BoA Criticizes Prejudice Against K-pop Idols: 'Respect Them Like Human Beings'

"K-pop Empress" BoA opened up about the prejudice against idols that often lead to them being hit with hateful and malicious comments.

On March 30, K-pop icon BoA was introduced as the special guest in an open interview with Channel A's "News A."

In the show, she opened up about the topic of being in the entertainment industry for over two decades, reminisced at her standing, how she was able to overcome hardships while being active.

BoA Shares Opinion on Prejudice Against Idols, Receiving Hateful Comments

In the interview, BoA recalled how her life from when she was 13 years old became open to people as a public figure. The broadcaster even compared her journey to the "Truman Show."

Regarding this, BoA sympathized, saying:

"Celebrities are people, too. It feels like many people target celebrities who have to live public lives to vent their anger. Hate comments are just bad."

In relation to this, BoA also addressed prejudice against idols, wherein malicious comments escalate when an idol goes against a certain standard the music industry had set.

BoA said this calmly yet powerfully:

"Idols shouldn't do this, or they shouldn't do that. There are many things that make me feel intimidated. But please give us a warmer look.

Idols are also people, and I think it would be nice if people respected them as human beings."

BoA Talks About Her Title 'K-pop Empress'

As a K-pop veteran who has been in the industry for 24 years, BoA over the years has earned the moniker, "K-pop Empress."

The songstress revealed that she was a bit burdened by it at first, but she eventually accepted it.

"I was a bit burdened by that modifier because I was worried I would seem like a distant person, but now I have decided to just accept it.

I think music is a real-life time machine. When you listen to the song, doesn't it take you back to that time? I want to remain as an artist who will be talked about forever. I think I've worked that hard in my life."

Indeed, she became one of the huge contributors to spreading the "Hallyu Wave," especially in the Japanese and Asian markets.

Thus, when asked about her thoughts as a role model for younger idols, BoA emphasized the rising K-pop trend, saying:

"These days, a genre called K-pop has emerged on the U.S. music charts, right? I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that friends who are debuting now are debuting all over the world at the same time.

When I went to Japan, I had to speak Japanese unconditionally, but (now) it seems like there are many people who are trying to learn Korean. I went to Taiwan not long ago and they spoke to me in Korean.

I was surprised when (fans) said to me in Korean, "Unnie, I'm going to a music show." They even know the abbreviation for a music show."

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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz