Is once an idol, always an idol - true?

Generally yeah, idols remain idols unless they do something drastically different. That could mean become a full time actress, be a soloist who basically controls everything about their career like IU (the "artist" type), distance yourself from Kpop like Jay Park or pull a seungri

Quote from bbgc

They can do other things, get other labels, but do they cease being idols?

What about if they go solo - Hyuna, Sunmi, Chungha types.. do they remain idols?

Yeah, the ones you mentioned are still treated as idols because they still have idol qualities about them like doing the usual promo, having their careers mainly managed by label (music given to them, concepts etc) and generally targeting younger audiences like pop stars almost always do.

Even someone like Taeyeon who started off having a solo career doing OSTs then went full time into a very successful solo and is arguably closest to being an " artist" still seen as an idol. It doesn't negatively impact get at all so why not go along with it especially as she very clearly likes most of the usual idol stuff like TV shows and promoting with members.

Quote from bbgc

Promos - Not unique to idols, even trot, hiphhop do so.

Managed by labels - again not unique to idols.

Music given to them - then are self producing cases like Soreon, G-Dragon not idols?

Targeting younger audience- that's difficult to quantify, isn't it?

I agree that even they diversify, it is good to have the label, which brings back to the original question.

Is once an idol, always an idol?

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Dude I don't get what you point is anymore.

I've already answered that yes idols remain idols and the ones you mentioned are examples of that.

Now you're trying to define an idol which is obviously going to vary from person to person which you've said is a different issue anyway.

I think a person will always be recognised for their most "important" or "recognisable" achievements...

and it's the same for other celebrity and non-celebrity people as well

like actors getting pigeonholed in certain acting roles because...

so for idols unless they branch out (most commonly into acting) then they are known as an idol until they can widespread recognition of their next career etc etc

a good example might be the SNSD members - a lot of them have branched out into acting and solely acting but they will still be known as idols first and foremost

There is a show on SBS about women playing soccer.

One of the teams is made up of former Idols and Moonbyul (current idol).

Some of the former idols have done acting and solo songs like Bada, but they are still considered Idols.

Even Yubin of Wonder Girls, who now runs her own agency is in the Idol team.

In South Korea an Idol is a person that has been trained in a Company/Label to debut for that Company, it's mainly Group Idols that retain their Idol tag when they go Solo.

Idols are primarily marketed for their Visuals, Fitness, Youth, Virginity and Dancing. All their Music goes through their Company even if the members write everything, this is due to the Music needing to fit the "Image" the company has for the Group or Individual.

Jay Park is arguably the closest to lose the Idol tag, possibly due to him being kicked out of 2PM and then JYPE, both being Idol related. His return was mainly as a Hip Hop Artist not a Dancer. While IU has likely avoided the Idol tag because she doesn't dance when she performs.

Big Bang and SNSD are well known to have tried to distance themselves from the Idol tag, both failing.

At the end of the day, an Idol will likely be tagged as one, even decades later if they are from an Idol Group

Quote from bbgc

Is it because once an idol, always an idol?

I think it depends..?

If they making their name as an idol, or they got famous as an idol, people will always stick "idol" to their name right?

maybe if there are a not too popular idol but got more famous for other jobs like, actor/actress or becoming a comedian, people will not see them as an idol?

I think this will fall unto "branding".

The Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok and Leon Lai, are still idols even though Jacky and Andy are now past 60.

An idol can become an artist, but the idol image lasts forever.

Quote from harambelives

Generally yeah, idols remain idols unless they do something drastically different. That could mean become a full time actress, be a soloist who basically controls everything about their career like IU (the "artist" type), distance yourself from Kpop like Jay Park or pull a seungri

IU topped the most popular idol poll in 2017

No matter how much she emphasizes being an artist she will always remain an idol, like Jacky Cheung and Andy Lau who still remain as idols at the age of 61

Quote from jimeous

In South Korea an Idol is a person that has been trained in a Company/Label to debut for that Company, it's mainly Group Idols that retain their Idol tag when they go Solo.

Idols are primarily marketed for their Visuals, Fitness, Youth, Virginity and Dancing. All their Music goes through their Company even if the members write everything, this is due to the Music needing to fit the "Image" the company has for the Group or Individual.

Jay Park is arguably the closest to lose the Idol tag, possibly due to him being kicked out of 2PM and then JYPE, both being Idol related. His return was mainly as a Hip Hop Artist not a Dancer. While IU has likely avoided the Idol tag because she doesn't dance when she performs.

Big Bang and SNSD are well known to have tried to distance themselves from the Idol tag, both failing.

At the end of the day, an Idol will likely be tagged as one, even decades later if they are from an Idol Group

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IU is considered an idol but Bol4 is not, because Ahn Jiyoung was in an audition whlle IU was company selected.

Once an idol, always an idol

Quote from bbgc

She dances when she performs.

Not to every song, but she dances for many.

She danced as late as 2021 in 'Lilac'

Not bad for a 1,342 years old.

I feel Zico has escaped the idol stigma despite leading Block B.