K-Pop Generation (Keipap Jeneoreisyeon / 케이팝 제너레이션)

Let's think there's a box called K-Pop.

The box that emerged in this world one day is not sealed.

It has holes like this.

On top of that, the holes are very big.

Through these holes, K-Pop has been sharing stories with the outer world.

Like that, K-Pop has become some people's daily life.

And sometimes, it made a huge flow of change for itself.

Then, on the other hand, what did the outer world send into the box?

What people expect from idols

has been changing a lot throughout the generations.

I would like to see how this market changes over time.

The trend keeps changing.

The most trendy trend.

Social perception.

And the changes that the generation requires.

Or stereotypes that still exist.

From now on, we're going to look at what's happening

inside the box of K-Pop as the world changes.

It'll be in a kind of unfamiliar way.

I'm a Creative Director in an Advertising company.

I'm a guy in my thirties.

I'm in a kindergarten.

- I'm from Serbia. - I study sociology.

- I'm a student. - I'm looking for a job.

I'm a housewife in my sixties with two daughters.

I'm 25 years old and a STAY(Stray Kids' Fan club).

And I love Felix.

Is this right?

I am a Deokhu in my 30s with a long history of being a fan.

I think I should call myself a Deokhu. [Deokhu: Refers to a fan who likes K-Pop idols or is obsessed with a particular team.]

I'm a Deokhu. [Deokhu: Refers to a fan who likes K-Pop idols or is obsessed with a particular team.]

I'm a Deokhu. [Deokhu: Refers to a fan who likes K-Pop idols or is obsessed with a particular team.]

I'm married and raising a child.

We are lawfully married.

I can call myself a Muggle.

I think I'm a huge Muggle.

What's a Muggle?

I don't know what Muggle means.

Do you mean the word Muggle from Harry Potter?

There are many symbolic meanings to an idol.

You may experience many things inside the shape of the box,

and you may get the urge to break that box and get out.

Hello, it's my 15th year as an idol.

I'm Jo Kwon from 2AM. It's great to meet you.

I think the biggest thing about idols is that I see only what I want to see and cover them with my fantasy.

The original idea of fantasy is that the closer it gets to your daily life, the further it gets.

It's an industry run by fantasy, so there are a lot of taboos.

First of all, dating.

I think the first thing that pops into my head is dating and marriage.

And smoking cigarettes.

I personally don't think smoking and drinking are huge taboos.

I think it's okay as long as they don't show that in an open space or front of fans.

It's not easy for adult idols to go out and drink,

and it's difficult to go to a club even if you want to dance.

It's not easy for you to do it at all.

It's very restricted, and there are so many things that you can't do it comfortably.

I don't think there are rules only for K-Pop artists to follow.

But all of us, members of society, in any other occupations,

live with moral and ethical standards.

I think you should never curse.

It was a live broadcast of SHINee.

They read the comments saying either "Freaking delicious" or "Freaking cute."

And Key flipped out and said, "you shouldn't say something like this."

Isn't it okay to say, "Freaking delicious?"

I think when it comes to swearing words, if it comes out too naturally and unconsciously,

then it makes you think, "is that their natural personality?"

I think it's fine even if idols swear, smoke, or drink alcohol.

But I think there's a perception that they should socially set an example for teenagers.

I'm sure there are young kids who will look for idols.

Le Sserafim. I like them because they are cool and good at dancing.

They are still public figures. I want others to look up to my artists.

So because of that, there are many things to be careful about.

It includes drinking, smoking, and dating.

We nag about those things, of course.

But we also know that we can't stop them.

As long as it's not illegal,

even if they go out for nightlife, I don't mind it.

It's okay if it's not something like doing drugs or becoming a father out of the blue.

Idols are not idols any more when they get married and have kids.

I think the idol's life of occupation ends when you get married.

Idols can't have a dating life.

There's something every fan always says.

"Just don't get caught."

It's something like, "I don't want you to do it, but I can't force you not to, isn't it?"

I think it's a job that makes money from simulating relationships.

Actually, it's more like "I don't want to know" than "I don't want you to do it."

It feels like as if my lover is cheating on me.

If idols in Serbia date someone, they can be more famous.

I think they'll be more popular.

If you are going to date someone, be exemplary.

If an idol is to marry and have kids, you should be like Max Changmin's case.

I think marriage and having kids are also bound

to happen to idols since they are human.

There were many cases where idols couldn't work on stage anymore because of raising kids,

which I thought was very sad.

