what are your k-pop pet peeves? (1 Viewer)

[ChiaraStar169]

my biggest one is people making all this fuss over debuting people who are like teenagers. I can get behind when they debut literal children, like those 12 and under, but when they're 13+, that's where I draw the line. Like, Jungkook was 15, almost 16 when BTS debuted, and nobody even batted an eyelash... and yet when IVE debuted, didn't people cvomplain about Leeseo being "too young" even though she was like 14, almost 15? that's just one year younger than Jungkook was! Like, make it make sense!

 

[ChiaraStar169]

my biggest one is people making all this fuss over debuting people who are like teenagers. I can get behind when they debut literal children, like those 12 and under, but when they're 13+, that's where I draw the line. Like, Jungkook was 15, almost 16 when BTS debuted, and nobody even batted an eyelash... and yet when IVE debuted, didn't people cvomplain about Leeseo being "too young" even though she was like 14, almost 15? that's just one year younger than Jungkook was! Like, make it make sense!

oh, just in case I need to clarify, when I said "I can get behind when they debut people 12 and under", I meant when people fuss over that happening. ofc I'm against 12 and under's debuting!

 

[Horizonshard]

Mine would be when fans discuss contract renewals and use the term "resign". It's hard to distinguish if them mean re-sign (to sign an new contract), or resign (to leave the company).

Renew is such a better term. Not vague at all.

 

[ChiaraStar169]

Mine would be when fans discuss contract renewals and use the term "resign". It's hard to distinguish if them mean re-sign (to sign an new contract), or resign (to leave the company).

Renew is such a better term. Not vague at all.

ikr??? this reminds me of when Simon Cowell was still a Idol judge. whenever a contestant would advance to the next round, he'd be like "you're through" and it annoyed me sm bc he meant good news but it sounded sm like the opposite!

 

[Somnia]

Yeah, I am like you I also don't mind if idols are 15 or something when debuting. I also think of it as giving them more life lessons and experience at a young age, they get to travel, manage their own stuff, and be independent in a sense. Plus they learn to socialize with their members. Only bad side would just be the being an idol and doing school at the same time.

Anyway, my own pet peeve is, when companies keep on pushing their idols towards collabs with American artists, or just waste their time over in the only state Korea knows about aka LA.

 

[catonkatonk]

I think this is an example of a kind of "othering" of k-pop as if k-pop is this unusual (and sinister) form of entertainment industry.
Beyonce was 15 years old at debut. Rihanna 17. So was Diana Ross. Britney Spears 16. Michael Jackson was 11!
My favourite girlgroup, Sugababes, were around 15-16 on debut.
Even in the modernish era, we have Lorde debuting at 16, Olivia Rodrigo at 17, and Billie Eilish going viral at 14. Sabrina Carpenter was 14 when she released her first single I think.

Many, many Hollywood actors started off in the industry as young children.

So why is it uniquely exploitative when it happens in Korea?
I'm actually one of those people that thinks that minors shouldn't debut, but at the same time, I feel the argument is tied into "The Dark Side of K-Pop" narratives that seem to be coming from a... highly suspect place.

 

[centen]

For debuting minors, my issue is when they give them concepts inappropriate for children, but that doesn't tend to happen that much. But I've seen people complaining about GIRLSET's redebut teasers for being "inappropriate" and the girls are 19-20. And now that I think about it, I remember people being scandalized by Nayeon's ABCD choreography and she was 28.

So maybe my pet peeve is this flipside the infantalization of idols too. Like you also see it when it comes to issues or scandals, as if Idol is a baby who just didn't know better and accidentally did the questionable thing.

 

[Ahsoka]

There are legitimate reasons to prefer older teens or adults though. Such as potential legal struggles. Zelo was 15 when he debuted with BAP, and from what I remember BAP waited to file their group lawsuit because Zelo wasn’t yet an adult and as such couldn’t take legal action himself, even though he was a victim. Ideally idols wont reach a point that they need to sue their companies for abuse but it does happen, and the younger you are the less power you have legally and in general interactions. Particularly when you’re in such a hierarchical system.

Also I doubt the people who were saying Leeseo is too young were fine with Jungkook debuting young 12 years ago. I would guess that 99.9% of those people weren’t fans back then, let alone ones who followed boy groups. Unless the point is that back then it was fine, which can’t work as an argument on its own because lots of stuff was “fine“ 12 years ago (ex. gay marriage wasnt legally nationwide in the US). You can look at the past and the outcomes but you can’t just put a blanket of “it was fine” on everything back then.

For the record, I’m not saying every idol should be 18/19 to debut, but there’s legitimately good reasons to be wary of many younger teens debuting, especially when the “extreme young“ examples then are basically average idol age now because they’ve gotten so young. Especially when some people bring up examples of people who debuted young and are famous for being exploited or have had bad outcomes.

