Is Korean Culture Becoming TOO Popular?

[@mikeyk7792]

Korean American here, I honestly miss going to Korean restaurants/hubs and seeing nothing but my people. I still do see some spots that are mostly Korean and I honestly gate keep those from non Koreans. It gets really diluted once you see more non Koreans showing up. My wife is also Korean American too and we both agree that while it is nice that our culture is well known now but sometimes we just miss the space for just Koreans and Gyopos like me and her to just freely go into and not have to see 10 wanna be Koreaboos trying to act like they are one of us. A lot of my other Korean friends have the same opinions as well.

[@SylvesrerSam]

People don't like Korean food

[@SylvesrerSam]

More people would eat Mexican food instead

[@keithmoh1]

@@SylvesrerSam You're the type that goes to Taylor Swift's music videos and comment how Taylor Swift isn't popular.

[@Law19157]

Why don't you just put a sign up on those places stating Racist Koreans Only non Koreans not allowed.

[@SylvesrerSam]

@@keithmoh1 but Taylor Swift is a mainstream cartoon Korean stuff is basically cheap anime

[@code82star12]

I'm a 50-year-old Korean American. I immigrated to LA in the 80s. I am grateful that our culture has been so popular here. Today, I went to a Korean market, and about 70% were non-Korean. The current trend I see in LA Koreans is that People are returning to Korea. Fewer and fewer Koreans are immigrating to the USA. So, we are experiencing a big shrinking of our community. But with this popularity, hopefully, we can keep our culture alive in LA.

[@davidh7832]

The Korean American community is growing a lot in Texas tho

[@JasonK.-cy2tl]

Good for Koreans. America is dangerous.

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

Your culture lol

[@Adrian_aedeuri]

As a Mexican American I’ve been into Korean music and culture since 09-2010. I even told my Southeast Asian friends about K-pop back then and they were like “Nah or eww” 😂 it’s funny now how all of a sudden I’m a koreaboo now that Korean culture is so popular worldwide

[@spittingame4241]

I've been into K-pop since 1999. There was a channel called the I-Channel. There was a show call Music Video Heaven that played Korean music videos like Jinusean, Papaya, H.O.T, G.O.D, Bady VOX etc. It was AWESOME. The channel changed his name to AZN.

[@Naruto-bp6hm]

I’ve also been a kpop fan since the early 2010s and honestly I’m still extremely cautious abt telling people I like kpop as back then. In those days you got called weird, gay etc and now people call you a kboo. The judgement is still there. It’s just changed to different forms.

[@SylvesrerSam]

K pop is garbage Japanese culture is garbage except for PS2

[@SylvesrerSam]

Korean stuff isn't good Hollywood just garbage

[@Law19157]

The nerve of these clowns, the American populous goes to great lengths to shut down racism towards Asian people and here are these idiots reinforcing segregation that civil rights leaders fought to break down in the 1960s. Talk about going backwards.

[@tejave0ojnc]

Some comments showing jealousy and envy towards the Koreans are just ridiculous. Do you ever stop and wonder if Koreans also felt slighted or hated when they were dealing with either Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, or other ethnic groups. People are simply by nature tribal and tend to prefer their own kind.

[@MedalionDS9]

This is always the problem when something that was once niche or underground becomes mainstream... it gets co-opted and diluted and corrupted. This is why some people reject huge mainstream success

[@SmokyOle]

Anime 101. I now see basic blonde NPC girls wearing Demon Slayer shirts when 15 years ago they would all call us nerds.

[@jcmb5708]

​@@SmokyOle Asians were cool before everyone, they just didn't know it yet. Used to say it back in the 90s and 2000s too and no one belived me cuz some Asian kids were considered nerdy like u said. Us non-asians r just catching up and pretending like this just started lol.😂 I will say, I don't know if you Asian folks know just how powerful Asian influence can be, and sometimes that can also backfire..

[@valorzinski7423]

​@@SmokyOlethe biggest problem now is that there is a lot of self censorship on the Japanese side to export anime to US, China, Muslim countries (no fan service in more recent animes) They even censored the Japanese dub of bleach and released a different Japanese dub line for the international version for fear of American backlash

[@blackdawg7361]

Korean-Americans know both their Korean heritage and their American culture. Both are unique and neither is dispensable. Don't ever forget either!

[@xrystal89]

The problem always seems to boil down to outsiders liking the cultural trend more than the actual PEOPLE who create and make up the culture which jumpstarted the trend. A lot of people like K-media but *pretend* that they love Korea and by extension, Koreans. Then they go to Korea and proceed to push their native country’s mindset onto Koreans because life isn’t a K-pop video or K-drama. They bad mouth Koreans and their culture while obsessively consuming it. No matter how progressive they pretend to be they inevitably fall into ethnocentric and Eurocentric diatribes about how to “make (insert non-western nation) better/great”. Becoming popular in America, in particular, seems terrifying. Look at what happened to Americans with brown skin and their culture. For ex, rap: Americans who weren’t part of the culture *liked the culture but not the people* and they gave the largest sums of money to people who would rap about the things that they wanted to see/hear-which was destructive to the black community. Now K-media is getting popular and we’re already getting dissertations on how Koreans need to change their community from a purely Western standpoint…that’s what scares people, that foreigners only want to consume and then colonize/take over. Everything gets commodified in this global world, it’s what happens after commodification which concerns.

[@worshipthecomedygodseoeunk4010]

Exactly!!! the problem is they overextend their ideas about kpop onto all of korea and korean people!!!! and then they refuse to reflect on their own biases, say something like "thAt haS nOthing tO do WitH thiS" or "kOreAns aRe WorSe" when confronted with an opposing view on a social issue that doesn't solely vilify korean perspectives, and get angry when nothing changes even though all they're doing is complaining without any real action. they project without contextualizing anything, giving their uneducated opinions on korea and this hoard of nonkoreans come rushing to agree with them. korean occupation by the u.s and japan doesnt matter to them, even though that is literally the historical reason why korea has so many social issues. but they dont care about that, it doesnt match their fake progressivism, as asians are the model minority. as a kpop fan, ive been exposed to this kind of mindset on a regular basis, and no matter how hard I try to confront them gently with information and facts, their entitlement doesn't end. they've already come to the conclusion that they know EVERYTHING there is to know about koreans and korean culture based on their own eyes. there couldnt possibly be more nuance and complexity to the issues they bring up, because their obsessive consumption of the pop culture clearly makes them the experts. i mean there are reddit and twitter threads and youtube videos with thousands of likes just giving uninformed opinions on korean culture from kpop and kdrama fans and people soak up that content like its everything. and this DOES affect koreans directly. As a korean adoptee, never in my life until kpop became mainstream did i ever question that aspect of my identity. the commodification of the pop culture has led to every aspect of korean culture to be gatekept from actual koreans. and thats my issue with it.

