K-Pop in Pakistan is poppin’
Korean Pop music or K-Pop, as it is more commonly known as, has risen to insane levels of popularity, globally.
The year 2018 has been particularly good for the entire genre of K-Pop since it has now made its way into the mainstream.
The boyband BTS made headlines globally when they performed at the Billboard Music Awards and made an appearance on the Ellen show.
K-Pop clearly has a big following in Pakistan with incredibly loyal fans.
Of course, they have a VERY loyal fanbase in Pakistan as well. BTS fans refer to themselves as ‘Army’. And things get a little confusing when you specifically search for fans in Pakistan since results for the term ‘Pakistan Army’ brings about a very different image.
PLEASE COME TO PAKISTAN I WILL BE SO THANKFUL LIKE I WILL DIE FROM HAPPINESS. IT IS MY WISH AND I DONT KNOW WHEN I WILL DIE, MAYBE TOMORROW? PLEASE COME HERE BEFORE DIE I WANNA SEE YOU. @BTS_twt @hitmanb @BigHitEnt #PakistanNeedsBTS
— BTSislifeu (@BTSislifeuforUS) September 9, 2018
My Pajama Version of #IDOLCHALLENGE from Pakistan. I give @BigHitEnt my full consent to use this video!
Had a great time making this, though I am sure I look like a dork in it 😂😂😅@BTS_twt @bts_pk_official pic.twitter.com/mUResJPiev
— Ashhar Hussain (@all3tar_ash) September 2, 2018
I am a Pakistani Army🇵🇰🇵🇰.You guys have so many fans here who support you and love you. We are here even if we arent as big ♡ i give my consent to use this video. Global group Bts ♡ Pakistan.
#IDOLCHALLENGE #URSOO #BTS #PakistanArmy #Bts pic.twitter.com/Uwa9HuG5u0— aimen ammy (@aimen_ammy) September 1, 2018
The fandoms of K-Pop celebrities are known to work together to help their band favorite succeed.
In fact, the K-Pop fandom even helps spread awareness and was a key component in getting the Bangladeshi student crisis noticed by international media outlets.
But of course, not a lot of people appreciate K-Pop stars and how loved they are especially by women. These men from Pakistan just happen to be among those “haters”
I will never understand why women crush over these super feminine looking dudes. It's actually very weird and worrying https://t.co/510LUsCH5M
— سرمد (@s__lst) September 8, 2018
After this guy’s tweet the entire K-Pop fandom came for him and made some great points about how gender biases may play a role in perception about everything
Just because he washes his face and takes a shower doesn’t make him feminine y’all just mad
— тιa ♡ 結 (@joonieslee) September 8, 2018
Here we go again. Are women only allowed to crush over “manly” dudes?? What even…. https://t.co/hPDLkTHN7R
— Amina Ibrahim (@aminabaim) September 9, 2018
Here we go again pic.twitter.com/mr8FGW5EdM
— . (@rude_gurlzz) September 8, 2018
— lil meow meow's side chick (@_jung_hoseok_12) September 10, 2018
Seeing this guys reaction towards women liking K-pop stars who do not conform to the traditional standards of masculinity I became curious to know what exactly Pakistani men think of K-pop stars. And whether they are ‘alarmed’ by women liking them or not.
So I asked my male colleagues for their opinions on the matter, and it was interesting. Some thought that people can like whoever they wanted to like because it’s their preference.
Some were very confused and concerned.
It is clear that these men, in K-Pop, do not conform to the traditional masculine stereotypes we have always known, historically. They have immaculate skin, their fashion and accessories are carefully picked and eccentric, they frequently dye their hair funky colors and showcase their ‘sweet’ personalities in interviews which fans seem to love.
It is significant because it represents the modern generations’ perception of gender, sexuality and expressing individuality. And when someone calls K-Pop stars’ behavior feminine, the fans clearly do not care for it.
I’m sick and tired of all these crusty men talking about bts looking “too feminine” I like my men looking clean and smelling fresh Timothy, not like half of these men with dirty ass fingernails who shower every 2 days
— Sidney|| JOONIE DAY!!! (@knjsmoon) September 8, 2018
As an Arab I’ve always been judged for my preference in music specifically kpop.
Why do you BTS ? Why do you like boys who look feminine ?,you should love man who are masculine.
To them I don’t fit in their society, I’m WERID! Guess what I like to be this WERID!— Sarah ᶜʰᶦᵐ ᶜʰᶦᵐ (@swarriahk) September 10, 2018
what i never understood about the arguement stating that ‘bts look too feminine’ is what the fuck does it mean to appear feminine? it’s 2018 and we are still using stereotypical ideas of what a man and women should be… lets hajima yeah? lets grow the hell up.
— STEPHANIE (@THICJ00N) September 9, 2018
Honestly, let people stan whoever they want to stan! It’s a free world, after all. And as for the men in K-pop looking too feminine, well it’s 2018 so let’s ditch gender roles and norms once and for all.
What are your opinions about K-pop and it’s stars? Let us know in the comments.
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Cover Image Source: allkpop.com/@s__ist via Twitter.com