K-pop Compare and Contrast: Part 1
I know that U-KISS has nothing to do with the people that I will be talking about, but it's K-pop!
Super Junior. 2PM.
If you are a follower of K-pop or of these bands, you'll know who they are. You'll most likely know at least one of the members (if you know all of them, great! If you know some, that works too). If not, then you should probably at least know these two names: Hankyung (or Hangeng) and Park Jaebum (or Jay Park).
Hankyung, also known by his Chinese name Hangeng, is (or was) a member of Super Junior. He requested for a contract termination with his entertainment company, SM Entertainment. There are various pictures and videos that show Hankyung's sufffering while in South Korea (of course, not official as in released by a company).
Park Jaebum, commonly known as Jay Park, was a member and leader of 2PM. He withdrew from his entertainment company, JYP Entertainment, as a result of some MySpace comments on his page. The company's public relation person later cited he decided to leave because of personal mistakes (or something along that line, but if you've followed the whole case, you'd understand).
Does anyone see any SIMILARITY in these guys?
While I know that Park Jaebum's problem happened first, K-pop history pratically repeated itself. Both have gone solo. Hankyung released a solo album in China and is performing in concerts. Jaebum has released a cover song and is going to be in a dance movie.
And the fans.. I don't know where to start, to be quite honest. There are the fans that defend them and continue to love/protect them. And then there are the fans that blame/hate them.
I have days I feel sorry for these guys. Then I have days that I just get ugh-ed by them (and I'll be honest, Super Junior is my all-time favorite K-pop band). The main reason I feel irked by them is mainly because of the fans or anti-fans. There's one side that praises them pratically like an angel, and there's the other side who can only hate them or not feel sorry for them (but even then, I feel sorry for the fans and anti-fans).
And then, I can't help but wonder who there really is to blame. Most fingers will be pointed at the entertainment company, but really, how much can we blame?
Anyways, part of the reason why I feel irked by the fans is from their praises and nice comments about them. Example: "They're so kind-hearted and nice" (or something along those lines since I cannot exactly elaborate). For one, are you positive that they are all the kind-hearted and warm kind of people? (And also, they seem to have this things with their moms, as in they have this close bond with the moms, making people them more human) To an extent, I question their personalities. Yes, Hankyung's and Park Jaebum's. I don't care how much evidence you give saying that they're the nicest people in the world, I still question it.
In the meanwhile, the anti-fans (new or old) continue to show or explain reasons as to why they are such jerks (generally new ones say for leaving the group, but then there are also the older ones that have been around since their bands' debuts or so). Of course, fans tend to trump them and I have a tendency to not listen to them, but I read or listen to their views once in awhile (if done right, it's not that bad - look at Jo or Jeon (I can't remember his last name) Hyeonmoo, one of the former hosts in Star Golden Bell and his "hateful/anti-fan segments").
In the end, I don't know what side I can fully agree on. Oh well, so much for typing all of this out.
Super Junior. 2PM.
If you are a follower of K-pop or of these bands, you'll know who they are. You'll most likely know at least one of the members (if you know all of them, great! If you know some, that works too). If not, then you should probably at least know these two names: Hankyung (or Hangeng) and Park Jaebum (or Jay Park).
Hankyung, also known by his Chinese name Hangeng, is (or was) a member of Super Junior. He requested for a contract termination with his entertainment company, SM Entertainment. There are various pictures and videos that show Hankyung's sufffering while in South Korea (of course, not official as in released by a company).
Park Jaebum, commonly known as Jay Park, was a member and leader of 2PM. He withdrew from his entertainment company, JYP Entertainment, as a result of some MySpace comments on his page. The company's public relation person later cited he decided to leave because of personal mistakes (or something along that line, but if you've followed the whole case, you'd understand).
Does anyone see any SIMILARITY in these guys?
While I know that Park Jaebum's problem happened first, K-pop history pratically repeated itself. Both have gone solo. Hankyung released a solo album in China and is performing in concerts. Jaebum has released a cover song and is going to be in a dance movie.
And the fans.. I don't know where to start, to be quite honest. There are the fans that defend them and continue to love/protect them. And then there are the fans that blame/hate them.
I have days I feel sorry for these guys. Then I have days that I just get ugh-ed by them (and I'll be honest, Super Junior is my all-time favorite K-pop band). The main reason I feel irked by them is mainly because of the fans or anti-fans. There's one side that praises them pratically like an angel, and there's the other side who can only hate them or not feel sorry for them (but even then, I feel sorry for the fans and anti-fans).
And then, I can't help but wonder who there really is to blame. Most fingers will be pointed at the entertainment company, but really, how much can we blame?
Anyways, part of the reason why I feel irked by the fans is from their praises and nice comments about them. Example: "They're so kind-hearted and nice" (or something along those lines since I cannot exactly elaborate). For one, are you positive that they are all the kind-hearted and warm kind of people? (And also, they seem to have this things with their moms, as in they have this close bond with the moms, making people them more human) To an extent, I question their personalities. Yes, Hankyung's and Park Jaebum's. I don't care how much evidence you give saying that they're the nicest people in the world, I still question it.
In the meanwhile, the anti-fans (new or old) continue to show or explain reasons as to why they are such jerks (generally new ones say for leaving the group, but then there are also the older ones that have been around since their bands' debuts or so). Of course, fans tend to trump them and I have a tendency to not listen to them, but I read or listen to their views once in awhile (if done right, it's not that bad - look at Jo or Jeon (I can't remember his last name) Hyeonmoo, one of the former hosts in Star Golden Bell and his "hateful/anti-fan segments").
In the end, I don't know what side I can fully agree on. Oh well, so much for typing all of this out.