Craziest Ways K-Pop Stars Were Canceled

A Korean Girl Explains Craziest Ways K-Pop Stars Were Canceled

Korean K-pop fans are known for many things. Their support, fan projects, and loyalty. Some fandoms donate or volunteer on behalf of their idols, spreading positivity.

But they can be a bit much at times.

Here’s what Korean K-pop fans hate the most. They will get you canceled.

Quick Summary

  • Dating used to be extremely forbidden in the K-pop industry. But after the Joon Park case, Korean fans don’t criticize dating as much as they used to.
  • Not being super skinny is unacceptable. The target weight (kg) for idol trainees equals to “height (cm) – 120.”
  • Any involvement with drugs can lead to career-destroying consequences in South Korea.
  • Draft-dodging will ruin your reputation.

1. How Dare You Date? The Ultimate Betrayal

In the world of K-pop, dating is practically a crime to some Korean fans. Like they’ve been cheated on.

Many idols go to great lengths to hide their relationships, fearing a backlash that could jeopardize their careers.

Take a look at this classic example.

Joon Park (Park Joon-hyung) of g.o.d. broke down in tears at a press conference when his agency forced him to leave the group. Why? Because he had the audacity to want a girlfriend… in his 30s.

In the end, public opinion was against this despite daring to have a personal life, and he ended up staying in g.o.d.

As long as K-pop idols don’t deceive fans, they don’t criticize dating as much as they used to.

But… In 2020, EXO’s Chen announced that he was getting married and also expecting a baby with his fiancée. EXO fans had mixed reactions.

Some demanded that he leave the group. Why? Because he damaged EXO’s image, with a premarital pregnancy (show catholic church), being a married idol, and a father. Unacceptable.

Apparently, the idea of their idol living a normal, happy life was just too much to handle.

2. How Could You Have No Self Control? Fat Shunning More Than Fat Shaming

If there’s one thing Korean K-pop fans can’t stand, it’s a healthy appetite.

Idols like IVE’s Liz were fat shamed for gaining a few pounds after her debut.

The crazy thing is Liz was only 17.

But in the K-pop world, not being super skinny is unacceptable.

There’s even a formula. You know how much we love math. It’s easy. The target weight (kg) for idol trainees equals to “height (cm) – 120” in non-freedom units for their debut.

According to a CNN article, show article, Min who used to be part of the K-pop group Miss A, said 100 pounds (about 45 kilograms) is considered the standard weight for a female idol. Fat shaming is for rookies, this is fat shunning.

3. Drugs? You’re a monster!

Korean K-pop fans take their idols’ clean image seriously.

Any involvement with drugs, even the plants, can lead to career-destroying consequences.

Take BIGBANG’s T.O.P for instance. He got canceled for being California sober a while ago.

I thought Thanos did a great job on Squid Game 2, but many Koreans were uncomfortable with this, even though his character was literally a washed-up rapper who partakes. It’s the role he was born to play.

Despite the devil’s lettuce being legal in many countries, South Korea keeps a strict no-tolerance policy, and fans hold their idols to an impossibly high standard.

Some Korean fans even demanded Suga leave BTS after an e-scooter DUI incident. It’s a victimless crime. If you don’t count the driver.

Over a dozen flower wreaths were placed in front of HYBE headquarters in Seoul, demanding zero Suga.

We at KGE celebrate the clean lifestyle. Because anything less is illegal for Koreans, even overseas.

4. Not Serving in the Military? GTFO!

Military service is a rite of passage for all South Korean men and that includes K-pop idols.

Those who fulfill their obligations gain public respect and support. Some (like Ok Taec-yeon of 2PM) even get kkabanggwon (까임방지권), which means the “right to be protected from criticism or insults”. It’s like a hood pass for Koreans.

On the other hand, draft-dodging will ruin your reputation.

Steve Yoo (Yoo Seung-jun) used to be huge in Korea in the late 1990s. Though he was born in America, he was a dual citizen of Korea. Steve Yoo said he’d serve in the military but suddenly renounced his Korean nationality to draft dodge.

Not just his fans but everyone was so outraged that he was banned from entering the country for nearly two decades.

Koreans will never forgive him, and now he’s just “Steve” to us.

Even idols who do serve aren’t safe.

WINNER’s Song Min-ho received backlash for serving as a social service agent. This would be fine, but

According to a Dispatch article, Song didn’t go to work, didn’t do any work, and just played games. His coworkers rarely saw him. He’s being investigated now.

I disagree with the other standards, but I have to side with Korean fans on this one.

Maybe I’m part of the problem.


K-pop fans are passionate but they tend to demand perfection in unrealistic and even harmful ways. I guess, the brighter the picture, the darker the negative.

At the end of the day, idols are human too. They deserve a second chance.

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