Discrimination in K-pop? aespa's Ningning, NCT, Blackpink's Lisa and others

More foreigners are becoming established K-pop stars, making K-pop not solely for Koreans and by Koreans. Despite this growing shift, prejudice against international K-pop musicians remains a problem in the industry.

Aespa’s Ningning was the subject of alleged discrimination in two occasions. Just last May, the star had been subject to mean comments on Instagram, reports Koreaboo, where netizens would poke fun at her name and call the star a derogatory name to address people of Chinese descent. The star herself is Chinese.

Koreaboo reports that Ningning would also again be the subject of alleged discrimination in June, when Yonsei University deliberately excluded her from university promotions for their annual concert, while featuring all other Korean members of aespa and other K-pop idols in their Instagram posts.

According to The Korea Times, several NCT members were also subject to alleged anti-Chinese discrimination, notably the Chinese sub-unit WayV. After performing a Mandarin song on MBC’s ‘Show Champion’ in June 2021, netizens went to flood the internet with complaints of a Mandarin song being played on Korean TV.

Image: wayv_official / Instagram

The piece from The Korea Times adds that the hate for a Chinese-language song being played on Korean TV can be attributed to a growing wave of anti-Chinese sentiment amongst Koreans.

Image: wayv_official / Instagram

The Korea Times states that netizens believe that K-pop stars of Chinese descent are not only disloyal to their Korean management, as evidenced by EXO's Chinese members leaving the group after a few years, but they are also upset with how Chinese stars incorporate Chinese politics into their promotions, while "taking advantage of Korea's free, democratic systems for their careers."

Image: SM Entertainment

Gulf News reports that Blackpink's Lisa faced discrimination based on her appearance on Korean netizen forums. Despite the fact that internet abuse is common among celebrities, the insults aimed at Lisa included statements on her race, which is Thai.

Allkpop added that Anti-Thai sentiment is something K-pop idols of Thai descent have to deal with. Bam Bam, a Thai member of the boy band GOT7, confesses that this is a common experience for Thai K-pop artists, and that he has faced it himself in his early career.

Given that one of K-pop’s latest groups, such as UNIS, Katseye, and HORI7ON feature K-pop stars of Filipino descent, navigating the K-pop world as a Filipino can be a tough one due to an existing anti-Filipino sentiment.

Image: F&F Entertainment

The Manila Bulletin reports that in January, famed YouTuber Tzuyang had featured Korean comedian Kim Ji-young on her channel, and the comedian is known for playing a caricature of Filipino women in Korea with her character ‘Nitung’.

Image: tzuyang70 / Instagram

The video featuring Kim Ji-young sparked outrage and raised awareness about the discrimination Filipinos face in Korea, as well as questions about how such a comedic act that thrives on mocking another race earned a permanent spot in KBS' 'Gag concert', demonstrating South Korea's general lack of sensitivity towards Filipinos.

Image: genius8704 / Instagram

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