[@mko0lpmko0lp]

yeah, but Japan has been dealing with this for like 3 decades. not that it hasn't streamed into Japan, but they've managed somehow so Korea should be fine too.

[@jellyrolly]

I agree with this whole heartedly. Westerners (especially white folks) have some kind of a saviour complex and try to school Koreans. Starting from K-dramas not having enough LBGT couples or characters to not having enough non-Korean characters (most people in Korea are Korean so what's with this argument). I still don't understand why idol fans from western countries want some singers to act like politicians. Some woman even asked Rose from Blackpink if she supports gay rights out of the blue at the airport - and you could see that she was not comfortable with the question. Not simply at the question itself, but rather why the question was asked to her in public where everyone can hear her. You should push politicians like that, not people who make a living out of singing and dancing.

[@1004bs]

I’m Korean American and no gatekeeping needed. I think it’s great that more people are appreciating kculture. I love sharing my culture with my diverse friends.

[@AeraYoo]

This is similar to what I was talking about to my husband today. I grew up with Korean mindset and culture as a kid and I’m upset that so many young white girls mistake K-pop or K-drama for ‘the culture’ but don’t really understand Koreans at all. It’s just too commercialized in my opinion. No one cared about Koreans decades ago.

[@jaein7779]

I think the OP is a generational thing. I’m 50 years old, came to California when I was 6 and grew up in San Jose, CA. I now live in the Mid Atlantic region of the East Coast. When I took my daughter (6 years old) back to LA to visit my parents, every Korean restaurant was only inhabited by Koreans. I imagine if the OP would go to a Korean Church, he will find that the service is in Korean and the vast majority of the parishioners are Korean. IMHO, perhaps the OP is just longing for the good old days, which is perfectly fine. But time marches on and in my experience, things change. I personally do not enjoy K-pop nor the love of K-Dramas, but it is what it is. Adapt or die. I’m personally more worried about South Korea’s population problem and how the leaders of Korean Society seem to care only about profits, even at the expense of the dwindling of the Korean population….insane….🤦‍♂️

[@Placebo201]

The “exclusive” club they’re talking about in nyc (circle nightclub) pissed off a few well-connected elites. Made it on the news and eventually was shut down indirectly via fines/etc. They also weren’t paying staff well, eventually moved to other places, learned their lesson and now keep it low-key with the discriminatory practices.

[@ZeroPurpleRansom]

Damn that’s crazy how do you know all that

[@Nara.Shikamaru]

Yes. I’m glad it doesn’t happen to South East Asians. We Cambodians don’t have too many enclaves and I know it’s like that for a lot of South East Asians. I empathize with Korean Americans’ feeling of losing an enclave. I hope it ends up helping in the long run. Hopefully you’re able to keep your ship afloat, despite the changing tide. “A rising tide lifts all boats.” - Not necessarily JFK (as giving credit is kind of an awkward affair, given the nature of the phrase’s origin) It might not be even, but maybe now that the wave is higher, you can get more wind in your sails.

[@wewenang5167]

well Thai culture has in some ways been commercialese since the 80's and it has made the Thai hate foreigners even today...they said so many farang want to live in Thailand now and they bought all their land and houses.

[@avecnayo]

Loved how you touched on Hip-Hop and Black culture. As a Black person watching from the outside looking in, I see a lot of parallels. Also as someone in Japan, it’s been interesting to see how Japan POP INC basically saw the rise of KPop, but still refused to change their approach. But yeah “having a trendy culture is a double edged sword”.

[@Warlock-enjoyer]

Japanese music still better than K-pop. I think they don't need to change it.

[@ghepardogts]

Korean here. Japan has their charm and unique style. Nothing to change there.

[@avecnayo]

I think everyone is missing the part where I took care to mention Japan POP incorporated. Not the culture, not even the musicians themselves, but the industrial machine behind it.

[@PrincessBarbie2323]

Japan said nope we’re good. It’s hard to find Jpop groups.

[@avecnayo]

@@PrincessBarbie2323 lol it’s so funny. Bc there was such a huge interest in JPop outside of Japan but Japan was like “we don’t need your kind as fans.” Lol but here in Japan they used to cap and say Johnnys groups were popular even overseas and it was always weird bc trying to buy johnnys stuff is basically like operating a drug ring overseas.

[@HApqzr77]

I’m glad that non-Koreans appreciate Korean culture. Koreans complaining about it come off as smug gatekeepers. And I think it’s overstated that all Korean restaurants or stores are patronized by a majority of non-Koreans. Doesn’t ring true living in a Chicago suburb with a lot of Koreans. Yes, there are a lot of non-Koreans (which is great), but most are Koreans.

[@joodeki]

In California, it's a bit different, other Asians hung out in K-Towns, but like, California-Asians hangout wherever Asians are or should I say where Boba can be found. The Korean friend-groups would stick to themselves though, while the Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese etc would hangout with each other. But that's not to say that there were no Koreans in the mixed-Asian groups. And that's been going on for decades before kpop became popular. Heck, some K-towns were originally just an Asian-hub like Convoy in San Diego. So contrary to these gatekeepers and the article, Koreans are taking over non-Korean mixed-Asian hubs.

[@ChrisKim-l2f]

If you go to H-mart in Schaumburg and Naperville, you will see more non-Koreans than Koreans.

[@letsgowalk]

Korean culture has been popular amongst other East Asians for at least 25+ years now. I remember watching MVH on International Channel during the late 90’s from the days of HOT, SES, etc. At that point, for a Cantonese person like me, K-pop was seen as something different, yet also familiar. It wasn’t yet perceived of as threatening or manufactured (although in hindsight, the master plan was clearly already in place). Also, I can’t speak for mainland Chinese, but I’ve always known Cantonese people to love Korean food and latenight spots.

[@munjerkucci]

I'm East Asian and I can say that Korean culture is not popular among East Asians. Sure, we have one or two that likes K-Drama, but we call them Korean Rejects, and that's about it. Everyone I know is into anime, sushi, and Japanese horror movies.

[@letsgowalk]

@@munjerkucci Yeah, I would say that the non-Korean East Asians view it as an alternative, but certainly not better than their own. It’s only the ABCs who have such high reverence towards it.

