Is Korea Ready For “Women Idols”?
Well, as an outside observer it’s easy to come to the conclusion that the answer is NO. Due to the “graphic nature” of a few scenes, 21 year old Brown Eyed Girls member Ga-in Son (in the gold) has been taking some heat for her “sexy” turn in the group’s MV for their comeback single “Abracadabra“. Its been reported that only a few hours after the video’s release Ga-in’s Cyworld was flooded by over 15,000 viewers. Many of them, not the majority, leaving messages expressing their disappointment in Ga-in and the music video. Due to the sudden “outburst” she closed down her Cyworld temporarily and left this message. “그 어느 누군가를 나보다 더믿고 너무 큰실망을 하고 반복되는 모든 마음의 상처를 이젠 더이상 내 자신에게 숨기” (Which basically means that because so many people were “hurt” and “disappointed” by the video, she feels like hiding herself.) But the group is not doomed; BEG’s management has supposedly edited the video to make it appropriate for prime television stations like SBS and MBC.
My only thought on this situation is that I’m not surprised, but I am a little upset. It has become obvious that in the world of Kpop images of girls will dominate those of women.
Yes, a few shots from the MV were a bit shocking to me during my first viewing. But the more I think about it, the more I have come to appreciate the video as a sort of “Kpop feminist revolution”. Although racy, videos like those of Chae Yeon’s “Shake” and BEG’s “Abracadabra” were meant to present Korean women in a different light. They can’t be expected to publicly play the coy, innocent, and sexually inexperienced children forever.
Does the Korean media expect grown women to pretend to have the mindsets of little girls? It disturbs me that when any other “girl group” in Kpop demonstrates any image of sexuality, it is praised and instantly becomes popular. For example: 2NE1’s CL and Gong Minji’s “floor humping” during an Inkigayo “Fire” performance or Wonder girl’s youngest Sun Mi’s semi lap dance, and Sohee’s Beyonce covers. When the Kpop media gets hold of images like these they are praised as being “hip”, “sexy”, and “cool” despite being off putting to many Westerners due to the young ages and fanbases of the performers.- Performers were 15 (Gong Minji) to 18 (CL) years old.
However, when Korean “women” choose to project a more sexualized side of themselves they are looked down upon by censors and neitizens. Is Korea so afraid to show adult women in control of their own sexuality that they would prefer to cast scantily clad little girls in heavy makeup, to play “grown up” in their place?
I think BEG’s Abracadabra was okay. At least they are of age (correct me if I’m wrong).
http://thegrandnarrative.wordpress.com/
covers lot of the pop culture aspect of sociology and gender issues in Korea
worth a read :)
t-up to the author.
At first I was sort of shocked by the MV because I wasn’t expecting it, but the more I watched the more I liked (not in a sexual sense, but it was very seductive without looking slutty or trashy, I don’t know how to explain it, it’s like a unique classy sexy look). I thought it was a really nice change from the cute concept and I gladly embraced it.
It’s disappointing that netizens/fans can’t appreciate the uniqueness of the MV and how it shows a much more powerful feel. I can understand some scenes being a bit ‘controversial’ but overall, I really did enjoy the MV.
And this is comming from a female’s point of view :P
saharial………..
I’m already a big fan of that blog :) But thanks for the hint!
I’m so glad someone bringing this issue up, because it is disturbing to see the younger members of these groups, who are not even legal, performing awkwardly “sexy” and very adult like moves. It makes me sick to my stomach how Korea would even allow this kind of exploitation of young children happen. They may look super old, but they are little teenage girls! BEG is a strong group and they are older girls, and they are trying to bring womanly sexy back, and these crazy netizens need to lay off of them. Gosh, makes me upset!!
i may be conservative… but i love the music video…
it just means that there are a bunch of prude, frigid and jealous women and a bunch of pedophile men in the country.
I only see BEG as idols the rest are only there for FAP young and old and nothing more yeah WG too. (I saw them on Iggy, MTV doens’t play with backtracks) earplugs pls. IMO
I agree with the author.
