When Will It Stop

I've been intrigued by writing about this topic since 2022. It's about Korean pop culture, which is spreading and booming internationally now. No one in this world knows about Korean culture, even the elders in our country. Bu Megawati knows it too, for your information. She said things about anyeong haseyo and saranghae in their political party meeting.

Okay, it's time for TMI (too much information).

SO! I've been exposed to Korean culture since I was a junior high schooler circa 2010-ish. Since then, I have kept hyping and cheering for all the boy and girl groups that made a comeback by watching their comeback stage and downloading the music video (in Indonesia at that time, the internet was so limited for the middle range, so it's better to download it, and then you can watch it over and over). I also watch Korean dramas and reality shows. It happened like 2 years in my junior high school for my K-pop era. When other kids listen to Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Westlife (?), my small circle of friends and I listen to Korean pop. Back then, people watched us as cringe people because we hyped the K-pop idol :)

When I entered the boarding school for senior high school, my K-pop era was over. My internet access was limited, and there were strict rules about accessing the K-pop thingies. But I still had access when I was home. I asked some friends about their collection of Korean dramas and some music videos. But I was too focused on academics, so I couldn't enjoy it.

Things were getting really different when I entered the university era. I never thought that people were still talking about K-pop. I mean, everyone that I knew talked about it. I continued to watch dramas and reality shows, but not for the boy and girl groups. I found it hard to remember every member's name and face, so I dropped it.

But in 2020-ish, I found an interesting Korean band during the COVID era. It's Day6. I found them unique and their music on point. I love semi-rock music, so Day6 became an eargasm for me. But you know, in 2020, they were in their hiatus era. So, every member was out of duty except for one named Jae. In their hiatus era, Jae was streaming daily, playing games with some friends, and sometimes he produced some songs. The other members were not as active as Jae. Sometimes, they just do some live and mc-ing radio. Actually, the one that made them on hiatus was Jae. He struggled with his mental health. He told the viewers that the K-pop industry was so strict, and they made their idols as products to sell. So, they make it as perfect as possible, and they can't make decisions independently. Everything was ruled.

On their hiatus, they made one album named Negentropy. That was the last time I joined the hype of the comeback album. Even though there was no comeback stage, I was happy. But you know everyone makes a mistake, and it does, Jae. About one or two months later, he made a blunder and controversial statement about his friends. Everyone was outraged about it. So he decided to get out of the K-pop industry and from Day 6. We were upset back then, but it may be the best decision.

Two years after that thing happened. Day6 came back with four members, and Jae continued to produce his solo songs and even albums. And you know, since October 2023, there has been a big massacre and genocide happening in Palestine. Everyone came out to the streets, protesting to the government and world leaders about why this genocide could not be over until now. Everyone tried their best in every aspect until they entered the entertainment industry. They keep silent and do not talk about it, even if they have a more enormous follower. Some pro-Palestine even make a blockout list to block every single artist who doesn't show their stance in this genocide. You know, being neutral in this genocide is not a choice. When people say 'It's complicated', no, it is not. It's not complicated because already 40.000++ (May 30th, 2024) people have become martyrs in Palestine. 

This silence also happens in the K-pop industry. Everyone is so silent that it is as if nothing has happened, as this earth has two different skies. They kept making comebacks and making concerts, but no one talked about Palestine. Even Day6. Their latest comeback also seems so suspicious. In their comeback teaser video, there is a property that some cities wrote in there, and Tel Aviv included. I mean, from all of the cities in the world, why did they choose it? And why they even put their property as if it were essential. It's tragic, actually. The songs kept sounding about humanity, about love, and about mental health, but when humanity decreased actually happened in Palestine, they kept it silent.

How about Jae? One thing that I knew: He is a human. When the genocide happened in Palestine, he shared it on his social media. I knew it! Getting out of the K-pop industry can make you more human. You can do everything you want without any policies hindering it.

So, this post is about the dark side of the K-pop industry. They make humans as dolls whom you can pamper as ideally as possible. You cannot say about humanity. Your job only entertains people; you cannot tell what is happening in your mind or your stance on something more significant. You only like a doll of your agency. That's it. Some artists even collaborate with brands that are on the boycott list. Everyone knew that Starbucks had an affiliation with Israel, but they kept their collab made good merchandise as if nothing had happened.

Isn't it dark? When will it stop?