[@ricenoodles632]

That's East Asia you're talking about, not Asian diaspora in US/Canada/Australia/etc. which is different. Unless you mean the Asian channel in America which wasn't all that popular outside of some Asian diaspora. In mainland China, groups like H.O.T and Baby V.O.X were huge. And in Japan there was BoA in the early 2000s. The K-drama "Winter Sonata" was also becoming a colossal hit in Japan. And in HK/Taiwan they prob just eat up literally everything with no restriction.

[@ricenoodles632]

We already got English songs from K-pop artists back in the 2000s. I remember my middle school danced to BoA's Eat You Up during Asian heritage month. Still a cool song now.

[@PrinceofMacedonVlogs]

I've been going to a Korean restaurant for years. I've never had a fetish for Korean stuff but I do love bulgogi. And I did get hooked on a Korean soap-op when I was visiting family in the Philippines over a decade ago. I'm kinda thankful that Korean culture has become popular in the USA though so now I can watch all the Korean shows I want :D

[@ElizabethChee-rj7bn]

Yes, Korean culture is becoming way too popular. It kind of upsets me because you see all these non-Asian people celebrating Korean culture ...when with all the racism against Asians in United States over the years ..Koreans have hardly gotten to enjoy their own language and culture previously. But the Koreaboo think they can just adopt the culture and language as if we're their own.

[@Kindapple]

what's wrong with appreciating other's culture and wanting to learn language and why would anyone interpret that as Koreaboo?? I really don't relate this perception btw I'm Korean myself too

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

Aside from Korean food they recycled western concepts and now say it's their culture lol

[@newnostalgicfriends]

Korea wave really put Asia on the map.

[@melzerr]

Black Americans (specifically) have been saying this for years ( the fact that Rap Genius exists will forever blow my mind. dont get me started) but it's starting to burst at the seams wth other cultures. Sometimes gatekeeping feels warranted. 9L22 really after having so many conversations with different people it honestly seems like this is always an American issue.

[@angelam2057]

I'm Korean-American. And my motto is, cant make everyone happy. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Js_Son83]

People use too make fun of koreans. Now people are just jealous about korea now. Korea is the popular kid on the block, everyone wanna be friends with them now. Before barely no one heard of korea.

[@leroi5342]

Jealous of what? Korean culture is just a copy of western culture with Korean characteristics and their music

[@mmfong297]

No offense, I still make fun of them..but more of a resentlment. I had a Korean boss for 6 years in my 20s and a next door neighbor growing up. The toxicity level of the culture gives me goosebump. I don't know how anyone can view Korean culture as cool or trendy.. I tend to get along with the Koreans that are less-Korean and see themselves as more American or Asian. If you are Korean, I stay away at all cost if you want a happier life. Go adapt another culture in your life instead such as Latin.. Also I will not let any Koreans make my dollar if they show no respect to my race and identity. It's shameful how many look at their non-Korean or Japanese Asian bothers/sisters in an ugly way..

[@ftu2021]

@@leroi5342whoa whoa. As much as I like to bash on Kpop being a copy paste of American music. Korean culture is not copy of Western countries but a copy of China and Japan.

[@sashimiYumyum]

What are you on about? I tend to stay away from koreans these days since they think too highly of themselves 😂.

[@leroi5342]

@@ftu2021 I agree with you I also wanted to mention that China is the owner of the Korean traditional culture but they Also copied the modern one from the western

[@noname-nu6oo]

Dang, love you guys! I'm half korean and i can tell you I've been expressing the same thing to my family but they don't get it surprisingly. I see it like a hideaway from the norm of society. I knew all the good hide outs or a good recipe to make tteokbokki. Nowadays when i try to make korean food, all the ingredients at my local hmart gets sold out because non koreans are also buying them now!! Lol!😂😂😂 Even some kpop or kdrama sometimes I'd like to enjoy hidden things no one knew about. Sorta like having the exclusivity factor lol. But now its so full blown it feels like some of the magic is gone. 😂

[@MnMnBahr.]

At 2005 when i started watching kdrama Ppl used to make fun of me 😂😂 the same ppl that watch it right now

[@ZeroPurpleRansom]

2005 i was watching naruto one piece etc as manga 😂I feel you

[@ricenoodles632]

To be fair the historical setting ones were the good shit like Jumong, Dae Jang Geum which were very popular at the time

[@kairossoteria6215]

All these korean americans complaining is nuts. Kind of similar to 1st world complainers in other topics. First of all in korea everyone is happy about korean culture getting popular. Thats what matters. In korea no one cares about what korean americans heart feel. Honestly koreans (korean koreans) are doing a great job in improving the image of asians with k culture. By breaking the negative hollywood stereotype of asians. Asian americans should rather be grateful for all the positive side effects. Being associated with kdrama actors or kpop idols is better than with comical kungfu master or the shy tech nerds like in the past.

[@worshipthecomedygodseoeunk4010]

nonkoreans just dont get it. this is a unique situation as korea has a unique history. all cultures get commodified, but in this case, we're talking about a u.s occupied nation thats been torn in two, that relied solely on economic industry to speed up a usually slow process of development within the span of 70 years. social changes are bound to happen at a snail pace, and yet, kpop fans act like they have a monopoly on how the collective korean identity is "messed up" and scrutinize us as if all that history didn't happen. being korean is what is a double edged sword now, not the "trendiness" of the pop culture. its not even about the pop culture at all. its about how korean identity and all its complexities gets mixed in with opinions about pop culture when it has absolutely nothing to do with it. most koreans are happy that kpop is global and mainstream. that doesnt mean that we should have to tolerate other korean things being gatekept by nonkoreans who think listening to bts makes them some authority on a culture that isnt even theirs. korean college orgs have become kpop fan clubs. we should be able to have spaces to talk about being korean without some kpop fan trying to tell us "youre a fake korean" (this literally happened to me) like i am literally a kpop fan myself and im still sick of the way that my own culture is being gatekept from me by people who try to speak on my issues without knowing the first thing about them, just because they fetishize my birth culture. ive seen kdrama fans shame korean adoptees because we're not like the adopted koreans portrayed in the dramas they watch like wtf?????? kdrama writers dont know sh*t about us.

[@neutraliserjanine]

I love Korean writers, of kdramas and ost. I think the popularity is because they create beautiful work. I dont understand. They are Korean. Why do you say they don't know anything about being Korean when they are Korean writers in Korea. I follow a channel which highlights Kdrama from as early as the 1930s. It's called Korean Classic Films. Kdramas are not new. Just new to Americans and western culture.

