A series of issues plaguing Kpop is making the public increasingly disillusioned.
Untalented Female Stars
In over 30 years of Kpop development, skill has always been the primary concern when it comes to idol training. South Korea leads the way in building an entertainment industry where celebrities and idols are seen as multi-talented role models. A music group must have members who sing well, dance beautifully, rap skillfully, and possess attractive visuals and charisma. All these factors must meet the highest standards. However, as Kpop continues to grow, the number of talented idols is inversely proportional, becoming increasingly rare.
From the beginning of 2024 until now, female idols have been constantly causing controversy due to their lack of talent and disastrous live performances. The lack of skills among idols results from mass-producing music groups in a short time without investing time and effort in honing their skills. The entertainment empire currently facing the most criticism is HYBE. The corporation continuously churns out new groups with explosive achievements but lacks the most crucial element – talent. The three most popular female groups under HYBE, NewJeans, LE SSERAFIM, and ILLIT, are all criticized for their poor singing skills.
The Disaster of LE SSERAFIM’s Coachella Stage with “Antifragile”
First, we must mention the “live singing disaster” of LE SSERAFIM. All the controversies began to flare up from a series of shaky encore stages with broken voices in February 2024. The group has five members, but none have convincing vocals, and their live skills have deteriorated after two years of debut. Despite their lack of singing abilities, HYBE rushed to have LE SSERAFIM perform at the world’s largest music festival, Coachella. Their two weeks of poor performances there led to global criticism. Some Koreans even called the girl group from Source Music the “national disgrace.”
ILLIT Faces Similar Criticisms
While the controversy surrounding LE SSERAFIM was still ongoing, rookie group ILLIT also became the focus of criticism for their weak live singing. The public criticized HYBE for producing “instant noodles” idols, focusing only on appearance. The common trait among the new generation of female idols under HYBE is their captivating and youthful visuals. However, in terms of skills, they all have significant shortcomings. Especially in live singing, the “Japan line,” including Sakura and Kazuha (LE SSERAFIM) and Moka (ILLIT), consistently struggled, often singing off-key and out of breath.
NewJeans: Stable but Not Outstanding
NewJeans is the most stable female group under HYBE, but compared to their contemporaries, their live skills are not particularly outstanding. Their performance abilities are only considered stable. The group is noted for their stage presence and fitting concepts, but when it comes to showcasing their skills, the five girls easily reveal their weaknesses. NewJeans are also frequently criticized for overusing pre-recorded vocals.
The internal conflict within HYBE, which erupted at the end of April, exposed the ugly face of Kpop, with untalented idols and companies plagiarizing concepts. The most notorious case was the “sibling rivalry” between NewJeans and ILLIT. Min Hee Jin directly accused HYBE of copying her hard work.
Even NewJeans was pointed out as a product of “recycled” Y2K style from a Mexican girl group, Jeans, which had been around for a decade. Artists caught in the middle were like “pawns,” attacked by netizens due to the disputes among those holding the power to “upend” the industry.
Talented but Less Popular Groups Like BABYMONSTER and NMIXX
There are still talented representatives in the new generation of Kpop, loved and highly regarded by the public. Notably, BABYMONSTER from YG and JYP’s NMIXX. However, talented idols lack the elements to become famous. The above-mentioned groups struggle to win over the audience due to the directions set by their respective companies.
Compared to their seniors like BLACKPINK or TWICE, BABYMONSTER and NMIXX fall short. As music trends change, major companies train talented idols but struggle to produce works that appeal to the public.
Male Stars Continuously Entangled in Scandals
While female idols face criticism for their skills, the issue with male idols is their private scandals. The most prominent case recently was the Burning Sun scandal. The sex chat room and illegal nightclub scandal involving Seungri and several Kpop second-generation stars shocked the public with the hypocrisy of these so-called stars.
These idols, who smiled and interacted with fans daily, turned out to be sex offenders, disrespecting women, and morally corrupt. Although the incident happened five years ago and the culprits have been legally punished, the Burning Sun scandal remains the most disgraceful stain on Kpop.
Recent Scandals Involving NCT Members Johnny and Haechan
Apart from Burning Sun, recent Kpop controversies have also kept fans on edge. Recently, NCT members Johnny and Haechan were accused of spending the night with three women, two of whom were fans in Japan. SM has since clarified these were false rumors and announced legal action, but the incident has still significantly affected the NCT duo.
SM Entertainment has been plagued by idols with personal scandals. Newcomer RIIZE is no exception. Despite a promising debut with products that matched public taste, RIIZE has been dubbed a “controversial rookie” due to members’ character scandals. Just two months after debuting, Seunghan, a member of RIIZE, was suspended from activities due to leaked sensitive photos, smoking, and attitude problems. In April, Anton was rumored to be dating a girlfriend in the US. At the same time, 5 out of 6 members were named in romantic scandals involving controversial hot girl Han Seo Hee. Although all allegations were quickly denied, it still caused significant uproar.
The Return of Scandal-Ridden Lucas
Furthermore, SM continues to promote idols who have been involved in shocking scandals. The mentioned name is Lucas Wong Yuk Hei. Three years after his romantic scandal, Lucas is set to return to the spotlight, even being given a more meticulously planned solo debut than long-standing stars. Lucas, a former member of NCT/WayV, was accused in 2021 of badmouthing colleagues and having romantic relationships with fans. NCT fans have repeatedly protested, demanding Lucas leave the group. Despite public opinion, SM has maintained his contract and even opened a new career path for Lucas.
Looking at the current situation, the public is disillusioned as male idols’ musical activities are overshadowed by continuous scandals. If there were a ranking of “scandal-ridden” male idols, Kpop would surely have many representatives vying for the top spot. These negative aspects paint an ugly picture of Kpop.
Recent Legal Troubles for Singer Kim Ho Joong
In addition to personal scandals, recent public backlash has been strong against the case of a 90s singer causing a hit-and-run accident. Kim Ho Joong, a trot singer born in 1991, faces prison time for causing an accident and fleeing, as well as destroying crucial evidence. Netizens have dug up Kim Ho Joong’s violent past, being a school bully. Breaking the law and numerous personal scandals have outraged the Korean audience, demanding strict legal action and boycotting the controversial singer’s career.
On a positive note, Kpop continues to compete daily to create quality products, increase international influence, and train talented idols. However, with the negative aspects, audiences need to stay aware to avoid supporting the wrong idols.
