The psychological shadow behind the K-pop phenomenon

They are young, attractive, they top the charts in their country of origin and they are sweeping the West. The K-pop phenomenon and its members compete with figures like Selena Gómez or Justin Bieber. Talk about groups like BTS, Blackpink and Twice is to refer to that epicenter of South Korean music that breaks molds, that brings together millions of followers and that hides behind it a somewhat long shadow.

The reason why we have been witnessing this unprecedented event for several years while Japanese pop, for example, remains in a discreet background, is explained by several factors. The main one is that We are faced with an industry oriented exclusively to manufacturing batches of stars and take out millions of these boys and girls who no longer know any other way of life.

An example, at the end of 2020, Big Hit Entertainmentthe company behind the BTS group made its landing in the world of the stock market. After crowning the top of the Billboard and becoming the first group since The Beatles in reaching number 1 in the US with various albums, they are now triumphing in the stock market.

Now, beyond the undoubted musical and financial success, in many cases hides a silenced drama. South Korea continues to be a country in which mental health problems are a stigma. Unhappiness, anguish and despair are cries that one must keep to oneself…

K-pop phenomenon and suicide: what is the South Korean music industry hiding?

Kim Jonghyun was 27 years old when he decided to take his own life in December 2017.. He explained in his suicide letter that sadness had consumed him and that no one, absolutely no one, was as weakened as he was. But in reality, the case of the SHINnee member is by no means the only one. Since 2005, there have been many K-pop figures who have felt exactly the same and have made the same dramatic decision.

Now, it should be noted that in the last 16 years there have been more than 25 suicides in both the world of music and film in this country. The most serious thing about these facts is that, according to a study by the University of Ulsan (Seoul), After the loss of some of these celebrities, a wave of suicides occurs among the population over the next 9 weeks. This is what is known as the Werther effect.

The degree of media coverage of these suicides usually has a great impact on the population, especially among young people under 25 years of age. However, the reason for the suicides does not respond to the loss of that famous person: it is only the trigger. Mental health is greatly neglected in a society defined by pressure in the academic and work area, Internet addiction and low quality in social relationships..

Now, beyond this social problem, we are interested on this occasion in the area related to the K-pop phenomenon. What explains these losses among young people who, apparently, have everything? We analyze it.

Star factory under military discipline

The K-pop phenomenon is more than just the most profitable industry to produce exorbitant amounts of money. It is also the image of a country, the reflection of South Korea. These musical groups have opened their doors to the West, they have captivated them with their choreography, their catchy music, with the image of the artists and all using Korean in a good part of their songs.

K-pop represents South Korea itself and such a marketing product has meticulously studied work behind it. All artists are recruited in their adolescence and undergo purely military learning and training.. They learn to sing, dance, learn English and sometimes they even undergo cosmetic surgery to further improve their image.

Once they enter this world, they no longer have access to another type of life. Once they achieve success and conquer their dreams, they are aware that they will no longer leave that universe similar to a sect where nothing, nothing is left to chance.

The image is everything

The K-pop phenomenon, beyond its songs, choreography and catchy music, attracts because of the appearance of its artists. Many of these young people are also the image of big brands like Chanel with whom they sign million-dollar contracts. Spectacular costumes, perfect bodies, faces worthy of any series of anime and the persistent obligation to appear impeccable.

Behind that impossible perfection there are hours of gym, strict diets, competitiveness among themselves and exhaustion. The emotional and psychological exhaustion due to that pressure is immense. Likewise, we cannot leave aside the sexualization to which they are subjected, especially them.

Never mind that many of these groups wish to symbolize female empowerment. In many cases, they are still young people prefabricated for the world of the music industry..

The K-pop phenomenon and social networks

If behind the K-pop phenomenon there is an entire marketing architecture aimed at creating media stars, the fan phenomenon associated with these groups presents an organization that is equally solid and powerful. The fandoms They number in the millions, both in the East and the West. and sometimes, they can become these celebrities’ worst enemy.

Cyberbullying is one of the biggest concerns for music companies. Public scrutiny is enormous and often devastating. It is known, for example, the case of Sulli, a South Korean singer, actress, dancer and model who, after starting her career at the age of 11, ended up taking her own life at the age of 25 because she could not withstand the media harassment.

The dictatorship of triumph and mental health, a taboo topic

All the stars that make up the K-pop phenomenon have a single objective: to sell music, be the image of South Korea and position themselves in the world of media.. In the dictatorship of success, nothing else matters, not the stress due to pressure, nor the feeling of loneliness, nor the sadness, nor the anguish of an industry that dehumanizes and where the only important thing is to conquer more and more markets.

Silencing sadness, hiding depression and not sharing the taboo of unhappiness with anyone is something that transcends K-pop. It is something cultural and traditional. To conclude, there is only a simple reflection… What can South Korean teenagers think if they see that their musical references choose to take their own lives despite “having it all”?

No society can call itself advanced if it neglects, remains silent and hides mental health problems. Let’s keep it in mind.

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