Male 3rd Generation K-Pop Idol Under Fire For Comments About Korea’s Declining Birth Rate

“Are women who give birth not human beings?”
News
Koreaboo

Content Warning

This article includes descriptions of sexual assault that may disturb some readers.

BTOB‘s Minhyuk is under fire for messages sent on a fan chatting platform.

IMG_5450
BTOB’s Minhyuk | Cube Entertainment

On the Fromm fan messaging platform, Minhyuk sent messages about attending a friend’s wedding and reassuring fans about his energy levels. After sending multiple messages about this, the idol mentioned that many of his friends had gotten married and sent a message saying, “please contribute to the birth rate, my friends.”

IMG_5432
| Fromm

Minhyuk: There have been so many weddings.
Minhyuk: Everyone is getting married.
Minhyuk: Please contribute to the birthrate, my friends.
Minhyuk: It’s a concern for our country.
Minhyuk: …although, I’m sure they’ll figure it out themselves.

He continued to talk about the topic, mentioning a friend who now had 3 children, calling them a “patriot.”

IMG_5433
| Fromm

Minhyuk: Among the group, one of them already has three kids.
Minhyuk: Yes, a patriot.
Minhyuk: It’s impressive.
Minhyuk: LOL that’s funny.
Minhyuk: “A person taking care of a child, a person watching an idol, a person being an idol.” (A play on the Korean word “ayi” (child) and “idol”)

Across the world, headlines about Korea’s declining birthrate have been a topic and only increased as it drops further. Recently, it was announced that it fell to 0.72, meaning that for every 100 women, 72 children are born.

This stat is well below the average 2.1 needed to maintain the population.

Almost Half Of Kindergartens In South Korea Expected To Close Due To Low Birthrate

While the government has spent billions to address the issue, many young Korean women have stated that the issues go beyond childcare costs and include job security, living costs, and (sometimes violent) misogyny.

Because carrying the child falls is the woman’s responsibility (and childcare in the current society falls heavily on women), many felt Minhyuk’s comments were not appropriate for a man to make and were sexist. Even further, many felt it was wrong for the idol to send the messages to fans.

  • “Why is this man, who cannot give birth, telling others to contribute to the birth rate as if birthing is that simple? Does he think childbirth is easy? Are women who give birth not human beings?”
  • “Why don’t you give birth, then? What’s with him? Why are you even talking about increasing the birth rate in a Bubble full of female fans? Are you going to give birth? Even if you could give birth, why would you say that?”
  • “Oh, please.  I really dislike men who tell others to have children.”
  • “Quit lying down and typing nonsense on the keyboard. Instead, you should quit being an idol and get married already.”
  • “It blows my mind even more because his tone is so preachy. Also, suggesting that fans should go have children? Then they’ll all leave because they’ll be busy raising kids. Are you in your right mind?”
  • “F*cking unbelievable… Why would you do this to me? This is the same subtle harassment I used to hear from my superiors at work, which felt like sexual harassment. Now I’m hearing from the boy group I was beginning to be a fan of? It’s really infuriating… Oh, unbelievable… Damn it… I was planning to go to my first fan concert and even attend their tour later, but now I don’t want to go anymore. I guess I’ll have to stick to stanning just individual stars for the rest of my life. Damn it.”

Around the world, people about to bear children have reacted negatively to being told what to do with their bodies, and this seems to be another instance of this.

BTOB

Fans Find Out That A Popular South Korean Clothing Brand Is Actually Owned By A 3rd Generation Idol

BTOB’s Changsub Announces His Hiatus

3rd Gen K-Pop Idol Grabs His Buttcheeks In Hilarious Photocard

BTOB’s Minhyuk Apologizes For Comments About Korea’s Declining Birth Rate

See more BTOB

Next Page
Scroll to top