Socio-Cultural
20111211_seoulbeats_rain

K-pop: A Dirty Little Secret

104
Written by On December 12, 2011

For as long as I can remember, I have loved pop music and more specifically boy bands. At the tender age of 6, I was already showing fangirl tendencies when I proclaimed to anyone who would listen that I would definitely marry Jordan Knight someday.  As a teenager, I got my first job to supplement my ‘N SYNC habit, because babysitting money just wasn’t cutting it when it came to fulfilling my concert and merchandise needs. Eventually, the musical landscape of America changed; Justin Timberlake went solo, and everyone else faded into oblivion.

A few years ago when I discovered K-pop on the internet, it was like finding a long-lost friend, that musical security blanket I’d packed away with my childhood.  I was so happy I’d found a place in the world where the boy band model was flourishing with the likes of DBSK and Big Bang.  They even had a king-sized group in Super Junior;  I was hooked.  In the beginning I kept this new-found fascination to myself as I familiarized myself with the genre and developed biases.  Then one day when I got into my car with a friend and T-ara’s “Bo Peep Bo Peep” blared from the speakers when I turned the ignition.  I was mortified!  Why was I so embarrassed about the music that I liked? I have always been one to freely admit that I had questionable taste in music, and loved most anything pop, so why would pop music sung in Korean be such a big deal?

When I finally started telling friends and family about K-pop, I received mixed reactions.  Some people were perplexed: “Why would you listen to something when you don’t even know what they are saying?” while others were at least mildly curious: “This song is pretty good…13 members?!” and still others were just downright ignorant: “All these Chinese people look alike.  Are they gay?”  The negative reactions outweighed the positive ones to the point that I didn’t really feel like mentioning it anymore, because I didn’t want to have to explain myself anymore.  I became extremely frustrated with the superiority and isolationism exhibited by my society.

America regularly exports its culture around the world, from movies and music to McDonald’s, but generally, there is no reciprocal importing from other areas in the world.   However, the internet is closing the cultural gap between the United States and the rest of the world making foreign films, television & music more accessible, and I think that the younger generations will continue to be more globally exposed and open-minded than the previous ones.  Until then, I think I’ll keep K-pop as my little secret.

Are you a k-pop fan in hiding, or are you loud and proud?  What reactions have you received when telling others about you love of this musical genre?

(P H Yang Photography, Submerging Markets)

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  • Yeou_miin

    I’m pretty open about my k pop :) I have the rule of ‘my car, my music’, so most of the time my friends are forced to listen to my kpop rants about how I’m so massively obsessed with how gdragon can constantly change his hair and still keep it so shiney. In saying that, I dont own any cds, posters nor keep any pictures of kpop idols in my computer cause I personally prefer men with more…. Meat on them lol. I think that music is all about personal taste. Kpop isn’t always about huge boybands and mediocre music. Given the right artist, korean music has wonderful flow, and I like how the language sounds when sung. I have an Italian friend who listens to tablo, leessang, beg and to a certain extent big bang, but hates snsd, super junior and shinee simply because he doesn’t like the genre of music they portray. My best friend listens to hardcore rock but still has ‘forever with you’ by BB.
    I’m not really into the conventional kpop idols, and have heavy opinions on idol treatment from entertainment companies and the censoring of music because it may ‘damage the national pyche’ bullshit. In saying this, I appreciate what kpop is and always bop my head to my only snsd song on my ipod… genie….. Such a guilty pleasure hehehe

  • Dubscar

    I am loud and proud of my music! I blare it from my car stereo and my stereo in my apartment. I have never been ashamed of it because I have always known that it is what makes me unique and different from those around me. When I first tell people about my music, they do laugh at me and dont totally understand it. I get the same response about not understanding the lyrics and such but I just tell them its what I like and that is it. I’m very fortunate though because my, parenrs have always been supportive of my choice in music and understand it. I have met a few people that actually find it cool that I like this music. Honestly one day in the near future I do a lot more exposure being given to k-pop and the likes and will be extremly happy when that does happen in the west.

