Hottests and BBCs please read this.
Before you read my blog, I want you to know that I am Hottest and Korean-American who had lived in Korea more than in America. I respect both fandoms, and this blog is not meant for any means of discrimination or attack on specific idols. I just want both international fans and Korean fans to read the reaction to the Thailand-Block B incident as a perspective of a person who knows both cultures.
Okay, I found about the incident few days ago, while surfing on Korean website. I read some articles, then read some of 2pm members reaction to the incident. I even watched to the videos to make sure I wouldn’t make any miscounts. To be honest, when I realized what Block-B had done, I was angry. ”How could they represent Korea like this?” Of course, all humans make mistakes, and I knew Block B was known for their direct-ness. But their tone during the interview was absurd. Block B should have checked that they were foreigners and they could change the perspective on their nation by their careless actions.
I am from Korea, but I live in America. I go to school where more than 90% Caucasians and 10% minorities including African-American, Mexican, and Asians. Among 2000 students, only 8 Asians go to my school. Only 4 are Koreans. I know exactly that my friends rarely met other Asians other than me, especially Koreans. I know that whatever I say and act will set my friends the mannerisms of Asian countries. So I be careful not to bring any type of stereotypes. Although technology has involved to an extent where we all watch Korean dramas and listen to music, but not all does that. I am a foreigner in my area, and I know that I would affect the sense of Asia than internet.
Before I moved here, I lived in Korea for 11 years since I was born. I still have some friends back in Korea, and I commute, understand, and even think in Korean. I went to Korean school until 5th grade and thanks to my parents and internet, I keep in contact with Korea in some areas (that’s partially why some of my English skills are immature). I know Koreans’ attitude, mannerisms, and reason why some fans go overboard. Koreans are different than any other Western countries. Our fundamental characteristics are different than yours. Not that I’m ignorant of your knowledge, but I want to emphasize that hands-on experience can be far more than surfing on internet.
We, as in international fans, well know that even though we claim titles of fandoms, we often lack communications with original Korean fandoms. In my perspective, international fans’ behavior and Korean fans’ behavior are very different. I read some blogs of furious BBCs in Korea, and they were very offensive towards Nichkhun, Chansung, and Junho, for criticizing Block B. In respect, they were rude and ignorant. Some other BBCs apologized and accepted their fault, but other immature, chocosongi fans posted blogs, in almost the level of “stupidity.”
First of all, Nichkhun is from Thailand, and he has a right to chastise Block B. As an foreigner in Korea, Nichkhun must know what consequence would minority bring to its own country depending on its actions. As a “Korean” singer and Thailand citizen, Nichkhun is the one who understands the most about Block B incident. Block B are young and they need to be advised in someway, if necessary. Junho and Chansung, as Koreans, also chastised Block B, but they never criticized them. They in fact, did not mention Block B on Twitter, and they certainly did not offend them. As sunbaes, they have their responsibilities to tell youngstars what they have done wrong and what they should fix. Nichkhun, Juno, and Chansung did not offend Block B.
Block B apologized. They actually recorded a videos with apologies. Zico even shaved his hair (for Koreans, shaving hair is a grave thing to do, if it means as a declaration. When Koreans riot, they often shave their hair to show that they are determined). That means Block B understood their mistakes and wants to atone for what they had done. However, Koreans do not take it seriously, for Korea finally reached the point where they cannot believe others’ proposal. It’s sad, and I know, that Koreans are much more rotten than Americans. I didn’t know I was like that until I moved to America. Now, BBC finally found the troublesome commercial which Nichkhun was included, for they wanted to hurt Nichkhun.
The main problem is that we take this too far. Even some K-Hottests are offending Block B and BBCs (and I apologize for their rudeness), and BBCs are hurting us back. Hottests have gone through harsh times, and their patience is now thinner than ever before. International fans, please don’t be influenced by K-fandom hatred. Instead of hurting each other, advise each other to make a better way. Block B learned by their mistakes, and they well know to treat other countries in a better way. Korean fans, please stop fighting. What’s good for us to keep fighting, if no outcome is beneficial? I’m not angry anymore, that now they’ve learned their mistakes.
Thank you for reading such a long post.
~Nike508, a chocosongi Hottest~