 

[Ahsoka]

Also as a pet peeve, there definitely seem to be way too many fans who seem to shift blame to completely different people so quickly. My fav is wearing a pretty outfit? Wow my fav is such a fashionable person. My fav is wearing an offensive outfit in the same context? Wow I can’t believe the stylists hate my fav so much! I get that it’s not always clear who’s responsible for everything because of how many steps there are in stuff like this but you can’t just assume that if it’s good it’s your idols doing and if it’s bad it’s everyone except your idols doing

 

[Selfmate]

never had an issue with minors in kpop - I personally would never ever allow my kids in kpop but that's me and others who wish to get into kpop early have that right (assuming their parents agree). Just make sure to read your contract and hire a decent lawyer to know what you are getting yourself into...

otherwise I actually don't have many kpop pet peeves since I'm far too cynical of an old man...

 

[lexus]

When female idols get slut shamed for wearing revealing outfits, having sexy choreography, etc., but male idols get praised for lifting their shirts, humping the floor, and flinging their dick around in their choreography

 

[StirFriedPanda]

Im going to be tame. It really pisses me off when Idols have to wear shoes thst don't fit. Itzy's stylists were guilty of this a few times in the early days. Shoes are to freaking import. Also... I keep seeing idols with their asses hanging out. They have amazing asses but cover them!

 

[RandAlThor]

my biggest one is people making all this fuss over debuting people who are like teenagers. I can get behind when they debut literal children, like those 12 and under, but when they're 13+, that's where I draw the line. Like, Jungkook was 15, almost 16 when BTS debuted, and nobody even batted an eyelash... and yet when IVE debuted, didn't people cvomplain about Leeseo being "too young" even though she was like 14, almost 15? that's just one year younger than Jungkook was! Like, make it make sense!

many just want to sexualize the idols and don't want to admit they are projecting.

Personally i think Wonyoung even with the crazy hate she got was unbelievable from pd 48 on.

i am not saying that all those young idols are going to have it great, but there is a large chunk of that that i think falls on the parents looking at the kids like cash cows or just not caring. there is no way some of these ultra rich parents (and a large chunk of idols are from well off to hyper rich families)

For example Taos dad surly could have afforded a great lawyer to go over that contract.

 

[RandAlThor]

oh, just in case I need to clarify, when I said "I can get behind when they debut people 12 and under", I meant when people fuss over that happening. ofc I'm against 12 and under's debuting!

Seowon was 12 almost 13 i thought she has done fine and really hasnt she been working since 9-10?, the show that made classy now that was just odd ...

 

[RandAlThor]

mine is just how much many( especially in the 'west') assumes any guy older than the members following a gg is automatically a creep.
and the man hate in general.

 

[StirFriedPanda]

mine is just how much many( especially in the 'west') assumes any guy older than the members following a gg is automatically a creep.
and the man hate in general.

100% I have tickets to fromis in Seattle and its actually a mental struggle and a lot of stress on how my presence will be interpreted. I have to continually convince myself its ok to go.

 

[RandAlThor]

100% I have tickets to fromis in Seattle and its actually a mental struggle and a lot of stress on how my presence will be interpreted. I have to continually convince myself its ok to go.

yep i want to go to fromis. i passed on some others like 50/50 that was an awful day and a 1hr + drive so that helped make up my mind but i could have got crazy seats.
I still went to 3 red velvet shows stateside.

I think fromis would be great show they are now so senior the fans should be more mature.

Like my Miami show was much chiller, since it had a bar in the standing area so there were more older fans.
the food sucked but i just picked bad restaurant's. Funny story my family was more worried about me going to miami than any of the trips to Korea.
(context my sister and her husband had someone try to carjack em at gunpoint on thier honeymoon they were in town to catch a cruise. )

Chicago was awful and ill never go back.
Dallas was in the middle.

its funny as a more west than east i will not go to cali for any shows.

It doesn't help that i am extroverted and i want to talk to ppl. Shocking that i am a E huh :p

 

[StirFriedPanda]

yep i want to go to fromis. i passed on some others like 50/50 that was an awful day and a 1hr + drive so that helped make up my mind but i could have got crazy seats.
I still went to 3 red velvet shows stateside.

I think fromis would be great show they are now so senior the fans should be more mature.

Like my Miami show was much chiller, since it had a bar in the standing area so there were more older fans.
the food sucked but i just picked bad restaurant's. Funny story my family was more worried about me going to miami than any of the trips to Korea.
(context my sister and her husband had someone try to carjack em at gunpoint on thier honeymoon they were in town to catch a cruise. )

Chicago was awful and ill never go back.
Dallas was in the middle.

its funny as a more west than east i will not go to cali for any shows.

It doesn't help that i am extroverted and i want to talk to ppl. Shocking that i am a E huh :p

Im and extreme introvert. People scare me.