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omonatheydid
Let's take a moment and travel back to the year of 2007 when SNSD and the Wonder Girls were fresh, rookie girl groups, debuting with their title tracks, "Into the New World," and "Irony." It's hard to believe that five years have already flown by and both SNSD and the Wonder Girls have settled into the K-Pop world as the leading backbone of girl groups. Now, even the youngest members of each group have entered into their twenties and all have now matured into young women. Not only these two girl groups but many others, who have debuted around similar times, are slowly coming of an age where marriage is a near future option.
Just like how S.E.S.' Eugene and Shoo, who were once the "original fairy-dols," have become newlyweds, the chances of second generation girl group members announcing their marriage plans may not be too far ahead. In light of this, Sports Chosun conducted a survey that asked ten of the top entertainment companies a few questions about girl groups and marriage. Let's dive into the results and the analysis of this Sports Chosun survey.
Marriage is Poison to Girl Groups?
One of the questions from this survey asked the ten entertainment companies, "Does marriage have a positive impact on girl groups?" The unanimous answer was "no."
One of the most important images for girl groups is that they are "everyone's lover." Girl groups can easily see damages to their images and reputations by merely revealing their dating lives. So becoming "one man's girl" would make that certain member's popularity have no choice but to decrease. But the bigger problem is, it might have a negative effect on the entire team.
A particular source states, "The lives of idol groups are quite different than the average person. They have practices or promotion activities that last all night and they have to start their days in the wee hours of the night in order to attend their next schedule. Nowadays, overseas schedules are increasing as well. In situations like this, if there is a member that will be getting married, it will make things a lot harder for the other members."
Once you get engaged and start planning for a marriage, a lot of time will need to go into those preparations. Many time conflicts will occur and because of this, the entire team might suffer. The quoted source above added in the end, "If a girl group member were to get married, it would be a good time to think about emceeing, acting or entering some other field."
Is There Really a "No Dating" Rule? Secret Relationships?
On January 28, Hirajima Natsumi and Yonezawa Rumi from the famous Japanese girl group, AKB48 were cut from the team because they broke the "no dating" rule. "If they were non-celebrities, it wouldn't be a problem but because they were AKB48 members, they shouldn't have broken the rules," says a representative of AKB48's management. Is this a plausible reason to be fired from a team? How are things in Korea?
Just like how 2NE1's Sandara Park once jokingly mentioned the "no dating" rule on an episode of "Strong Heart," most of the girl group members are not allowed to date. 3 out of the 10 management groups revealed that they do not let their girl groups date because they feel that there will be problems.
The strictest time for this "no dating" rule is probably before and during the debut stages. In general, girl group members fall into the late teens to early twenties age group during their debut period. This means that many of them are still young, immature and in their adolescent stages, which calls for many to act on emotion rather than reason. Imagine if you are a young, adolescent girl group member, who just debuted. Imagine further if a male celebrity, whom you've respected in the past, expresses interest in you. It might be quite hard not to be swayed.
In the management's perspective, as long as the contract is still in tact, they have responsibilities and obligations to protect the girl groups. Recently, it is known that many management groups request the parents of the girl groups to help "take care of these opposite-sex problems."
However, as time goes by, it will become increasingly more difficult to prevent the girl group members to enter into relationships. Each person has their own right to privacy and with the increasing methods/channels of communication through the Internet and the smartphone, it is easier to start dating. It is all the more difficult to prevent dating these days.
Therefore, more and more managers are asking their artists to be honest about their relationships. A particular source expressed, "The management must respect each individual's right to privacy. So we ask the artist to tell us before they enter a relationship. That way, we can think of how to handle the situation beforehand." Other sources reveal, "There are many different kinds of concepts that girl groups need to perform and it is true that those who have experienced love and break-ups have better ways of expressing those feelings. So we even support dating - only to the extent that won't harm the team."
Perhaps this is the reason why some of the top girl groups have been released from their "no dating" rule and are openly dating. Wonder Girls' Sunye and Kara's Goo Hara come to mind.
How Long Can Girl Groups Last?
As you can see, girl group members receive thorough attention and extensive care when it comes to their love lives. However, with the recent out-pour of girl groups, we can't rule out the possibility of the members of the opposite sex feeling their instinctual draw to young and pretty females. Therefore, age is a very touchy subject. Then, up to what age can girl group members be active?
30% of the surveyed management companies expressed that the early to mid-thirties age group is the limit for girl groups. They say that girl groups need to portray a sexy and cute image at the same time but it may be a bit difficult to handle a cute concept past the age of 30.
On the other hand, the general consensus for this question was: "Age is not important." Looking at stars such as Lee Hyori and Seo In Young, who were the "original idol stars," they say that the importance isn't put on age but on the individual charm, self-maintenance and ability. Also, older members may be paired or teamed with younger members so age doesn't matter that much.
Management companies claim that years since debut is more important than age. If it has been five to six years since a girl group's debut, the majority of the crowd may get tired of them. Thus, it is important for the girl group members to enter into different fields of entertainment. This is why we can see many girl group members expanding their activities to variety shows or acting in dramas and movies.
