k-pop - Bubblegum Club

K-Pop Is a Culture Vulture, But Then Again So Are We

Commenting on the unresolved issue of cultural appropriation in K-pop is a tricky affair. Any criticism of its heavy-handed use of aesthetics from other cultures often results in severe backlash, particularly affecting marginalised fans of colour. The interplay of South Korea’s homogeneity, globalisation and ethnic nationalism in Korea reveals a cycle in which K-pop severely…

BTS, The Grammys and anti-Asian racism

Over the past few years, the chickens finally came home to roost for the Grammys as they were called out for being a racist and elitist organisation. So this year when K-pop super group BTS became the first Korean artists to be nominated for a Grammy, the organisation was put under a looking glass. Many…