Also I dont remember there was some kind of uproar when Shinee done their strip dance in one of the shows…and THAT was pretty odd…especially because of their age. (At least for me.)
I’m so glad you brought up this point. I’m appalled at the hypocrisy and hope that the ladies of BEG remain strong against all the netizens. I was really applauding BEG for pushing the limits and their management company for sticking to their integrity by stating they would not alter the video. (But if it is true they are editing the video – I’d be really disappointed.)
If the ladies of BEG are not allowed to mature, change, and evolve, then the kpop industry sets itself up to just churn out teenage kpop which does nothing to speak to the rest of the consumers of Korea. Nor does it allow for older artists who are talented to continue.
Madonna, love her or hate her, has reinvented herself for almost every generation since her debut in the 80’s. You can chart her growth & differences. While the hardcore fanbase probably never changed, she has increased her exposure to newer generations so that when you attend one of her concerts, you see a range of fans from early 20’s to women in their 40’s. And she’s not the only older artist. While there is still room for improvement, it seems that the West has more breathing room and longevity of artists – at least in music(movies & TV are another issue).
Kpop seems to pander to the young generation and older kpop artists are reduced to either producing or on the fringes of media exposure. Maybe its because I’m here in the US, but I rarely hear about older artists who are still promoting. For example, Shinwha. In the last three years, I rarely heard about them unless they were debuting in a drama or releasing a new single – even then it was a quick PR line vs the interviews, magazine covers, almost overexposure of them in their first few years.
BEG has taken a bold move forward, not just for them, but for the younger female artists following them. Keep your fingers crossed that they will not be shoved backwards.
DUDE YOU’RE RIGHT! no one says anything about minji’s in-your-face chest pops and CL’s floor moves… but then ga-in does the same exact floor humping thing and everyone gets their undies in a bunch >_<
i guess people prefer girls instead of women *sigh*
Again, really interesting article.
I do not agree with author in a way – why narrow this phenomenon to female artists? For me it seems that Korea has obsession with “cute” in any form possible. From insane quantity of cute kids in “Star King” to men far over 20 acting like SuJu Happy (wait… simply SuJu) to SHINee who make older girls feel themselves like Humbert Humbert. All those male and female “nymphets” and “wanna-be-nymphets-for-as-long-as-possible-oh-shit-I-have-to-go-to-military-service-ALREADY?!?!” are invariably popular in Korea. To be honest, they are the only part of Korean entertainment that is interesting for me – because I have plenty of “hot”, “sexy” or “fierce” here but no “cute”.
Still, I’m greatly surprised that even mild sexy image of women (rarely men) who offer themselves to viewers as alluring and seductive from the beginning meets controversary. After all, Korea is not Arabic country that lives following Sharia, WTH? What about sexy, aggressive, powerful ladies – are they prohibited from existance in Korean society?
These girls are growing, their image can’t stay all squeaky clean for the rest of their lives. The video was awesome. The girls should not feel ashamed at all. Your appeal needs to change as your audience grows(up) with you. It was refreshing to see such a pushy, sexual video, instead of some stupid girly-girl BS.
netizens are sexually repressed dorks who sit in internet cafes and attack anyone or anything en masse which bumps up against their fragile ego and perceived slights of culture. In 20 years they will be drunk on soju at noon, yelling at girls smoking, but for now they are the last bastion of a confusciansm, a virtual korean Taliban mob ready to shame and correct any nail that sicks out. just fuck ‘em. madonna got a lotta shit in the 80s and this video rocks.
ughh agree, imho looks like they lowered woman’s dignity. coz it’s okay if u wear skimpy outfits coz it will make ahjussi happy but no to sexual scenes coz we are eastern country with all the cultures and bla bla bla. such a hypocrite. do not want to see as a country who already influenced by western and hold up high their culture but they idolized teenager who wears shorts that barely cover their butts
Agree !!!!
Finally some great MV, not too explicit in my opinion but mature, that shows women ! I’m also getting tired of the little band girl concept with sweets and “lalalala” feeling.
