Public Opinions

There are a lot of mixed opinions about HyunA. Some people think that she is an amazing dancer and singer but most people think that she is famous because she is seen more as a sex object. In person, surprisingly, HyunA is known to be a really nice and conserved woman, but yet the music industry makes her perform in such a sexual way.

I went around asking a couple of UNC students to give their opinions about HyunA after watching “Roll Deep.”

They could answer any of these questions but I asked

   What do you think of HyunA?

  Do you think it is alright to show that much skin as a woman?

Do you think she creates or reinforces gender roles and issues in South Korea?

The first person I asked is a 21 year old male international student from South Korea. Growing up with South Korean cultures, he stated that “For HyunA specifically, this is necessary for her to advance in her career. I think it’s fine to show that much skin. I don’t really see how she is reinforcing any gender issues.”

This is interesting because anyone from a different cultural background would disagree with his statement.

Evan, a 20 year old American student, said “It probably is necessary to dance in a sexual way, not saying I agree with it, but that’s probably how the music industry is in Korea. The video made me a little uncomfortable.  I don’t want little kids to be seeing this stuff, but I think she for sure reinforces gender issues.”

Lastly, Ashley a 20 year old female from Oregon said “The music video is sexualized, but she is in a more position of power so that makes her empowered in a type of way. I don’t think showing a lot of skin is necessary to succeed in the kpop industry, but it definitely helped her rocket to fame very quickly.”

Clearly there are many different views about if HyunA’s reinforces gender issues, but the main consensus was that it is beneficial for HyunA to be portrayed to the public as a sex object. She was originally in a small band with a couple of other girls, but they did not make it as far as HyunA did. By showing that much skin and by dancing in such a provocative way, she became famous, whether for bad or for good reasons. This shows one of the biggest gender issues in South Korean music industry. Women can’t make it as far as men with just good talent. Rather, they have to appeal to the public by their appearance or dance.