Well, it was a long time coming but starting this year, I've finally decided to stop consuming K-pop music altogether after nearly 11 years. I honestly never thought that this day would come and that I'd just soldier on, but the writings were on the wall and I knew it was time to finally move on.
My earliest memory of exposure to K-pop is from 2009 when one of my acquaintances at school introduced Super Junior & the subunit Super-M to me. At the time, I feigned interest and played along I was more into Japanese entertainment and was just going with the flow. However, fast-forward to March 2012 when a friend of mine showed me a video of the K-pop group SHINee's Sherlock (Clue+Note) music video. I was entranced by Taemin who had long hair, the slick choreography, and the song's catchy chorus "I'm so curious yeah!" She also gave me a website where I could go to keep up with the latest K-pop news and I was hooked.
What drew me to K-pop was the music video visuals, the choreographed dances, the production work in the songs, and the conservative image and nature of the industry. I was tired of all of the cussing, lackluster songs, and hypersexual imagery of the mainstream American music scene. I found K-pop to be a refreshing escape. I was in a honeymoon phase for a while. However, in the past few years after digging deep into the history and nature of the K-pop industry and exchanging thoughts with others I have too much self-respect for myself, and I can no longer participate in the consumption of K-pop and its related content.
Cultural Appropriation/Lack of Credit
The backbone and foundation of K-pop are African American/Black music, culture, and aesthetics. It's clear as day and it's so blatantly obvious. K-pop idols are essentially parading around reselling/repackaging diet/watered-down black music. Most of them are mediocre and these companies don't want to give credit to the people and creatives they basically steal from.
Antiblackness
Antiblackness is a global phenomenon and I refuse to financially supply money to people let alone an entire industry that despises African/Black people yet loves to profit off of our culture. Absolutely not. I'd rather support my own and the originators because an imitation will never be better than the original.
Stan Culture/Cultesque Nature
Stan culture is one of the worst things to ever come into existence. The nature of it is very cult-like and if you're not singing praising all the time and only saying positive things, you'll be attacked and dealt with by other stans/fans with swiftness. You can't have dissenting opinions or offer constructive criticisms. Not to mention everything is now accolades and charting-based it's not about the music. However, if I'm being honest it never was about the music because idols first and foremost sell a fantasy to their fans. That's why fans become so attached and invested in their faves through the parasocial relationship that's nurtured and cultivated.
The Industry's Current Direction
It's all about western validation now even though K-pop will forever remain niche in the west and it'll never be taken seriously. But hey, that's not going to deter hungry capitalist corporations from cashing in. Moreover, the industry is debuting younger idols at an increasingly alarming rate. Big yikes! Also, the messed-up Korean beauty standards that idols have to adhere to lead to a whole array of problems from eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
Music Decline
The music that most of these groups churn out nowadays is not good, it's unlistenable, and straight trash. I'd rather spare my ears from the atrocious sounds of current K-pop music.
Last year, in June I took a two-week break from consuming K-pop content and was at peace. I enjoyed it immensely and since I'm embarking on a new chapter in my life I know that it's time to let K-pop go and move on. I know I won't be missing out on anything.
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