Video )) EXP EDITION - Ready To Go (Lyric Ver.)
Video )) EXP EDITION - Ready To Go (Lyric Ver.)
< 1 min to read · Published : Feb 23, 2018 · Updated : Apr 26, 2023
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Video )) EXP EDITION - Ready To Go (Lyric Ver.)
haemil, Kpopmap EditorIn this article, you can find out about idols who have debuted in their 7th year and whether they have disbanded or not! Let's check!
Song, Kpopmap EditorFor idols, '7 Year Curse' means a 'crisis' they face in the 7th year since their debut.
This is because, most of the time, they are at a crossroads in their career because their exclusive contract will expire with their agency. Therefore, it is a key date for the groups as they will decide if they will continue (and if together) or not.
In Korea, according to Article 3, Paragraph 2 of the "Standardized Agreement for Pop Culture Artists", artists can notify the cancellation of their contract if the contract exceeds 7 years.
Numerous idol groups came through difficulties during this period, generally following the steps of 'disbanding' or 'reducing the group'. Some group or member take this opportunity to leave the agency where they debuted but do not leave/disband the group.
In this article, you can find out about idols who reach their 7th year since debut and whether they have disbanded or not!
Let's check the list below.
*Note that not all the idols re-sign on their 7th year. Some groups of this list already re-signed.
BONUSbaby
Jan 01, 2017
~ Active
TST
Jan 01, 2017
~ Active
Varsity Disbandment: Apr 23, 2020
INGIHYUNSANG
Jan 06, 2017
~ Active
DREAMCATCHER
Jan 13, 2017
~ Active
H2L Disbandment: May 26, 2017
H.U.B Contract End
Sunny Play Contract End
Chic Angel
Feb 16, 2017
~ Active
Highlight
Feb 24, 2017
~ Active
Little Sonyeondan Contract End
BLANC7 Disbandment: Jan 24, 2019
MVP Disbandment: Feb 06, 2022
Seven O'Clock Disbandment: Mar 02, 2021
PRISTIN Disbandment: May 24, 2019
LIPBUBBLE Disbandment: May 20, 2019
BLACK6IX Disbandment: Apr 16, 2021
EXP EDITION
Apr 26, 2017
~ Active
MIND U
Apr 27, 2017
~ Active
TRIPLE H Contract End
HONEYST Disbandment: Apr 26, 2019
Duetto
May 17, 2017
~ Active
A.C.E
May 21, 2017
~ Active
MARMELLO Disbandment: Sep 02, 2019
S2U Disbandment: Jun 01, 2019
ALICE
Jun 01, 2017
~ Active
G-reyish Disbandment: May 31, 2022
Favorite
Jul 05, 2017
~ Active
SURPRISE U
Jul 07, 2017
~ Active
LIMESODA Disbandment: Aug 22, 2020
14U Disbandment: May 12, 2019
MYTEEN Disbandment: Aug 21, 2019
P.O.P
Jul 26, 2017
~ Active
Longguo & Shihyun Contract End
Apple.B Disbandment: May 21, 2019
ONF
Aug 02, 2017
~ Active
The Rose
Aug 03, 2017
~ Active
AA
Aug 03, 2017
~ Active
Wanna One Disbandment: Jan 27, 2019
Weki Meki
Aug 08, 2017
~ Active
H.B.Y
Aug 16, 2017
~ Active
S.I.S
Aug 25, 2017
~ Active
GreatGuys
Aug 25, 2017
~ Active
Golden Child
Aug 28, 2017
~ Active
Good Day Disbandment: Nov 11, 2019
IZ
Aug 31, 2017
~ Active
IM Disbandment: May 09, 2019
MXM
Sep 06, 2017
~ Active
BAIKAL Disbandment: May 25, 2019
TRCNG Disbandment: Mar 26, 2022
RAINZ Disbandment: Oct 28, 2018
HICUTE
Oct 12, 2017
~ Active
JBJ Disbandment: Apr 30, 2018
GEEGU Disbandment: Feb 12, 2021
SKYE
Oct 26, 2017
~ Active
HyeongSeop x EuiWoong
Nov 02, 2017
~ Active
ABRY
Nov 15, 2017
~ Active
OMYJEWEL Disbandment: Mar 27, 2018
BUSTERS
Nov 27, 2017
~ Active
BLK Disbandment: Sep 28, 2018
THE BOYZ
Dec 06, 2017
~ Active
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Read fans' opinions on the standing of non-Asian K-Pop idols in the industry, how they have come to the forefront, and the systems for and against them.
Kay Sesoko, Kpopmap EditorHallyu (the Korean wave) has become even more of a global phenomenon in recent years reaching every corner of the globe. K-Pop, in particular, is one of Korea's hottest commodities, with a cornucopia of artists for fans to admire. The genre has evolved in several ways since its invention. Be it musically, conceptually, in terms of marketing, etc.