[@asianmovement]

I'm really glad that there are non-koreans embracing our culture and that makes want to explore other cultures without tiptoeing around the dreaded phrase "cultural appropriation"

[@asianmovement]

​@@P.90.603Well, if that's how you want to see the world then that's the direction you take. I didn't know about kpop until one of my black friends told me about it. He knew more about kpop than I did and I'm korean. He enjoyed kpop and I liked american hip hop. Koreans don't complain about non-koreans using samsung or LG phones, non-koreans eating at their restaurants, non-koreans driving Hyundais or Kias. Its all about appreciation. We all wear blue jeans. Is that limited to whites only? We in America use English. Is that only limited to White British? Going to church to worship Jesus, is that only limited to people of the middle east? Using chopsticks, is that only limited to asians? Acupuncture as a career only limited to asians? Black people have contributed hip hop culture to the world and now its spread as mainstream. Appreciate whats been accomplished. It's not only in korea that has hip hop. Hip hop music is made all thoughout the different continents in different languages.

[@asianmovement]

0@@P.90.603 You didnt address hip hop thats all over the world. Germany, France, Spain, China, Japan, etc. Please address them all. Please explain why you're so fixated on Kpop and Koeans.

[@asianmovement]

@@P.90.603 I see your concerns about the interaction between K-pop and Black culture, and it's a valid discussion. However, it might be helpful to consider the broader context of how cultural influences work in a globalized world. While K-pop certainly draws heavily from genres rooted in Black culture like hip hop and R&B, it's not accurate to say that K-pop is simply Black music. K-pop has evolved into a unique genre that blends various musical influences, including hip hop, R&B, pop, EDM, and more, creating something distinct that resonates on a global scale. Regarding the participation of Black artists in K-pop, there have been numerous collaborations between K-pop artists and Black musicians, and these partnerships are generally celebrated within the industry. These collaborations are seen not only as an opportunity to create music that transcends cultural boundaries but also as a platform to highlight the talent of Black artists in new markets. It's also crucial to recognize that the term 'hip hop culture' is used globally to describe a musical and cultural movement that, while originating within African American communities, has become a global phenomenon. Many artists and fans around the world acknowledge its roots and express gratitude towards the Black communities that created it. The issue of how different cultures interact with and attribute Black culture is complex and varies significantly by context. Your point about the visibility and popularity of Black artists in Asia taps into broader conversations about representation and racial preferences in media, which is a significant and ongoing challenge. However, reducing K-pop's use of Black music to an act of appropriation oversimplifies the mutual benefits and cultural exchanges that occur. The global music industry, including K-pop, can indeed do more to promote diversity and give credit where it's due, which is an important step toward greater cultural respect and understanding.

[@koban4max]

I am Korean. I believe korea is vanishing ..culture and their mindset.

[@superpanda3857]

So all Koreans are dying even you?

[@coffee_not_included]

Can you give some examples?

[@ghepardogts]

Commercialized is the word here. Kpop sounds like "Chi-ching!" cashier sounds.

[@mko0lpmko0lp]

It's what happens when you embrace the west... look at Japan. Tho unlike J-ppl, nowadays Koreans immigrate to the west in larger %'s. Once their children grow up in the west, they only have fragments of the culture and mindset; becoming gyopos. Like past J-immigrants, the chances that they will marry outside increases (if 0.5 white or black, they will often choose that culture over Korean). Koreans also are the most "colonized" by western religions whose followers reject traditional K culture like jesa and are okay with not preserving hanok.

[@JamitMan]

Taiwan culture might rise but I don't want to because I really like how Taiwan is very underrated.

[@mmfong297]

They'll never take the lead over Japanese/Korean. 10+ years ago their musicians came out and told everyone to create its own music instead of dubbling K-music into Mandarin, today.. the young gen just simply listen to K-pop over its own. Almost every retail corner store that target youth play k-pop music, and the Koreaboo wave there makes me wonder if they would even sustain its own culture.. as most young Taiwanese seen not to even understand its own roots or respect the once powerful ROC in China where Koreans took the blueprint

[@bh1916]

Same here. But I can't imagine fans of Taiwan trying to learn Mandarin. It's too difficult for most

[@mmfong297]

@user-xl8gh7lp5u The next shift in 15-20 years is likely going to be Central Asia like Kazah, Uzbek or Mongolian

[@ga5835]

Most people will just consider Taiwanese culture is chinese That's the problem

[@haruzanfuucha]

Taiwanese culture won't get big because Taiwanese people themselves can't even decide what "Taiwanese culture" is.

[@JasonK.-cy2tl]

I'm puzzled at the complaints by my fellow Koreans. Other ethnicities would kill to have this problem.

[@jellyrolly]

I think we can do both at the same time. I am Korean and I appreciate people who like Korean culture. But I do have a problem when people who say that they're enamored with K-drama and whatever who try to police Koreans on how we create our content. Would you believe it when some foreign fans criticise our shows for not including any foreigners? Like...Korea is the most homogenous country in the world. It's not diverse like the US or Canada.

[@joodeki]

@@jellyrolly I think it's non-Asians (and mostly Americans) complaining about not including "foreigners". Because the early kpop culture of the 2000s to 2010s already had Chinese and Japanese members and 2ne1 (2009 debut) had Sandara Park, and while she's not Filipino, she started in the Philippines as an actress and set the relationship between Filipino and Koreans in the early 2000s to now. And 2PM had Nickum (Thai) in 2008. From the 2010s, kpop was having more and more other-Asian members. PSY made kpop maintstream in 2012, but after that came TWICE, Blackpink, (G)I-dle, Got7 etc and they each have non-Korean Asian members. And non-Korean soloists like Kreisha Chu (Filipino-Chinese) and Jackson Wang (Chinese) were making a name for themselves in the mid-2010s not long after PSY's Gangnam style became an American icon. I know the criticization of kpop not having foreigners is VERY recent, because it wasn't around when PSY was leading and starting kpop in the US, it wasn't around when Twice, Blackpink, and BTS solidified kpop into the international stage, and it definitely wasn't around when Kriesha Chu and Jackson Wang were making a name for themselves in Korea as non-Korean kpop artists. Anyway, that's my case for why I think non-Asians/Americans are the ones complaining.

[@leafsnation82]

These Koreans complaining are a small minority but more so, just spoiled! It sure beats the 80s when it was like; A: "are you Chinese?" " B: "no" A: "are you Japanese?" B: "no" A: "then what are you?" B: "Korean" A: "...oh...(no idea)"

[@ceeIoc]

Be honest. Every Asian country thinks they are the best.

