Kpop depicts masculinity in a certain way through music videos and live performances. Men and boys are pressured to look a certain way as well as women and girls are also pressured. By Kpop showcasing masculinity in a certain way, these ideals get stuck within a society and can become the social norm.
In Epstein and Joo’s article, they state that the ideals of masculinity in South Korea can best be explained by stating what the ideal perfect man must look like. They state that a man should have a “muscular nude torso, featuring well-oiled skin that is smooth and firm, bulging pectorals, highly defined abdominal muscles, and chiseled arms” (2012: 3). These ideals could also be linked to Kpop stars trying to break into the international field of entertainment because having abs and big biceps is the idea of masculinity in the west (Song, Velding 2019: 2).
The trend for South Korean men to showcase their abs came from the performer, Rain. The globally, successful and popularity of Rain helped form this standard of showing off performers’ abs (Epstein, Joe 2012: 5). A term was later coined for this idea called “chocolate abs” (Epstein, Joe 2012: 4). Due to this sudden increased trend of this type of masculinity, it quickly became commercialism which helped spread the trend even more. This ideal of masculinity can also be connected to the likes of plastic surgery within South Korean society. They both are extremely commercialized through advertisements on the television, subway stations, or in magazines. This spreading of ideals through commercialization leads to the growth of these ideals accumulating within South Korean society. This is making people think that this is the social norm now and that they must look this way to be successful in life now.
These ideals of masculinity within Kpop can also be connected with the South Korean military. Since all South Korean men have to go to the military, it is held in high honor. “[…] military service to South Korean society is constitutive of milita-rized masculine ‘Koreanness’”( Yeo 2017: 297).
The idea of masculinity within Kpop has evolved throughout the decades. Is this current idea of masculinity here to stay or is it just another trend that will fade away? No one knows for sure but societies in the world are constantly evolving due to technology and new advancements everyday. Will our ideals evolve as well?
I agree that masculinity in Kpop is often represented physically through the body. A fit body, along with the presence of bulging muscles and abs serve to create an unrealistic portrayal for men to recreate. Although I feel as though male idols have more of a female gaze, their prevalence in the media also affects how men view themselves. I see a pressure for men to fit in with society instead of expressing themselves freely. And if this masculinity is the norm, these portrayals of masculinity may add to some of the misogyny in Korean society. While masculinity appears to be shifting, as some of you mentioned how masculinity has also been shaped by the idea of a “flower boy,” these concepts continue to emphasize the body as a tool for success.