE1)** Concurrently, Big Bang subverted the idol industry's rigid image control and lack of artistic credibility by pioneering the paradigm of 'idol as artist.' They were not merely objects of desire. They were larger than life cultural figures who leveraged their musicianship, performances and fashion to build an image of authentic coolness. Meanwhile 2NE1 popularised the 'girl crush' paradigm, a radical subversion of female idol norms. Rejecting femininity that pandered to the male gaze, 2NE1 validated imperfection and toughness as empowering in a superficial industry. 2NE1’s empowerment operated through **music video aesthetics and powerful performances. **Third Generation → Idol as Artist / Authentic Confessor (BTS)** The baton of artistry and resistance passed onto BTS who, initially inspired by Big Bang's "idol-artist" model, shared their personal struggles and addressed controversial social issues in their music. Hailing from a small company without access to the Big 3's broadcasting infrastructure, BTS turned to SNS platforms such as Twitter, fan cafes, YouTube, and V Live. They built intimacy through informal content that collapsed the idol-fan hierarchy. Social media enabled continuous, dialogic access between artist and audience. BTS didn’t just share music; they shared _process, struggles, and private thoughts._ The parasocial commodity innovated from fantasy of romance to a fantasy of authenticity in a manufactured industry: _I know the real them, and they know me._ In an industry that was made by, and for the Big 3, BTS's success was spearheaded by fans who ardently supported them against opposition from haters, industry opponents, and systematic barriers. Fans felt like co-authors of their success story, not passive consumers. **Third Generation → Idol as Algorithmic Muse of Luxury (BLACKPINK)** 2NE1's successor Blackpink reconfigured “girl crush” from rebellion into _aspirational luxury._ Their parasocial power took advantage of Instagram's visual format and algorithmic funnels that enabled purely aesthetic consumption. Blackpink delivered in the form of meticulous luxury aesthetics, global fashion ambassadorships, and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. The parasocial commodity shifted from emotional transparency into a _social ascension fantasy._ Fans could self-insert watching Blackpink in high budget music videos or attending Paris Fashion Week. They flipped parasociality from “I know them” to “I want to be them.” To recap: the partner fantasy, the authentic artist, the rebel, and the luxury muse—each has become canonised in this genealogy. **Personal Comments** If you believe I have made any factual errors, feel free to share them and I'd gladly correct the post. This intends to describe an overarching pattern, not present an exhaustive list. I don't mean to offend if I haven't included your favourite group in this breakdown. My knowledge of K-pop has its limits. That said, if you believe your group has made a parasocial innovation, I welcome you to share it in the comments and I'd be glad to amend my list to include it if I see it justified. I have excluded 4th gen from this breakdown thus far as I wish to make that a separate post. I haven't added it to this one because: 1) I think this post is already long enough. 2) my 4th gen section will be stupidly long, as I'd be attempting to explain a parasocial narrative that's still being written, and thus the burden of proof would rest on me 3) I'd like to first see how this one fares in terms of audience reception. submitted by /u/Livid_Percentage_641 [link] [comments]