  • Anonymous

    I do find myself apologizing to unsuspecting colleagues who get into my car to find my Kpop blaring. It’s not something I expect them to understand. At the same time, I don’t try to hide it. I’m known to be individualistic so this just adds to my eccentricity. I got into Asian cultures to escape American culture–the Kadashians, the Jersey Shore, the housewives, and the 24-hour news cycle. Asian cultures still have a level of innocence and discipline that are long gone from the American culture, although they may be fading fast, too.

    I do have one pet peeve: Who the hell started the use of the term “fangirl?” It sounds so derogatory. Also, I’m annoyed by the inappropriate use of English in general. What the hell is “fighting?” Like, you’re going to punch someone or what? Just as I know for a fact that Asians cringe at inappropriate use of Asian languages by westerners (better check that kanji before you have it tattooed on your body), I cringe at inappropriate use of English in all aspects of Asian cultures. It’s funny, but in a very bad way.

  • Anonymous

    Everyone’s pretty much already repeated my story when it comes to kpop. It’s a secret except for close friends and family. I don’t share it because I don’t feel like dealing with the judging. I just want to pop in to say how happy I was to see *NSYNC at the top of this article and super-shiny-bonus-points for the Jordan Knight mention. I’m impressed, Seoulbeats. Very impressed. =)

    • http://www.kfashionista.com Jessie

      Hahaha, thanks!  I seriously still have a soft spot in my heart for him :D

  • Anonymous

    OMG! I’m totally hiding my love for kpop.  Only my close family and one friend knows how obessed I am.  I live in New Zealand and am not korean, so it is really hard for me to find people who actually know what kpop is.  When I do meet someone who might know what I am talking about I feel need to hold in my excitement out of fear I will show how much I am a fangirl.  Since I first stumbled across Super Juniors Don’t Don on youtube over 6 years ago, kpop has become my world.  I now own more kpop than western music, I watch more korean drama’s and variety shows than western tv, the majority of the stuff I read on the internet is about kpop and I listen to kpop radio while I am at work.  I do get embarrased about being a fangirl but it is too much fun to give up.

  • https://me.yahoo.com/a/zs7ITR93moWQEekTSwzTHR9j1u.Z2xEl0w--#542b8 LoL

    i guess this article isn’t applicable to koreans. sigh…..

    my parents and cousins rejoiced when i started paying attention to KPop and Kdramas, they still have some hope that i can still learn how to speak the language

    • http://www.kfashionista.com Jessie

      so you were more of a black sheep because you DIDN’T like k-pop, that is actually an interesting perspective though!

    • Nugu

      That’s weird because I’m African American but none of the Koreans I know actually listen to Kpop or at least they don’t anymore…..as a matter of fact none of my Asian friends are interested.

      • zz

        hmmm…. I know both…. Asians who are probably more close-minded against Asian pop culture than anybody I know…..  and Asians who really like it.  

      • seth

        I’m Asian, I started liking kpop late of 2007. I don’t understand the lyrics, but I enjoyed the music. It’s fun. After long hours of working, it’s nice to go home…lie down and listen to their music or watch korean dramas. My sister laugh at me when I told her it made me relax…kpop is my stress reliver. I’m proud to be asian and proud to be a fan of kpop even though I don’t understand a thing except when there’s a sub title…kekekeke.

