[PC stories/KPOP takes] KPOP GROUPS DON'T FEEL REAL TO ME ANYMORE

I’ve been into K-pop for years, maybe close to a decade. In that time, I’ve seen so many groups come and go, concepts change, sounds evolve. But there’s one thing that has stayed the same, and it’s something that honestly bothers me more the longer I watch: **the way idols behave.** It’s not like singers, actors, or other entertainers. Idols don’t act like their age. Even when they’re in their twenties, they often present themselves like lost kids, stumbling around in front of cameras, laughing at everything, acting clueless. Some people find it cute, but for me, it’s the opposite.

It feels strange almost uncomfortable to see grown adults play the role of children. I know why it happens. The training system molds them from such a young age, locking them into this cycle where they never fully grow socially. Companies encourage childish behavior because it’s safe, marketable, and keeps fans hooked. Acting innocent or awkward makes them seem approachable, even when it’s all just performance.
But here’s the thing: the more I watched, the less I liked it. The older I got, the more it disgusted me to see people my age or older forced into this image. It doesn’t feel authentic. It doesn’t feel raw. It just feels like adults trapped in a persona that insults both them and the fans who follow them.

At first, I could still hold on for the music. But even that started sounding the same, like nothing was growing or changing. That’s when I realized: maybe I’ve outgrown this. And that’s okay. It doesn’t erase the memories I had, but it does mean I can release it. For me, K-pop idols’ behavior is phenomenal, not in a good way, but in how strikingly different it is from normal entertainers. And now, I’ve decided I don’t want it in my life anymore.

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