What do people living in the Netherlands think about K-pop?

Q. Have you celebrated birthday or special days for people who is K-Pop? If so, how? or have u seen people who celebrated them?


  • No
  • No I haven’t celebrated the birthday of a member. But I have seen people who do, some just join the V Live that a lot of them do but others go ALL OUT.
  • No
  • Nope
  • I haven't celebrated these girl group members' birthdays myself. But some of my friends will go and post many wishes on the internet.But I have celebrated the birthday of a member of a Korean boy band (exo) over. Because I really like one of the characters in it. I probably just also crazy on the network to send blessings it
  • I have not but I’ve seen people on the Internet do it
  • No. I didn't. But i saw fans rent the advertising board in transport station in Hong kong.

Q. Do you know about K-Pop? If so, how did you know? 


  •    Yes, I got into it through YouTube recommendations.
  •    Yes, I used to see some pictures of idols on tumble when i was in middle school. 
  • I do, I first heard about it through friends and then later Instagram recommended me a lot of kpop accounts.
  • I heard from little sister.
  • Yes, Of course I knew about kpop. When I was in elementary school, I formed a group with the girls in my class who were close to me and started to learn to dance kpop and perform it at school. That's probably when I started to learn about kpop.
  • Yes, I think through YouTube.
  • yes, I learned from social media.
  • Yes, first K-Pop song i knew songs by Ji yoon at 2001 when i was playing 'Online game' which is crazy popular in HK at early 2000s.

Q. Do you have K-Pop team that you like? (or you know)


  • BTS, LOONA, New Jeans, Twice
  • LOONA, Twice, Red Velvet, SNSD, The Boyz, P1harmony, NCT127, Sf9
  • I have kind of grown out of my kpop fase but I’ve loved Stray Kids for a very long time!
  • Nope
  •  Of course! The first Korean girl group I liked was Girls' Generation! Then there was twice, and then today's new jeans and my recent favorites ive and aespa.
  • Idk I did follow Stray kids and Ateez for a while now not that much anymore but I do listen to some Korean rnb/ hiphop I guess
  •  My forever crush 2NE1 since 2009

Q. Why do you think a lot of people from other countries likes K-pop?


  • The high levels of content that you get from idols or groups that you like. Music, lives, YouTube videos, entertainment shows, movies sometimes, etc. and the high levels of organization.
  • The songs are very catchy.
  • Because there is a lot of content, Pretty people?
  • Probably because they are very beautiful and energetic.
  • I think it is very impressive and there are a lot of things around it. Like fan events or the artists sharing talking with the fans. 
  • Power of YouTube and other social media. They are All planned.

Q. What do you think when you see/listen K-Pop? (doesn't have to be positive things)


  • It’s super fun to be into and it’s mostly nice to be part of that community. But it’s clearly an industry product and there are some dark sides to it that do t get talked about a lot. Unfortunately because it’s not a “normal” approach to music and entertainment it’s often used to make fun of East Asians and the people that are interested in it.
  • My favourite artists, the vocals, the instrumental of the song and the hard work behind the performances
  • Very disciplined, everything about them seems perfected until the tiniest details!
  •  It's a very big thing.
  • It depends on the situation, in general I hear kpop has a lively feeling, but if I am working I feel a little loud.
  • Stamina, acting, crazy outfits, no free speech and edm/pop music
  • I don’t listen to it a lot, I don't know.
  • A lot, It do very adorable about their performance and brain-washing song, but it also cant take my off eye on the Dark side behind , supporting by and related to Korean government , how growth of the creative industry.

Q. Is there a difference between K-pop and pop songs? (appearance, make-up, clothes, style or atmosphere anything)


  • Yes but they influence one another.
  • Usually kpop seems to have specific sub-styles in clothes, visuals and sound that are clear to point out. (ex: cute, girl-crush, hip-hop, noise etc)
  • A lot of kpop idols have a more “cute” image than for example western pop musicians. There are also a bit more rules for kpop idols than for others (aka diets, no dating etc.) And as I said before kpop seems a lot more disciplined than pop.
  • K-pop has bigger productions.
  • A big difference. kpop is newer both musically and in terms of performance. As for fashion, kpop's agency usually contacts a few designers who are very talented and famous internationally to work with them. Either that or ask some of the students at St. Martin's to design clothing patterns.
  • Yes K-pop is way more connected to a concept or a story the group wants to tell. In pop it’s just music. Also less groups more solo artists.
  • yes, the atmosphere of k-pop is way more complete than pop.

