[I_heart_you]

Hi Guys,

I'm just recently getting into the Korean entertainment world, and first of all... I LOVE IT!

I was just wondering, is Korea like Japan, where they're very protective and secretive about their private life, especially with dating? Coz I know in Japan, if idols boys (especially johnny's ) date around, the fans would go literally INSANE, and protest! Even if it was a small little scene from a drama of like.. their favorite boy hugging or kissing a girl, there would be many complaints and threats...

Watching such awesome shows as X-man and We got married, makes me feel like the Korean culture is more open...?
Like, with X-man there's this section where they always pick their "date" or "couple" for the last game or whatever, right? Like Jaejoong singing to that girl and looking into her eyes...
In We Got Married, that SS510 (or 501? lol) guy's all love-love with his 'wife' and stuff...

Are fans okay with that? Coz that would be GREAT!!

It's just sad how we can't all be like the U.S. where everything's open and you can be very public with who you love...

[MissBoAngel]

umm... no not really

Korean fans are pretty crazy about their stars dating.
Shows like X-Man & WJM are fake. As far as i know Crown J and Seo In Young aren't actually married.
And the couples are meant to be cute and entertaining.

There has been many scandals about stars dating.
Especially with big boy bands like Super Junior,TVXQ,Big Bang etc.
Fan Girls go crazy if their boys started dating.
and yes, going crazy means they will actually stalk their boys and/or stand in front of the company building for hours protesting against a relationship. Fanclubs sometimes (or most of the time) go over-board and will do whatever it takes to make sure their boys won't be touched by almost any girl. This goes for Girl Groups aswell

However, there are fantasy couplings made up by fans. (SunYin,WonderBang etc.)
and some real couples actually get approved by fanclubs (if they're very lucky).


Sometimes a little research in the right places about this subject can interesting

[I_heart_you]

Oh damn... the same as Japan then, huh? The stalkers outside their house that tent there and sleep over outside just to 'make sure' that no girls enter the building or whatever...
lordy..~!

So it's not just IDOL boys, like dbsk? people are even strict against rappers like crown j and stuff?~!! wow?!

[Christinaisweird]

there is no such thing as privacy when you're famous period.

unless you leave the music and acting industry for awhile and comeback or you already had a gf/bf when you started.

i remembered when se7en was on YSMM and said, "if i had a gf i would say i didn't have one because once we breakup it wold be harder."

so true. the tabloids and paparazzi don't even have lives anymore.

if it happened on a variety show and fans like how they look together then that necessarily doesn't really happen, but who knows fans can be happy then go crazily psychotic the next

[dehoot]

Not sure about Crown J. I don't think any of his fans would mind if he went out and got a girlfriend. xD

It's definitely specific to a certain type of celebrity for example idol groups, namely boys.
When it comes to idol girls everyone goes up in arms, but I feel that it's more accepted since I haven't seen too many male fans who would go out and protest as proudly as their female counterparts. This could be either due to embarrassment or simply because they give up (lol sounds so sad).

So, in that aspect I'd say that yes, Korea is similar to Japan in that the fans are rabid.
However, I feel that Korean fans are worse than Japanese fans.
Majority of the fans (which tend to be female) are ferocious, unwise, and completely out of their minds.
They TRULY believe they have a say in what their artist does or doesn't do.
This is what I call a wannabe-fan. True fans know where the boundaries are and are there to support their artists. Not put them in a fan-made box.

The only chance these idols have of dating is if there are approved fantasy couples.
A few examples have already been stated above.

[xocutiex07]

Agree with what's been said.... Korean fans are just as obsessed (? LOL) with idols as much as Japanese fans.


Concerning X-man, I remember that EunBi was practically TERRORIZED online by Korean Cass. for being partners with DBSK members....

Concerning WGM, Shinhwachangjo members tend to be older, so they're okay with their idols touching/kissing (on the cheek) and the whole fantasy theme... but I know tons of SHCJ who are opposed to Andy being on WGM period... Also, Hwangbo has said many times on air that she is always attacked by TripleS for being linked to Hyun Joong.. and the rest aren't really idols, so fans are really cool. There's actually a fanclub dedicated to Seo In Young and Crown J as a couple! haha.

Concerning WonderBang...I think people support it, but not in REALITY. I think WonderFuls and VIPz (in Korea at least) like them having performances together and stuff, but if they ACTUALLY dated???? NO WAY IN HELLLL would they be okay with that.... I remember there was a rumor that SoHee and GD were going out, and everyone left negative comments and were really not okay with it.

So, they support the fantasy idea (like WGM, WonderBang)... but if they were to ACTUALLY date, then fans would go crazy.

And when it comes to real scandals, entertainment companies come out and ALWAYS deny despite proof/evidence... and fans also deny dating rumors too because they want their oppas to be single. Come to think of it, there hasn't been that many scandals with idols... one or two, but somehow, the Korean stars seem to REALLY know how to keep on the DL.. probably because of the lack of paparazzi in Korea.

Obsessed fans are what makes idols... some can get over board (like Sa-seng fans) but I think you need obsessed fans for idols exist. But I don't think it's always a bad thing.

And it's not like crazy fandom doesn't exist in U.S. ex.) Jonas Brothers... 'N Sync, BSB, Hanson in the 90s....