CULTURE

Why K-Pop Fans Shouldn't Engage With the TWICE Stalker

Do not engage with a celebrity stalker directly. Contact the proper authorities instead. #ProtectNayeon

Photo by: Kiran CK / Unsplash

Fans of the K-Pop girl group, TWICE, are deeply concerned over a stalker who seems to be targeting Nayeon, one of the group's nine members.

For the past few months, a 25-year-old German man named Josh had been posting incessantly about his love for Nayeon. While talking about admiration or even love for one's favorite celebrity might be common amongst fan communities, Josh's behavior crosses serious lines. He first caught the fandom's attention back in October when he posted a nearly 12-minute video to YouTube titled "Pls Help Me To Get This Video To Nayeon."

제발, 이 비디오 트와이스 나연 보내는 것을 도와줘 Pls Help Me To Get This Video To Nayeonwww.youtube.com

In his video, which––fair warning––is very disturbing, Josh films himself at a number of locations in Korea where Nayeon had been spotted in the past. He talks to the camera, extensively documenting how he fell in love with Nayeon three years prior and decided that he needed to talk to her. He had traveled to Korea in order to look for her, visiting over 100 different nearby shops to gain information on her or her family's whereabouts and distributing a letter which he asked shopkeepers to give to Nayeon should they happen to see her. Josh also expressed a deep sadness due to his inability to properly contact Nayeon, along with a more extensive plan to return to Korea in December and dedicate two more months to his search.

As one might expect, Josh's video was not received with the communal enthusiasm and willingness to assist him that he seemed to be anticipating. In a follow-up video, Josh lamented the hatred and death threats he received in response to his initial post, while also decrying any "fake news" painting him as a stalker for clicks. Regardless, he remained undeterred in his plan to contact Nayeon.

업데이트 비디오 / Update Videowww.youtube.com

Some TWICE fans reached out to Josh directly on social media, leading him to lay out his intentions in detail. Josh explained his December plan to wait outside the home of another Korean celebrity, singer/songwriter J.Y. Park, to employ his help in tracking down Nayeon. After that, he seemed convinced that Nayeon would marry him, move to Australia with him, and start a family together. Most scarily, Josh thoroughly believed this was a reasonable course of action, without an ounce of self-awareness. "I think it is very unlikely that she wouldn't want a relationship after she gets to know me," he said.

Other TWICE fans have tried to argue with Josh. One punctuated her message that he didn't have a chance with Nayeon with a clown emoji.

But while I certainly understand the inclination to argue with someone performing such ludicrous actions, there's an important point that needs to be clear: Engaging with someone like Josh online is very, very dangerous, especially to the target of his stalking––in this case, Nayeon. Let me explain.

A person who engages in celebrity stalking––i.e. genuinely attempting to intrude into that celebrity's real life––is not someone acting rationally. Clinical research has shown that celebrity worshippers are more likely than the average person to "exhibit narcissistic features, dissociation, addictive tendencies, stalking behavior, and compulsive buying" and "have poorer mental health as well as clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction." To be clear, celebrity stalkers are at the furthest extreme of celebrity worshippers and are therefore most likely to display the most severe symptoms and behaviors.

This means that a celebrity stalker such as Josh is, most likely, very mentally ill. Unlike a traditional "incel"––a word that's been thrown around quite a lot in threads about Josh's stalking––Josh's behavior probably doesn't have its roots solely in male privilege or white entitlement, so much as unchecked mental health issues leading to a genuine disassociation with reality. In fact, therapy for a stalker typically involves complex psychological treatment, sometimes in conjunction with medication.

The larger point here is that when you're dealing with a mentally disturbed person whose actions are not based on an accurate model of reality, trying to logically reason with them or insulting them is a poor course of action, because you never know what could lead them to snap. After all, if they're not behaving reasonably in the first place, what's to stop them from hurting someone when they get upset?

