K-pop’s Future Under Scrutiny Amid Concerns of Hypersexualization and Market Saturation
The Korean pop music industry, globally known as K-pop, finds itself at a critical juncture. While the genre continues to maintain a global presence, a growing segment of fans and industry observers are beginning to raise questions about its long-term sustainability and evolving identity.
This conversation reignited recently when a controversial comment surfaced online beneath a performance video of aespa’s Winter. The comment “That such powerful vocals come out of such a small body… I’m seriously blown away,” which drew attention for its inappropriate and sexualized language, received hundreds of likes, including one from the video’s creator.
A Pann’s author noted that despite the emergence of new groups like RIIZE, BOYNEXTDOOR, and NCT WISH, and the continued solo activities of 3rd generation idols, public enthusiasm seems to be waning.
K-pop is gradually declining, though for now, groups like RIIZE, BOYNEXTDOOR, and NCT WISH are still rising, and 3rd-gen idols are continuing solo activities. But I feel like one day, even this level of activity won’t be sustainable, and the public’s interest will fade away completely.
The thing is, my major shines the brightest when the entertainment industry is thriving ^^…
AdvertisementSo I’m just curious about fangirls’ thoughts on the future of the entertainment industry.
Reaction from fans was mixed. Here are the comments on Pann:
- Except for BTS, boy groups have totally lost public popularity, and even for girl groups, unless they’re really big names like NewJeans or aespa, the general public barely knows them… Only fans like me would know.
- It’s definitely over overseas.
- Globally, things have been over since BTS and BLACKPINK. They hit the peak, and now it’s all downhill.
- NewJeans was barely holding on to public recognition, dragging it along, but now it feels like even that’s fading. BTS and BLACKPINK are in a league of their own, and I don’t think there’ll be another group that can surpass NewJeans.
- There’s already no public popularity left.
Until then, fans especially the ones studying or working in entertainment—are watching closely, hopeful that what they love can evolve instead of burn out.
