Intro to K-POP: What to Expect

           The title sounds ominous, doesn't it? In my first K-Pop encounter, I was instantly awed at the artists' perfected skills. What does it take to be one of those idols? Over time, I became increasingly flabbergasted at the amount of sacrifice it takes to be a part of the 'idol' industry. Most audiences only see flashy performances and shiny idols, but there's a whole branch of marketing and cultural requirements associated with K-Pop. Below are a list of things to expect (and learn to accept) if you're a curious new fan.

• K-Pop demands its idols to be as perfect as possible, starting from appearances. Girls have a set weight they must be in (usually 95-110lbs) and stand around 5'3-5'8 in height. They must also be pretty, and most of the time, plastic surgery is necessary in order to become a media figure. Every K-Pop idol must have a straight nose (preferably a small size with a high bridge), and barely any of them will admit to having anything fixed. Guys are preferably thin, and supposed to be at least 5'7. When they need the extra boost, they will wear heel lifts (usually about 3cm extra) and/or add an extra few centimeters to their profile heights (usually 3cms). The same applies to girls when they're "too heavy-" they'll lie about their actual weight. 

• Female idols are rarely seen without make-up or false lashes. The same applies with males idols and BB cream. It's normal to see guys wearing eyeliner offstage. In America, we might see label that as 'metro,' but in South Korea, it's more of a fashion trend and common to think of guys as 'pretty' rather than masculine in a gritty Spartan way. In fact, high-class fashion in South Korea is directly associated with flawlessness. That means being well groomed, wearing brand-new looking items, and matching well.

• There is a thing called "aeygo" (does it make you cringe already?) meaning "cuteness." Sometimes it's a trait, sometimes it's acting, but K-Pop tends to go overboard. This includes physical gestures like puckered cheeks, batting eyelashes, acting like a baby/child, making whimpering noises, and high-pitched sounds in general. Even guys may be asked to perform aeygo, and when that happens, either the male artist is very uncomfortable, or the viewers are. The idea is that guys also have a soft, playful and childish side that they reserve to attract/cater to females. (Personally, I think they shouldn't compete with girls on something so greasy.) 

• Guys will wear skinny jeans, and girls will have sky-high hem-lines. K-Pop is all about crazy, flashy fashion and new trends, but those are two aspects that remain consistent. Pros: Girls have longer leg-lines and look taller with shorter skirts/shorts/dresses. Con: Viewers sometimes get inappropriate peeks at buttcheek or thong. Female artists are supposed to wear shorts/spankies underneath just in case, but sometimes someone (maybe the artist, stylist, whoever) will "forget" such a mistake. I've never understood skinny jeans for guys. With girls, it gives length and shape, but on guys, there's often no shape or thigh to actually fill out the pants, so males look shorter and have the appearance of chicken legs. Also, I'm not sure if it's worse to see a bulge, or no bulge. *shudder*

• K-Pop doesn't just sell music, it sells a package. K-Pop idols are nothing without their company and it's marketing strategy. These include the production of songs, concepts, styling, choreography, stage design, directing, everything. In the U.S., artists try to be noticed often by raw talent or producing their own music, but with K-Pop, almost every career detail of an artist's life is dictated by the company. Exceptions are usually reserved for artists who have grown successful enough to not be dependent on the mother company. Otherwise, it's very rare for an artist to have much creative liberty. This means that though songs may be catchy and performances are stellar, the artists are merely puppets performing guidelines set out by their company. This sounds harsh, but it's the unspoken reality for most idols. This also means that though an idol may act out a certain concept on stage, it's for the purpose of the song and not necessarily their actual personality. I use the term 'artist' loosely here: Some folks distinguish what it means to be an 'artist' as opposed to an 'idol.' An 'idol' is someone with an image created by the company, while an 'artist' would have a significant amount of creative liberty (even this has a grey area).

• "Reality" or variety programs featuring idols are most often scripted. Being humorous, witty and interesting are valuable traits to obtain more screen-time. Otherwise, one may get cut from the final edit. Dialogue and interviews will be more flawless and exaggerated than usual.

• K-Pop is a highly fast-paced world. Unlike an American artist who may take one, two years to produce an album (and almost always a full album), K-Pop has a faster pace with the introduction of single albums and mini-albums. A common example is to have a video teaser hinting at the comeback, the release of the track-list and music video the next week, live comeback stages on music programs the following weekend, then promotions may end within another month (sometimes longer if the song is well received or continues to charts high nationally). Either way, it is uncommon for album promotions to last longer than two months before artists move on to another activity. The same goes for tours or international performances: artists may travel from South Korea to Japan, back to Korea and then to Thailand within one week.

• Comebacks usually occur at least once a year, and sometimes a few times a year if the company is ambitious. I only mention the company because they make the schedules, sometimes disregarding the health and desires of their employees. This is why all idols tend to be sleep-deprived and overworked. The demand increases with popularity. Sleep is a bare necessity and rest is a privilege for most idols. In a recent TV special for the MBC Idol Star Athletics Championships 2013, over a hundred idols were forced to stay and film for 22 hours straight. Only a few hours were actually broadcasted.

• Unlike Western countries where artists may be praised for being bold with strong opinions, South Korea's culture is very conservative and family-oriented. Idols are expected to set examples for the public media; they are supposed to act polite, calm and collected. Animated behavior, bad-mouthing or scandals can ruin an artist's career faster than they can deny it. Always, the media is very harsh, and apologies can't always cover controversies. Netizens and fans may be overzealous on praise, but they turn scary critical regarding any controversy. Even false rumors may turn deadly if not properly and convincingly explained.

• Dating and sex is taboo. You will rarely hear artists reveal extensive details about their personal life, and most times, they will deny being in a relationship at all. This is to encourage fans' fantasies of their favorite idols and to keep any obsession strong.

List to be continued...!