When talking about Girls’ Generation, one of the most succinct ways to describe them would be to say, “female idol group”. But do those words truly describe them for who they are? Not in the slightest. The only accurate words in that description would be “female” and “group”. However, the context of the word “idol” is completely wrong in this case. Nowadays, the word “idol” is synonymous with “pop singer”, or someone that is active in many parts of the entertainment industry. Not only does the accepted meaning of the word not describe the girls in full, but it can also burden them with unfair prejudice from the general public. So if they aren’t an “idol group”, how would we go about describing them? For me, I prefer to call them “artists”. Maybe not necessarily on the same level as some of the greatest musical artists of our time, but calling them “idols” is understating how much talent they have and how much hard work they put into getting where they are today.
The dictionary definition of the word “idol” is “someone you admire”, or you could even say is “role model”. But in reality, because of expanding pop culture, a variety of shows were spawned based off of the new “an idol is an entertainer” definition, such as “American Idol” and subsequent variations all around the world. However, these kinds of shows only made the new definition mainstream. It already had its own niche in Asia where the term had been used to describe many people involved in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, riding on the coattails of the term “idol” was a stigma that was almost impossible to shake off. It was a stigma saying that you were only there to look pretty and that you had no real talent for anything else. Even the members of Girls’ Generation have faced such accusations before. Yet, here they stand as one of the most successful groups that are currently active. Can it be considered fair to brush aside talent backed by years of hard work, only to have the general masses throw them to the side because they are “idols”? Of course not. Still, such behavior persists, and it not only burdens Girls’ Generation but others as well.
Some might argue that it’s only fair that they be called idols because they undergo a “grooming” process through many years of training. It is a fair argument, but at the same time, the same could be said of people that are just singers. The only difference would be that they only focused on one aspect, whereas those who are considered idols went through a more diverse training regimen. Does the hard work they put in make them any less of an artist? For example, is a person who participates in a triathlon any less of an athlete than a pure swimmer? Obviously not, as they just practiced for more than one thing.
Let’s take Taeyeon for example. She is an idol by definition, but definitely much more than that. Out of all the members, Taeyeon loves singing the most. Taeyeon has even stated that she would like to become the kind of singer who could sing a wide variety of songs. She is a student of music: someone who continually strives to become better and isn’t content with being stagnant. On the flip side, you have Hyoyeon, maybe not the most prodigious of singers, but definitely a dancing virtuoso. Is she any less of an artist than Taeyeon? Of course not. She merely has a different talent, a different form of expression that is more suited to her. While on the topic of artists, we can’t forget Jessica with her “amazing” talent for drawings and paintings. Her drawing of Sunny received such rave reviews and international coverage that michaelroni’s “The Cucumber” even reported that she received an offer from a famous art museum to display her drawing. Jokes aside, the members of Girls’ Generation are obviously more than just “idols” that are pretty with no talent, so why not recognize them as artists?
The girls spend an extraordinary amount of time trying to move beyond the little box that is defined by being an “idol”. Yuri and Sooyoung wrote the lyrics for “Mistake” and “How Great is Your Love?” respectively, and if that isn’t considered a step towards being an artist, then I don’t know what is.
Sooyoung herself has mentioned on KBS 2TV’s “Star Life Theater” that she wanted to be considered as more than just an idol that could dance, but as an actual artist. A part of her essay reflects on the path she took as an idol, stating that she thought it was art. Sooyoung further explains that it is difficult to determine the full spectrum of art, but continued by saying that art can be influenced by the emotions in an individual’s life.
