There is nothing wrong with groups having members who are only there to be pretty

    Truth of the matter is we are visual creatures and those who are attractive will always be the best tool at grabbing the attention of the general public. This reality is only exacerbated by how rampant lookism is in S.K culture.

    More-so, you can always train an “untalented” pretty idol into becoming a good performer. You can’t train someone to be attractive. Yes plastic surgery is always an option but the threshold for how much one can alter without stepping into un-canny territory is much smaller than that of learning to be a good dancer, rapper or even singer (to a certain extent).

    I believe many people who hate on people like Wonyoung, Yuna etc are just bitter knowing that these idols probably passed their auditions largely because of their looks. But it is what it is. Pretty privilege has and will always be a thing just like socioeconomic, cis or able-bodied privilege. As unpopular as this may seem, being miserable over it won't change anything nor allow you to see the improvement they've had over the years in whatever positions these idols have.


    source: https://www.reddit.com/r/unpop…th_groups_having_members/

    (p/s-post are taken from reddit as usual, pretty sure everyone aware that i always copy-paste reddit post here just for some discussion)

    mmm i mean

    there's nothing wrong with being attractive but there might be just a bit something wrong with making free money because you are attractive when more capable people are shunned

    we have a whole industry for people whose only talent is to look attractive

    go be a model if thats all you want to be


    that said, i do agree its mostly the fans at fault

    they praise idols for the music whereas they should be praising the producers, stylists and audio engineers instead

    I saw a random argument in YT comments section, someone was obsessed with trying to convince everyone that "vocals" are the most important thing in Kpop. I'm like, "bruh, when have vocals ever mattered in boyband music? Especially one focused so heavily on visuals and performance like Kpop?"


    These are idols. Not singers, not vocalists, not pro dancers, not musicians. They're asked to entertain audiences and attract stans. That's it.


    Set #1

    Pure Visuals (face and body proportions)

    Appealing personality for audience interactions, Vlives, varieties

    Engaging performer



    Set #2

    Technical dance skills

    Technical vocal or rap skills



    Every label and 99 percent of fans would rather take Set #1 over Set #2. For the idols themselves, some might prefer Set #2 for their own personal goals but most would prefer to be gorgeous and funny with mass appeal on and offstage. If folks wanted Set #2, they would be mass stanning "nonvisual" Broadway or Opera singers or professional background dancers.

    I'm #TeamPrettyPrivilege!!!


    I'm perfectly okay with someone debuting because they are pretty IF (and that's a big IF) they are passable in other areas.


    Yuna is a great dancer and has a very unique voice (which some people either love or hate), and I think she could be the 4th generation Hyuna if given the chance and right song.


    Wonyoung is also a decent dancer and has a pleasant voice. So to me, it's only natural she debuted.


    Only time I get mad when a visual debuts is when they are good at absolutely nothing. Some people will get mad at me for saying it, but I'm thinking Hyewon from IZ*ONE, Jisoo, and Ayaka from NiziU (love NiziU but I was pissed when Ayaka debuted.).


    These days, most visuals are at least competent at something. They can either dance very well (like Yuna) or they can sing very well (like Sullyoon). Or, they can be like New Jeans and have members who are decent at both.


    I think anyone who has been in KPOP long enough knows the score. Talent is not the only thing it takes. Companies would rather choose a pretty person with a pleasant voice rather than a less than conventionally attractive person with outstanding vocal abilities.

    PGDPGT PRETTY GIRLS DOING PRETTY GIRL THINGS

    fc48bd06c65bdda5a70662a95298c58967e2efac.gifv2388a663244f2a30b386bac2c9600bc97508161c.gifv


  • AllKill VIP
  • AllKill VIP

    I see no shame or deficiency in the celebration of visual appeal. I see it as a worthwhile human endeavor to champion.


    We are visual animals.


    And kpop is fundamentally an idol system. One that idolizes beauty. BlackpinkHouse layed out very well the fact that the idol system is not primarily about raw technical talent or performance in isolation.


    People who view raw performance skill as the only true or legitimate factor to be considered in the context of kpop are quite frankly.... Mistaken about the underlying fundamentals of this industry and the motivations for fan involvement.


    Core to this industry is the creation of figures to idolize. Be that though beauty, personality and charm, charisma, product and fashion endorsement, MCing and hosting, vocal and performance skill, or acting. Quite often a mix of many or all of these things.


    The importance of the above is part and parcel with the creation of music and performance that people enjoy (the ostensible product).


    Visual beauty is an intrinsic aspect of this whole endeavor.

  • AllKill VIP
    Quote from keyboardwarrior7

    I think anyone who has been in KPOP long enough knows the score. Talent is not the only thing it takes. Companies would rather choose a pretty person with a pleasant voice rather than a less than conventionally attractive person with outstanding vocal abilities.


    Every time i see this, i think about someone outside Kpop. Mah girl Morissette. Kpop would never have her, even if she learned perfect Korean and even though i think she's pretty, and it's because she's too heavy for Kpop standards and a few would even say she is too dark skinned with the insane whitening trend going on (which is hilarious to me since everyone in my state is obsessed with NOT having pale skin lol).


