“
Best revenge? Smile, be happy and never let them know it hurt.
”
”
KARA Goo Hara
“
Number 1. If I say we're number 5, people will just feel sorry for us. I'd rather say we're number 1, even if fans criticize us.
”
”
KARA Park Gyuri
“
Just —looking through the chocolate," I said as casually as I could.
”
”
Lucy Gold (Bias)
“
CHAPTER SIX:
THE DARK SIDES OF THE KPOP INDUSTRY
”
”
S.C. Leon (The Dark Side of a K-POP Idol -The untold truth- | BTS BlackPink Twice EXO PSY Monsta X)
“
Frоm what K-pоp trainееs еndurе at thе start оf thеir "bооt camps" tо thе suicidе attеmpts, racism, and sеxual and physical assaults, thе truth abоut K-pоp stars and thеir industry is anything but glamоrоus
”
”
S.C. Leon (The Dark Side of a K-POP Idol -The untold truth- | BTS BlackPink Twice EXO PSY Monsta X)
“
I think beyond the superficial accolades, at its core, fans stream and buy albums and merchs, because they want to show that they acknowledge the hard work of the artists and their staff. The stream count, album sales and awards are tangible proof that the idols’ music is good. That they are popular. That they are better.
”
”
Arushi Raj (Understand K-pop: Deconstructing the Obsession and Toxicity in K-pop Stan Culture (Kiss, Kill, K-pop Book 1))
“
When we signed up to be idols, we signed away our right to be anything other than the perfect fantasy, an unattainable ideal. And that was a sacrifice I thought I would be happy to make, as long as I could live my dream of performing on a stage in front of fans. But love has a way of upending everything I thought I knew.
”
”
Erin Kay (Kosmic Heart (KOSMIC, #1))
“
If that dinner was “not bad,” then I’m a K-pop idol.
”
”
Ali Hazelwood (Love on the Brain)
“
There's nothing exciting about my life," Leyla said. "I mean, you've already seen where I live."
I couldn't hide my self-satisfied smile as I looked out at the sun setting between the buildings, fiery orange. "Thanks to my detective skills."
"Some people would call that stalking."
I thought for a second. "Well, YOU'VE basically assaulted me. Twice."
"Let's call it even.
”
”
Lucy Gold (Behind the Idol - A K-pop Romance)
“
Through their unique dance routines, SM Entertainment’s idol groups were redefining music, and the music industry’s consumers did not remain simply as listeners, but became fiercely devoted fans. In addition to this, with BIGBANG and 2NE1, YG Entertainment had fused the international hip-hop and pop trends of the time with the structure of K-pop melodies. They also utilized street and high fashion—something rarely attempted by idols before then—and through this, their influence went beyond the fandom, to the masses and the fashion industry itself.
”
”
BTS (Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS)
“
At the time, pre-debut promotional initiatives for K-pop idol groups generally meant publicizing the audition process through music channels on cable TV, or having members feature on reality shows. But instead of appearing on television, BTS members expressed their genuine selves to audiences through vlogs posted on YouTube.
”
”
BTS (Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS)
“
a rapper from the Hongdae stage and a contemporary dance major who started out as a break-dancer making music in the same team. But approximately eight years later in early 2020, BTS would combine elements of both disciplines in “Black Swan.” This melding of contrasting talents occurs sometimes in the K-pop industry, where idol groups are normally composed of a variety of positions such as rapper, dancer, and vocalist.
”
”
BTS (Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS)
“
This was the unique position BTS took from the beginning of their career, and the perspective they continue to take in telling their stories. Rather than follow the grammar of either hip-hop or idol music, they used the languages of both genres to talk about themselves.
”
”
Myeongseok Kang (Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS)
“
Tch, look at this shameless ssagaji behavior,” Madame Jung spits in disbelief, packing away her stones. “This is why of all the things I do for ShinBi, marketing idols is my least favorite task. I have to convince the public that you kids are special, deserving of worship and adoration … when in reality, idols—and the trainees who desperately want to be idols—are the losers of this country. Bottom of the barrel, like my youngest son—I had to pull strings just to get him a junior-level job at this company. Most idols are just empty-headed losers who never had hope of scoring in the top percentile on the national university entrance exam.
”
”
Stephan Lee (K-pop Confidential (K-pop Confidential, #1))
“
Managеrs wеrе еvеn knоwn tо film thеir idоls' sеxual activitiеs and usе thе fооtagе against thеm
”
”
S.C. Leon (The Dark Side of a K-POP Idol -The untold truth- | BTS BlackPink Twice EXO PSY Monsta X)
“
female idol who died last year, after being dropped by her company and harassed by trolls over nonsense “scandals.
”
”
Stephan Lee (K-pop Confidential (K-pop Confidential, #1))
“
Suonerà come un cliché, lo so, ma mi sembra veramente che sia passato solo un giorno da quando il mondo si fissò con quella canzone. Devo confessare che non mi piaceva. Tuttavia, non arriverei a dire che la odiavo. Non la calcolavo, e riconosco che mi dava fastidio quando la sentivo per la millesima volta mentre ero in giro. Anche se, tecnicamente, è stata la mia prima canzone K-pop, al tempo non avevo un’idea precisa di cosa fosse. Per me, era semplicemente una delle solite mode da social media che era andata troppo in là. E, come ogni altra moda, con il tempo “Gangnam Style” sarebbe sparita e avrebbe lasciato il posto ad altri tormentoni. Ma, senza che potessi immaginarlo, aveva posto le basi per qualcosa di più grande e permanente.
”
”
Arushi Raj (Alla Ricerca Di Holland: Quando la Musica è Speranza (Rose, Spine, K-pop, #2))