The world has changed, and K-pop isn’t just Korean anymore. It hasn’t been for a long time, but today, K-pop is stitched into the playlists of fans in Atlanta, Lagos, Manila, Paris, São Paulo—and everywhere in between. But as the music travels, so do expectations. And one thing fans across the globe are no longer willing to compromise on is respect. This is especially concerning where cultural appropriation has become an even bigger issue in the K-pop music industry.
With the latest string of cultural appropriation controversies, it seems that fans have learned more about the hard truth: the K-pop music industry still hasn’t figured out how to engage with global culture responsibly.
That is why today we’re going to discuss more about all the reasons why the K-pop music industry must pay more attention to cultural appropriation issues, especially now that K-pop is no longer simply about Koreans.
Cultural Appropriation in K-pop Keeps Happening: Fans Are Losing Patience
If you’ve been paying attention, the K-pop music industry has been facing a string of controversies related to cultural appropriation: KISS OF LIFE Julie’s birthday livestream, BLACKPINK leaked pre-debut, and Ahyeon’s resurfaced racial slur.
With these cultural appropriation issues emerging more frequently, even after they had been strongly addressed in the past, it shows that the K-pop music industry has yet to have the proper knowledge and education on how to interact with the global culture in a more respectful and responsible manner.
And this has become even more concerning, knowing that K-pop has now gone massive and global. While K-pop groups have become even more multinational and labels are forming their foreign groups, K-pop is no longer merely about Koreans. It’s a whole new genre in the global music industry.
That is why with exposure and fame that have become so massive in the international network, cultural appropriation controversies are no longer issues to be shrugged off. Fans are growing even more sensitive towards them, and more frustrated knowing the issues keep on repeating despite many previous addresses.
Take for example, GOT7 Jackson Wang recently faced backlash for the N-word accusation. While in fact, he did not mention anything even close. Instead, he was saying “brother.”
Hi everyone — we want to address the serious and misleading allegations currently circulating online regarding a recent clip featuring Jackson on DIVE.
— DIVE Studios (@thedivestudios) April 10, 2025
We do not take this situation lightly and want to provide clear context:
1. In the original, unedited clip, Jackson says… pic.twitter.com/H4xEBkGVxw
This is real-life evidence that fans have been growing even more sensitive to the issue. They became even more easily triggered by the slightest nick regarding cultural appropriation.
And it was understandable, considering how often cultural appropriation controversies keep on happening in the K-pop music industry, despite repeated criticisms and addresses.
It’s Not Just One Mistake—Cultural Borrowing in K-pop Has Always Been Systemic
Cultural appropriation in the K-pop music industry isn’t about one idol wearing braids or one trainee saying a slur. It’s a pattern—one that has played out again and again over the last 15+ years.
The industry has borrowed aesthetics, sounds, and symbols from cultures around the world—especially Black culture—without always understanding their weight or histories. Hip-hop, streetwear, AAVE (African American Vernacular English), B-boy dance, and even hairstyles like Bantu knots and box braids have all appeared in K-pop content with little to no acknowledgment.
Now, the old excuse that “Korea is a culturally homogenous country” no longer holds. Not in 2025. Not when artists are promoting in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa. And definitely not when global fans are the ones breaking your charts and streaming your MVs.
That is why the K-pop music industry wants to survive the next chapter of its global expansion; this cultural appropriation issue must change.
If the industry wants the rewards of global fandom, it must also accept the responsibility that comes with it.
Cultural Appropriation in K-pop Music Industry: Why No Changes?
As a K-pop fan who has been paying close attention to the industry, you must have been wondering: cultural appropriation has been a massive issue for a long time, so why hasn’t it changed?
Well, apparently, there are a few causes behind these repeated mistakes, and none of these causes are actually easy to fix.
1. Lack of Cultural Education Within Labels
Trainees spend years mastering dance, vocal technique, and idol etiquette. But when it comes to cultural literacy? It’s barely part of the curriculum—if it exists at all.