    And i'm not even thinking about what labels want, even the fans wouldnt support her, no matter how much we lecture Knetz or others about toxic superficial beauty standards and how evil it is to judge others by their looks, the harsh reality is that we all secretly want our faves to be pretty or handsome or want our faves to be acknowledged as pretty or handsome by society.


    Only enlightened folks like me rise above our superficial tendencies. I would LOVE to see Mori in a Kpop group or as a solo Kpop artist :flower-cutie::sob-bunny:


    Obligatory Mori vid showing her talent.

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    Well, it a reason why I consume 99% of my kpop music on youtube and not on Spotify. Visuals are big thing with kpop.

    But I don't think any member is in a group only to be "pretty", but it can be the biggest reason the member was selected and overall it's a huge benefit. Girls like Jisoo and Jennie would never been added to BP if they did not have their looks as a benefit.

    I don't see why it's a problem.


    Kpop is more than just music.


    Kpop idols sing, dance, rap, go to variety shows, connect with fans, etc


    You need a good singer for the singing roles

    You need a good dancer for the dancing roles

    You need a good rapper for the rapping roles.
    You need someone with good personality for the variety roles.
    Why would it be wrong to need a visual for the role of attracting stans and drawing interest to group?

    Right, yeah, she probably wouldn't be a KPOP idol because she does not fit the Korean standards. I personally think she's pretty, but seeing how K-netz have treated Kyla, Lily, Giselle, and Bahiyyih, she would need a strong international fanbase.


    But, thankfully, there are other industries in K-music outside of KPOP that are a bit more accepting. KPOP may not be for that person, but does not mean they can't pursue music and be successful.

    PGDPGT PRETTY GIRLS DOING PRETTY GIRL THINGS

    fc48bd06c65bdda5a70662a95298c58967e2efac.gifv2388a663244f2a30b386bac2c9600bc97508161c.gifv


    Like 1

    Is it a crime to be pretty?


    If there is a market, there is demand. Pretty people who are famous aren't at fault, its the consumer. Me, you, us, we, they, them. We're the problem. If everyone protested and say "Hey, Im not giving company money if you took this pretty person with average skill over this average looking person with more skill". But we don't do that, do we.


    We have an opinion and find faults in something they can't control, and we think its right to blame them for it. Is it really their fault for being selected though? The saddest part is that some of these girls are super young and they face the world's wraith. And it seems that women are always on the hit list for anything; weight, height, vocals, visuals, performances.


    We really like women and really hate them all at the same time. All of AKPOP threads:pepe-puddle:

    ---======--

    Insightful 1

    there's nothing wrong with it


    different strokes for different folks


    some people have differing opinions on an idol's attractiveness just as they have different opinions on their singing/dancing/rapping etc


    just like who you like and dislike who you dislike - the issue is when one starts disparaging others for their choices of favs or targeting idols for one's perceived talent (or lack thereof)

    Visuals are very important in idol groups.


    5 visuals with average skills will sell more than 5 talented ugly people.


    Is part of the business.

    Nothing wrong with the designated visual. It's well understood in Kpop.


    Soyeon saved that girl who is now on Triple S, on MTG, basically because she's a visual who would draw in an audience. Girl couldn't sing, could barely rap and could barely dance, but it was understood she'd work on those skills, in the meantime her visual couldn't be replicated and was a natural factor to draw people in.


    The only issue I have is how distorted the sensitivity to it is. Like this thread where someone said "Yuna could be a main dancer on other groups" like... cmon. Yuna's decent to good, but making outlandish claims because you want to avoid the "visual only" moniker just makes the situation worse, not better.

    After looks, dancing is more important than singing.


    You can hide a bad singer by giving them few lines or rap lines.


    But any good looking idol needs to at least have a sense of rhythm and be able to learn the basic dances, and even basic dances can be difficult.

    Quote from KHonest

    They’re an important part of the group too. Making the visual and/or center look even better. Those members are meant to be very popular and loved within the fandom, kind of the underdog everyone wants to root for.


    Successful examples: Gaeul [IVE] Jisoo/ex-Rose [BP] Eunchae [LSF]

    Failed ones [didn’t click with the fandom]: Sunny [SNSD] Jiwoo/Bae [NMIXX] Lia [Itzy]

    Gaeul is beautiful, what r u talking about

    Quote from KHonest

    They’re an important part of the group too. Making the visual and/or center look even better. Those members are meant to be very popular and loved within the fandom, kind of the underdog everyone wants to root for.


    Successful examples: Gaeul [IVE] Jisoo/ex-Rose [BP] Eunchae [LSF]

    Failed ones [didn’t click with the fandom]: Sunny [SNSD] Jiwoo/Bae [NMIXX] Lia [Itzy]

    Rosé and Jisoo are not ugly you flop :skull:

    Quote from KHonest

    They’re an important part of the group too. Making the visual and/or center look even better. Those members are meant to be very popular and loved within the fandom, kind of the underdog everyone wants to root for.


    Successful examples: Gaeul [IVE] Jisoo/ex-Rose [BP] Eunchae [LSF]

    Failed ones [didn’t click with the fandom]: Sunny [SNSD] Jiwoo/Bae [NMIXX] Lia [Itzy]

    I guess your examples are about the "underdog" getting pushed :melon_think:

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