Out of sheer boredom I watched a kpop opinion video and as per usual the same things were said about fanfictions. How disgusting some of the stories are. How fans are delusional if they think that members are actually dating. That we shouldn't presume anyone's uality and that it makes the idols feel uncomfortable etc. etc.

There are aspects of this opinion that I agree with. For instance:

I agree we should not presume anyone's uality nor gender identity just because of the way they express themselves. Some people are more masculine-representing (ie. have more "masculine" traits and express themselves in this way, while others are more feminine-representing (ie. have more "feminine" traits and express themselves more in this manner. ) However, there is more to this in regards to the kpop industry and unfortunately, I am yet to encounter a commentator who expands on it.

* I hyphenated those two words purposefully. What do feminine and masculine even mean? How are they seen within Korea and what are the implications of this to how the kpop markets it internationally? Interesting and necessary questions.

Furthermore, there is no way in hell any of us could know if these "idols" are dating their own group members, staff in their own companies, other members of other groups, or even randoms unless they come and tell us. Which is often never the case and if it is a same- couple or possibly a non-gender conforming couple then the chances of us knowing are even less. And this is irrespective of the complexities of whether it may be with one of their own group members. In other words the real issue is the way in which uality the concept and its expression (homo, hetero, pan, bi- ual or whatever the case may be) is handled and treated within the kpop industry.

Also I agree, that it is not healthy for fans to over-indulge themselves into the fantasies they come up within their own minds or of those written by people like myself. However, this is not the only way in which fanfiction or fantasies are used. It is disingenuous to throw the whole genre of fanfiction especially those of "real" people (ie. celebs) into the category of "delusion" or "craziness" and "disrespectful".

Why you ask?

Because these companies or brands market them in exactly that way for the purposes of fantasy...

But more importantly, because it also serves another purpose. A much more positive one. And yes there are negative connotations and negative stereotypes expressed throughout all of fanfiction much like every other form of writing. And its impact can and is at times negative. However there is also a positive aspect and the argument of "fanfiction is delusion" is weak in that it holds no nuance and speaks to none of the complexity in which homouality, heterouality, queerness, femininity, masculinity and gender are engaged with in the kpop industry.

Let us face the facts. There is literally no outright mainstream representation of queerness within the kpop industry. Where acceptance is ACTUALLY PROMOTED and allowed to be expressed. What I mean is that as of yet other than very little scattered artists such as Hanseol, Seungho and Holland, afew random lyrics in songs alluding to the idea or a song or two, the kpop industry is still needing to even THINK about the idea that their "idols" may not fit into whatever heteronormitivity they'd like them to.

And yet despite this clear discrimination against queerness as a lived experience by real people, the kpop industry sees no issue in utilising aspects of queerness for the promotion of their groups. Again, this is disingenuous and bull.

I'm speaking directly to the production management and executives in the kpop industry now: So it's okay to literally have "skinship between members" in your marketing plans but there is no way in that these members are allowed to date one another or members of another group, same- or not? So apparently it's perfectly fine for your group members to go on variety shows, play games where they almost kiss for the sake of humour but there is no way in they can be seen out kissing anyone publically let alone someone of the same ? So it's literally okay for your idols to crossdress when covering songs and yet when an artist who really does identify as non-binary or transgender comes out, you'll kick them out of the company?

No it's not okay. Not at all.

This is highly problematic production management and executives in kpop. What you're doing is not only influencing the mentality of your "idols" but also Korean society as a whole and by proxy the way in which the industry is perceived internationally. The market in which this industry is directed towards is very young and because of that the perception it gives matters. Because there are as many queer-identifying children who love kpop as there are who do not identify as such. And yet, they see next to no representation or acceptance of idols who may feel the way they do, love the way they do and express the way they do.

But they are given "illusions" of this "possibly" being the case. But never the ACTUAL case. Because there are aspects of their identity that is marketed but not accepted. And this is problematic and personally it upsets me to the core. It speaks to a much deeper issue in kpop that is directly related to the marketing practices and perceptions these companies produce. The way in which femininity and masculinity are engaged with in regards to boy groups and girls groups has so much toxicity but these companies feed into it because it gives them more money. 

Now I have no doubt that the way in which Korean society as a country is socially constructed plays a very important role in this too. And social, economic and political implications of identifying as queer is enormous. It takes a ridiculous amount of courage because if one does identify as such you may lose everything. Like most queer-identifying people, you will most likely be shunned, obscured, antagonized, in some countries even killed. And irrespective of the support you may find it is still distressing. Which is why what these companies do, the almost absolute control they have on the images we are granted from "idols" is an issue.

Which brings me to fanfiction. There are many people who because of whatever is going on within their own lives, gravitate towards the lives of others. We've all done this at some point. Still, do. And often the people that we gravitate towards a celeb or an "idol" whose lives seem so much better than ours, whose work speaks to us in someway, who we look up to, are attracted to or whatever.

The point is people grasp on to aspects within themselves that they see in these artists. It can be the good. Or the bad. But they see it and grasp on to it. As I've mentioned above, there are many negative stereotypes within fanfiction, which deserves an opinion piece on its own. However, fanfiction is also the most progressive marketing tool kpop has. There is a vast amount of representation expressed in these stories. Again some good, some really bad. But they're there. And in some way a young fan is allowed even for a few 100words to believe in the idea that someone they admire may actually carry the same uality or gender identity as them. May hold the same insecurities and doubts. And possibly even dreams. A young fan can see that there lived experience (gay, trans, queer, etc) exists. That it's real and that it matters.

Many of these authors are young themselves, are only just finding their ual identities and ual attractions. And you can see it in their writing. That is why there's so many stories. I believe to some extent, its a way of grappling with their own uality, in a much more fun and what should be light hearted way. Which could be the complete opposite of how these authors and their readers ualities and gender identity are engaged with in their own homes, towns or countries.

And yes fanfics are a marketing tool for the kpop industry. Basically a free one. And that is the real conversation isn't it? How are these stories used by these companies to help their groups irrespective of how it may or may not affect the idols themselves? How are these companies literally fueling the flames of fanwars to help their own marketing strategies? How are these companies marketing femininity and masculinity in their boy groups? How do they do it in their girl groups? What damage does these representations cause? And what of uality? How is all spectrums of uality and gender used and misrepresented just for the sake of feeding into the insecurities, doubts, dreams and identities of the consumer? The often very young consumer? Just so that they buy more than one album?

Let me stop here. Before I go into a rant about capitalism. As an author in the genre, I grapple with these questions alot and am often discouraged by my own responsibility and lack thereof in how I may unintentionally be co-signing this implicit discrimination. But I digress.

I've only touched on some aspects of queer representation. There are others that need conversation too. Like how kpop lacks diversity, its colourism and beauty politics, mental health. MENTAL ING HEALTH. But again, I can't fit everything in here.

So yes, fanfiction of kpop idols is problematic. But we're only given the most basic explanations as to why that is. No one wants to talk about the real implications of the genre but more than that how groundbreaking it is. And the amount of supportive communities its created too. it's complexities of at being both positive and negative. And that's the type of commentary we need. So if you have a platform, any platform and you care about these issues. Genuinely care and want to speak on them. Please do. But all I ask is a little more nuance.