BEG looked all not only sexy but beautiful, they are artists, so they have to evolve…
i wonder why you put SNSD’s picture there when they weren’t mentioned at all in this article?
anyway since the picture is already there, SNSD is a young idol group themselves but they still gets lots of flake for the so called short shorts they wore in “Into the New World”.
it all boils down to preferences.
another good mention should be After School. when they debuted, netizens were quick to point out the so-called “skimpy” outfits worn when these ladies are women, appropriate for their age to wear such outfits. And it wasn’t even worn skankily.
and by the way, it’s not just the Korean mindsets. the international fans are reacting in the same way too and i’m referring to the 2NE1 international fans who think it’s completely okay for CL and Minji to be humping the floor.
i think it was kinda messed up.
yeah the mv was a little, weird ^^;
the song was good
and how is it that when ‘girls’ do something weird they think its cute,
but when BEG does this, they criticize and pretty much hate it?
I, for one, absolutely LOVED the MV…So what if it was a little explicit? Like, GROW UP. They can’t keep acting all girly and cutely till they’re fricking 30, right?
And I agree with the comment about the SuJu members..heck, I’m way younger than them, and I do NOT come close to acting that immature. Don’t get me wrong, I love Suju (I had sorry sorry on repeat everyday in Feb/March) , but they’re over 20 for Gods Sake! Which is why I prefer a group like Big Bang, they’re not cute and childish at all.
But this brigns me to another point, if the guys in Mirotic can let their shirt rip apart, sing about devil’s rides, and if Rain can sing about magic sticks, why is it the female group always getting bashed for showing their sexy side?
*sigh* All I can do is, one day, hope that K-Pop will grow out of this narrow-mindedness and be more accepting ….
Peace out!
great point! this just shows how screwed up the whole thing is.
The MV was great, BEG looked great and there’s nothing shocking about it. They are totally allowed to experiment with whatever they want. I’m sure the same ppl who are criticizing, are probably those getting turned on by it.
It’s funny how the western singers they’re all trying to emulate are “older” stars. ie. Beyonce, Britney, PCD, Lady gaga etc. and they all act explicitly sexy.
I agree with your post.
Now, I don’t understand why they praise these minor and allowed them to leave school while heavily criticizing a woman over some sexy scenes in the video clip.
it’s mainly a bunch of conservative viewpoints. if you show sexuality, apparently you’re being a rebel and nobody wants their kid to turn into some sort of “rebel”. apparently being “cute and sexy” is safer than “sexy and sensual” when essentially they are the same thing just presented in a different manner. when it all comes down to it, sexy is a bad thing only when you view it that way.
censorship is pretty extreme in korea if you ask me but i think that’s just how scared the country is of having their kids go bad. the media/entertainment industry is the closest thing to their kids and they want every bit of it to be pg-13 even though kids nowadays clearly know things that they probably shouldn’t at earlier ages. in a way, it’s denial on the adults’ part that kids catch onto dirty jokes faster than they think. but when it comes down to it, it’s just a lot of controversial actions and what not. go figure.
Unfortunately this isn’t unique to Korea. Young women in the entertainment industry are used constantly to show the sexy innocent girl image. Girls who are on the verge of sexual maturity and agency, but who are naive and wide eyed enough to not seem intimidating because apparently the image of a woman in control of herself/her sexuality is scary or just ’slutty’ (I hate it when people refer to women that way). I can see how a fan of BEG might feel betrayed, if he/she really loved their last look, but to shame them for making a change…that’s not cool.
Love the link, by the way, saharial.
I sort of don’t agree with the author…
This is just my opinion, but I totally don’t like BEG’s music video. I felt that it was trashy soft porn. The producers obviously had in mind that sex would sell, and they resorted to this kind of stuff. It’s already been shown that people, whether they like it or not, are attracted to this stuff. I really respected this group because they could actually sing and come out with really cool concepts, but this time, it was just tacky. I guess I’m a bit on the conservative side, but I can tell you that there’s a fine line between sexy and over-doing it. Like Hyori. People don’t hate on her when she’s wearing just a bra in her music video U-Go-Girl (Even though she was kind of pushing it). But come on, BEG are freaking kissing each other, back dancers are feeling their chests, and they’re pulling shirts off of guys.
