The Dutch news (RTL Boulevard) is going to talk about K-pop tonight. It isnāt the first time and it surely isnāt the last time.Ā
I would be happy about K-pop getting more recognition but I am not. That is because the only thing I see is the negative things about K-pop in Western media. People see it as a joke here and as something incredibly unnecessary.Ā
I normally donāt like talking about these things but I am seeing it more and more and it makes me mad. I feel like the majority of news covering the K-pop community read one article and see one headline and believe they understand how it goes and they really donāt.Ā
I have seen insensitive articles written about suicide among idols, using Jonghyun, Sulli and Goo Hara as examples about how horrible the industry is. The industry does need a lot of improving but donāt use their names to define the rest. Itās disrespectful to them as they are more than just idols and are more than their depression. They were people and stood for way more than what you are portraying them as.Ā
I have watched insensitive documentaries (Iām looking at you Ewout Genemans) that go to South Korea and fansigns just to be disrespectful towards the idols asking them intrusive questions under the base ofĀ āIām the person who gets the real facts so I can ask because I am specialā. Seeing him at the fansign proved to me just how little research the man actually did before going in on this documentary.Ā
I understand that K-pop has a lot of negatives, but it also has a lot of positives and it would be nice to see those things portrayed in the media. You never hear about how idols also can promote healthy diets, you never hear about idols talking about mental health and you never hear about how the fans can be a close family. No you only hear about the bad things, said by people who donāt understand what they are talking about.Ā
So please, acknowledge all things, not just the negative.Ā
Also to anyone who actually read this far into my rant. Thank you