RIIZE's Seunghan apologizes for pre-debut relationship, dividing netizens

[mayjailer]

Comments

[syvlie0o0]

Do the k-pop fans who freak out about this stuff realize how stupid it is and don't care, or are they really that clueless?

[mnemo_syne]

A lot of international fans don't care but it's a big deal in SK.

[babycheeses1]

I've been a kpop fan for +3 years now and I still don't get the whole "idols can't date" mentality

[mayjailer]

yeah, maybe it's bc i'm from the us but i don't get it either. i can't imagine calling myself a fan of an artist but not wanting them to find happiness.

[5368f65]

but you call them artists. i haven't used korean in a while, but there used to be a clear difference between idol and artist in korean. idol fans and fans of artists are different concepts unfortunately.

(i agree with what you're saying, i just like linguistics too much to not point out these nuances, sorry.)

[5368f65]

that's why they're called idols and not singers or artists or something. https://www.etymonline.com/word/idol they're not meant to look or act human, idol is traditionally a false god.
i know people try to come up with excuses on why idols are not actually idols. also some idols say they want to be seen as artists not idols. if you debut however as an idol, you're still seen as a god.

[miwa201]

it's been a decade since i've been into kpop and it's crazy how this attitude towards dating will never change. i can only think of gdragon who was caught four times dating and came out of it unscathed (although he never admitted to those relationships but still)

[asnindie]

I feel like it's gotten bit better now. In the past gg members were never able to date. SM Stans were always nuts though. And seems like it's the same.

[103188]

So Kpop groups *openly encourage* unhealthy parasocial relationships?? The fuck

[oh_ilikethat_2]

Yes it's how they make a lot of their money

[fauxkaren]

lol 1000000% they do!

[sillyskinny]

Whole industry built on that.

Idols are supposed to love no one, but their fans (and their group members).

[adb7]

Oh, I thought it was like a photo of him being a creep or something but it's just him kissing someone...consensually??

[mayjailer]

yeah, they're as innocuous as can be and this is the response lol

[adb7]

is it mostly children who care about this or do adult kpop fans also care?

[mayjailer]

tbh i'm not involved with this group's fandom so i'm not sure, but i've def seen grown adults criticize other young/underage idols.