Over the last 15 years, K-pop has grown from being entertainment for Koreans to being the subject of affection of fans across Asia, North America and Europe. Concerns over the increased sexualization of its performers, especially those of whom are underage, have followed the industry’s rise.
Last year, K-pop became an unlikely subject of debate at the National Assembly when lawmakers ordered an inquiry into why Korean girl groups wear such “revealing clothes” and dance with “suggestive moves and lyrics.” Particularly of concern was the age of many performers: Groups such as KARA and f(x) include minors among their members. Many other popular groups such as Girls’ Generation included underage members when they debuted.
More recently, the Fair Trade Commission announced guidelines to stop the sexualization of K-Pop teen stars and ensure reasonable working conditions. The guidelines are not binding and fail to define what constitutes overly provocative dress or content. Meanwhile, general agreement on just what is sexual and what isn’t in the world of pop can’t always be found. One fan or entertainment company’s “sexy” is another’s “cute.“