And why does it have so many fans and views? I don't think I know anyone who listens to it and the Americans that apparently do I highly doubt they understand Korean.
It's really fucking weird. And some of it even seems directed towards American viewers.
The fanbase are mostly zoomer girls in their late teens/early 20s, living their modern Beatlemania with the usual single-minded hormone-driven fervour and engaging in the typical adolescent bullying against people who call them out on how stupid it all is. There's nothing new about any of it: it's just amplified because of the internet.
Worse. These K-pop stars are are treated inhumanely. They live in tiny, shared dorm rooms, aren't allowed to sleep, to eat properly, can't date, can't even meet their own families. They are forced to get plastic surgeries.
Their pay is nothing. They have to "pay back" the company for their training and of course for their living expenses (which are fucking sub par, so no way they cost much).
Their phones get randomly checked by their management, they are banned from driving.
Some girl band's fans held fundraisers because the company didn't provide them with clothes and while they worked basically all day (remember, they live together, often even with their manager and inside the management company's building) and were only allowed like 5 hours of sleep, they didn't earn enough to get their own outfits.
So basically these women, more often than note wokesters, support glamour slavery.
A few years ago they squealed over some idol dude being "cute". What did he do? He was finally allowed to meet his mother after YEARS, but he had to do it on stage, in the middle of a concert. Dude got emotional, like anyone would. They thought it was cute.
My god, this sounds even worse than how Japanese Idols are treated.
Sad to see that the music industry is fucked up in multiple Asian countries.
I guess so. Also, the thing is, we know this. We actually know about these things and people still fantard about these people. Like sure, the fact they ALL have eating disorders, get plastic surgeries galore (then a bunch get botched...), etc., but like UWU, they are so amazing.
From time to time, one of them kills themselves and toxic fans badmouthing them get the blame. But I will be honest, being constantly broke, starving, sleep deprived, simultaneously being forced in 24/7 contact with your coworkers while banned from being close to anyone else, being forced to change your looks, get mentally abused by management every day, etc. probably result in mental health so bad it's unfair to blame people talking shit about you.
Sure, it probably doesn't feel nice. But it happens to many people in many industries, but having a good meal, sleep and relaxing time with people you actually love fixes a lot.
That's WAY beyond the "price of fame", makes the casting couch system look like toddlerville, and the "company store" system has always been pure, unadulterated evil. At least be forthright about your slavery, and be responsible for the welfare of your slaves.
They're in the territory of terrible pet owners, and kpop sounds no better than those awful children's beauty contests and dog shows.
What the fuck, so basically they are mk-ultra like slaves?
I... guess so? Never thought of it that way, but yeah, it's really fucked.