(Warning: Strong Languages and Rants ahead)
I did mention about me not being a fan of K-Pop (Korean Pop) music in the past articles, didn’t I? Well, right now, ‘not being a fan’ has escalated into a minor hate, because while the music itself is quite catchy (but let’s face it, even as an anthropologist who have a massive interest in language studies, I couldn’t get a firm grip in Korean) with most of the lyrics are spoken in Korean language with a slew of English words thrown in between, It’s the fandom that made me loathe K-Pop as a musical genre. I have to admit that the only K-Pop song that I can grasp in terms of language is PSY’s Gangnam Style. And (unapologetically) I am good for that. I can’t even understand most of the songs playing nowadays either.
Speaking of fans of K-Pop, we are talking about someone who loves the genre, and supports all the artists and groups. Those supports can come from online streaming or buying physical copies of a favorite group’s albums, attending concerts and fan meets, and following the news about their idols. While some K-Pop fans are civilized, well-mannered and well-behaved individuals who are active in the fandom and only minding their own business, there are also a lot (I say A LOT because most of the time, It is these Neanderthals who came out first) of deranged, overly-obsessed music terrorists who thinks that their supposed “idols” (and K-Pop in general) are better than most of the artists across all genres (kind of like Metal with Metal Elitists, although these K-Pop stans are a lot more lethal). First of all, these fanatics would do anything in their power to defend their idols from outside bashing, even if it means to systematically bully a poor soul who was just merely post his criticism on the Korean Entertainment Industry. This has happened to Dolan Twins, who back in 2018 posted a satirical video on YouTube talking about the reality of K-Pop idols that overworked themselves to the point of passing out in the middle of a performance. This inevitably drew the ire of K-Pop fans and then proceeded to flood the comments section with criticism and hate remarks, even when the Twins’ father passed away earlier this year. Instead of offering support and stating their condolences, these deranged fucks instead CELEBRATING the death of someone not related to the problems at hand, this being the Dolan twins’ old man. I know that you disliked them because of a simple (hard hitting) reality. I also pointed out on my last post with similar topic about how they overwork themselves and receiving little numbers on their paychecks, but please. If you want to bash them only because of that, might as well throw yourself into a Cannibal Corpse mosh pit and see if you can last even for a minute. Not only this hate bashing are targeting people outside of their fandoms, they even wage war with their own! Fanwars, ironically, is a normal thing happening within the K-Pop realm. And what makes this thing even bizarre is the wars itself are sparked because of competition within K-Pop idol groups themselves. It can be for chart position, popularity, or even about who is the most handsome/beautiful member. While most fanwars are contained in the realms of social media, this weird activity once escalated into a full-blown fistfight, like when the fans of SECHSKIES and H.O.T wage war against each other. This thing can be varying, one of them is constantly post hate comment about a specific group, even as far as posting death threats to a specific group member. Initiating a “Black Ocean” is also other form of disliking a specific group. A “Black Ocean” is essentially the act of turning the light sticks off and sits still in silence during a performance. Girls Generation once suffered from this type of abuse as a result of then ongoing fanwar between them, TVXQ and Super Junior back in 2008.
When we talk about the demography of the K-Pop fans, Most of the them that I know are between the ages 12-18 years old, but not dismissing the adults who are also hooked with the music itself, but when it comes to teenage fans, they are turning their passion for K-Pop into an obsession, and more often than not, these obsessions even escalated to the point of being flat-out disgusting. Some K-Pop fandoms like EXO-L, Blink (Blackpink), and even ARMY are probably the most active & devoted fandoms existing today. The way these overly obsessed animals done within these fandoms is they are not hesitate to pick up items related to theirbias (favorite member of the group) from normal stuff like autographed cards and posters, to absurd items like drink bottles and even tissue sheets used by them to wipe the sweat from performing. What makes this funny for me is the idols might be good looking and somehow in a good shape (remember those diets and starvation they have to endure? I do), but sweat is still sweat. It stinks. You are willingly dropping your IQ points to that of a Baboon just to obtain your bias’ memorabilia. Not only that, they are also fantasizing themselves married to one of the members of the group they idolize. Let me tell you this. They barely even know you. So stop deluding yourself and face the fact that you maybe a fan, but these idols don’t even know you personally. But of course, these obsessed fans will stop at nothing to make her known in the fandom. Sasaeng fans are K-Pop fans who are so obsessed with their idols, the only thing they will ever do to gain the attention is to stalk, invade the idol’s personal space, hack their phones, and even sending fan notes written in menstrual blood (yuck!). When it comes to overall obsessions, these sasaengshas to take the cake. They even cause physical injuries to some of the idols (Heechul suffered a broken leg after being involved in a crash while trying to evade a sasaengchasing him on the road). Still, who the hell am I to judge when they are so devoted to their idols. After all, I’m just a normal metal fan who coincidentally has some relatives and friends that are big K-Pop fans (no offence here).
Here’s a food for the thought. Everyone has the right to indulge themselves into their favorite music. Whether it’s Pop, K-Pop, EDM or Metal. And just like what I say with the Metal Elitists, You don’t have to shove your taste down to everyone’s throats. Some might just don’t like it. And since I am now have a slight hate towards K-Pop (Mostly to the fans and the industry, not the music), I got to say, I have never seen a fandom so toxic and hostile to others ever in my life. Yes you got those girls and boys with porcelain of a skin and great appearance (while starving themselves to death in the process and reconstructing their faces with plastic surgeries in between), and yes, they are talented. But I guess nothing calms me more than pounding beats and monstrous guitar riffs of a good Heavy Metal tune. And to close this rant, I just want you to know that I am writing this fully aware with the consequence of opening the floodgates of hell that is K-Pop stan’s hate comments. And during the process of writing, I have yelled SLAYER (while listening to Angel Of Death, Raining Blood and Repentless in the process) twice and blasted some good Cradle of Filth album to calm my nerves.
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