To be fair, not all celebrity stalkers pose physical dangers to the celebrities they obsess over. Some, like the older, sickly man who stalked comedian Gabriel Iglesias, are annoying and creepy but most likely harmless. Others, like Margaret Mary Ray, who spent years stalking talk show host David Letterman, ultimately pose the greatest threat to themselves. But the truth is that some celebrity stalkers, like "Björk stalker" Ricardo López, truly do have murderous inclinations, and arguing with them directly could be like poking a bomb with a stick.

Unfortunately, there's reason to believe that Josh has the potential to become the latter. Despite his declaration that he would never hurt Nayeon because he loves her, TWICE fans have uncovered his terrifying comment history wherein he expresses a belief that he has the right to kill someone who breaks his heart.

It is now December and, as promised, Josh is back in Korea searching for Nayeon.

Many fans have contacted TWICE's label, JYP Entertainment, alerting them to the situation and encouraging them to protect Nayeon. JYP Entertainment responded, stating that they were "requesting the possible legal measures" and planning to hire guards for Nayeon.

Contacting the proper Korean authorities who might be able to do something concrete to stop Josh and protect Nayeon is absolutely the best course of action. But please, do not contact Josh or any future celebrity stalker directly. You're dealing with someone in a very precarious psychological state, and unless you're a trained professional in that specific field, you are risking making a very bad situation a whole lot worse.

In closing, Josh isn't someone who needs derision. He's someone who needs very serious help and, in the meantime, to be taken as far away from his target as possible. But insulting him or sending him threats online will not help that outcome and, if anything, could very easily spiral into him actually snapping. Keep contacting the proper authorities instead. #ProtectNayeon

Music Features

K-POP for Dummies: An Introduction to Your New Favorite Genre

From BTS to BLACKPINK, learn the ins and outs of South Korea's most popular music genre.

BTS

Photo by Jordan Strauss/AP/Shutterstock

Western awareness of K-Pop music has come a long way since Gangnam Style first went viral on YouTube, but if the 2019 Grammy Awards were your first time hearing of BTS you have some catching up to do.

No worries, though! We got you covered. Allow us to take you on a journey into the musical genre that's taking over the world.

What is K-Pop?

K-Pop stands for Korean pop, a broad genre encompassing pop, rock, hip hop, R&B, and electronic music. The genre dates back to the 90s, during which similarly styled South Korean pop music was referred to as "Gayo." The movement was largely influenced by the group Seo Taiji and Boys, formed in 1992, who began experimenting with different styles and genres within their mainstream pop music. But it wouldn't be until the 2000s that the genre now known as "K-Pop" would fully come into its own.

In the same way, the songs blend many genres into one, K-Pop is a holistic experience. In spite of massive radio play, the actual songs are inseparable from their music videos, their dance numbers, and the personalities of their various group members. In K-Pop culture, fashion, choreography, and fandom are just as important as the music, so to fully understand the genre, you need to recognize its moving parts.

And what better way to do that than by checking out K-Pop's biggest group…

BTS

BTS (also known as the Bangtan Boys) is easily the most popular K-Pop group in history. While other K-Pop groups experience wild success, none can even approach the levels of BTS, especially on an international level. Their fandom is so huge that they've broken multiple records formerly held by the likes of Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. They also have the most Twitter engagement in history.

In many ways, BTS is the quintessential ideal of a K-Pop boy band. They're so popular they've been called the modern-day Beatles, and as such, we can use them as a case study to understand the intricacies of the genre.

The Members

While some K-Pop stars are solo artists, most major acts are groups, usually put together by one of three major agencies – YJ Entertainment, SM Entertainment, or JYP Entertainment. These agencies are essentially all-in-one management firms for their artists, serving as record labels, talent agencies, concert producers, and event managers. Most commonly, the same agency will discover young talent, train them, group them, debut them, and foster their careers.

Competition is fierce within the K-Pop industry, and the artists who ultimately make it into major groups need to be multi-talented singers and dancers. They also need to synergize well with other group members. Of course, each member has an area of expertise.

RM (Rap Monster)

The group's leader, RM, lives up to his namesake. He's a talented rapper in his own right and was the first member of the group to release his own mixtape.

Suga

Suga also got his start in the underground rap scene and is especially well known for his rhyme speed.

J-Hope

J-Hope initially focused on dancing, but since joining the group, he's begun rapping and songwriting too.

