[EDITORIAL] N.O.M: Helping or Hindering Acceptance of Homosexuality in South Korea?

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|| A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR ||

It’s been a long time since I wrote this piece, I have gotten a lot of criticism for it since publishing about a year and a half ago and the criticism is still coming today. In retrospect, I am not entirely happy with this piece, and I just wanted to take the time to clear up a few things.

1 – I accidentally conflated “homosexuality” and “homo-erotica” in this piece. I am aware that these are two very different things. I was trying to make the point that stereotypical portrayals of homo-erotica can often lead to stereotypical interpretations of homosexuality. However, I did not clarify this well enough at all. I apologise for this. I have learned a lesson in the importance of clarity in my writing!

2 – I have been labelled a “hater” of N.O.M because of this editorial. I can assure you, I am not. I actually enjoy some of their music and wish them every success.

3 – This article is by far not the best thing I have written, and the criticism I continue to receive for it has taught me an awful lot about my writing. The overall point I was trying to make was simply not well made, so I am going to clarify it here.

I feel that the use of homo-erotica in K-Pop (shown through concepts and fan service) can often have a negative effect on interpretations of real homosexuality. This can especially be the case in a country like South Korea, where homosexuality is not fully accepted or understood by many (but by no means all) people.

N.O.M can dress and express themselves however they wish to, all power to them, but I think entertainment industries should be careful when basing concepts off of areas that can have a real effect on real people.

Despite all this, I DO see how these portrayals could have a positive effect of attitudes towards homosexuality in Korea too. I hope that, in the future, homosexuality can be fully accepted all over the world. Love is love.

Thank you for reading.

===

‘Nature of Man’ or N.O.M as they are more commonly known are a 4 member, all male K-Pop group that debuted with their first single ‘A Guys’ back in August of this year. When considering the plethora of K-Pop rookies coming out seemingly every month, it might not surprise you if you missed their promotional period. It might surprise you when you learn more about them though, because their concept is very unusual – often dubbed ‘3^rd sexuality’, but perhaps better known to you and I as homosexuality.

[GET THE K-POP LOOK] Block B - 'Very Good' MV Maximum Close Up Version.

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After a very tumultuous history, it was quite difficult to envisage any kind of future for Block B, let alone a good one, but they are now back with a new label and a newfound confidence. Their single ‘Very Good’ has indeed been just that, gaining the group their very first music show win on Inkigayo earlier this month. The song is loud and brash and had a music video to match, showing the members busting into and proceeding to rob a bank. The second version of the MV offers a ‘Maximum Close Up’ and is a little bit more mellow and casual than the first. However, the fashion is still very cool. Check out our British high street matches.

[UNITEDKPOP SONG REVIEW] Block B - 'Very Good'

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After what must seem like an eternity to British BBCs, Block B has finally had their comeback since traversing even more difficulties. After not receiving payment from their previous agency Stardom Entertainment, the members filed a lawsuit against them. This obviously meant that their activities as a group were put on hold for the foreseeable future. The boys actually lost the lawsuit, but fortunately they were able to negotiate things and transfer over to a new company – Seven Seasons. Even though many of the members were still working separately on their own projects, there are clearly many people incredibly happy to see them working as a group again. They have since released two songs, ‘Be the Light’ and ‘Very Good’. In this review we are focusing on the latter single.

[EDITORIAL] Regarding 'We Got Married' Idols: Differences in fan reception.

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Before getting started on this piece, I must admit that I have never actually watched a single episode of the South Korean programme ‘We Got Married’. However, I do know that the basic principle of the programme is that a male and a female celebrity embark upon a fake married life together for the entertainment of its viewers. This will include a wedding photoshoot and even a honeymoon amongst many other things. I recall when I first heard about the programme some time ago and was left quite perplexed by the whole thing. Having said this though, I can still understand why the programme has done so well over the years, it provides a space for viewers to fantasise, whether that be in entertaining the fact that there might actually be a real relationship forming between the two celebrities, or perhaps by allowing the viewer to put themselves in the place of the ‘wife’ or ‘husband’ of their bias.