[@leroi5342]

Not only Asian countries but every country around the globe thinks that way

[@youknowwhoiam6057]

Why not?

[@Revenger3rdUnit]

Be honest. Every COUNTRY thinks they are the best

[@JRiley813]

God this is gonna sound so white lol... but my best friend is Japanese/Chinese. Growing up I was always at her house, I got to learn & appreciate Asian culture through her parents & grandparents and because of that Asian culture has always been intertwined in my life. I am happy that the culture is being more prevalent but hope that people respect it.

[@chukim8012]

Yes its nice to have positive rep in USA nowadays. I find it strange that some white Americans have negative views about us.

[@JRiley813]

@chukim8012 it's sad, but you have people who stay ignorant to the people and the world around them.

[@Eric-gp3hi]

I think it’s positive that Korean culture is becoming popular in the United States. It would help end the Anti Asian racism that’s been going on in the United States since the beginning of Asian American history in the United States. It would also create a sense of acceptance among different communities of color and help people learn more about Asian history.

[@markc7236]

It's not. Most people are just into the women and it just creates a divide between "good asians" and "bad asians". I think you know which ones are which.

[@reptilerule91]

I hope you're right. I hope we asians get more opportunities soon and we get to do promos.

[@valorzinski7423]

Racism can never end since multiracial countries are unnatural products of colonialism and imperialism which are rooted in racism

[@jc9109]

Never!!

[@kairossoteria6215]

Japanese and chinese cultures at their peak never had the coolness impact now korea culture has. Rather these 2 countries nurtured the nerd and kungfu stereotype.

[@noname-nu6oo]

Not to sound racist but sometimes I wish kpop members are strictly Asian. I love seeing other nationalities like Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, but I'm not too sure about the hafu part of kpop. It's ok to be inclusive but kpop has been way too inclusive as of late, i feel like i want more real Asian representations. We already are flooded with non asian reps in media everywhere and kpop was my oasis, but it's becoming more and more like everything else now. Just being real here. Am i alone?

[@PinkNintendoDuo87]

As a non-Korean Asian, I get you. I personally don't mind K-pop stars with partial Asian heritage because they can genuinely represent racial diversity in the Asian entertainment sector. Non-Asians (like 0 blood/cultural ties to Asia) as "K-pop stars", especially of the idol stripe? Not a chance! They're likelier to succeed as global artists without needing to be "Asian pop stars." I know there are issues like cultural appropriation in the industry, but I don't think forcibly inserting full non-Asian idols is the answer. (No offence.)

[@PinkNintendoDuo87]

Even with K-pop expanding its reach beyond Asia, the industry IS part of the Asian entertainment zeitgeist (Asia will always be the most important market). So many Koreaboos are delusional as hell (until it's too late)!

[@ricenoodles632]

It would still work if K-pop weren't targeted to overseas but only to Koreans.

[@PinkNintendoDuo87]

@@ricenoodles632 Even with K-pop’s increasing global recognition, Asia (especially the East and Southeast) has and always will be the industry’s MOST important market. When K-pop companies recruit talent in non-Asian countries (like the US/Canada/Australia), Asians (including the mixed race ones) are much more likely to be picked. Asians have always been K-pop’s core demographic, so the industry is more likely to cater to that audience. (Not to say that fully non-Asian consumers don’t matter, but they tend to wane in terms of priority.)

[@ricenoodles632]

@@PinkNintendoDuo87 I'm not particularly keen on that topic. I'm more focused on the fact that you said "not a chance" for foreign idols. I feel like that's just because ppl are just too used to the normalities of 2nd and 3rd gen K-pop being the standard for what K-pop should be, without considering the possibilities of what K-pop could've become should it not have been aggressively marketing its industry to overseas audiences. Because from what we've seen from J-pop it is entirely possible to have non-Asian idols in an Asian entertainment industry.

[@H3ll0-W0rld1]

No..Kpop was designed to be popular.😂 I enjoy witnessing Asian pop culture..Even more if it were based in the United States, and in English..😅

[@YouMoya]

It's part of the product. Before it was popular in the US, most Kpop artists and idols learned Chinese or Japanese as a second language because of the the popularity.

[@ariusbudiman7105]

Start with K-Pop -> K-Drama -> K-Movie (zombies) -> K-Food -> K-Mart -> K-Product (from makes sense to ridiculous) -> K-Style -> K-Standard Beauty -> etc, even K-Village in my country 🤣 ..but I still love Japanese culture. 👍🏻

[@jinwoo3963]

Korea help Japan stand back up to its best

[@TheFlagUnit]

What u gonna do. Be this or be invisible

[@Robert-ke2pe]

I feel like Korean culture is the most Westernized in Asia as they have t integrate Western culture in to their culture more so than others. The West has put Japan on a pedestal and Japan is very Westernized but it seems they protect their traditions and not change as much vs Koreans that seem more flexible.

[@noname-nu6oo]

​@@P.90.603that's very wrong of you to say. Kpop has a long history like everything else and has unique sound of its own which is why it's successful.

[@noname-nu6oo]

That's very true! Times are a changing!

[@noname-nu6oo]

@@P.90.603 I would think perhaps they're influenced by other artists but can't say they imitated it. It's the 21st century and they're free to be influenced by any artists in the world. Just because they're of one ethnicity doesn't mean they have to stick to their own. They take different influences and make it their own. That's like the goal of any artists. I'm sure being a korean artists they are multi faceted and they can choose how they go about it with their artistic freedom.

[@noname-nu6oo]

@@P.90.603 obviously there are different nuances. But again in a globalized environment, you can't really blame anyone for being westernized. Art is art. Kpop is just that. It's pop music for Koreans intended for Korea but other people outside of Korea started to notice it and found it interesting which is a bonus and no fault of the koreans. You don't have to like it no one is forcing you, they're just creating their own music/content that they enjoy and if people from other places enjoy it, so be it.

[@noname-nu6oo]

@@P.90.603 no I answered you pretty clearly on multiple replies above. Read it again if you don't understand. Clearly you're a troubled person jelous of other cultures and not respectful. If you want an answer you want to hear, go and find a crystal ball and ask away.

[@darrylt8502]

Well, approx 10 years ago my white friends would talk about their discovery of PHO and how much they enjoyed it. Then , didn't take long that one day I thought I could swing by my favorite Banh-Mi shop in a ghetto area to grab a quick sandwich when to my surprise there was a huge line and majority were white people. My favorite Pho joint which used to be filled with only Vietnamese and some Chinese is now filled with non-Asians customers. I don't have a problem with it. I think it's great. My only issue is the wait time lol.