Jimin

Having formerly attended art school to focus on modern dance, Jimin is considered by many to be the best dancer in the group. He's also the lead vocalist, or the best singer in the group aside from the main vocalist.

Jin

Known by his fans as "Worldwide Handsome," Jin is a sub-vocalist (or supportive vocalist).

V

Another one of the group's sub-vocalists, V is renowned for his smooth voice.

Jungkook

The "Maknae," or youngest member of the group, Jungkook is the main vocalist (best vocalist) and a constant presence onstage.

Choreography

Dancing is a huge part of K-Pop. The groups perform stylized dance routines in both their music videos and live performances. In fact, the dance routines are so important that groups like BTS oftentimes release "dance practice" videos so fans can watch their rehearsals.

Here's BTS's dance practice video for their hit song "IDOL."

[CHOREOGRAPHY] BTS (방탄소년단) 'IDOL' Dance Practicewww.youtube.com

As you can tell, the dance routines are fast, technical, and high-energy. Unlike a lot of Western boy bands, dancing isn't a secondary or tertiary concern. To pull off routines like these, K-Pop groups like BTS need to be at the top of their physical game.

Aesthetics

K-Pop is, above all else, an aesthetic art form. Music videos tend to be incredibly colorful and, artists are known for frequently changing their styles and outfits, allowing them to popularize new looks and fashions.

For instance, in their "Blood Sweat" music video, BTS donned fancy jackets and ascots, along with platinum blonde hair.

Then in "Fake Love," they adopted an artsy street punk vibe with lots of torn denim.

Finally, "Idol" shows an entirely fresh aesthetic with loud, bright suits and full bright hair to match.

The aesthetic choices translate throughout entire music videos, making each song look and feel incredibly distinct.

The Music

We can talk about K-Pop music all day, but there's no better way to learn about it than to experience it for yourself. At this point, you're familiar with BTS, and you've seen the dance practice and aesthetics behind "Idol." So let's see how it all comes together.

BTS (방탄소년단) 'IDOL' Official MVwww.youtube.com

As we said, words can't adequately prepare you for that―all the costumes, set changes, dance sequences, and energy pulsating throughout the video. It's not just great to listen to. It's great to watch. K-Pop is a full-on sensory experience. The craziest part is that each song offers something unique.

Other Groups to Watch

As amazing as BTS is, they're not the only K-Pop band. The genre has lots of other great acts too, so let's check a few of them out.

BLACKPINK

BLACKPINK - '뚜두뚜두 (DDU-DU DDU-DU)' M/Vwww.youtube.com

The 4-woman girl group, BLACKPINK, is currently one of the biggest names in K-Pop. The music video for their hit song, "DDU-DU DDU-DU," provides a great example of elaborate set pieces, fashionable outfits, catchy music, and fun dance segments.

BIGBANG

BIGBANG - FANTASTIC BABY M/Vwww.youtube.com

One of the most influential boy bands in K-Pop, BIGBANG's 2012 hit "FANTASTIC BABY" received unprecedented international airplay and is largely responsible for the genre's international spread. Its EDM style was considered groundbreaking at the time it came out and the hook―"Fantastic baby"―is arguably the most famous line of English in a K-Pop song.

TWICE

TWICE "LIKEY" M/Vwww.youtube.com

On the more poppy side of K-pop, Twice's "Likey" is the pinnacle of the cutesy girl group aesthetic famous in Korea. The bright colors and high school setting do a great job appealing to the target demographic of teens and young adults. And the focus on fashion and makeup connect exceptionally well with female fans.

Conclusion

K-Pop has a diverse, exciting, stylish culture full of diehard fans and groundbreaking music. Now that you've been introduced, we hope you'll enjoy the multitude of great songs the genre has to offer. But even if you don't like the music, here's something everyone can appreciate.

BTS's Jungkook is the most adorable human to ever live and is basically an anthropomorphic bunny rabbit. If that's not enough to make you love K-Pop, we don't know what is.


Dan Kahan is a writer & screenwriter from Brooklyn, usually rocking a man bun. Find more at dankahanwriter.com



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