I can see why the author doesn’t get why the younger ones are off the hook when it comes to “sexy” stuff. But I don’t think that’s a fair comparison because BEG’s music video was really over-the-top.
what i dont understand is how a country that supposedly has one of the biggest sex industries in the world, can be so prudish about something like this.
not only that to rephrase what someone above said, its totally okay for people like minzy to drop out of school but god forbid two grown women “imply” kissing each other in a music video and all shit goes to hell. AM i Missing something here.
these people have there priorities backed up.
watch the damn video, if you like it, you like it if you dont, you dont. move on with your life. its that simple.
Its all about popularity. If a girl group as popular as SNSD were to do that exact same dance as BEG, i doubt they would get in very much trouble. Its so hard for girl groups to debut with the sexy image because the first thing you deal with is criticism, and i applaud 2NE1 for doing everything they have done, because they dont rely on “cute” while they are on stage. I dont think anyone should rely on the CUTE image, because it doesnt effing exist in everyday life. Even though BEG’s mv was a but “Racy” i dont find it over the top at ALL.
I can name worse MV’s than this. And when all these girl groups are aiming for the cute image its not like BEG would do the same damn thing. Im so glad they brought some ass into the scene, dont people get tired of listening to cheesy upbeat tunes that sound like nursery rhymes? Im so happy that groups like 2NE1 and after school exist as well. I know there are many more groups i could name…
And of crouse Hyori wont get bashed. she wouldnt get bashed even if she was naked, cos she built up a solid fan base and everyone loves her.
Idk but i think BEG did a fine job, and if no one is willing to do something like this then what the hell is the point. I dont want to listen to cute lil bo beep songs forever.
@ “Somebody?” – I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I agree w/ Vixenvarla about Korean “women” (not 15 year olds) being allowed to freely express their sexuality, but there’s a certain line that defines the tastefulness and aesthetic value of the artists’ expression.
As a 22 year old Korean woman, when I see Hyori in soju commercials or dancing sexily in MVs, I’m right there w/ her cheering her on and saying (literally) “you GO and work your THANG GIRL!!”. She’s maintains the sexy without it being shameful and disgraceful towards her image as a confidant woman in her 30s.
YOU CAN STILL BE SEXY AND EXPRESS YOUR SEXUALITY WITH SUBTLETY AND CLASS.
What BEGs did in their video was raunchy and almost incited gag reflex. THEY WERE NOT TRYING TO EXPRESS THEIR SEXUALITY. The reason why the mv came off as so contrite and inappropriate especially w/ BEGs as the actresses is b/c it seemed FORCED AND UNNATURAL.
In my opinion, BEGs MANAGEMENT wanted to raise the group’s awareness/attention and spike up ratings/viewers/fanbase. Clearly, the BEGs are AMAZING vocalists and can sing WAY better than majority of Kpop girl groups. HOWEVER, management thought VOCALS ARE NOT ENOUGH IN THE INDUSTRY. To get by in the business, SEX SELLS, so it’s as if they imposed this overly exaggerated image on BEGs.
The BEGs have been around for awhile. What I can’t understand is WHY NOW this change, and WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE SO EXTREME all of a sudden?
Again, female SEXUAL EMPOWERMENT is GREAT! BUT, WHEN YOU GO BEYOND WHAT SEEMS NATURAL AND LOSE THE SOPHISTICATION/CLASS, THAT SAME SEXUAL EMPOWERMENT BECOMES DEGRADING AND SHAMEFUL…
sorry BEG fans. I love them too, but this MV was wrong.
I found Abracadabra wholly enjoyable. It wasn’t a deep or emotionally evocative MV, but it definitely wasn’t porno-like. imo, it was an edgy, French Vogue kind of sexy. The song was rockin, the girls looked fierce, and okay, there were hanky panky undertones, but it wasn’t trashy. The MV is purely entertainment. If the viewer isn’t mature enough to take it, then just don’t watch it. I’m disappointed that their popularity took a hit just because they tried to show a more mature type of sexy.