[@yaowsers77]

But in a way, it's good that non Asians are interested in Korean culture. Making more people understand others unlike them and more accepting is good. Because the opposite would be hating and being violent towards Asians.

[@lotuspocus2165]

Oh god shut up, people loving K culture is a win all day every day.

[@Iluvmydogs128]

There are Asian and non- Asian employees working at h-mart in my town and I’ve started to notice that sometimes they actually prioritize the white customers over me and I am Korean !! This feels worse than being discriminated at a regular super market. It’s like wtf we need our own safe space.

[@Pomisher]

Does anyone know of Japanese communities or spots? Sure there are restaurants many are Korean owned? What places I know of are usually Buddhist temple where Japanese events are held but there’s no major immigration from Japan. Issei and nisei are fading away.

[@cassiopeia309]

There used to be Japanese communities in LA, SF, Chicago, NY etc but they were abandoned when the Japanese Americans were forced to leave and go into internment camps during WWII. Most lost all their properties, homes and businesses. After the war, there were laws that ordered people of Japanese origins not to congregate. So you have to follow the laws or go to jail. There really hasn’t been a lot of immigration to the US from Japan over the past few decades. After seeing Japanese Americans get put into camps, maybe they got scared off and didn’t feel welcome in America.. Anyways ….yeah, not a lot of Japanese communities.

[@wiikends]

US even had Japanese in Latm deported to US during WW2

[@LeahDyson-kq4bd]

You probably have to go to Hawaii for a real Japanese community

[@ceeIoc]

Korean power vs. k-pop boys

[@henrytep8884]

It’s all about the money. Commodifying culture is the most human thing ever, ever.

[@Razear]

I can understand the OP's grievance of hallyu making Korean content appear less "exclusive," but if you are a Korean artist, you want your work to be disseminated as widely as possible for others outside of SK to enjoy. I don't think any creative that releases a film or music album would rather intentionally seclude their work to a smaller audience. The commodification aspect of it is legit, but these creators understand who they are targeting. When something becomes highly demanded, fan service usually follows to capitalize on the hype, hence the K-pop bands that are releasing songs in English to cater to Western fans.

[@TheSmokey1523]

Well he is in a whole non Korean country though so why wouldn’t most public restaurants be nonkorean though? Go to Korean people’s own homes or parties or church then for this, or take a trip to Korea then. He is delusional and unreasonable.

[@theofficialpeterkim]

More Korean restaurants would great for me, just like Chinese food.

[@heytony]

As a Korean, Korean media say that Korean culture is very popular, but I don't know how much it is in the U.S...

[@AA_cowgomoo]

Yes, but no. Probably with younger generation. Yes, BTS songs in Korean has been playing on American pop radio station. But I work with people over 30 and no one really seem to know or care or ever talk about any Korean contents. I never heard any of my white neighbors listening or discussing any Korean content, but at least one of them loves bulgogi/galbi and cook it couple times a month. I can smell it. Local seullungtang restaurants has bunch of white and middle eastern customers, but you won't see kids packing gimbap for lunch. Trader Joe's all sold out on frozen Kimbap but those frozen kimbaps are available in Korean markets yet Korean or Asian markets are not visited regularly by non-Asians. If they sell it at Costco or Trader Joes non-Asians will buy it but most won't go out of their way to Asian store looking for them. So yes it's becoming popular but you don't always see it and I wouldn't say it's become mainstream yet. Meaning you probably can walk up to random strangers and talk about Squid Game (world wide sensation) but not Glory or Woo Young Woo (special k-drama interest group only).

[@SmokyOle]

In my peoples mind Koreans are the only Asians that exist from a music and acting space. And their generally right. Enjoy your popularity.

[@ghepardogts]

I used to live in NYC when Psy came and went. Its still hard for me to picture if this popularity is real.

[@Law19157]

K-drama's dominate Netflix they have 238 million subscribers world wide, now Disney+ is getting in on it with their release of the K-drama Moving which has been their most watched K-drama ever. Freaking Parasite won Best Picture at the Oscars which is an American award show.

[@kimckawa]

K media only exploded last 5-6yrs w BTS, Parasite film, Squid Game series. Hw Korean food been popular more than decade. Almost everyone in NYC today probably had kbbq or kimchi at least once. Now bottle kimchi can be found at local supermarket/grocery store. All Korean ramyun brands- shin, buldak, Jin etc are carried same store and 711. Bottle of soju can be found local liquor store and very popular drink nowadays.

[@alat7870]

Kpop was based on musical genres of other cultures too !!

[@tortega-z7t]

When newbies ask me about kpop, kdramas, or korean food, I always just show them the worst parts, so they don’t ask again. For kpop I show them Jo Kwon music videos like “I’m da one” or kdramas about vampires or gumiho which are usually lame, and I always suggest dishes with offal like gopchang soups or bbq. Don’t show them the generic shit, show them the worst and they will run for the hills.

[@thehawkseye3412]

lol. That sounds extreme. You want to keep others out that bad?

[@tortega-z7t]

@@thehawkseye3412 it's their reactions... nothing better than that

[@thehawkseye3412]

@@tortega-z7t I don't think it would work practically in this internet age but of course I understand trolling them for reaction alone. What do you miss exactly? Is it a homesickness of a sort? or you dislike it because local eateries may change menu or taste of some dishes to suit wider population of other groups?

[@tortega-z7t]

@@thehawkseye3412 when I say newbies, I specifically mean people who are aware of hallyu/kwave culture, but are baffled by it's prevalence and popularity with say their cousins, nieces/newphews or peers. They usually ask "what's the deal with Kpop? Why do people like it?" So, I answer the indignation in their voice by giving them reason to feel MORE confused than before. They generally would have no interest to get into it, and usually want to see what all the hoo-hah is about. I was in Korea for almost a decade... and I can say that I only miss the public transportation, which is arguably the best I've ever experience while traveling... but nothing more than that. I think you were asking @mikeyk7792 about the restaurants maybe.

[@aiswaryabersan7983]

No culture is more popular then American pop culture it followed by almost everyone from dress,fast food,hairstyle, music,Hollywood,technology, English language,Christmas, new year celebration

[@JasonK.-cy2tl]

American movies, TV shows and music are declining. Even whites say this.

[@thehawkseye3412]

@@JasonK.-cy2tl That maybe. But Koreans do copy American dressing style and their Kpop switched to singing in Engilsh for greater reach. They rap- adopted from America. They celebrate American festivals, they converted to their religion and even promote it now themselves.. So the so called decline is just a saturation point where the novelty is wearing off. American pop culture has already influenced Korea and the part that's becoming popular is that Korean-American culture and not the traditional Korean culture.