There is a lot of truth in what Sooyoung says about art. It is difficult to gauge what should be considered art. But it shouldn’t mean that if someone takes a different path that they can’t be considered an artist like others can. If art can be considered an expression of emotions, then regardless if it is the dancer who dances, the author who writes, the painter who paints, or the singer that sings, each and every person can become an artist. However, not everyone should be called an artist. Obviously, people have attempted to tread these paths before. Some fail right away, while others make it farther, and there are those who are capable of continuing down that path but choose to not walk down it. So then, who can be considered an artist? For me, the answer is the people that aspire for excellence: those people who work tirelessly to improve, to continue to chase their dream despite the obstacles they counter, and to leave more than a fleeting impression behind, creating an everlasting path that others can draw inspiration from in order to achieve even greater heights.
Girls’ Generation does this and more. Since the group’s debut, the members have faced challenges both as a group and as individuals. The songs they promoted weren’t always similar to their personal tastes, but they took what they were given and did the best they could with it. The multitude of criticisms the girls have faced throughout their careers in not only singing, but dancing, acting, song-writing and whatever else they have attempted were taken to heart and used to make themselves better. Jessica herself stated in an interview that she strives not only to spread Girls’ Generation around the world, but also K-Pop so that younger artists like her sister, Krystal from f(x), may one day surpass even her own achievements.
No one can deny the talent that Girls’ Generation possesses, and no one can ignore just how much hard work and dedication they put into getting where they are today. We should leave behind the mainstream definition of an “idol”, which says that they are mere “entertainers” or “talentless people who only look good”, acknowledge the effort they put into being respectable artists, and not make slight of their dreams to pursue new heights. Girls’ Generation is a group of artists that continue to hone their talents in hopes that their work will inspire other people. They are so much more than idols.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are solely those of the author and are not representative of the Soshified community as a whole.
Written by: SeraphKY@soshified
Edited by: michaelroni@soshified, FrozenArctic@soshified, bhost909@soshified
Contributions: taengsoshi@soshified, MoonSoshi9@soshified
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Dang, I need to pay attention more to these authors/writers because they are ridiculous…ridiculously good. Another reason why I love Soshified, good writers and therefore good articles.
You know how SoshiSubs usually have “PinkSubs” ftw or something to that effect, we need to start generating one for the writers.
I was thinking
“Think Pink” ftw!
nice work here great article Awesome Totally agree!!!
I had fun reading this ^_^
who can be considered an artist? For me, the answer is the people that aspire for excellence: those people who work tirelessly to improve, to continue to chase their dream despite the obstacles they counter, and to leave more than a fleeting impression behind, creating an everlasting path that others can draw inspiration from in order to achieve even greater heights.
you cannot be an artist unless you make decisions on your image for yoruself. beiber is consdiered an artist as much as the red hot chili peppers bc he turns down songs if he doesnt feel it properly represents his artist image even if he doesnt write or play his own music. girls generation can somehwat be consdiered artists bc of how they are asked how they want to represent themselves whether its on songs or on moveis or dramas. but you can also say that they arent artists bc they weren not signed based on their abilty to make decisions but trained and groomed on what their image should be. i would consdier IU much more of an artist bc she makes decisions on what songs she wants to represent herself. i dont ever think girls genertion can be consdiered artists for the reason that they are 9 members needing to negotiate on each of their indiviudalities in order to be considered a full group of artists, its much easier to jsut let the label decide whats best, much faster and much more effecientl. the typical labels job is to take an artist, give them opportunities to record song that they want w producers and with sw’s that are available, and then the label and the artist negotiates final group of songs for release. if one member is lacking, then the group is not a group of artists. an example is ‘nsync, where jsutin timebrlake proved he waas an artist who can make valuable decisions for himself, while the rest of the group showed that they couldnt. nsync wasnt a group of artists, they were a group of singers. in a band, if the lead singer is making all the deiciosns, they are an artist with a backing group of muscians, but if the lead singer needs the drummer and the bassist and the guitrists musical input to function successfully, then they are a true band of artists. with all that said, it doesnt mean that their music stinks or that the girls are unlikable, if anything, it shows taht there are members who are on the verge of becoming artists and thats something i think we can all look forward to
What I got from this editorial is nothing more than inspiration. From the very first time I join soshified, editorial section is my favorite place to go. About this editorial, I know the definition of idol and artist is a debatable term and also a sensitive topic. Personally, I’m not fully agree on the definition of artists in this section, but the main point is that in order to achieve a remarkable status on entertainment industry requires a full commitment and massive hard work. That is what exactly our Soshi teaches us. To follow our path, to keep walking even if we lose our feet, and to stop hearing to those who say impossible.