The expansion of K-Pop has been rapid and had an exponential effect on fanbases. In doing so, it has also given birth to plentiful opportunities for non-Koreans to enter the K-Pop industry (both onstage and behind-the-scenes). As companies shift to a focus on global appeal, they have changed their offering to be more accommodating to worldwide target markets.
Whilst they have done this in many ways. One of the notable ways that some companies have been gaining international appeal for their K-pop groups is by debuting more and more non-Korean idols.
Holding global auditions and scouting has become a more common step in the group formation process in recent years. Before, global auditions and scouting used to mostly result in the debut of non-Korean idols who are of Asian descent, notably from countries such as Japan, China, Taiwan, etc. However, in recent years, the field has expanded to other countries/nationalities, too.
In addition to the increase in industry-specific interest from the fans, the game has evolved significantly.
Today we'll take a closer look at how this evolution has brought non-Asian K-Pop idols, in particular, to the forefront. We will focus on the response that their presence in the industry has gained and the influencing factors.
Note: In this article, the term 'non-Asian will refer to idols who do not have Asian birth parents. In some cases, non-Asian idols might be descendants of Asians (e.g. have an Asian grandparent or great grandparent, etc.) but for the sake of this article, we will consider their immediate lineage.
Firstly, we have to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Non-Asian K-Pop idols have been the center of huge amounts of backlash from K-Pop fans. There are many people who believe that they have no place in the industry as they do not visually or culturally represent the 'K' in K-Pop.
However, in the same breath, non-Asian K-Pop idols have many supporters (both Korean and internationally). It is a matter of how you think about the influence they have in the industry and the meaning of K-Pop.
Some K-Pop fans have even noted a disparity in the demographics where the general outrage on the topic stems from.
This fan notes how most of the backlash non-Asian K-Pop idols get is from international K-Pop fans rather than Koreans. Many non-Asian idols have mentioned that Koreans tend to be welcoming toward them. Of course, there are Koreans who are opposed to the idea, but the same can be said for international fans. Just as there are people who will disagree with something, others may love that same idea.
Some fans have even noted that the outrage comes from international fans because they want to gatekeep Korean culture.
'Gatekeeping' refers to the act of controlling, and usually limiting, general access to something.
This particular comment points out a double standard that they have observed among K-Pop fans.
There are people who believe that these idols play an important role in the industry, which we will dive into later in the article.
Whilst non-Korean idols of Asian descent are largely accepted in the K-Pop industry, non-Asian K-Pop idols can often not say the same. One of the most plausible explanations for why this backlash exists may be that fans do not understand the intentions of these idols.
"I wanted to be an idol who can give my fans hope to be a K-Pop artist even though it is a really difficult world to join. I know there are people who don't have Asian ancestry that want to be a K-Pop idol and I wanted to show them that this is possible and give them hope."
- Blackswan's Gaby (Brazilian)
Like Blackswan's Gaby, many of the non-Asian idols who want to debut simply want to show their love for K-Pop and create a vision of possibility, simultaneously.
However, despite many non-Asian people wanting to debut, the reality is that it is not always possible for them.
The non-Korean K-Pop market is still quite small despite the increase in non-Asian idols hoping to debut. In the below video, the BORN Star Training Center is featured, which is a K-Pop school in the United States. Their hope is to create opportunities for hopeful idols to become stars. The video also speaks about the prospects for non-Koreans to succeed once they have eventually entered the industry.
The vision of possibility that we mentioned earlier goes hand-in-hand with representation. A huge part of the reason that many fans support non-Asian idols is that they feel that their presence in the industry is a reflection of themselves.
In the context of culture, 'representation' is a term used to emphasize the presence of a specific culture in an industry that they usually have low visibility or little presence in.
Representation in media is considered important because of the impact it has in breaking down barriers/stereotypes and being a source of inspiration to others. It is an idea that considers the importance of the viewer, just as much as the importance of the characters/personas on a screen or stage.
For example, when Korean-American actress Sandra Oh became the first woman of Asian descent in 39 years to win a Golden Globe for best actress in a TV drama in 2019, it was a massive step in terms of representation for Koreans in the Western entertainment industry. She was the first person of Asian descent to host the Golden Globes in 2019, too.
The fact that she was the first Asian person to achieve these feats, just 3 years ago, speaks volumes about the representation of Asians in Hollywood, for example.
K-Pop, by opening up its demographics, has already achieved similar feats.
Alex Reid (former BP RaNia member) is well-known as the first African-American and first black K-Pop idol.
When asked how she felt about being the first black K-Pop idol, she said:
"The reason I never thought I could be in K-Pop is because I never saw somebody like me in K-Pop. So, if I had a role model then I probably would've pursued it harder and actually felt like it was more than a dream. So, it feels good to know that other black girls like me who just love K-pop and get made fun of all the time can have someone to look up to."
- Alex Reid
She added:
"It's really exciting for girls like me to have representation. It's so important. I had never seen anyone who looked like me. No one. Not even close. If I saw someone who even sort of looked like me, maybe they're Brazilian or Colombian, that would've been such a gamechanger. So, now it's cool to say that there are girls who can look and be like, "There wasn't one but now there's another black K-Pop star and she has darker skin. With colorism, there are so many layers where people will favor a lighter skin. So, I think seeing more different complexions is so important because even with my representation there are plenty of girls who will think, "Maybe she got in because she's lighter.""
