When China Banned Korean Boy Bands Back in 2017, when South Korea opted to deploy the U.S. THAAD system, one response from China was to ban K-pop acts from touring the country. It was a reminder of the salience of soft power.

thediplomat.com/2024/04/when...

[News analysis] Why China is so wary of S. Korea's THAAD anti-missile system What China fears more than THAAD is the entry of American mid-range missiles into the area immediately surrounding it

often transcends political boundaries, suggesting a future where its flow might be influenced, but rarely entirely stopped.
thediplomat.com/2024/04/when...

#cultural #flows, the digital age makes complete suppression difficult. For example, #Fandoms will continue to find creative ways with VPNs or unofficial channels to access desired content, showcasing the power of consumer demand over political barriers.
Ultimately, pop culture's appeal

traditional markets. Despite this, dedicated #fandoms often find ways to circumvent restrictions, demonstrating the power of cultural appeal.
What future do you see for pop culture in the region?
The future is likely resilient and diversified. While political tensions will continue to influence

political headwinds within Northeast Asia. For example, China's "Hallyu ban"significantly curtailed #Korean #content after the THAAD deployment. This shows how geopolitical events can directly impact consumption and circulation, forcing diversification of #Hallyu's reach beyond

consumers and #fans. Conversely, positive diplomatic relations can foster increased #cultural #exchange and #collaboration, enhancing consumption and solidifying #fandoms across borders.
What has this meant for regional consumption of #Hallyu content?
#Hallyu, while a global success, has faced

How does politics impact consumption, #fandom, and circulation of popular culture in Northeast Asia?
Politics acts as a major gatekeeper and amplifier. Governments can restrict or promote #cultural #flows. Geopolitical tensions often translate into cultural "cooling" or even boycotts by

BTS J-Hope wore faux dreads in the video for his Chicken Noodle Soup remake 😬 https://t.co/JAVw8PJV7M Teen Vogue (@TeenVogue) September 27, 2019 - The Korean star dropped the video for his collab with Becky G. on friday. During the night dance sequence J-Hope wears gel twist...

ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/116069761.html

Oh My Girl And Fans Accused Of Cultural Appropriation | Soompi If you've heard Oh My Girl's recent single, "Windy Day," you might have noticed some South Asian musical elements to it. Some netizens are protesting the

www.soompi.com/article/8779...

YouTube video by 1theK (원더케이) [MV] T-ARA(티아라) _ yayaya(야야야)

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Mamamoo apologizes for ‘blackface’ controversy K-pop group Mamamoo on Saturday issued a public apology for its parody video in which the members dressed up as African-Americans, saying that they did not unde

m.koreaherald.com/article/1256...

cases of cultural appropriation, while others do not perceive them as problematic. Sometimes, it is even #fans from the concerned communities who defend the artists, which adds further confusion and makes the debate more complex.

Moreover, cultural appropriation remains an international subject of debate, with strongly divergent opinions. This lack of consensus complicates the education and awareness-raising of #K-pop #artists on these issues. Disagreements are often observed even among #fans themselves: some denounce

One of the current problems is that the #K-pop industry tends to confuse cultural appropriation with homage, or even uses certain cultural elements simply as a way to connect with some #international #fan groups, without always understanding their deeper significance.

today compared to the 2000s, a period marked by particularly problematic examples like #T-ARA Yayaya music video, this phenomenon still persists. We cannot say that cultural appropriation has truly disappeared or even significantly decreased. For example #Mamamoo blackface controversy in 2017.

had a genuine reason to be raised. In #South #Korea, where society is relatively homogeneous, this debate had never really emerged before #K-pop gained international popularity and foreign #fans began to raise the question. Although blatant cases of cultural appropriation are less frequent in #K-pop

in #American #music, the very industry that inspired #K-pop. Consequently, #K-pop adopted what was considered a #trend, a #fashion, an #aesthetic. Today, cultural appropriation is a topic taught and one that people are much more aware of, but this is mainly true in countries where the issue

For a few years now, cultural appropriation has been making headlines in the #K-pop world. Although the term “cultural appropriation” is recent, the phenomenon itself is not. Due to past mindsets and a lack of vocabulary, numerous cases of cultural appropriation went unnoticed, especially

was often aimed at male audiences. But today’s groups, such as #LESSERAFIM and #NewJeans, focus more on themes like confidence, athleticism, and youthful energy. While objectification still exists, there’s a clear trend toward more diverse and respectful representations of women in #K-pop.

#feminist #movement, including the #MeToo movement and protests against hidden cameras. These events brought more awareness to how women are treated in #media, leading companies to move away from obvious sexual content. Older concepts, like #SISTAR’s “Touch My Body”

and parents might see them as inappropriate or exploitative. At the same time, #fans have become more outspoken online, calling out objectification and demanding more #empowering portrayals of #female #idols. It's also important to note that in the 2010s, #South #Korea experienced a strong

factors, including #K-pop’s global expansion, rising #feminist awareness in #South #Korea, and growing #fan influence. As #K-pop gained popularity worldwide, companies became more cautious about using overly sexual concepts, especially since Western audiences such as younger #fans

The shift from the blatant sexualization of #K-pop girl groups in the 2005–2010 era to today’s more subtle, though still present, forms of objectification reflects broader changes in the #industry, audience expectations, and societal attitudes. This evolution has been influenced by several key

YouTube video by i-dle (아이들) (여자)아이들((G)I-DLE) - 'Wife' Official Music Video

youtu.be/baaNwRAhHBo?...

YouTube video by i-dle (아이들) (여자)아이들((G)I-DLE) - 'Nxde' Official Music Video

youtu.be/fCO7f0SmrDc?...

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/08/01/b...

that go beyond subtlety and clearly assert their feminist perspective, with songs like #Nxde and #Wife.

#K-pop groups are no longer just puppets of their companies. More and more #female #artists are becoming emancipated and are gaining greater #freedom in the artistic dimension, allowing them to directly express #female #empowerment. #I-DLE is one of those K-pop groups

This way, #artists avoid being censored, as they do not engage in explicit activism. A question then arises: Is this more of a marketing strategy? Is the #feminism or #female #empowerment message truly meaningful? Despite its subtlety, the message is not just a strategy. Moreover, today, #idols and

subject. This does not mean, however, that #feminist messages are absent in #K-pop. In the article "Jessi, Screen Feminism, and the Power of Complaisant Agency," Michael W. Hurt highlights the subtle yet visible techniques used to convey these messages through lyrics, aesthetics, and choreography.