Everything K-Pop Fans Are Sick Of — Viral Trend Sparks Heated Reactions

Many Korean netizens slammed things international fans love.
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Koreaboo

From concert pricing to song structures, certain industry practices have been quietly frustrating fans for years. A Korean netizen’s post on X calling out the biggest “evils” plaguing K-Pop today has gone viral, with many adding their own complaints to the list.

1. Super short songs

The original poster kicked off their “top 3 evils of K-Pop” by targeting “the bastard who started making songs only 2 minutes long.”

With many recent releases clocking in at barely over two minutes, it’s no surprise many fans feel cheated out of the full musical experience they once enjoyed.

2. Missing bridges

The same netizen followed up by hitting out at “the bastard who took out the bridge from songs.” While bridges are still common, some recent hits have skipped them altogether, leaving many fans complaining about songs that feel incomplete and rushed. Many netizens in the quotes noted acts like Red Velvet and LOONA as prime examples of groups who always have great bridges.

There was once a group called Red Velvet

And their songs were just truly beautiful

And the bridges were works of art too

@_imyour_apple on X

3. Encore tours

Rounding out their top three complaints, the fan expressed wanting to “kill” the “bastard who made money off encore tours.” To some, these additional concert dates, often announced after initial shows sell out, can sometimes feel like a cash grab. Despite this, encore concerts remain popular, with aespa’s SYNK: PARALLEL LINE encore shows drawing in almost 20,000 attendees this year.

| Sports Chosun

4. Video call fansigns

More frustrated fans quickly chimed in, with one complaining about “video call fansigns,” adding, “These started because of COVID, so why are they still doing them?”

Many Korean fans feel the virtual format lacks the personal connection of in-person meetings while still carrying hefty price tags. On the flip side, video call fansigns have been a great way for international fans to finally chat with their idols.

5. Short promotions

The same user also criticized “only promoting on music shows for two weeks.” In the past, it was typical for K-Pop groups to perform on shows like Inkigayo and Music Bank for three or more weeks in a row. Abbreviated promotion cycles mean less content and fewer opportunities for Korean fans to see their favorite groups. TWS, for example, was recently praised by fans for promoting their comeback for four weeks.

| TWS_PLEDIS/Instagram

6. Expensive concert tickets

Financial woes dominated many of the complaints, with one netizen specifically calling out “200,000 won concert tickets.”

Unsurprisingly, high pricing puts live performances out of reach for many — and numerous international fans face the same frustrations.

7. Fan club memberships

Modern-day fan club structures also drew criticism, with “always-open fan club memberships” making the list.

Some feel that constant availability removes the exclusivity that once made these memberships feel special and meaningful, while others believe that companies leave sign-up windows open simply to make more money

8. Repetitive lyrics

Songwriting quality became another target, with one fan demanding artists “start writing proper lyrics. Stop repeating the same damn lines over and over like you’re crazy.”

Of course, for many listeners, the same songwriting style feels fun and catchy, with so-called repetitive songs often topping the charts.

9. English lyrics

Another netizen cursed “the bastard who crammed songs full of English.” These days, it’s rare to find a K-Pop song written entirely in Korean.

While English words can help make K-Pop lyrics more accessible to international fans, it’s no surprise that many Korean listeners aren’t fond of the trend.

10. TikTok challenges

Social media marketing tactics didn’t escape scrutiny either, as the same fan criticized “the one who came up with challenges.” While some believe that the pressure to create viral TikTok content has influenced how K-Pop songs and choreographies are created, others are enjoying this new phase of interactions between different groups.

@bts_official_bighit

killin’ it, guys 🎯 #jhope_KillinItGirl #jhope #제이홉 @hobipower #ATEEZ #산 #SAN #에이티즈 @ateez_official_

♬ Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla) – j-hope & GloRilla

11. Lip-syncing

“The one who started AR recordings and lip-syncing” was also slammed, which comes as no surprise. Naturally, most fans prefer natural vocals to heavy backing tracks. However, given idols’ busy schedules, AR tracks have become an increasingly common way to maintain stamina and good health. aespa, BABYMONSTER, and NMIXX are among the groups netizens have praised for impeccable live vocals

12. Costly VIP add-ons

Last but not least, another netizen called out “the bastard who started charging extra for soundcheck.”

Given how expensive baseline concert ticket prices have become, fans are starting to feel fatigued by the additional premium price tags that come with VIP benefits.

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