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[Seoul=Newsis] Lee Monwon's Culture Criticism
There has never been such a diversion regarding a national idol group such as 2PM's Park Jaebum controversy. Disputes of nationalism, noise marketing, the tyranny of the company, and the power of the fandom all exploded within two turns. Because of this, the issue has been the topic of TV debates and current affairs.
Even so, there is still so much left to say, especially regarding the psychological foundations of Korean idol fandoms. The Park Jaebum controversy is a perfect explanation of such a topic.
Last fall, the first part of the Park Jaebum controversy regarding his Myspace comments ended on a rather positive note, with many supporters coming forward. Due to excessive noise marketing, 2PM even received some benefits from it, their name sky rocketing to instant fame. Both Park Jaebum and 2PM received great sympathy from the masses, the first, for being 'banished,' and the second, for losing Park Jaebum. Because of these benefits, they were able to win every award during the year end ceremonies and came out on top as the #1 group.
However, the second part that came about after Park Jaebum's complete withdrawal brought about the complete opposite of results. The conference with JYPE, 2PM, and their fans proved that the members of 2PM agreed wholeheartedly to Park Jaebum's withdrawal and Park Jaebum's private life became an unspeakable, severe matter. Despite it all, the arrow turned back at the rest of the members and the fans turned into antis while the fandom cracked.
The difference between the first and second part is really only one reason. It all depended on 'which side' the six members stood on. During the first part, they had no clear stance, while in the second part, they stood clearly on the side of JYPE. That one difference was the difference between heaven and hell. Of course, there are many analyzations regarding this matter in columns and articles but the context is alike. Idol fandoms had always stressed the importance of friendship between the members. During the first part of the controversy, the members had always stressed their friendship in various award ceremonies. After the second part of the controversy, they no longer do, causing the fandom to turn in the complete opposite direction.
Looking at it from an outsider's point of view, what you see is what is exactly happening. However, the explanation does not end there. If the fandom does not receive what they want from the idols, they can just leave. But the diehard fans of 2PM have now turned into diehard antis. Although they released their private lives on internet boards and emailed journalists with them, they were the ones that once strongly loved the boys the most. Their feelings are not just one of disappointment but of detestation. What exactly is the reason that gave birth to such an empire of hate?
Omitted lengthy analyzation of old idol groups HOT, GOD, Sechs Kies.
But the Park Jaebum controversy requires a new viewpoint. During the first part of his controversy, he was seen as the weaker person (TN: deserving of sympathy) for having been kicked out due to one mistake, sympathy that was received from people that had the same feelings of being pushed around by a brutal society. It was impossible not to feel sympathy for the rest of the 2PM members either. They, too, had lost Park Jaebum and they were also the weaker ones in the battle. This notion is easy to organize and easy to understand. The company is the one that is deserving of hate, but the weaker ones must be protected. As long as they were the weak, they were the idols.
The aspect of the second part of the controversy was different. Once viewed as weak, the rest of the six members turned into traiters and are now standing on the side of the strong. 2PM is the group of the strong, a group that caters to the strong, and a group that utilized their position of strength to push down those weaker than them. The fandom has now lost their projections. An idol that does not project them are no longer idols. Love and attachment takes only a moment to disappear. The fact that one loves 2PM, the fact that one love any idols of Korea, means that one also loves 'one's self.' This is not disappointment. This issue is a direct threat to one's self, and this is what brings about anger.
This is the level that must be reached in order for the fans to turn into antis, and with that change, they have also gained power. To the fans, 2PM is a presence that must be hated more than the company, a group that has brought them despair. Of course, this is just a temporary event. The terror will soon cease, but the detestation will not, and the love they once had towards them will never be revived. 2PM will be thrown away and the fans will soon find a new subject. The weakest of the weak, thrown away twice by the strong, that subject is Park Jaebum. There is not another perfect, more deserving subject than him. With a rumor about a possible American debut already circulating, the big names within the fandom have already moved to his side, with the high possibility of the rest of the fandom following.
Conclusively, the Park Jaebum controversy left a lesson to the idol market of Korea. That lesson is to never shake the foundation of Strong-Fandom-Weak, a foundation that the idol market has created itself. The notion of 'The president is our hyung, our father,' and 'We are one family with our company,' is a hopeful stance taken by companies but not particularly what the public requests for. There are no benefits stemming from becoming a 'nice company.' CF deals and singer incomes are based off of the idol's image and popularity, not exactly whether the company's image is positive or not. Celebrities with many rumors surrounding them still manage to land CF deals.
The beautiful but weak princess and the brave prince that protects her, along with the dangerous, disgusting dragon. This is a fantasy that has never changed for thousands and thousands of years. Perhaps there are situations where the dragon and the princess spark a deal and take some income from CF deals while screaming nonsense such as 'We are one family,' but in the end, it all comes down to understanding who is selling what, and to whom. Maybe then, the same mistake will not be repeated.
May be taken out with full credits. You are not allowed add yourself to the credits nor edit the credits.
CREDITS : NEWSIS (SOURCE) ; hazyfiasco@2ONEDAY.COM (TRANS)
CREDITS : NEWSIS (SOURCE) ; hazyfiasco@2ONEDAY.COM (TRANS)
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