Why is there such a disconnect between K-Pop and real Korean culture?

[Netizenbuzz]

If you look at other countries' pop music scenes, they usually somewhat reflect their youth culture. I mean, obviously, celebrities tend to be better looking than your average Joe. But it's not totally unrealistic to see young people in, for example, the UK, wearing the kind of stuff that Cher Lloyd or "The Wanted" would wear. Young people in western countries generally look presentable and not so different from their "idols". And in return, the product is usually something that the target demographic can actually relate to.

Then we have Korea. A lot of Korean celebs, particularly pop idols, are ridiculously fashion-forward and well-groomed - to standards that average people couldn't achieve if they tried. High fashion yet impractical outfits, new hair color every other week, more eye makeup than your average male would ever wear etc. But real Korean youths are the polar opposite. They're ugly, fat, and unkempt in appearance (presumably because they value other things before appearance). You could spend a good amount of time there and you'd be hard pressed to find anybody that even looks as good as Hyoyeon.

Isn't it pretty odd that the industry would choose to try to market something that's seemingly completely unrelatable to the general public? Do you think idols could reach a wider audience if they toned down their bright hair, costumey outfits, excessive makeup and cheesy choreography?

[Joji.]

You know what, I was just thinking something similar to this earlier today. It really is strange.

[Instigate]

They're ugly, fat, and unkept in appearance (presumably because they value other things before appearance). 

 

from my understanding, this is far from the truth .__.

someone enlighten me

[Good People]

No. If someone is very beautiful they are just very beautiful. What's wrong with that? You have beautiful, above average, average and not-so-goodlooking in every culture. You're talking as if every UK woman looks like Cher Lloyd or Emma Watson. Celebrities are supposed to look better than the average person.

[Special*]

I think there is a strong connection, look at all the youtube covers (dance and vocal) >< bloody hell

 

Since you gave a focus on your question under your first post...i do agree to some extent that the makeup and clothes are outrageous.

[BubbleGumPop]

"They're ugly, fat, and unkept in appearance."

 

[denizen mars]

the whole premise of this thread is wrong...I would say all pop culture in every country is a perversion of authentic culture- it is representative of what some people want culture to be like.

[Chesskid1<3]

when the camera pans to the audience in korean concerts

 

 

[denizen mars]

from my understanding, this is far from the truth .__.

someone enlighten me

lol you're exactly right...

 

sim you are dumb and pretentious as always

leave korean culture analysis to people who actually know something about it rather than trying to pull some grand theory out of your ass.

[Candykiss]

You're only talking about appearances and fashion style how is that culture? 

 

Young Korean fans value education over appearances and try to get into top universities and such 

[SEWER RAT]

Stopped reading at Cher Lloyd, not everyone shops from Primark #k

[Netizenbuzz]

from my understanding, this is far from the truth .__.

someone enlighten me

That's another thing that doesn't make sense to me. They cast ABSURD standards of appearances on their celebrities but this obsession with being attractive at all times doesn't seem to be reflected in the way general population looks...

 

 

You're only talking about appearances and fashion style how is that culture? 

 

Young Korean fans value education over appearances and try to get into top universities and such 

 

Exactly. So why is K-Pop so highly superficial when their target demographic isn't?

[Netizenbuzz]

Stopped reading at Cher Lloyd, not everyone shops from Primark #k

 

Idk, Cher Lloyd was just the first that popped into my mind. There are obviously better examples than the ones I used.

[Instigate]

lol you're exactly right...

I'm not korean, so I wouldn't exactly 'know'

but thanks for clearing it up

 

 

I thought Koreans were very appearance-based.. not all of them are gorgeous but they hold similar values. It's not what the public looks like, but what they want to emulate.

[AReed]

But real Korean youths are the polar opposite. They're ugly, fat, and unkept in appearance (presumably because they value other things before appearance). You could spend a good amount of time there and you'd be hard pressed to find anybody that looks as good as IU, Myungsoo, or even Hyoyeon.

