Over the last few years, K-pop (Korean pop) has become a global phenomenon that is enjoyed and adored by many (including me). It has boomed with popularity due to powerhouse groups, such as BTS, Blackpink, Twice, and many more. K-pop artists are taking the world by storm with their intricate choreography, captivating performances, and catchy songs. It is so much more than music; it’s dancing, it’s performing, it’s physical albums, it’s fandoms, it’s an infatuation. But, there has also been a negative side that hasn’t been talked about as much as it should be — the mistreatment of women in the K-pop industry. For this piece, I thought I’d dive deep and share some research on what women have faced in the world of K-pop.
In order to understand the life of a female K-pop idol, we have to talk about what being a K-pop idol actually entails. Besides being a performer and a musician, idols are required to be just what their title says: an “idol.” They are held to a certain standard by fans to be the perfect version of themselves. This includes looks, personality, mannerisms, and much more. It also includes fitting into the gender roles that are assigned to them. For example, female idols are often dressed in small and skimpy outfits, which they are then expected to perform intricate choreography in. For example, a girl group named Momoland was expected by their company to perform in extremely short shorts that cause visible discomfort. This drew negative attention from fans, causing a large scandal to emerge. But this isn’t uncommon. There are other female idols who are given overly revealing stage outfits by their company, causing them to appear uncomfortable on stage. Joy and Irene from Red Velvet are two examples.
A common issue that has been prevalent in the K-pop industry is the dismissal of female idols as they become older. In other words, women in the industry are more valuable when they are younger in age, as young as fourteen. This, however, doesn’t apply to men due to the Korean military law, which forces them to enlist before the age of thirty. Because of this, men leave their groups temporarily and return back after they serve their country. Then, they resume their idol job as usual. But, women often face pressure to perform better as they get older, as if there were an “expiration date” on them. According to Divya Godbole’s article, “How K-Pop Perpetuates Double Standards For Men And Women,” “Thirty is considered old in the K-pop world and hence there are hardly any girl groups that extend their contracts beyond the seven/ten year period. Powerhouse groups such as 2Ne1, 4Minute and Sistar have all disbanded before reaching their tenth anniversary of debut.” These groups were at their peak popularity, but because of their age, their company decided to halt all activities and move on to younger idols. This often crushes idol’s dreams and ruins their successful career. Another large reason why there is an imaginary age limit on female idols is the fact that younger women are more desirable in Korea and across the world. As stated in “Crafted for the Male Gaze: Gender Discrimination in the K-Pop Industry” by Liz Jonas, “Aspects of this formula include hyper sexualization and infantilization to manifest the male gaze’s hegemonic sexual fantasy that girls and young women around 16-25 years of age are the most desirable.”
While I can certainly talk more about this topic, it’s difficult to fit it all into 600 words or less. I recommend checking out Jonas’ piece. I love K-pop and the excitement that surrounds it, but these tough discussions are important to have in order to put a stop to the harsh discrimination and standards women face in the industry.
Girl Talk is an Opinion column written by a current female student to discuss issues surrounding women, whether it be feminism, current events, personal experiences at Stevens or in life, and more.
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