Both idol and artist are having a special meanings in our heart, and I hope we all have spirits to maintain the essence of being an artist.
Thank you Soshified for these remarkable sections
Thank you Soshi for becoming my artist and my personal idol.
^___^
Although it was probably inevitable that some deluded fanatic would think SNSD is high-brow and not low-brow, artists and not simply pop artists/idols, it’s surprising that a staff-writer should turn out to be the one. How you’ve managed to remain ignorant of the K-pop scene and pop music in general for that matter, while regularly following and writing about SNSD, is a wonder. If I am being harsh in my tone it’s because I feel it’s irresponsible of one in your position to fill and blow up the heads of more naive (now questionably) others with delusions of grandeur about Soshi and inevitably other performers in their wake, while correspondingly diminishing categories of serious art. The world is getting stupid and ignorant enough on its own – true differences are ever being watered down – even without the ardent aid of enthusiasts.
You say the term “idol” is stigmatizing and that the “general masses throw them to the side because they are “idols””. How this applies to Soshi, who are mega-stars in their homeland and in Asia and are rising stars in parts around the world, defies the facts. In fact, it is the musician/performer who falls outside of the idol category who is struggling to be recognized and survive in an “idol”‘s world today. In the West, it’s the same story. Idol-types like One Direction and Justin Bieber prove that idol-ness is no liability to popularity and success but rather a boon.
Your main problem is that you’ve gravely misdefined terms. You say that idols are so called “because they undergo a “grooming” process through many years of training” in which they undergo “a more diverse training regimen” than for example, a singer, “who’s only focused on one aspect”. That is a crucially incomplete definition. The complete definition is, Idols are those chosen primarily for their physical appearance/attractiveness, who if not in possession of tone-deafness or two left feet, hence undergo years of training to become competent singers and dancers or musicians such as those in the band, CN Blue.
You say that artists are “the people that aspire for excellence: those people who work tirelessly to improve, to continue to chase their dream despite the obstacles they counter, and to leave more than a fleeting impression behind, creating an everlasting path that others can draw inspiration from in order to achieve even greater heights”. Sorry to correct you, once again, but by that generic non-definition definition, a CEO or a lawyer or a mechanic could and would have to be considered an artist. While every endeavor has innate or imported artistic characteristic and value for sure, every- and anything, even at their zenith, is unwarranted the rarefied appellation of “creative art”. Craft, not art, is what you have defined, for which excellence is pursued by the best, most dedicated and passionate of craftpersons.
True art is that which breaks every cookie-cutter mold by being most deftly and articulately personal – it literally has one’s handprint, tracing the outline of one’s unique, unmanufactured, non-assembled-by-committee voice. It follows no retreaded, tried-and-true formula or the oracle of focus groups. Pop music, whether under the rubric of “idol” or something else, is by name and definition pop art and not “art” as in high or serious art. Of course Soshi are artists in the general and generic way of calling Madonna or any musician, singer, dancer an artist, or a pop artist to be more precise – which is how Soshi will be referred in the US since Idol, as a genre, has no equivalent idiomatic meaning there. But they are not artists like a Bob Dylan or Van Gogh.
It’s incredible that this rebuttal is necessitated in a forum like this. But it’s necessary as already there are many who think some Soshi members are among the greatest singers or dancers in the universe when they are not. With an article like this,they’ll surely feel inclined, encouraged and justified to make even more outrageous claims that serve no good end in so far as the reputation of Soshi is concerned.
