https://www.allkpop.com/upload/2017/09/af_org/25112426/misc.jpg
- ###### [Source](https://www.allkpop.com/upload/2017/09/af_org/25112426/misc.jpg)

## “Born in NY, Made in Seoul”

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This story completely slipped under me last year and big kudos to @twotoedsloth for bringing it into my cone of vision. I'm not even quite sure how to rationally lay out my perspective as I start writing this, so let’s start with the facts. 

EXP Edition is a relatively new “KPop” group that was born out of an art thesis project by Bora Kim at Columbia University. The idea was more of an investigative experiment on culture and society surrounding this global phenomenon from such a small country in the East. 

https://youtu.be/28S377-hmzI
- ###### [Source](https://youtu.be/28S377-hmzI)

As you can imagine, many people had much to say about this. The group is only 1/8th asian, with Koki Tomlinson being half Japanese and German, Frankie DaPonte Portuguese, Hunter Kohl American, and Some Kosta Croatian. As the first Kpop group to not have at least one ethnic Korean member, there was quite a firestorm when the group debuted last year. 

![Screen Shot 2018-08-18 at 3.40.47 PM.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbqmkKo6dGxcaVqoU1WFQYshKAEDHZf8VdxTa6ysti6nn/Screen%20Shot%202018-08-18%20at%203.40.47%20PM.png)

![Screen Shot 2018-08-18 at 3.41.54 PM.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUj2hTSf5dUC63PTVa2XfZbY7Co8NVX4GpZLrBgYsEbxB/Screen%20Shot%202018-08-18%20at%203.41.54%20PM.png)

![Screen Shot 2018-08-18 at 3.42.49 PM.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVg3X7GtsMoSnDfKnVFcoVXNG4kdqa21NXSs9hwD4JpPr/Screen%20Shot%202018-08-18%20at%203.42.49%20PM.png)

Cries of cultural appropriation are like slow-roasted beef brisket, deliciously willing to be torn apart. Let’s dive right in. 

## Whitewashing Yellowwashed Whitewashed White Culture 
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Meh, I won’t condemn this right away. This seems to be more a symptom of lack of understanding around Kpop and Korean culture more than anything, which is the underpinning of any claim of cultural appropriation but somewhat understandable when you’re a 13 yr-old fangirl that believes G-Dragon invented the genre. I find this whole situation fascinating because it so perfectly highlights the rational dissonance that gets everyone so confused and flustered around a situation when an action doesn’t line up perfectly with what race you associate it with. 

And the rationale around “appropriation” is cracking at the joints here. The Kpop we know and enjoy now so obviously originates from 90s boy/girl-band music, which has further lineages from European groups. KPop didn’t exist in its current nature until post-new millenium. Kpop is also the most outlying aspect about Korean culture and has no real reflection on any daily life. Those scenes you see in the music videos? You will not find a single space in Korea that resembles such settings. In fact, much of Kpop videos were filmed down the block from me in Brooklyn - 

https://youtu.be/1qnV55LUFVM
- ###### [Source](https://youtu.be/1qnV55LUFVM)

My point is, Kpop is actually the Frankenstein of cultural appropriation in its extreme. The fact that a bunch of “white dudes” decided for whatever reason to commit their lives to it seems to be only a natural progression to how quickly Kpop appropriates and is appropriated. 

https://video-images.vice.com/articles/5b50fa6a69a3bc0006ee82fc/lede/1532033678400-5b509f7ebe407739be0360e3.jpeg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,center&resize=1200:*
- ###### I admit, it’s quite unsettling to see Americans in Korean BB-whitening cream… But to each their own. [Source](https://video-images.vice.com/articles/5b50fa6a69a3bc0006ee82fc/lede/1532033678400-5b509f7ebe407739be0360e3.jpeg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,center&resize=1200:*)

On TOP of all that, it’s common fact and industry standard that all of the pop-stars are plasticized down to each bone in their body. And although you might argue that plastic surgery is a hallmark of Korean economy, you can hardly claim that anything about Kpop is embodied Koreanness. 

More so than being shocked about appropriation or whatever that dribble, I’m still in awe that these boys made such a bold and seemingly reckless move to attempt this. South Korea is one of the most nepotistic and xenophobic countries amongst the OECD nations and curious to see what comes out of their time there. 

Steem/dance/Kpop on! 

https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmcvAyjpGskMSKrck1Ged53FTp2JSsiuy5wwdKCx7JMwVi/image.png