Take for instance, I follow other entertainment industries. As badly styled as they are, I can name a good number of Johnnies who can give SM visuals a run for their money. A lot of pretty girls in the 48 girl groups too who would be on par visual wise to their Korean peers.
Lots of idols from Taiwan, Thailand and China are also very, very good looking. I mean those who are working there and are usual victims to bad styling.
On the other hand, despite meticulous styling and thick makeup, some Kpop idols marketed as visuals are ummmm pretty plain and lack character. Its as if fans are just gobbling up th marketing the company is throwing out. To be fair, the marketing is superb.
Also I feel that their actor visual>idol visual belief in Korea is BS. Lots of idols are faaaaar more good looking than their actors. Especially the new younger actors right now are not even as handsome as their predecessors (that era of Kwon Sangwoo, Song Seung Hun, Won Bin, Kang Dongwon). It is how their dramas project them that make them seem good looking.
It is good to take note that many visuals in current new groups are not the Korean ones. Like Tzuyu is godess levels to Kpop fans but imo, in terma of Taiwanese idols her visuals are just ok. Vivian Xu, Selina Ren, Rainie Yang, Ariel Lin, Puff Guo, Tia Li were more striking in their prime as idols imo and only grow more beautiful as they get older.
I am not discounting the amazing awsthetics of K-Pop its just that some of these kpop visual slayage!!!11 I hqve been seeing make me scratch my head sometimes. Like yeah, theyre good looking but I am not slayed.
cc : OH