- Alex Reid (former BP Rania member) on Blackswan Fatou's debut
Some fans are of the opinion that K-Pop takes inspiration from so many other cultures that it should be open to embracing artists from these cultures, too.
Embracing these artists and cultures also facilitates conversations about the accuracy of the cultural representation in the industry (by non-Asians and Asians alike).
Blackswan's Fatou is Senegalese and Belgian. She is considered the second black K-Pop idol and the first African K-Pop idol in the industry.
She recently did an interview where she reacted to how Koreans react to Blackswan's music. For a fair amount of the video, she had to address and correct multiple stereotypes about black people.
"There are a few points that sprang out to me. There are some kinds of stereotypes, but on the other side, they are very accepting and very welcoming. They give a lot of compliments." - Blackswan's Fatou (Belgian)
You can watch the full video here.
However, there are times when representation can go wrong. The issue is not always that the representation is present, but rather how it is done. There are times when international fans want to be supportive of idols who are similar to them but feel misrepresented by them.
One of the issues that fans have with non-Asian idols is the lengths they sometimes go to for the sake of trying to 'fit in'. Whether they are attempting to fit into the industry as a non-Asian group or it is one person trying to fit into a majority Korean group as a non-Asian member; oftentimes their efforts become tone-deaf because they mistakenly enforce stereotypes about Asians. This misled attempt to 'belong' puts fans off, regardless of the intention.
Non-Asian K-Pop idols tend to walk a fine tightrope where particular actions border on appreciation vs. appropriation of Korean culture. It is intersected by the line of conformity versus representing their own culture, too. Idols who fail to find the balance find themselves at the center of backlash.
Take the boy group EXP Edition, for example. They debuted as an experiment connected to a project started by three Asian women who theorized about the success of non-Asian idols in K-Pop. However, K-Pop fans did not approve of the group's intentions.
Many also had issues with the quality of the group's work considering the grueling hard work that goes into the K-Pop industry. They felt that EXP Edition is gimmicky and trying to profit off of the success of K-Pop and all of its encompassing elements. This is despite having one member who is half-Japanese.
Other fans believe that the group is talented and would've done well had they been truer to their own identity.
In most cases, the idols who embrace Korean culture but still maintain their own cultural identity, have received praise from fans. This includes learning the language to fluency, going through a trainee period, and being respectful/showing appreciation for the culture instead of appropriating it.
Other fans' concern with non-Asian K-Pop idols is that in the process of becoming an inclusive industry, a portion of the K-Pop industry should remain locked off strictly for Koreans/Asians.
There is a concern that the inclusion of so many idols, especially from Western countries, might lead to them taking over the industry.
However, some fans disagree with the idea of there being an industry takeover threat in general.
*This fan also highlighted the importance of representation in the K-Pop industry and how it can be improved.
On another side of the debate, those who don't mind or even enjoy the presence of non-Asian K-Pop idols in the industry, are more worried about what it means for their wellbeing. As Korean culture is quite unique, they worry about the mental and emotional load that those idols may have to carry in dealing with their identity (amidst a different culture).
For example, some fans feel that Alex Reid was used as a commodity by her company when she was still active as an idol. To them, it was a case of using her international identity as a PR tool and not giving her the proper treatment or recognition for her talents.
There were several instances when Alex would only do her parts on stage then get off of the stage or stand still in the corner for the remainder of the performance. Many felt that she was being treated like a featuring artist. This raised alarms about her company's intentions for having her in the group and about how she was being treated.
In this performance of 'Start A Fire' you can see how Alex leaves the stage after her part and then comes back for the ending.
Alex has often spoken out about her time in the group and mentioned an instance where she was continuously excluded from group activities without explanation. She has mentioned instances where she was not accounted for in basic things that are factored into running a K-Pop group, such as hair and makeup. She would often have to do her own hair and makeup because none of the stylists could handle doing it, which meant that she had to wake up a lot earlier to get everything done and then sit doing nothing during the allotted hair and makeup time. In the end, for a number of reasons (not just the ones we have mentioned), she chose to leave the group and pursue other endeavors.
It has become profitable for agencies to debut non-Korean idols because they attract a larger demographic for their fanbase and can guarantee an element of a group's success overseas. This has led to an increase in the presence of non-Korean idols among debut lineups.
"I think the bottom line is that if you want a member... There were perks to having me in the group which were like, "Oh, she's different! We're gonna get publicity off of this and that," if you're gonna have the positive side and reap the benefits... You have to think of those things. Being different is cool in front of the camera, but what does it take to sustain having somebody different in your group off-camera?"
- Alex Reid
There is still much room for improvement when it comes to the inclusion and representation of international audiences on the K-Pop stage.
What do you think about non-Asian K-Pop idols? Do you think that they belong in K-Pop? Let us know in the comments!
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