[@lboogi]

Not Korean, but have had Korean culture in my life at various points in my life... I have to agree that the culture is being overly co-opted, diluted, and sold out.

[@SaiyanPoy]

There’s a good side of having an indistinguishable culture then I guess

[@abcdrag]

We already have multigenerational Japanese-American families so we can get an understanding of how they grow up and how the dynamic can change over time

[@possiblycurryddork]

I'm sure when the Dutch built Harlem and Flushing they didn't Black and Chinese people would take over their Dutch only spaces. 😮

[@kimckawa]

But didn’t Dutch taken them from Natives? Why would they be surprised then?

[@possiblycurryddork]

@@kimckawa Because Blacks and Chinese aren't Native Americans 😂.

[@kimckawa]

@@possiblycurryddork You really think the Dutch were still around when Black n Chinese started moving into the areas? These towns probably long turned over to Anglo then Italians, Irish, Jews, Greeks etc. Black n Chinese came only later

[@possiblycurryddork]

@@kimckawa Obviously, my original comment was factitious. I meant at the time the Dutch couldn't have imagined that their neighborhoods would become black and Chinese.

[@LadySilence]

Idk it would probably help if they migrated to other spots in the u.s. besides just tourist traps of California and NY.

[@Slawp]

the parallels of Black Hip Hop and Korean K Pop are so similar. Its great but also it will get progressively annoying with deal with.

[@manofsesame3024]

Only the rapping parts. Not the choreography or MVs. The Kpop designers definitely know how to capture people’s vision instead of just audience.

[@Slawp]

@@manofsesame3024 oh so...only just the rhythm, the sound, and the vocal flow? Thats... the music...

[@Ch215t1anxyz]

Remember the pretty Korean online streamer was mocked by two less attractive white girls for her Asian feature? The influence is overrated.

[@manofsesame3024]

White influencers get mocked all the time. So not a big deal

[@joshuagerl]

I can't say I follow his logic. Not just because I am not ethnically Korean, but as a German American that's like me getting irritated when non-Germans celebrate Oktoberfest, speak German, enjoy German beer, etc. If you'rr interested in that stuff...hell ya...enjoy it!! Also, if you are non-German that knows a ton about German culture....awesome....my family didn't teach me a lot about my culture (like so many white Americans sadly lol) so if that said person can educate me on some stuff I'm all for it especially if I am about to travel to Germany. As someone who has lived in South Korea multiple times I defer to Korean citizens as to what is okay and what is not okay. For example, I don't have a large interest in Hanboks, but there are businesses in Korea that dress up male and female customers(foreign and Korean) in the Hanbok and do photoshoots. That is just one example of course, but my experience living in South Korea has been a majority of Koreans are suprised and happy that a non-Korean would be interested in one or mutliple things about their culture.

[@doctorfox1592]

I think that living in America or other multi ethnic and multi racial countries tend to breed a different mentality compared to countries that are more homogenous. A Korean living in Korea may be happy that a foreigner wore a hanbok, but a Korean American might relate differently due to different experiences. As a black American, I can relate to the video. Being a minority in some spaces makes it harder to find your people because it the ratio will be tip towards outsiders. For example, I’m a gay man that joined a gay sports league. If a much of non-gay man joined the sports league, it would change the dynamic and the team’s culture.

[@KingKong11730]

The difference is that people who aren't white or from Europe have a wildly different experience. For example, I'm a Korean American who was born here but I will never truly be seen as American as you. People do not ask white Americans where they are from and I highly doubt people were blatantly racist towards you growing up on a frequent basis. Maybe if they found out you had German ancestry and felt some type of way about ww2, but not just from your appearance. For those who were generally ostracized, they would seek refuge in specific community centers where they could be with people who understand their struggle and they could feel accepted. It's like if black barber shops became really trendy and you lost access to a very important space for a group of people. To be clear, I'm Korean and I don't agree with the OP's opinion for the most part but I'm just explaining where the feeling comes from. I much prefer the current situation to the one from when I was a kid when everyone just assumed I was Chinese and if I told them I was Korean, they would ask if I was North Korean and make fun of the shape of my eyes or how my house smelled or that I had kimchi in the fridge. I agree with you though that interest in my culture is to be welcomed and that's how I view it but I do acknowledge that certain downsides can exist, whether I view them as such or not.

[@AnhNguyen-fp6sr]

It gets to popular to the point where it annoys people because of their out-of-nowhere privilege.

[@alat7870]

what is wrong with opening up to other cultures ? isn't this how history was made ? by exchanging cultures !

[@Law19157]

South Korea has been absorbing American Culture since the 1950s you never hear of Americans complaining about the appropriation of their culture in South Korea, I guess people have forgotten that or just don't read up on history.

[@johnnybaum7957]

And USA got all of its culture from Europe. Japan got most of its culture from Korea and China and so on. Its how the world works. Maybe you should read history to understand what culture is.

[@Law19157]

@@johnnybaum7957 Uh no, actually USA did not get all of its culture from Europe parts of it yes but most of it is a night and day difference. It's the U.S. that's exporting it's culture to Europe in recent decades.

[@johnnybaum7957]

@@Law19157 uhh yea and now South Korea is doing the same thing as USA did exporting culture duh!!!! 🤦‍♂🤦‍♂and USA did get all of its cultures from Europe. You think America's founding fathers just spawned in this land and created culture from scratch!?! You ever heard of Native Americans!? You are the person that needs to read on history buddy. You making yourself look a fool. lol

[@opr1r]

@@Law19157 Even the language is not from the US.

[@Law19157]

@@johnnybaum7957 Everyone from Europe understands U.S. culture is nothing like their own, you're just too much of an ignoramus.

[@WksKsl-kx8mf]

If you are not Chinese Americans just Americans who would you like from Asia? China Japan? Korea for sure. Language easy to learn. Democratic open. Christianity spreaded among people. Korea is only one doing it.

[@JimmyGunawanX]

It could be an actual case like if X culture become so popular, then there are things that suddenly become questioned or banned: if the culture is sexist or maybe a bit too violence on animals or too kawaii...

[@joannavant5152]

That's laughable! There are plenty of spaces

[@spittingame4241]

Everybody did that with *Black Culture.* Now the Koreans know how we feel.