  • Anonymous

    LOVE MY KPOP AND AM LOUD AND PROUD ABOUT IT. EVERYWHERE I WALK I SING TO MY MUSIC, I WORKOUT BY DANCING/PERFORMING TO KPOP MUSIC ONCE A WEEK AT MY LOCAL PARK, AND BE SPORTING MY KOREAN HIP HOP TEE EVERYDAY. I’VE GOTTEN THE “WHY/HOW ARE YOU INTO CHINESE PEOPLE” BUT FOR THE MOST PART PEOPLE ARE JUST SHOCKED THAT I, A BLACK MAN, UNDERSTANDS KOREAN. I ACTUALLY GOT MY FRIEND INTO KPOP AND JPOP. WE WENT TO SEE BIG BANG AND THE YG CREW BACK IN 2006 AND WERE THE ONLY GROUP THERE WITH NO ASIANS. AMERICANS NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL UNDERSTAND THE AWESOMENESS OF ASIANS. THERE ARE NO MAJOR/MAINSTREAM ASIAN AMERICAN SINGERS SO THERE IS THIS STIGMA THAT ASIANS CANT SING (I’VE HEARD THIS FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION WHY THERE ARE NO ASIAN SINGERS IN AMERICA). I’LL JUST CONTINUE BEING THE ONLY ONE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SECRET TREASURE THAT IS ASIAN MUSIC (KPOP ALWAYS FIRST, JPOP AND MANDOPOP A CLOSE SECOND)

  • Aliaschantra

    Those reactions sound familiar! I got those from my friends too when I started to get hooked to kpop! Almost 4 years ago, kpop was unheard of. They can’t differentiate Chinese from Korean or Japanese; they all think their Chinese. And ‘gay’ is almost always their first reaction. They can’t understand why I listen to something gibberish and even buy their stuff online.  It is very unlike me I must admit but DBSK at that time was so addicting I just can’t resist. They were really uninterested but I just kept on bombarding them stuff like videos, songs, even variety appearances and they just humored me for friendship’s sake. Haha. I felt kind of ashamed at first because I sounded so uncool but likes are likes and I came to realize that there’s no shame in liking any kind of music. Appreciate what you appreciate and respect other’s inclination. Love what you love and disregard what others say if it causes no harm to them.  Eventually, kpop became a common word in the Philippines and I’m not so different anymore. I got some friends hooked too. Though my passion for kpop has waned, I still check its music scene once in a while like now. :)

  • http://twitter.com/nozomi05 Dee

    Loud and proud. 

    I have liked foreign films long before I got into Kpop and that included Korean films and dramas.

    My love of music beyond the English language started when I became a fan of  Utada Hikaru and Arashi and I was into Jpop for quite awhile. Then I discovered DBSK and thus my love affair with Kpop began though in all honesty, I like DBSK’s Japanese songs better.

    Like in any relationship, there have been ups and downs and as for now with DBSK’s separation, it is a down time for me but there is hope still. I am discovering new groups like INFINITE and my love of Big Bang has sustained me through to keep me into Kpop.

    • chunnie

      I like DBSK ‘s Japanese osngs too. I thought its better than their korean song. Just my own thought.. to others who don’t approve…please don’t be angry :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000793762972 Ashley Polk

    I got into Kpop this August. With my closest friends, Im loud and Proud lols. They just laugh at my so called “obsession” over Rain. lol like they always say “Rain rain go away come again… never” T_T Lol Most of my experiences have been positive ones. But i think that is because Im a military kid and have spent most of my life overseas’s… so they view me as an international girl. So they let it pass. (at least, that’s my theory, since I’m Black) 

    My friends on the West Coast however, all know about kpop because its more popular there, and once again i have no problems there.

  • Anonymous

    Honestly, I’m kind of in the middle, I don’t try to pull everyone I know into my love for KPop, but I don’t hide it either. I have a couple of friends and my twin sister who I talk to it about, but that’s because they’re fans too. As a matter of fact, my brother actually found out that I like KPop just a month ago, he saw my sister on allkpop and youtube. He asked, “you guys listen to Korean pop?”, we said yes and that was the end of it…I don’t really have a lot of ignorant people around me so, if I wanted to, I think I COULD be loud and proud about it :P

  • http://gabidubu.tumblr.com Gabi

    I started to tell my closest friends first, and even some of them who didn’t like it, now do. My friends at school also know, and they pretty much respect my taste, but they still make fun of me once in a while, just to tease me. There are some other ‘friends’ that also know, and well…let’s just say they’re not my friends anymore, at least I don’t consider them like that, because of some ignorant comments, but that’s another story. 
    So, I never tried to ‘convert’ people that’s close to me, so I guess that’s why I’m pretty much respected. Instead, I just made a few interesting comments, and they just felt curious by their own, and let them ask me to show some music and stuff. 
    My family also supports my love for kpop, because they know my sister and I have different tastes of music since we were little (my first music-love was jpop anime when I was 10 years old, so they’re used to it now). 
    Plus, once in a while I post videos on Facebook, so I’m sure other people know as well. But overall, I think I’m good.

