Tag: K-pop

Here is one of these only in Korea stories where a K-pop star had to apologize for (gasp!) dating somebody:

Karina, a member of K-pop girl group aespa, issued a handwritten apology on Instagram, Tuesday, saying she was sorry for failing her fans. Although she did not specify what she was sorry for, people could easily determine that the SM Entertainment star was apologizing over recent news about her love life. But this has sparked a debate among internet users: Did she really have anything to apologize for?

Karina’s letter came about a week after she admitted to having a romantic relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook, confirming a report by Dispatch, a local media outlet, that broke on Feb. 27. The news that a popular K-pop star and a prominent actor who starred in a series of Korean dramas including, the “Alchemy of Souls” series (2022-23) were dating immediately generated a buzz online, triggering mixed reactions among fans.

“I am sorry to have surprised you,” reads Karina’s apology. “I know many of our fans must be disappointed and upset … I want to heal the wounds that I have inflicted. I will become more mature in the days ahead, so please keep an eye out for that.”

In the wake of her “scandal,” some fans criticized the 23-year-old for being an “irresponsible” leader of her group, insisting that the “scandal” will deal a critical blow to aespa’s future career prospects.

Many K-pop fans are very sensitive about their singers’ love lives as they believe romantic relationships can hamper their stars from focusing on their jobs and elevating their careers. Interestingly, some passionate followers also perceive them as their potential love interests, so they easily feel betrayed when dating news about their favorite singers arises.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but Karina has had protesters criticizing her for dating. You have to be quite the loser if a K-pop star you like dating someone causes this type of reaction.

These outfits remind of the ones the so called fitness influencers wear to the gym and then complain they are being objectified by men looking at them. Here is a reality check for people who dress like this, men are not objectifying you, you are objectifying yourself because you know these provocative outfits will lead to more clicks and attention not so called female empowerment:

Huh Yun-jin of K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM with no-pants look / Captured from Instagram

The K-pop industry is known for its pioneering and bold fashion statements, but the recent emergence of the “no-pants” look — where individuals wear micro shorts or pair briefs with tights — has ignited a contentious debate.

One of the singers at the forefront of this hot yet controversial trend is Huh Yun-jin, a member of girl band LE SSERAFIM. The 22-year-old generated buzz after sporting only gray briefs and black tights under a pink puffer jacket in a teaser for the group’s upcoming EP, “Easy,” unveiled on YouTube, Jan. 26.

K-pop act (G)I-DLE also grabbed headlines for making a similar wardrobe choice, with all four members putting on bodysuits with no pants in the music video for its latest release, “Super Lady,” which came out on Jan. 29. SISTAR19, a sub-unit of the now-defunct girl group SISTAR, and Lisa of BLACKPINK also displayed pants-free fashion, which has been in vogue around the globe since last year.

In the U.S., a legion of high-profile stars including Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner are known as the pioneers of this trend.

The pantless look, however, is not without its controversies, especially in the K-pop universe where a large portion of fans are teenagers.

Concerns have been raised about the potential for young fans to blindly imitate these styles, with some critics arguing that this trend represents the commercialization of sexuality masquerading as fashion innovation.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

This is kind of funny, but I have to wonder where in Texas did they purchase jerseys from a Scottish professional soccer team?:

STAYC was seen wearing the wrong “Rangers” uniform during the girl group’s concert held in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday as part of its world tour.[JUN.DY]

STAYC was seen wearing the wrong “Rangers” uniform during the girl group’s concert held in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday as part of its world tour. 
  
Instead of wearing jerseys for the Texas Rangers baseball team — a Major League Baseball team — the group’s members wore uniforms of Rangers Football Club, a Scottish professional soccer club based in Glasgow, Scotland, during the performance, leaving fans to wonder whether the agency didn’t know they are two different teams. 
  
“We had a bit of a mix-up as we were purchasing the uniforms,” STAYC’s agency, Highup Entertainment told the Korea JoongAng Daily on Wednesday, admitting there was a mistake.

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.

Does anyone think the album would have been recalled if someone claimed it looked like a Bible or a Torah?:

The first production copies of K-Pop boy band Kingdom’s latest album are being pulled off the shelves and discarded amid a controversy over the album cover’s resemblance to the Quran. 

Kingdom’s agency GF Entertainment announced Monday that “There were concerns expressed that the Kingdom’s seventh mini-album cover, which was due to go on presale on Sept. 21, bore a striking similarity to the Quran.” 

The agency added, “In light of the circumstances, we have decided to recall, discard and redesign all 70,000 initial production copies of the album.”

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

This is another example of how Koreans can rally in crisis to protect the country’s image. Can you imagine Taylor Swift or other American pop idols at the last minute coming together to do a short notice concert for Scouts in order to protect America’s image?:

About 40,000 participants of the 2023 World Scout Jamboree gathered in Seoul on Friday for a K-pop concert, wrapping up the world event plagued by a heat wave and a typhoon with a glitzy entertainment show.

The “K-pop super live” concert took place at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul following a closing ceremony to look back on highlights of their 12 turbulent days in South Korea and hand over the Scout flag to a representative from Poland, the host country for the 2027 jamboree.

Girl group NewJeans took the stage with “ETA” from its recently released album and the global hit “Hype Boy,” and 18 other K-pop artists performed at the show, including IVE, NCT Dream, ITZY, Mamamoo, The Boyz, Kang Daniel and fromis_9.

Also on the stage were Shownu X Hyungwon, Zerobaseone, Kwon Eun-bi, Jo Yuri, P1Harmony, KARD, The New Six and ATBO.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Moonbin, a member of K-pop boy group Astro, is seen in this photo provided by its agency, Fantagio. He died at age 25 in an apparent suicide on April 20, 2023. (Yonhap)

Another BTS member is taking the first steps to complete his mandatory military service obligation:

BTS artist j-hope began the enlistment process for his stint with the South Korean military, his record label announced, making him the second member of the Korean-pop group to do so.

The rapper-singer, whose real name is Jung Ho-seok, applied to end his postponement of the mandatory 18-month service.

“We will inform you of further updates in due course,” BIGHIT Music wrote on Weverse. “We ask you for your continued love and support for j-hope until he completes his military service and safely returns. Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artist.”

The 29-year-old follows fellow BTS star Jin, 30, who began his mandatory service in December. South Korea requires most men to enlist in its military by age 28, but entertainers can push back their stints until they’re 30.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.