[@ceeIoc]

Most Koreans are flattered

[@thesoulbrother8636]

@@VanCityHapaSays the half Asian loser.😅 Cheers!🍷

[@SylvesrerSam]

Black culture is basically African American culture Its still a part of America

[@SylvesrerSam]

​@@ceeIocmakes no sense You can't separate black culture from America

[@migukin7492]

Most people don’t want to live in black neighborhoods. 😆

[@awabyassir4669]

I just wanna be able to talk like the left guy one day

[@HexenLuther]

I'm American. I realize what these guys are talking about is so foreign to me that there are vast swathes of America that are now completely foreign to me. I'm not "hating", I just feel very alienated from this.

[@MedalionDS9]

I dunno what that guy expected as a nerdy asian ... that when K-Pop got huge that you somehow expected all Korean people would be considered cool to? That's not how that works lol

[@ricenoodles632]

I feel like I've went backwards since the hallyu hype started to die out on me around 2019. In my eyes hallyu was all the rage back in the early to mid 2010s and then it started to decline from there.

[@JasonK.-cy2tl]

Hallyu is still growing.

[@sombatkhnor5720]

Another East Asian problem, so dramatic.

[@SojoX777]

All I'm hearing from this is (not specifically from the boys here): Discriminated against? Blame white people. Success and growing influence? Blame white people and call it a negative. It's the most tone deaf, navel gazing, oblivious take and yet it seems to be the go to response. Seriously, whatever you are, it never helps to have a complex, nor does it helps to give a CRAP about what other people think about you (as long as you're not an ahole). Live your life, derive what happiness you can, provide for yourself and others close to you and realize it could be much, much worse (you could have rockets raining down on you).

[@justlim622]

I don't know you guys but I don't think you're Korean. It's not cool to mimic accents.

[@CopperSkinTone]

Koreans welcome to the life of Foundational Black Americans.

[@SylvesrerSam]

Not true Koreans have Korea Black culture is a sub American culture

[@fortune_roses]

Thought the thumbnail was talking about the *population decline* ... because that's a definite YES :/

[@peter-mickey-chu198]

My Asian Wife (Maya-Minnie-Chu) Is From Anaheim, California; Where She Grew Up At, Which Is Also Where The Disneyland Resort Is Located.

[@reptilerule91]

Hmm

[@cl4241]

Is OP for or against the generation that protituted for the US? Like yeah Koreans collectively earned some economic privilege through that. What is the intention behind denying the existence of that privilege? There's a cost for things in this world, pick one..... Where in LA are these impoverished Koreans, and i mean those that arent drug addicted, gambling addicted, and are decently hard-working? If OP is referring to the Koreans affected by that riot, present those stats and advocate for those!

[@SylvesrerSam]

Korean shows are EXACTLY like American shows but in Korean. Squid games had sex and gore too

[@jinwoo3963]

Nah not at all completely different culture 😂😂 what are u on.

[@SalvadorjrDumalaon]

They not welcoming 😮😮they racist, Korea was not popular, they're looks like quiet obsessed because of there face ugly a lot of them that's true 😮😮

[@ekang9612]

Uh oh someone got hurt by us

[@PhilCherry3]

As a Black American I find this discussion a bit discombobulating. Kind of like being in a Funhouse of Mirrors episode of THE Twilight Zone. K-pop culture is derived directly from Black American music. But now I’m sure there are Koreans who are convinced what they are seeing IS their own pop cultural expressions. Imagine how we felt when eventually we could walk into our most popular soul food restaurants and see more White people than Black folks! On top of that they also speak English! So you can’t rely on language to maintain your cultural privacy/intimacy! We’ve had to watch as our language, mannerisms, artistic expressions got commoditized then regurgitated to us! So all I can say to Koreans who now feel a vague sense of disorientation is….” Welcome to the club!”

[@valorzinski7423]

The Hollywood Asians with the fake ghetto Black accent annoys me

[@Revenger3rdUnit]

Kpop culture derives from AMERICAN pop culture. American pop culture has influences from all groups of people including black Americans.

[@ricenoodles632]

"Modern K-pop" is said to have began in the 90s, the same decade which black music arguably peaked in America (some say it's the 70s). Pretty much the entire world was benchmarking on black American music for that reason. You could even say that most of American modern music is heavily influenced by black Americans. So to see it still being pinned to K-pop as if they were the first ones to copy it, is getting really old for me now.

[@PhilCherry3]

@@ricenoodles632 You need to look at the last two Super Bowl Halftime Shows and you will see the clear roots of the modern K-pop era. Just these two shows highlight much of the original source material of K-pop. K-pop is firmly rooted on the music, choreography and fashion wear of the 1990 (New Jack Swing)-2010s Hop Hop music & culture. Many of the choreographers, writers, arrangers, etc. from the Black American music scene helped early K-pop generations produce music for the Korean marketplace. Together they literally created K-pop! But you’re right when you say Koreans weren’t the first nor the only groups to copy Black music and it’s cultural/ fashion tie-ins. For us I think the differentiation happens at the respect level. Eminem respects the Black culture that produced his success. Vanilla Ice disrespected that culture even as he mimicked it to achieve success. Some K-pop people show deep respect for the Black music culture that birthed K-pop while others operate as if K-pop has nothing to do with Black music culture or Black people. There are now too many documented incidents of Black people in Korea being disallowed into clubs from which our own music is blasting across the room. It’s reminiscent of White people dancing to Black Jazz in segregated clubs where Black people (other than the Black musicians) were not allowed.

[@JasonK.-cy2tl]

With all due respect, I hope you're not saying Blacks are responsible for most of kpop culture. Blacks and whites definitely have had an influence on kpop. But kpop is modelled on the jpop idol system. I would say Japan, not America has had the biggest influence on kpop. It would also stand to reason that Koreans have the biggest influence on kpop. Kpop, like many genres of music is a mixture of many influences.

[@migukin7492]

Most people who do plastic surgery in Korea is Chinese or Japanese.

[@ftu2021]

Jpop/rock > Kpop Anime > ??? Honda/Toyota > Kia/Hyundai Sushi>Kimchi Sony>Samsung Japan mid gap Korea 🎉

[@johnnybaum7957]

You must be one of those sad loner Japanese living in fantasy. I can give you cars and anime for sure Japan is still the big dog in those 2 areas. However.... Sony lost everything to Samsung and now only has the PS and real estate lol... Kimchi right now is the most popular dish in he world currently. (Although Sushi is very very popular) and of course Kpop destroys any Japanese music. Soon your cars will be eclipsed too and webtoons are also taking over mangas. The only thing you will have is porn / hentai.

[@jinwoo3963]

Don’t compare it shows insecurity. Japan is Japan Korea is Korea.

[@Kingsolo83]

Let’s just say African-American culture