Park, S. (2022, July 7). It’s not just a ‘concept’: Racial insensitivity of K-pop music videos. Netflix. Presented at IASPM(International Association for the Study of Popular Music) XXI 2022, Daegu (virtual)
Abstract
Racial insensitivity has been a longstanding problem in the K-pop industry. Although K-pop has been rife with cultural appropriation and racist representation, the problem remained as a blind spot until K-pop grows in popularity worldwide, incorporating a diverse base of international fans. In particular, K-pop music videos, which are the major vehicle for K-pop to garner international attention through YouTube, have become a discursive site for racial debate. Blackpink’s “How You Like That” music video received backlash after using Hindu God in a scene. Jay Park and his label were called out for cultural appropriation after some of the performers sported hairstyles such as afros and dreadlocks in the video for “DNA Remix.” Meanwhile, NCT 127’s “Kick It” music video reproduces the stereotyped images of Asia and China made by Hollywood movies. While K-pop is marked by its hybridity that collages various genres and aesthetics from different cultures including hip-hop style, Asian aesthetics, Latin music, and so on into a song, we keep seeing the K-pop industry continually blunder with racist actions under the guise of a visual ‘concept.’ Examining different issues of racial insensitivity of K-pop music videos, this study calls for a deeper cross-cultural understanding of K-pop.
SOJEONG PARK 