Many K-pop Male Idols, Including BTS, Face Mockery Over Their Gender
Male entertainers in South Korea, including those in the K-pop industry, occasionally face disrespectful comments, particularly related to makeup and clothing choices that fuel rumors of their sexual orientation. In the Western world, there has been a long history of ridiculing Asian stars with racist and discriminatory remarks.
In 2019, an Australian news show host sparked controversy by making racially discriminatory comments about the popular group BTS. The host’s comments, such as “If Kim Jong-un likes male idols, there might be no more war issues in Korea” and mocking the North-South Korea situation, stirred up global outrage.
Furthermore, a male host boldly made discriminatory remarks about the sexual orientation of male idols. He mentioned asking on social media if there was a gay member among the seven, asserting, “There must be one gay member among seven men. That’s just mathematics.” Similar incidents occurred in 2018 on a Mexican public broadcast program, where the host commented on BTS members’ appearance and suggested they looked weak and like they worked in a gay club, leading to significant backlash and condemnation.
Despite the controversies, the hosts at the center of the disputes issued apologies claiming they had humorously exaggerated to highlight their popularity. However, these apologies only brought to the surface a history of gender-based mockery against K-pop stars and domestic entertainers in Western societies.
This issue is not limited to singers; it extends to television shows as well. In 2019, a German man on the TVN show ‘Youn’s Kitchen 2’ made comments about Seo Joon and Seo Jin, suggesting the presence of gay Korean men. However, the controversy was averted as the producers deliberately translated his words differently during the broadcast.
This kind of mockery arises due to differing perceptions of masculinity in Western societies. In the past, Western male stars rarely engaged in cute fan service or charming dances, making the mockery of K-pop for deviating from traditional masculinity prevalent. Even in South Korea, Kim Hee-chul confessed on a variety show that he had been misunderstood as a sexual minority due to his long hair and makeup.
Some entertainers’ wise handling of such situations is notable. Kim Hee-chul acknowledged the misunderstanding but refrained from denying it outright, considering it might offend sexual minority fans. Yoon Ji-sung, formerly of Wanna One, shared his beliefs on diversity, stating that there is no such thing as “clothes that look gay” and expressing his rejection of traditional gender norms.
Both internationally and domestically, the frequent occurrence of gender insensitivity issues highlights a significant problem in modern society. At this point in history, as Korea ventures globally, it is crucial for many to develop an interest in and understanding of diversity.
