K-pop Double Standards: Why Female Idols Face Harsher Criticism Than Male Idols

In recent weeks, discussions on Korean platforms like Pann Nate have exploded with frustration over what many netizens see as deep-rooted gender-based double standards in the K-pop industry. While male idols trend for serious crimes like sex-related offenses, drug use, or drunk driving, female idols continue to dominate trending topics for far more trivial, often baseless reasons.

Recent headlines involving NCT’s Taeil, accused in a serious sex crime, and THE BOYZ’s Joo Hak-nyeon, rumored to be dating a Japanese AV actress, have sparked major controversies. Yet, netizens note that despite the severity of these allegations, male idols still receive comparatively less backlash. “While male idols are getting caught up in prostitution and sexual assault scandals, female idols—who haven’t even done anything wrong—are getting buried by hate posts,” one user commented.

On the other hand, female idols like Yuna, Karina, and Jang Wonyoung are frequently targeted over rumors, appearance-based assumptions, or harmless behavior. Yuna recently trended with two separate posts accusing her of undergoing pelvic surgery—a rumor debunked, yet widely circulated. Meanwhile, Karina was accused of getting breast implants and trying to “intentionally walk behind male idols,” despite her hair and makeup salon being women-only. Jang Wonyoung faced ridicule for simply eating a strawberry with both hands. “It’s absurd. Female idols are dissected frame by frame for facial expressions, while male idols commit actual crimes and still get defended.”

Netizen comments on Pann Nate:

• Pann girls have always cared more about analyzing where a female idol might’ve had plastic surgery—whether her hips or chest are natural, or if her expression looked rude for a second—than actual crimes male idols commit.
• It’s the fangirls who create this kind of environment. Male idols can go to room salons, buy sex, do drugs, drive drunk, and commit all kinds of crimes—and they still get defended. Meanwhile, female idols get dissected for their facial expressions frame by frame and dragged all day long, lol.
• While male idols are getting caught up in prostitution and sexual assault scandals, female idols—who haven’t even done anything wrong—are getting buried by posts like this… seriously.
• Female idols get bashed for literally everything, but even when male idols are involved in horrible incidents, their hate posts rank below those about female idols.
• Female idols even get hate based on fabricated rumors. Just look at Karina recently—people were saying she deliberately walked behind a male idol at a hair and makeup salon, lol. The reality? Only female idols go to aespa’s salon. It’s so absurd. And the Jang Wonyoung strawberry situation? Felt like I was living in a hidden camera show. It’s honestly disgusting.

As gender bias continues to shape public perception, many fans and observers are urging both fandoms and media platforms to apply fair and consistent standards to all idols—regardless of gender. The repeated targeting of female idols over non-issues not only reflects wider societal prejudices but also harms the idols’ mental health and career stability.