This week in the “Vrai du Faux Junior”, we answer questions about the K-pop phenomenon
K-pop, for Korean pop, is a musical style born at the end of the 90s and which, in recent years, has generated incredible enthusiasm all over the world. On YouTube, K-pop videos accumulate billions of views. The members of the groups are called the Idols and they sing, dance in clips with very rhythmic choreographies. Some of the most famous K-pop groups are BTS, Blackpink, Enhypen, or even Fifty Fifty which will soon be in the soundtrack of the film Barbie which comes out in France in mid-July.
The students of the André Derain college, in Chambourcy in the Yvelines and those of the Jules Ferry college, in Sainte-Geneviève-des-bois in the Essonne questioned us about this phenomenon. To answer them we contacted Ophélie Surcouf, she is the author of books on Korean culture and last October, she released the book K-pop culture.
Challenging auditions and no guarantees of becoming “Idols”
Alexis wonders if it’s true that “auditions to get into a K-pop group are very hard“.
“It’s true“ answers Ophelie Surcouf, “you have to audition first to become ‘streak’ before being in a group K-pop.” A Streak, he’s an apprentice, it’s the stage you have to go through before becoming “Idol”. Ophélie Surcouf explains that “the competition for this is extremely intense because there are thousands of people auditioning.” The author specifies that once one is an apprentice, “you have to train very hard to hope one day to start in a group and there are members who have been apprenticed for 6 to 11 years before starting others after a year or two. Some unfortunately for them never start.”
Ophélie Surcouf indicates that the formation of “trainee” consists of learning to dance, sing, to be in a group. There are also training sessions to pass in front of the camera and you also have to know how to speak Korean perfectly. All of these steps obviously take place”in a spirit of permanent competition with regular exams and tests.“
Even the “Idols” have to do their military service
Ashley wonders if it’s true”that some Kpop groups have to surrender to the army.“
Ophélie Surcouf explains to him that in Korea, “all men must do a year and a half of military service before they turn 30 and this includes ‘Idol’s, that is to say, it has nothing to do with their status and it is really something general to all Koreans.“
Last year, for example, there was debate in South Korea around the group BTS. The question was whether or not they should go to the army and finally it was decided that even the most famous South Korean group in the world should also do their military service.
Restrictions for “Idols” at the start of their careers especially
Gabin wonders if it’s true”that in K-pop there are many restrictions and prohibitions, including the prohibition to speak to someone of the opposite sex, to have a boyfriend or even to go outside” and Syffrandie wonders about the “Idols” who would not have the right to be in couple publicly.
Ophélie Surcouf replies that there is a bit of truth and falsehood in these questions, because “it depends a lot on the stage of the career of the ‘Idols’ concerned.” The author explains that at the start of the contract, “there are often more constraints and restrictions.“According to her, the ‘Trainee'”work a lot and there is a mental training stage, at least that’s how the labels see it, to become a star.” In this context, explains Ophélie Surcouf, the “Trainee” are often separated by sex and according to the contracts of some, “they are not allowed to be in a relationship the first years.” This constraint is also often applied to meet the expectations of fans who can put a lot of pressure on those close to their favorite Idol.
Yes an “Idol” was forced to lose seven kilos in a week
Félix “heard on Instagram that an “Idol” named Momo, from the group Twice, was allegedly forced to “go on a diet that makes him lose seven pounds in a week”.
“It’s true“ answers Ophelie Surcouf, “that’s what Momo said publicly.“The author clarifies”you should know that the weight of the ‘Idols’ is very controlled. In Korea, being thin is perceived as a criterion of beauty and all the stars follow specific diets which can, in some cases, be particularly extreme where they were asked to be particularly thin.“