The perspective changed a bit recently

by seeing Sunye from Wonder Girls making a comeback.

[Sunye's Comeback in 2022: Released her first solo album, "Genuine," 5 years after getting married]

I thought she was surely an idol.

Hello, everyone. I'm an idol, Sunye.

It's great to meet you all.

I think Sunye broke the conventionality inside the box.

There's a prevailing idea that a married person can't be an idol.

But Sunye is the one who broke that conception.

First of all, I couldn't straighten up my back.

I was very bewildered that my body wasn't moving as I was.

But I thought, as long as I can sing, I'll continue to sing.

We are idols from the 2nd Generation.

Yes, we're the 2nd Generation idols.

2nd Generation... Yes, we are still idols.

I became the biggest betrayer

because I got married while I was actively on stage as an idol.

- She broke the rule. - The betrayer!

If you think about it, inside the K-Pop box,

there was always something going on.

The people who were looking inside the busy box said this.

There will be many layers of fandom.

And I think the simulating relationship is a part that you can't ignore.

But of course, most part of the relationship is imaginary from a neuroscience point of view.

Most of the time, when you love someone,

the object of love is not the other person

but yourself who is in love.

I love my husband as the man I chose to be my spouse.

And my love for Kim Jae Hwan is I'm rooting for him as a singer and an entertainer.

That's the difference between these loves.

There's Jae Hwan's room in our house.

All four sides are covered with him.

- It's not four sides. It's three sides. - Right, three.

I just see it with hazy eyes.

In other words, I try not to see it straight on.

I just think as decoration or wallpaper.

His image to me is not like a husband or a boyfriend

but more like my child or puppy.

I'm supporting, loving, and raising him as if he's my own child.

I want to take him and raise him.

I want to feed him good food and put a comfy blanket for him at my place.

I don't think I ever thought of an idol as my child.

More like my husband, I'll say.

If there are 100 fans, there are 100 standards.

That's my answer to this question.

What are the three virtues that idols should have?

The qualification that idols should have.

- I think the first thing is talent. - Yes, talent.

The first thing is their face.

Honestly, I think their looks play the biggest part.

When there's a new good-looking idol comes out,

I can dump my husband, Taeyong.

Yes, it was like this. We had no idea.

What do you mean you don't know? You got picked by your looks, too.

I think it's okay for idols not to have a great-looking faces.

But not knowing how to make themselves up is a different thing.

If there's a time to get plastic surgery and time to practice dancing and singing,

I think it's better to get plastic surgery.

If the ones have physical energy, sincerity, and ambition, they'll create beautiful looks.

I'm always amazed by Jae Hwan.

He was always cute, but he kept getting more good-looking.

Okay, sure.

Actually, K-Pop artists have a unique nature.

One person is merchandise,

but at the same time, the same person is just a natural human as well.

But from a fan's perspective,

I don't think they feel the celebrities as humans when they look at them.

K-Pop artists show an ability that doesn't make you feel like they are the same human as us.

They show very high-quality performances

and another-level looks.

"Right, this person was also a human."

Whenever you feel that puts you in agony.

If I ever run into Taeyong when he's not prepared,

I'd think, "that won't be Taeyong."

When you see yourself knowing that person is a human

but can't admit it, you fall into inner conflict.

He has a beard?

Yongbok doesn't grow facial hair.

Of course, he'll poop since he's a human.

No, Yongbok is an elf, so he won't poop.

You know, I bought photo cards--

It's called "Frozen fish eyeball" when you do fan signing events.

Oh, really?

They say things while having those "Frozen fish eyeballs."

Something like, "idols are humans, too."

When they come to have "Frozen fish eyeballs," they are neglecting their duties.

Many people think of idols as their own family and like them.

So I think people don't like it when people see idols being businesslike.

We all understand that they are tired and everything,

but we all want them to smile prettily in front of us all the time.

We want them to take a break but also want them to work continuously.

We hope they don't go on a severe diet

but also want them to be fit.

I think the K-Pop industry itself is just a bunch of contradictions.

So you have this in mind but have another in mind.

I think this contradiction is a crucial factor in operating K-Pop.

Those contradicting things are interlocking like a machine mechanism and make things move.

It makes me think, "these are the K-Pop."

How do I show if I do this?

Hello, we are ADYA!

This is our first schedule as ADYA.

So we are very nervous right now.

Something else came into the hole again.

This energy seems to have a big presence.

I guess they are curious about many things.