Soshi beautifully and satisfyingly deliver beautifully crafted songs and dances. But serious art they do not. True art is challenging, taxing and involving, engages and demands much from the patronizer, thus opening up areas of understanding not easily arrived at, thus expanding mind, body and soul. Popular anything feeds one sweet nothings, returning one to the same happy place. Nonetheless, pop art/idol work serves no less a vital service. High brow, low brow, neither is better than the other, save for the pretentious snob or the ignorant Philistine. Hence no matter how good they are or how tasty or healthy or how fitting or pretty, Soshi vitally remains ever low-brow and not high-brow, ever fast food and not haute cuisine, ever off-the-rack and not haute couture.
while i respect your right to an opinion, which is the essence of this article, i do not respect you. it’s funny that you use the terminology “pretentious snob” because i could think of no better way to describe you. the author of this article is not attempting to brainwash anyone. they are simply using this medium as a form of expression and opinion. if you don’t like it, you can ignore it, as i will do regarding everything of yours i just read, or post your response…just don’t be a douche about it. and please continue to use big words and countless, unnecessary examples of things to emphasize your point. i love fluff as much as the next person. and just in case you missed the point of my response…i don’t like you.
Hi woodenmedal. I’m sure someone like you would know about the word, “superlative” as well as what it means to refrain from it. To be honest, I couldn’t care less about what opinion you feel entitled to, but please do not use that as an excuse to insult. I see that you write for yourself, because it seems that you didn’t take the time to even consider if an audience understands what you’re saying. Throwing similes, vague discussions, and emotional babble doesn’t get you an agreement.
For someone who wants to convince everyone regarding a so-called truth, you sure do lack concrete proof aside from those petty words of yours. All you seem to do is drawl on and on as that of a senile man who speaks of how he knew a man who knew a man who knew a man, yet never draws the story to a firm, satisfying conclusion.
To Woodenmedal,
You are an idiot. There are no hard and fast rules about what constitutes an artist such that it would justify anyone to come off so self-righteous and insulting. To be considered an artist, one does not necessarily have to create art from scratch or create a work to final perfection. One has only to create something new out of something standard or old (as though that were any easier), if just through sheer performance. Yo-Yo Ma and Pavorotti are examples. By this definition, Soshi too achieves artistry in the field of Kpop, which transcends the genre and can be appreciated even by non-pop-music fans, as a work of beauty that can stand on its own. Their dancing, singing and acting come together like a Korean traditional fan dance with an ethereal quality that is unique among Kpop idol groups but not uncommon among great works of art, every bit the masterpiece to move the heart and mind. And, as it is their irreplaceable selves, each one and together, who are creating, or co-creating the sound and the movements, the ladies are bona fide artists, or there is no such thing. Even if Soshi don’t think of themselves as artists yet, their work speaks for itself and cannot be, I feel, denied.
I apologize to everyone who has taken offense to what I’ve originally written. Ever since I posted it, it’s been offensive to me as well. I find it simply ridiculous and indefensible. Not Sone-like and not Soshi-like of course. I am truly sorry.
What I think defines a true artist is a person who expresses him- or herself through the skill. So for me it’s difficult for me to call them artists. They change their concepts every time. I know that when they’re singing on stage, they’re not expressing themselves and that is what left there, they remain as idols. Taeyeon once have said that it was difficult to do Gee because it was too cute for her. SNSD are controlled by SM and told what to do instead of trying to express themselves. Like in the move “I AM” SNSD tells what their real selves were like. For SNSD different hair colors and style, was it to them to decide if they want to change it or the company’s. Anyways artist or idols, I still love them.
Actually “Idol” is the proper way to address them. “Idol” means more than one thing, and while “pop-singer” is synonymous it’s not the only definition and certainly not what it really is. They are “Idols” in that people look up to them and seek to be like them in both success and personality and even looks… They aren’t actually “artists” because while they have skill and talent, they do not write the songs or the music.. “artist” belongs to those people… though I guess some members have dabbled with writing lyrics and may have some stake in being called an “artist”… really tho, it’s not important either way… *shrug*
For me they are Soshi.. and thats that plain and simple. The world is just sooo complicated lets not complicate all sorts of stuff.. For me SOSHI means a lot more. but im getting lazy to write right now.. hehehe LOVE and PEACE Y’ALL!