What are your thoughts on girl groups and marriage?
Source: Soompi
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Date: 2012-02-03 11:30 am (UTC)Will their audience still follow them: doubtful.
Some of those girls may have a chance if they go solo but as a band I don't think so.
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Date: 2012-02-03 11:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 12:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 12:26 pm (UTC)Whether they will be successful depends on their fanbase prior to marriage and the culture surrounding the 'expectation' of idols at the time tbh.
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Date: 2012-02-03 12:32 pm (UTC)The value of a woman depends upon, and changes when, she gets married.
Ugh.
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Date: 2012-02-03 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 02:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 06:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 01:11 pm (UTC)But the main question is that K-pop idol groups didn't last long. So, before they actually have the opportunity to get married, their group/s probably already disband or in hiatus.
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Date: 2012-02-03 01:38 pm (UTC)But yeah. The whole "idol" concept sort of relies on that idea that the idol...idk, almost belongs to the fans? Once they're married it's like, nope sorry, fantasy is over. Oppar/Unnir isn't yours.
I guess it all depends on age of the idol, too, and the ages of fans.
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Date: 2012-02-03 01:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 02:05 pm (UTC)if you're an idol, you can only get married when no one cares about you or you're in a very long hiatus
sounds fun
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Date: 2012-02-03 02:07 pm (UTC)hell yeah, my wonder generation \o/ i'm so proud, hold me ;~~;
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Date: 2012-02-03 02:14 pm (UTC)If you are talented and that's what you want to do, yes you can make it happen.
The managers have a rule book and everyone else goes along, the fans are cool with it. This is a hobby for them, make some money but your real job is tending to an ahjussi(a husband) and making babies. The end game, waiting for the day to move on really. It's a perfectly good endgame but what if you don't want that? Then you're screwed in the business.
I also notice the moment a girl may have dating rumors she "gets other activites" to wear her ass out. She gets back into the robot mood-> eat sleep work. (eating/sleeping not guaranteed)
They should ask, what happens when the girls grow up and become thinking young woman? We get new girls.
So when will the interview about boy groups be posted? :/
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Date: 2012-02-03 02:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 04:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-04 12:44 am (UTC)This is from what I've mainly observed in the J-pop world though.
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Date: 2012-02-04 02:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-05 02:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 02:29 pm (UTC)i cant
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Date: 2012-02-03 02:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 04:16 pm (UTC)"What are your thoughts on girl groups and marriage?"
Not really any of our business whether or not female idols get married or who they get married to. Yeah the wedding and the preparations might take up time, but marriage itself shouldn't affect performance.
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Date: 2012-02-03 04:42 pm (UTC)I remember a while back in Japan, Hashimoto Ryousuke, a Johnny's Junior, and C-ute's Arihara Kanna were seen on a date (with photo evidence).
Hashi got to stay in Johnny's and even now he's pretty popular.
Kanna had her ass fired with some excuse like "she was going to focus on her studies."
I don't really get this whole sexist outlook but I guess it is like this in a lot of cultures: girls need to stay innocent and pure, guys can do whatever the hell they want. I know in my culture it's wrong for any gender to date, but if a girl is caught it's the end of the world, and if a guy is caught "oh it's okay, just try not to do it again."
SMH.
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Date: 2012-02-03 06:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 07:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 06:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-04 03:21 pm (UTC)That's what I was referencing. I decided to go with the oldest, even if it's more unlikely.
As for sophisticated/elegant being unpopular among the male audience, that may be true but I don't think a talented girl group necessarily should quit just because sexy/cute may be a stretch for them.
BEG, imo, has a more sophisticated/elegant/sexy image, and they're pretty popular. Not sure if they're more popular among males or females, but they're popular (or at least well known).
P.S. Maybe I'm incorrectly interpreting your tone, but your message seems rude and I don't understand why you would be giving me attitude for what I said...
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Date: 2012-02-03 06:32 pm (UTC)I feel like that's exactly what happened with Se7en and Jonghyung. Like fans still like both of them and everyone's happy about new projects/etc. but it's like not the same.
BUT DEF still unequal because with women it's OMG UR CAREER IS OVEEERRRR unless they do like ballads or mc/acting/etc. D:
Sad truth but this article is the harsh reality of Korean culture TBQHRN
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Date: 2012-02-03 08:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 08:49 pm (UTC)I def think it's not equal for guys and girls. But I just think that for fans in general, no matter the idol's gender, the crazier fans will either get more crazy or just give up when they find out their idols are with someone.
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Date: 2012-02-03 08:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 08:54 pm (UTC)Even my parents are still like that. Especially my dad. Like he'll tell me I can do anything, but then talk about how women are incompetent, can't do anything, shouldn't be bosses, or working after kids....~___~
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Date: 2012-02-03 09:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 07:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-03 08:29 pm (UTC)negl though, for those groups whose fame is reliant on glitzy, sparkly, larger-than-life level of unattainability (either by congruity of personality with that image or by design of the company), it'll be a bigger problem.
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Date: 2012-02-03 10:55 pm (UTC)