K-Pop is all bright and fun, right? Wrong. While theres no shortage of the cute stuff, Korean popular music has long delved into more complex issues or risque visuals.
However, South Korea has strict guidelines when it comes to pop videos, including lyrics. Age ratings are given to most releases, whether thats a 12, a 15 or the controversial one – 19, which will never be aired on TV (although a clean version may be accepted), and the artist banned from performing it on broadcasts unmodified.
Sometimes a 19-rated video is merely a lot of skin and sexy dancing, on the other hand, theres plenty of powerful, outlandish or emotional ones that push boundaries or challenge convention. Here take a look at seven K-Pop videos that earned the highest rating, but stuck in the memory for a long time.
Trouble Maker – Now
The chemistry between Hyunseung (then of boy group Beast) and HyunA (then of girl group 4Minute) was already legendary thanks to this sub-units first release, the eponymous single Trouble Maker, but the epic saga of Now took it a whole new level. Severed hands, threesomes, smoking, gun violence, death and the two idols making out in cars and trailers all helped earn the uncut version that little red 19 dot, but if you have a spare six and a half minutes, Now is a great way to spend them.
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Ga In – Fxxk You (ft. Bumkey)
One of Korean pops hardest to watch videos comes from Ga In, whose career as a soloist is as impressive as her work within the group, Brown Eyed Girls. Despite the upbeat instrumental, this is a visual and lyrical (it comes with English subtitles for non-Korean speakers) tale of a toxic and violent relationship. Its portrayed with an unflinching gaze that takes Fxxk You to very dark places, opening up a rarely seen dialogue in K-Pop around domestic violence and emotional manipulation experienced by both men and women.
BTS – I Need U
I Need U, which saw the seven-member boy group develop complex visual narratives, has over 132 million views on the short version, but this – the original – sits on a mere 12.4 million, making it a bit of a lost BTS moment. Within the story of alienation, lost love and despair, however, it provides vital moments that are heartstopping (J-Hopes overdose, Jungkooks street fight, Vs stabbing of his abusive father) or small and beautifully nuanced (Suga stroking the empty pillow, Jimin weeping in the bath, RMs lollipop turning into a cigarette). You can understand why these scenes helped pull an adult rating but the uncut version remains an ambitious entry in the BTS canon, and essential viewing.
Holland – Neverland
As K-Pops first openly gay artist, Holland was undoubtedly going to come up against the censors and, in response, he stayed true to himself with rainbow-referencing lyrics as well as the lines “Everything is so different than I thought, but isnt it natural”. Visually, Neverland broke K-Pop ground with its same-sex kiss, which instantly had the video banned, but was a landmark moment for the LGBTQ+ community who have long been rendered almost invisible in South Korea, and Holland found support from both domestic and international pop fans, taking his debut to a healthy 8.5 million views.
VIXX – Voodoo Doll
Released back in 2013, this doesnt bear the 19-rating in the corner but Voodoo Doll was indeed slapped with one, requiring a clean version for broadcast and its choreography altered for televised performances. Gore and body mutilation is prevalent, with all six members imprisoned and tortured by a twisted female character using a voodoo poppet. It looks more horror film than music video, but its also one of VIXXs great singles – a thumping, suspenseful track layered with power notes and rattling synth fades – and highly recommended if youre new to the group.
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SISTAR – One More Day
K-Pop sometimes throws up unexpected collaborations, such as the four-member girl group SISTAR joining forces with 70s disco producer, Giorgio Moroder. While the group arent in the video, the story features two women falling in love although one (played by model Song Hae Na) is already in a relationship with a man, who turns violent against both women. It riffs on Thelma & Louise, with some uncomfortably abusive scenes, but the girls feelings are shown in a tender and thought-out fashion, turning it into a compelling, emotional watch.
CL – Hello Bitches
CL, known for being in the fiercest K-Pop girl group ever – the indomitable 2NE1 – has been far too quiet in her solo endeavours, but her unofficial single, Hello Bitches, is a banger. However, aside from the title and CL claiming that her “hips are very tight”, theres not much you can deem unsuitable for under 19s. It may simply come down to a committee deciding there was too much female power, sass, and sexuality pouring off the screen to handle, even if those elements are what makes it such an inspiring and enjoyable high energy romp. Reign on, Queen CL!
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