Arent they called idols because thats how they call themselves in Korea?!
to me, these girls are idols. and part of being an idol is being an artist. and no, i’m not going by the definition of the title, artist, another commenting stated above, but i am going with what i think an artist is. they must make art, and they must be intuned with their art.
there are plenty of artists who take inspiration from other artists. plenty of figure skaters who hire choreographers to choreograph their art. their art is a team’s effort. a production.
you need not sing a song that you yourself composed to be an artist of a singer because every second you are creating sound with your voice, music with your heart and mind, you are being a singer, an artist.
dancing snsd choreographer is an art. not only the choreographing of the dance.
the art of philosophy. the art of socializing. the art of love. the art of beauty and heart.
to me, soshi are artists. they are also idols.
Girls’ Generation are idols whether you like it or not bud. And since when is that a bad thing? I think it is an honor to be called an idol. Idols are amazing. They are perfect, loved by all, and talented in many things (singing, dancing, acting, modeling, etc). An artist is lame. All they can do is sing and write some songs. Nothing special. Idols are much more special. Girls’ Generation are idols, ok?
This article truly took the words out of my mouth <3
Thanks for the article!
lol for me, the problem is not whether snsd should be called an “idol” or “artist”, but it’s how k-pop re-defines “idol” and what people think “artist” defines. If you go on the show American Idol and become the idol of the season/year, nobody ever associates the word “idol” with being groomed or not being talented. By definition, an idol is something/someone you look up to, and an artist is someone who practices in an art (NOT somebody who’s the BEST in their craft). Also, I don’t think a singer becomes approved of being an “artist” when they start making their own music. Some hollywood pop stars work the same way as K-pop stars – they sing songs that other people write/record for them.
Personally, I really dislike the general use of “idol” in the kpop sense for many reasons, and I think that the labelling of “art” or “artist” is somewhat subjective.
I couldn’t read this whole thing, it’s way too long and so it got boring after a while.
Anyways, just because the’ve worked so hard basically their whole lives doesn’t make them artists. What makes an artist an artist (IMO) is how they do their own thing and music wise it’s how the artists showcase their talents and show their creative or originality in their music. SNSD was probably only involved in their music twice in their 4 and a half years they’ve been a group.
The reason why they are idols is because they’ve been trained their whole lives to do things the way SM has told them to do so, they are almost created a certain way to do certain things to beome people that other can look up to: iDOLS.
Now I’m not saynig they can’t be artists though. Individually these girls are artists with Taeyeons amazing singing itself, Hyoyeons passion for dancing, etc. and I believe that in the future they will evolve into the artists that THEY want to be and do it their own way.
Too long of an article, dude. I probably wrote too long of a comment too hehe.
hmm….i see where you’re going at….and i agree
Great article. I really enjoyed reading this (:
I think a new word has to be created for Girls’ Generation to be defined XD (and for other Korean “idols” too)
there seems to be a lot of disagreement over the two terms,
as you would expect of an article focused on the difference.
i think providing your own view of what these two words mean
will give each argument more of a foundation to object or agree
from. for instance, i believe the girls are not idols. i believe they
once were, but that they have evolved into artists. idols are the
people, the bodies even, that bring in the audience. they see
the person and are drawn to attention. then the person can do
whatever they are told and it is golden. now that i say that, i
disagree that they were ever idols, but i guess still in a sense.
however, i feel more now that the different means of artistic
expression that they have individually shown portray their now
taking command of what they want to do. they are now doing
what they feel will draw the audience in. it is not just because
it is snsd that you want to view, it is because the girl or girls
are artistically gifted in that area. now that they have ventured
so far outside the mold of an idol, if they are poor in their
endeavors, we will lose interest. but we don’t. they have become
capable of artistic expression beyond the pull of an idol. we no
longer view them because it is snsd, we view them because they
are gifted. that, to me, signifies the difference between idol and
artist…
great piece by the way!