2. Stylist-Driven Concepts with No Accountability
Many idols don’t create their stage visuals themselves. That’s true. However, it doesn’t mean that passing the blame to stylists is the best solution. Everyone involved in the creative process shares the same amount of responsibility, especially when the same exact mistakes keep on repeating.
3. Corporate Silence and Delayed Reactions
Agencies often remain quiet until a scandal goes viral. And when they do respond, their statements tend to be vague, passive, or entirely dismissive of the actual harm caused. This erodes fan trust, and for the long term, they could actually bring more damage to the artists.
4. Prioritizing Domestic Image Over Global Sensitivity
Because Korean media tends to be less reactive to these issues, companies often calculate that the controversy will pass. And yet, in the global fan community, these moments don’t simply go away—they linger, shape reputations, and eventually affect ticket sales, tours, and brand deals.
Fans Are Not Asking for Perfection: They’re Asking for Respect
Now, what most idols and companies must understand is that fans do not expect them to be some kind of honorable historians who perfectly comprehend the original value and development of their culture from the ancient era up to today. That would be exaggerating.
However, what they do expect from their favorite idols and companies are, at least, complete awareness and respect.
So, for idols, companies, artists, if you’re going to borrow from a culture—its music, its fashion, its language—you owe it to that culture to learn where it comes from, respect its boundaries, and acknowledge its people.
And no, fans are not gatekeeping—they are safeguarding. And there’s a huge difference between.
That is why it’s crucial to take a moment and understand: when you treat culture as a prop, people will notice. Or, when you inappropriately turn Black culture into a mere aesthetic, when you wear sacred symbols for visual flair, and when you use slurs in covers or songs without understanding their harm, fans, and the whole public will remember.
And in this global expansion of K-pop, the international public won’t be quiet about it anymore.
What the K-pop Music Industry Needs to Do—Now
Knowing that the old ways can no longer work, the K-pop music industry must therefore act quickly to adapt to the global community, if it wants to prevent similar issues from happening, and thrive in the next phase of the globalization process.
Start With Cultural Sensitivity—And Make It a Habit
This shouldn’t be something that happens only after a scandal breaks out. Cultural sensitivity training needs to be part of an artist’s journey from the very beginning, especially for those with international schedules. Not just once. Not just in crisis. But regularly.
Bring in Real Cultural Experts—From the Start
If a concept draws from a particular culture, that community deserves more than a visual reference. Labels need to consult with cultural experts early in the creative process—not just as damage control, but as partners. And yes, that means listening even when it’s inconvenient.
Hold the Whole Creative Team Accountable
Too often, the blame falls squarely on the idol. But the truth is, a misstep like this goes through multiple hands before it reaches the public: stylists, concept designers, music video directors, PR teams. Saying “the artist didn’t know” is no longer enough—and honestly, it never was.
Let the Artists Speak for Themselves
Fans know when an apology is written by PR. And they know when it’s real. Growth doesn’t come from silence. It comes from facing the issue, learning from it, and being willing to speak about it—even when it’s uncomfortable. That’s how trust is rebuilt.
K-pop Has the Power to Lead—If It’s Willing to Learn
Finally, the K-pop music industry has always been more than just music. It’s a cultural force—powerful, persuasive, and deeply influential. And with that level of global attention comes a responsibility that can no longer be delayed.
So once again, it is of the utmost importance to understand that fans are not attacking their idols or companies. They simply ask the K-pop music industry to evolve for the better, especially regarding cultural appropriation.
If idols and companies are eager to thrive in this next chapter, they must do more than perfect the next choreography. They must dedicate the time to carefully listen, to reflect, and to re-educate, not just for damage control, but to understand that the values of this generation of fans have changed. And by doing so, these idols and the company will show that they are actually paying attention.
Yes, K-pop is already one of the most powerful vehicles of cultural exchange in the world. But to continue leading, it must stop treating culture as a concept and start treating it with care.
So let this be the turning point. Not out of fear of cancellation. But out of genuine commitment to do better. Because when K-pop respects the cultures it draws from just as much as it respects its fans, the result will be more than just global hits.
It will be legacy.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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