  • http://www.raelyanew.blogspot.com Raelyan

    I know how you feel to an extent. I started listening to Jpop back when I was about 11… so that’s nearly 12 years ago. I got the same “omg, that’s gay. I can’t understand it” sort of thing. It’s amazing how racist and close minded people can be.

    At the end of the day, it makes you happy. Listen to it! You’re embracing another culture and it’s fun! Screw them ^_~

  • rawrx3itslynn

    With my Asian friends, we’re more open minded about these things, so I am able to express my kpop love aloud. With my co-workers however, they’re the generic party-hard type of people and are generally close minded, making it hard to talk to them about kpop or anything culture-wise. I get weird looks and teased every so often when I do mention kpop, so I generally keep it to myself.

  • http://twitter.com/CherylTYL Teo Yan Ling

    I don’t mind to spam my facebook’s wall with Big Bang and 2NE1, does this means I am loud? But at the end, I am very proud to be a VIP and Blackjack! I am actually a new k-pop lover, just as the non-k-pop lover, I used to think it is very childish to listen k-pop. Probably most of them are too good looking that cause me tBut even though I am an Asian, its also kinda hard to intro K-pop to my closet friends! They do love korean drama but then they just don’t listen their music!

  • Japan_qaf

    Its hard enuff liking something underground like kpop, add the fact that i mostly listen to tiger jk, epik high, dynamic duo, lessang, lady t, even dumbfoundead…im a loner when it comes to kpop fans around me. Most of them are into snsd, wondergirls,tvxq, super junior. I love love 2ne1 and bb, but im mostly alone there too lol. If non kpop fans see me watching something asian they usually ask and then call me lil asian girl…im not asian btw.

  • Japan_qaf

    Altho most of my non kpop friends actually like 2ne1 :)

  • Kandice Farmer

    I feel the same way about K-pop.  I wrote about it here:
     http://pink-elephants.com/2011/11/23/yep-im-a-k-popper/

    and here: http://pink-elephants.com/2011/11/23/yep-im-a-k-popper-part-2/

    excellent article!  

  • http://twitter.com/ryzlbrmudz Rayzel Bermudez

    I live in Canada, and at my school, it’s not too uncommon for someone to be listening to Kpop. I mean, it’s not the majority, but it’s not unheard of – most of the people I know who are non-listeners at least have general knowledge on Taeyang (esp. during Wedding Dress, it was SO BIG) and 2NE1. Most likely, you can walk up to any asian and they listen to it xD Lol, it makes me totally grateful that I can be open about it with my friends. Some of my best friends sometimes get frustrated when I’m conversing about Kpop with others cause they have no clue what we’re going on about, so I’m actually taking the time to introduce it to them :) Of course, everyone’s a little ignorant, I know I didn’t instantly fall for SHINee, my first Kpop group, but I grew into it – usually I make sure to introduce Kpop to people by using songs more in their comfort zone – like Beast, Jay Park, BIGBANG, Tablo. N I always ramble about it to my brother as well but he just thinks it’s weird to be listening to something I don’t understand :P The only people I sort of hide it from is my parents. They wouldn’t disapprove though, they’d probably think I’m just really strange.