I think idol is more accurate…they don’t really have much creative involvement in the production phase of any of their musical or acting work. Their job is better described as execution or performance. Until they are writing songs, determining their own artistic direction instead the company doing it, etc I don’t think artist is the right word for what they do.
AGREED! I do believe they can be artists but as of right now they are SMs girls and are great performers and IDOLS.
I still feel that it is better to call them idols at least for me because I mean it as role models. The huge strides that they have made in their lives have inspired me to do so much and become a better person and when I feel myself slipping I look to them for support and help and that makes them idols to me. Of course, as the article said they have surpassed that in the terms of being true artists but I will always consider them my idols
@ PinkSoshi9: You pretty much said everything exactly as I would’ve said. The girls and pretty much most, if not all Korean Pop stars are manufactured as idols. Until they break out of that mold and freely express themselves, I don’t consider them as artists. I see them as performer, idol, model, celebrity. They have the potential and talent to be artists though. I’ve no doubt about that.
In my eyes, the girls are still idols. Top of their class in this category yes, but idols nonetheless. But there’s definitely nothing wrong with that. Our girls are pop singers, and they are the best at what they do. Talented? Definitely, but I don’t think that being an idol undermines this in anyway.
Let’s see the definition of artist. As defined by the dictionary, it is one, such as a painter, sculptor, or writer, who is able by virtue of imagination and talent or skill to create works of aesthetic value, especially in the fine arts. Certainly not a one definition fits all deal, and I agree that this is a flexible word and pulling a dictionary definition can be a bit stiff, but general enough. For me, creation would be the keyword here. I can throw splatters of paint onto a blank canvas, but does that make me the next Jackson Pollock? Surely not. Perhaps we look upon his paintings and scratch our heads, wondering what’s so special about blotches of color anyways, it’s not like I couldn’t do that right? But it is the reflection of his time, the way he revolutionized painting that makes his artwork so revered. The girls sing and dance to the songs they are given, and they do it spectacularly well, but they have yet to create. Their hits, even their greatest hit, are not truly theirs. Open up an SNSD album, I’ll use Twinkle for example. Look at the credits for the song. You see the composers, the lyricists, the arrangers, the producers, the place that the song was mixed. TTS is but a small mention under “background vocals.” The girls sing what they need to sing, but there is so much more work that goes into creating a full song. Writing lyrics, like Sooyoung and Yuri have includes a level of higher involvement and is a step in the right direction, but it isn’t a finished product.
Until they create something, truly through their own means, that is a reflection of themselves at least, and perhaps a reflection of the world around them at most, would I call them an artist. I’m not saying they have to create music with so much depth or resonance that they would be considered the Elvis or Beatles of their time; there is a reason why great musicians/artisans are so few and far in between. The girls have already captured the hearts of many by being the best idols that they are, and that is a great feat within itself. I believe they do have the capacity to be called artists, but one step at a time. As of now I’ll just back and watch as they do what they do best.
hi, i’m reposting this so you will get notified and so you will see it, hope you will enjoy reading my perspective of this
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to me, these girls are idols. and part of being an idol is being an artist. and no, by a definition of the title, artist, another commenting stated above, but i am going with what i think an artist is. an artist must make art, and they must be intuned with their art.
there are plenty of artists who take inspiration from other artists. plenty of figure skaters who hire choreographers to choreograph their art. their art is a team’s effort. a production.
you need not sing a song that you yourself composed to be an artist of a singer because every second you are creating sound with your voice, music with your heart and mind, you are being a singer, an artist.
dancing snsd choreographer is an art. not only the choreographing of the dance.
the art of philosophy. the art of socializing. the art of love. the art of beauty and heart.
to me, soshi are artists. they are also idols.
