Here Are 13 Unpopular K-Pop Opinions You May Or May Not Agree With (2025)

FAQs

What are the issues in K-pop? ›

The K-pop industry itself is toxic, with the demanding hours, the forced eating schedules, and the constant surveillance from not only fans but managers as well. One social media trend, dubbed “Race Change To Another (RCTA)” caught many people's eyes.

The average age of a K-pop fan is 23 years old, and over half are female. This young demographic has transformed K-pop into a social media phenomenon.

Fandoms became more organised, fan movements more strategic, and the music itself even adapted to new forms of technology. The Korean Wave has thrived not just because of its content, but because of its adaptability and the sense of belonging it fosters among fans worldwide.

Popular music from South Korea, otherwise known as K-pop, has been gaining traction in America in recent times. One could say that the unprecedented success of PSY's “Gangnam Style” in 2012 marked the beginning of this trend.

Scandal and disruption. Other problems have also dogged the industry, with the members of BTS presently carrying out their national service, forcing the band into a year-long hiatus, while other stars have been struck down by scandal.

Beijing has effectively (but unofficially) banned South Korean cultural content, including K-dramas, K-pop, and K-beauty products, due to its opposition to the installation of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles on an American military base in South Korea.

Lim Seowon may only be 12 but her sweet looks, powerhouse vocals, and nifty dance moves made her stand out on Korean talent show Universe Ticket. But netizens are wondering if Seowon is a little too young to be in showbiz after seeing that she doesn't even have all her teeth yet. Scroll down for the video.

Multiple studies have shown that the K-pop fandom has a white majority: white non-Hispanic people make up anywhere from 43% to 46% of the global K-pop fandom. The numbers are comparatively smaller for East Asian (7% to 17%), Southeast Asian (8.5% to 16%), Hispanic/Latino (9% to 16.5%), and multiracial (6%) fans.

K-POP songs often feature numerous catchy and addictive melodies due to several key factors. Firstly, K-POP songs are known for their "hook effect," where specific melodies and rhythms are repeated extensively to captivate listeners, making the songs memorable and engaging ².

What country likes K-pop the most? ›

By country, Japan was the biggest consumer of such content with 9.7 billion streams, followed by the U.S. with 9.2 billion, Indonesia 7.4 billion, Korea 7.3 billion, India 6.2 billion, the Philippines 4.2 billion and Mexico 3.5 billion.

Fashion. The emergence of Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992 paved the way for the development of contemporary K-pop groups. The group revolutionized the Korean music scene by incorporating rap and American hip-hop conventions into their music.

Characterized by catchy hooks, polished choreography, grandiose live performances, and impeccably produced music videos, K-pop — including music by groups like BTS and BLACKPINK — now frequently tops the Billboard charts, attracts a fiercely dedicated online following, and generates billions of dollars.

but if we talk about who paved the way for K-pop, then it's definitely BTS, to be honest Blackpink don't even come close. There's a difference between paving the way and being majorly successful. Blackpink are tone of the most successful K-pop groups but that doesn't mean they paved the way.

Since the mid-2010s, the rising success of K-pop groups abroad have become characteristic of the Korean Wave. These successes were led by the meteoric rise of the music video for Psy's "Gangnam Style".

Beneath the bright pink costumes and perfectly presented shows lies a seedy underbelly — where young girls are encouraged to starve themselves with 'paper cup diets' and at least four stars have killed themselves in the past four years.

Scandal and disruption

There is a sub-set of fanatical followers who turn up at concerts waving signs that read "my husband" or "my wife" – and revelations that the target of their affections is actually involved in a real relationship is a betrayal that too often leads to anger and accusations on social media.

Additionally, the addiction to K-pop can lead to spending excessive time on social media, engaging in fanwars, and liking comments containing hate speech, which can distract students from their studies and negatively affect their moral values .

For one, labels are infamous for being extremely strict with their artists and trainees. Often, K-pop artists are forced to stick to strict dieting regimens and have their phones confiscated by their agencies. These companies make sure their artists don't have a life outside of the company building and their dorms.