To yuck:
“Again, female SEXUAL EMPOWERMENT is GREAT! BUT, WHEN YOU GO BEYOND WHAT SEEMS NATURAL AND LOSE THE SOPHISTICATION/CLASS, THAT SAME SEXUAL EMPOWERMENT BECOMES DEGRADING AND SHAMEFUL…”
It is great, but what are you assuming is “natural?” That women and femininity are supposed to be only a certain way? So you’re saying that a woman’s sexual empowerment, in any form that isn’t what you deem sophisticated/classy, is degrading, and I dare say it, shameful? Really? I’d say your previous statement on empowerment is a bunch of bull. Personal boundaries are personal boundaries, but they shouldn’t apply to an entire gender because everyone’s different. Your definition of femininity is probably different from mine (and I’m a 22 year old Korean woman also), but I don’t think it helps any to call out one’s own gender for being degrading and shameful when what they’re doing is just expressing a facet of femininity, which is sexuality. I’m not saying that their portrayal is the only means of sexual expression, but that it’s just one of them.
I will agree with you on one point, that BEG’s management was probably the mastermind behind their new look. But I would like to think or hope that since BEG are not young, underage girls, that they had a say and that this direction was a collaboration. Who knows, but you’d think that with them being older and not teenagers, that they would garner some control.
But to label things as ‘unnatural’ or ’shameful’ is like trying to apply ‘normal’ to anything in life. There is no set standard because it varies from person to person.
I didn’t find the MV over the top for BEG. There are a lot more explicit videos out there. Britney Spears anyone? But, probably for a conservative nation like Korea, the video looked too sexy/provocative for younger audiences who are the main target of musicians and idols. I also think it just came as a shock to some since the change in image was kind of abrupt. Hyori was mentioned a while ago, but Hyori sort of “grew up” before the eyes of the media since her Finkl days and I think it was balanced by her hosting and variety shows where you see that its just an image. Here, BEG didn’t have the luxury of easing the public to their new image and to show that they are not like that in real life. Maybe they should have made the scenes a less provocative but only for a lil bit. The vid was hot.BEG members are sexy women who should celebrate their sexuality.
I agree with the author that BEG can’t be considered as lil girls forever and do the cutesy like idol girl groups. But, as I said, they should have gradually eased the audience to it.
i don’t care eh-eh-eh-eh-eh
No one cares about BEG lol
Some of the scenes were eyebrow-raising, but what puzzles me is people don’t seem to care that Narsha was depicted as handcuffing a guy and then electrocuting him. Rather, they are making fuss over a 21 year old GaIn’s “love scene” and an implied kiss between two girls. I wonder, what does it say about our society when we find sexuality to be more repulsive than violence?
Anyways, I loved “Abracadabra”. The black outfits they wore are amazing.
Holy crap Ga-in is like the best female ever to come out of the music rubble in months.
They need to lay off that woman. I don’t know the last time I saw a kpop singer so damn confident, sexy, mature, and womanly. They’re a dying breed. Bring us some more, woman!!!
I Agree with the author.
It’s ok for Minzy to pop her chest showing her bra like she did in the street version of the fire MV when she’s barely 15. There’s nothing malicious in a pillowfight engaged in a kinky bedroom between girls dressed in pijamas that would suit 8 years old better like some snsd girls did in their Genie MV. It’s ok having sohee almost naked every goddamned time she “covers” anything eventho she’s 17.
But if Son Ga-In, a gorgeous & talented 21 years old woman is gettin “intrested” in a man (gorgeous in his own right, I must say) against a wall then the word stands up CROSSED because she’s not supposed to.
If she wonted to pull off the sexy concept then she should have dressed herself with a mini school uniform singing about first kisses pinching her own cheeks. Cuz acting Lolita-like desplays your “bubbly”, “sweet” and “cute” personality.
GROW UP KOREA. THAT’s SO RIDICOLOUSLY GROSS AND PITFUL I CAN’T EVEN MANAGE TO GET ANGRY. I’M JUST NAUSEATED.