  • rhea

    here in indonesia, kpop just started to be really big, so actually there’s no reason NOT to be loud about it, since almost all pop magazines i know even have already put some of kpop stars on their cover. it IS a fever now, but when will this wave go down, it’s still unknown.
    i myself have been known as The Kpop Queen in my school, to the point where my friends would ask me first if they have questions about kpop. Not to boast, but i even got interviewed by my school magazine.
    i have been loud and proud, even without me knowing it. i mean, ive been living this kpop frenzy for six years now, it’s already become a part of me, wheter i like it or not.  kpop and people inside it is just like my, yeah, long-lost friend, who will always cheer me up and will not betray me. it’s pathetic, maybe, but well, i guess a lot of us here have the same symptoms as i do.
    my point is, there’s nothing to be ashamed about KPOP, but there’s also nothing that important to make us fight with other people just because of kpop. yeah, they do look gay sometimes, but they ARE handsome. this is maybe what i think many kpop fans should learn, to keep our heads down (a la tvxq) while facing those ignorant people who bash our lovely biases when they do not know anything about it. since, like it or not, they maybe are godly, handsome, heavenly or anything, but they are most unlikely to become ours.

  • Kpopgirl

    i am just like you lol… only im younger. 
    only my family, and a friend know about my love for kpop. i feel like i will be judged and believe me i know its hard. Its not easy being called weird, or looked at funny. so if you feel the need to keep it to yourself, feel free to do so. you dont need to tell the world if your not comfortable. Ive liked kpop since i was 14, and im 15 now, so it hasnt been that long :) . i dont understand korean, im from north america, but i still enjoy kpop. i like pop music, and i dont care about the language its sung in. remember that if people judge you for a type of music you like, are they really someone you’d like to be friends with anyways? 

  • Blossemcup4

    Only my family knows I love Kpop. My mother, eldest brother, and older sister all think it’s weird that my twin sister and I like hearing people sing in a language we don’t understand. My other brother is into Japanese music so he doesn’t really care; he actually started liking some Kpop songs. I kind of wish Kpop could remain a secret to the rest of the world because it feels like it’s mine and I don’t want to share it with anyone but my sister (and maybe my brother too). I was also really into the boy band fad in the US back in the day. I absolutely loved ‘NSYNC (JC was my favorite).

  • http://twitter.com/auiacebuque08 Aui Acebuque

    actually almost everyone I know knows I love Kpop.. I just started liking the genre last year, but this appreciation is I think on a different level.. I’m not liking because of the pretty faces; it’s because of the culture this genre shows, and the pure quality music that they produce.. It’s quite intriguing to me, to the point that I am now self-studying to learn the Korean language.. Yes I get laughed at sometimes but I really don’t care, though sometimes I get hurt, I still am proud that I like the genre.. I often play kpop music in my workplace with my workmates hearing it… My strategy is that I let them be curious on what I’m listening or reading (in Hangul), so that somehow they can get a bit of respect on the genre… after that they’ll say, oh yeah that one’s catchy… I don’t think we should be ashamed for liking the genre… It’s like respecting other people’s preferences or decisions, so we shouldn’t be deprived of being proud for what we like.. :)

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/G4YEZ75723SO7262VEMHAJ4W4M nou

    Not necessarily Kpop that I enjoy listening to. I like listening to Kballads and certain songs, but usually it’s because they’re from a drama or movie…and if I listen to a Ksong that’s not from a movie or drama I usually listen to it with my ear phones. 

  • Anonymous

    I had a friend “partner in crime” who was asked why she liked listening to songs she couldn’t understand, and that question baffled me. You don’t have to know the lyrics in order to like a song. You either like the music or not. Yes, I for one, place great importance on lyrics (which is why there are translations, people. That makes the whole “listening to a language you don’t understand” argument rather void), and I expect my favorite songs to have decent lyrics at least. 

    I don’t really share my passion for Asian entertainment, though my family and friends know me and all my quirks. I just don’t flail/ramble about it. Sometimes I can have a nice discussion on cultural differences with my mom or best friend but that’s about it and I’m fine. If someone ever said something bad about K-Pop I would say “each to his own.” and wish for them to respect my choices. There’s no point in defending your favorite genre/band/drama. You can only ask of people that if they don’t want to open their minds and understand you, at least leave you alone and accept your and the other hundreds of thousands of people’s tastes and beliefs. :)

  • Adrian Atanacio

    It’s a secret, k-pop and heavy metal do not mix. I walk in two completely different worlds.

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