[FW] So You've Been Commissioned to Make a Documentary on ~Anything~

A few days ago my lovely step sister was in town and she was eager to watch a movie before bed with the fam.  Due to her heightened intellectual preferences, she suggested a documentary.  Before I could sneak upstairs to watch some Star Trek (I have a tough time watching a movie if I'm not sitting in bed), I was stopped by the rest of my family and asked: "Hannah, if you could make a documentary about anything, what would your topic of choice be?"  What an intriguing question.  I couldn't believe I'd never thought of it before.  Nevertheless, it didn't take me long to identify my subject.

Now before you think to yourself "OH MY GOSH WHY DID I EVEN QUESTION IT, SHE'S OF COURSE GONNA DO A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT KOREA" just... hear me out on this one, it's really important.  The origin of my interest in Korea came from the country's massive pop music market, one of the biggest in the world, and for good reason.  Everything from the music and cinematography to the hairstyles and facial expressions are designed and analysed down to the atom.  EVERYTHING is synthetic.  One could even argue that personalities are designed to appeal to the widest, heavy-pocketed audience.  

At this point you're probably thinking: "Wow, how could someone enjoy something so incredibly fake?"  Well, weren't you listening? It's designed to be liked.  Korea has over 2 decades of experience with pop music and they know what sells better than anyone.  To this day, one of the first songs and groups that was created under the K-Pop category is recognized by anyone who has done an ounce of research on Korean pop music, this being "Candy" by H.O.T., an absolute classic.  It's like the Korean equivalent of N Sync's "Bye Bye Bye" or Britney Spears' "Oops I Did It Again," but with WAAAAY worse outfits.


And so many of the guys from this era of Korean music own massively successful music labels today.  They know what's hot and how to sell it, there's no question about that.  However, they also know that sacrifices need to be made in order to push music and idols to their greatest potential, and this is where issues involving morality come in.  Too often do we see incredibly young recruits who are looking to follow their dreams of becoming a pop musician taking the hit for big labels just to move up on the charts.  It's no secret that teenage trainees, after enduring mercilessly meticulous recruitment events, are often put into small living spaces with many other trainees and with far from nutritious or abundant food (fans of established music groups are known for sending huge amounts of food to venues so they know that their idols are being fed).  It almost seems inhumane.  But the issues don't end when glory is achieved on the weekly music charts.  Music labels ban dating under any circumstances, which has led to K-Pop idols in their THIRTIES becoming involved in "scandals" that are really just dating rumors, but unauthorized nonetheless.

The greatest thing that makes K-Pop so renowned and enjoyable to experience is the visual perfection of it all.  Music videos are much more vital to a song than it is anywhere else in the world, so they have to be clean in choreography, lighting, sound, wardrobe, facial expression, hair and makeup. If you can get past the boys wearing eyeliner you're sure to be impressed by the aesthetic of it all. But Korean music labels know they can control more than just the lighting.  Plastic surgery is almost a given for anyone entering the K-Pop industry, especially for girls.  Western beauty ideals (double eyelids, wide eyes, v-shaped chin, etc.) have dominated standards for Korean idols and have had a huge impact on the health and image of almost everyone in that field.

Needless to say, there are so many things to be said about the blatant corruption of the Korean pop music industry and I would like to let my K-Pop-loving guard down in order to educate the world about the things being done to the idols that people around the world have come to love.  A need for this information to be spread is increasingly necessary as music labels are signing increasingly younger trainees (kids aged 13 or below that will endure years of musical training before they even see a stage). Hopefully by revealing the pressures that musicians are put under to sell their material the best they can, conditions can be improved in the K-Pop industry for idols and trainees of all ages.  

Also, on a more shallow note, I'd love having the chance to meet and interview the Korean musicians I've been admiring for years.  When I got a chance to see my favorite K-Pop group in concert (BAP) I asked the touring staff whether the boys were getting enough sleep.  They said that they were young and therefore always energetic, but I still worry about their health and whether there are paid well enough or not.

Side Note: a country that should get more attention in general is Japan.  Their music labels have been known to take female idols involved in "dating scandals" and send them out to a street to kneel and be publicly shamed.  Insanity: A famous example of Japanese public shaming.