Mmm... I beg to differ. I spent a week in Korea and saw many people that looked better than idols. Some had neon colored hair, some had multi colored clothing, some looked plain ridiculous ("fashion forward"). But most everyone over there dressed to impress, though there was the occasional sweatpants and sandals person.

[Instigate]

That's another thing that doesn't make sense to me. They cast ABSURD standards of appearances on their celebrities but this obsession with being attractive at all times doesn't seem to be reflected in the general population.

 

what is this based on... do high plastic surgery rates mean something else

[Special*]

Stopped reading at Cher Lloyd, not everyone shops from Primark #k

 

LOL to my knowledge, people diss what she wears in her MV

[tybgg]

You wouldn't really compare American culture by what Justin Bieber does. I mean, some of the shit he wears is ridiculous, just as some k-pop idol attire is ridiculous.

[denizen mars]

You're only talking about appearances and fashion style how is that culture? 

 

Young Korean fans value education over appearances and try to get into top universities and such 

in a country where you are required to submit a photoshopped headshot with every job application

where one of the most common causes of death for young women is malnutrition 

with the highest per capita rate of plastic surgery

with one of the largest global market shares in cosmetics

 

...that statement is erroneous. I would say young Koreans are pressured both to conform to a strict beauty standard and to work very hard in school. Both of which lead to SK having the highest rate of suicide in the world.

[Candykiss]

in a country where you are required to submit a photoshopped headshot with every job application

where one of the most common causes of death for young women is malnutrition 

with the highest per capita rate of plastic surgery

with one of the largest global market shares in cosmetics

 

...that statement is erroneous. I would say young Koreans are pressured both to conform to a strict beauty standard and to work very hard in school. Both of which lead to SK having the highest rate of suicide in the world.

I never said they don't value appearances ><

 

Their education system is so competitive to the point where the deciding factor for jobs would be appearances 

[Netizenbuzz]

I mean, some of the shit he wears is ridiculous, just as some k-pop idol attire is ridiculous.

 

Which makes no marketing sense. And Justin Bieber is understandably hated by the majority for it. 

 

 

[abraa]

what is this based on... do high plastic surgery rates mean something else

this is where you could make a very ignorant joke about double eyelid surgery...

[Wholahay]

Which makes no marketing sense. And Justin Bieber is understandably hated by the majority for it. 

 

Plus he's Canadian, not American.

[Skibop!!]

You wouldn't really compare American culture by what Justin Bieber does. I mean, some of the shit he wears is ridiculous, just as some k-pop idol attire is ridiculous.

He's not even American....

[Netizenbuzz]

in a country where you are required to submit a photoshopped headshot with every job application

where one of the most common causes of death for young women is malnutrition 

with the highest per capita rate of plastic surgery

with one of the largest global market shares in cosmetics

 

...that statement is erroneous. I would say young Koreans are pressured both to conform to a strict beauty standard and to work very hard in school. Both of which lead to SK having the highest rate of suicide in the world.

 

No. If someone is very beautiful they are just very beautiful. What's wrong with that? You have beautiful, above average, average and not-so-goodlooking in every culture. You're talking as if every UK woman looks like Cher Lloyd or Emma Watson. Celebrities are supposed to look better than the average person.

 

 

There was a lot of poor wording choice on my part which lead the discussion in a direction that I didn't intend but but essentially this is what I'm getting at:

 

Fangirls will still love their oppas even if they didn't wear blue eyeshadow and do aegyo. But maybe they could appeal to even more people if they were more... you know, normal? Is there any good reason why K-Pop has to be as false as it is? Celebrity culture in any country is glamorized and false but the disparity between idols and average people is massive in Korea, moreso than it is in any other country based on what I've seen. It makes even less sense when you consider that idols are basically label puppets, so it's the companies that are choosing to make idols into something un-relatable.