I also feel they can’t fit the American definition of “Artist” until you see their names as the composer of the music they sing. In America, you earn much more respect as an artist/singer when you write your own lyrics and then involve a composer or compose the music yourself.
Although I love K-Pop, this is definitely the key area that keeps it from becoming on par with western musicians. It’s fine to purchase the rights to songs from American artists to turn them into K-Pop songs, but occasionally it would be great to see them
They are “artists” in the broader definition of interpreting a song to invoke an emotional response from the audience, but that is a far cry from searching their own soul to create the music in the first place.
I’m a creative type. Creating takes TIME. Sweat. Tears. But mostly time.
No doubt, they don’t fit the western definition of ‘artist’. Totally. They don’t write the songs, or have much say in the final sound, they don’t create their choreo, their album art, their costumes, their stage direction, their schedule, most of their lives are like that.
They’re managed, tweezed, fit, fed, cajoled, ushered, scripted, prodded into rehearsals and shows, in front of studio audiences and stadiums of thousands of screaming or indifferent or indifferently screaming fans.
They CANNOT spend 2 years between releases and concert tours and remain relevant in their business. They’re pressurized, accelerated, timely. They KNOW they have a short amount of time in the spotlight, a short span of years in which to make their mark.
They are not the American definition of artist. They are Kpop idols. Two different things.
But they sure do shine in their narrow world, excel and outperform, rising as the best Kpop has to offer. I’m glad I get to see them so much, much more than every few years with a soul wrought masterwork of an opus. No?
I agree that, as for their profession, our girls are definitely “artists”, and not just “idols”.
But the other definition of idol still fits our girls. Think about this for a second (because it’s all you’ll need), who would you rather have your kids emulating? Tiffany or Lindsay Lohan? Hyoyeon or Miley Cyrus? I’d wager that most of us here, when looking for a role model for their kids, would pick one of our 9 above any of the typical American entertainers. And it’s not just because we like Soshi above other entertainers. It’s because they are all good role-models. How many scandals have there been confirmed? Jessica supposedly slept with every male idol in the big 3. That was fake. Tiffany had a really tough time, but every one of the accusations were misunderstandings. Yoona had a couple, though I don’t remember the details. Again, those were confirmed as completely wrong. Let’s not forget all of the accusations of plastic surgery, which childhood photos prove wrong.
Now, what have they done that we can directly admire? They are constantly promoting charity events, and probably donating themselves under assumed names. Sooyoung can have a book written about all the little things she’s done. There’s Tiffany’s famous incident when she helped a passed out drunk, possibly saving his life. Pick a visit to Park Seungil, as well. I think all the girls have visited him at least once, and that’s what we know of from Seungil’s girlfriend posting pictures. Which brings up another point, many of these things that are not done in public (appearances at charity events are publicized, naturally) we only know of by other people who saw them. Never have our girls bragged in public about the things they’ve done. Even when relating Seungil’s story on Strong Heart, Sooyoung just put herself in the position of telling the story for him. When I have children, I’m hoping they pick up someone just like any of our 9 as a role model, because I have yet to see any celebrities who would be better.
Oh, And I wanted to add. I think that being an Idol is part of what makes them so great. They ARE looked up to, and role models and admirable people. So they are idols. Even if they are just so much more, the word idol does not burden them or make them any less than what they are. It’s the Korean side of them that I hope they keep when coming to America.
I agree with the people that disagree in these comments. The idea of “idol” in Korea is much different than an artist in America. Calling them artists will be Americanizing them. And it’s really a very long article for something that can be said in very few short words. The length of it kept me from reading it. I did read the first paragraph or two and then got bored and annoyed. Looking at these comments, a few people see it the same way I do. And I am glad I’m not the only one. But to each their own, everyone has their own opinion and I am not going to say it was a bad article or not, or that anyone is wrong or right.