And since i bumped into it, “Again, female SEXUAL EMPOWERMENT is GREAT! BUT, WHEN YOU GO BEYOND WHAT SEEMS NATURAL AND LOSE THE SOPHISTICATION/CLASS, THAT SAME SEXUAL EMPOWERMENT BECOMES DEGRADING AND SHAMEFUL…”
THIS WHOLE STATEMENT SHOWS HOW ARREAR A PART OF KOREAN SOCIETY IS. WHE CONDAMN A KISS BETWEEN TWO WOMEN, STILL TALKIN ABOUT SEXUALITY AS SHAMEFUL? THIS KIND OF LOGIC STILL WORKS IN YEMEN PROBABLY. NOT IN A COUNTRY THAT PROPOSES ITSELF AS EVERCHANGING AND MODERN.
And I said A PART of society since this kind of mentality is never shown, for example, in korean movies, wich happen to be some of the most MODERN and free pieces of work in the world film industy.
This lead me to think that this sexuality issue is more spread between the ignorants masses than the actual majority.
you forgot the shinee/snsd collab where the shinee boys put their heads between the girls’ legs.
…. not sexy.
and what? I loved GaIn in that MV.
she was freaking fierce.
can’t see that from the girl groups these days.
i find it very inappropriate for young girl girl groups like -ahem, SNSD- to portray the image of adult sexiness and nobody ever criticizes them for it. Imagine my surprise when I found out that these “girls” are actually girls, as in minors! they are not even of age yet (most of them). And yet their songs are shouting sexual innuendos with the lyrics of “Tell me your wish” and Wonder Girls’ “I’m so hot” plus their oh so sexy moves on the dance floor. I mean come on, teenagers are dancing sultry on the stage with super short shorts and skimpy mini skirts with a sailor concept???? It is more like a concept you see in a porno movie.
I find the hypocrisy so big that older girl groups that are of age are punished and criticized severely by the public by showing their sexuality. I wonder if this is a cultural thing in Korea?
Netizens are so full of FAIL. It’s just a MUSIC VIDEO. I thought it was done tastefully and I personally really like it.
i think that BEG video wasn’t that bad… i don’t kno y they r gettin so much heat for it… they r in their 20 it is not like they r teenagers… y should they act like little girls if they rn’t … also i couldn’t understand y chae yeon video shake had to be re edited… even tho it was a little revealing who the hell care … Chae Yeon is a grown woman she is like 30 years old
girl groups like SNSD wonder girls and 2ne1, where their ages r ne where between 15-22, don’t get heat when they do speacial (sexy) stage performances… i think it is time for woman to act their age…when i saw that 2ne1 music perfomance where CL n Minji was on the floor i was shocked (my hand was litterally covering my mouth)… minji is not of age yet and CL is just of age… i could understand if bom n dara was on the floor but bom n dara have to uphold the more cute concept of the group (which is totally backwards b/c dara n bom is like 25 years old)… So hee n sun mi from wonder girls does many sexy solo stage performances than the other three girls combined… n not to 4get SNSD doin kicks on stage with miniskirts… no wonder men go crazy over them more so than the older girl groups which r closer than there age… NEways how could u let older men lust over under aged girls n girls that just recently graduate from high school… sometimes i think the korean industry is totally backwards
[...] First up then, in a post I’m embarrassed not to have written myself, VixenVarla of Seoulbeats asks if Korean society is really ready for “women” idols, and thinks not: noting the [...]
props to ya vixen varla for ‘The Grand Narrative’’s compliment and track back!!!
In America, that’d be normal. ¬_________¬
Oh yea and btw, has anyone seen Lady GaGa’s live in Korea? TONS of teens were there. Like WTF? I thought Korean parents wanted their children to listen to “cute” songs like Gee or whatever not Lady GaGa.
[...] broadcast on public television and radio in recent months, then last month I and VixenVarla at SeoulBeats naturally expected the same for what is easily the most sexually explicit Korean music video [...]
[...] First up then, in a post I’m embarrassed not to have written myself, VixenVarla of Seoulbeats asks if Korean society is really ready for “women” idols, and thinks not: noting the [...]