 

 

Q. What do you think about K-pop style? (make up , clothes...)


  • It’s a lot broader than a lot of people assume it to be and a lot of it looks really cool. The clothes match with the concept of the group. But some styling choices are definitely questionable.
  • I like very specific styles and i prefer cute but mysterious girl group concepts such as Red Velvet, Loona, Gfriend and for boy groups elegant and cute but also enjoy most of NCT outfits and concepts.
  • Some clothes I have seen a little bit too much personally, but I think people should wear what they like! Who am I to judge you know? Do what makes you happy :)
  • I don't know.
  • It's basically the same. Because each person at the time of debut the company will package a person's fixed style towards.
  • I do like it but sometimes it just seems like a 5 year old was allowed to dress the artists. Especially for female artists it often seems random.
  • It’s tipical k-pop, and various.
  • In their own aesthetic, some time are old school, stereotype and repeated.

Q. If you could become K-pop, would you like to become a K-pop star? Why?


  • No, Too much stress and no privacy. I wouldn’t have a life outside of my career.
  • Yes, cause I would have a very specific goal that I’d have to follow. It would give me a sense of purpose and I wouldn’t mind working myself to death
  • No slave contracts, feeling stuck, not being good enough would make me very depressed.
  • Yes, I would like to. As a girl can always be beautiful.
  • No, There is a lot of pressure put on kpop idols and they have to follow strict routines. I also think that the stress of being in the public eye 24/7 would not be good for my mental health.
  • No, Too dark and crazy about the idol culture and internet culture of korea. 
  • No, Because you have to be in good shape all the time. You must be tired.

Q. Do you think K-POP has influenced clothing/make-up brands? Why?


 

  • Yes for sure. Because it’s grown to be an influential aspect of modern pop culture what the idols wear becomes popular amongst the fan base and the fashion industry try to grab onto that by making clothes that appeal to the fan base. Also idols have become brand ambassadors for luxury brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, etc. because of their popularity to possibly influence people into buying from that brand.
  • Definitely, because fans enjoy and admire idols/groups distinct style of makeup, clothing hair etc, brands are more likely to make their products similar to target fans.
  • Oh Definitely! A lot of their stage outfits go viral on social media and many people want to look the same. I also think that a lot of kpop fans get more into Korean street style through kpop as well, and then that becomes more popular.
  • Probably!
  • Of course. Nowadays, many clothing industries are designing clothes according to the guidance of big data, and kpop has such a big influence in the young group. There must be a lot of clothing companies that make versions of colors based on the clothing styles of the girl group.
  • Yes. I think the way the costumes are so strongly connected to the music makes you notice it more. I also think they do play a lot more with gender roles of clothes and dress man often in a more feminine way
  • Yes, via tiktok, for commercial reason
  • Yes. It have a long long story can tell by the revolution of how the influence of K-pop Culture affect all over the world. (so many things in my mind now)

 

 

Q. Is there any advantage/disadvantage to live as a k-pop star?


  • Many job opportunities if you become popular. But you have no privacy, no private life, need to look a certain way, act a certain way, need to be good at everything. And even if you do all that you still might be hated by everyone.
  • I think there are many disadvantages for many idols. not enough rest, personal time etc. Having to have a careful attitude, being cautious about the things you say. being overworked, followed, getting harsh criticism, missing friends and family etc. the advantages are the exposure the brand deals, ;in some cases the payment) and exploring creative things.
  • I heard that a member of Astro passed away recently due to suicide. I do not know what happend of course but I suspect that the pressure of being a kpop idol was very tough on his mental health. I think this huge pressure to be perfect and to be judged at all times is a big disadvantage. Anvantages would be that you have a really cool job! Performing for a lot of people sounds really cool, and being rich and famous also has its perks.
  • You'll get fame, no social life.
  • Advantage is. At a young age you can go to the top of your life. Let everyone like you and you are beautiful. The disadvantage is that it is not free.
  • I feel like they give up a lot of there childhood to train and than I seems like they don’t have a lot of freedom
  • Crazy schedule, lack of personal life etc.
 

Q. How did K-pop affect people? (trend, attitude... etc)


 

  • I think it can bring people close together but there are a lot of aspects of K pop fan culture that are really toxic.
  • people try kpop style make up clothes and can experiment with their physical appearance. many people become motivated to pursue music, dance, rap etc cause of their idols. however it can also affect negative things such as unrealistic beauty standards including strict and unhealthy diets
  • I think that non-Korean kpop fans eventually will start getting interested in Korean culture and will therefore start wearing Korean streetstyle inspired outfits, or start wanting to try Korean food. Some people want to visit Korea because of kpop as well.
  • No idea
  • I have some kpop lovers friends in contact with learning to jump kpop after becoming confident.
  • Trend clothing
  • Idol culture