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Fetishization
December 21, 2022
While Hallyu (meaning the Korean wave) has hit global audiences, not only with K-pop but with Kdramas, Korean makeup, skincare, and fashion. This has also sparked intense fetishization of Korean people and culture, while purchasing Korean makeup is harmless, it can turn into changing eye shapes to try to look more Korean. And while the fetishization of East Asian people is nothing new, the Korean wave has amplified it to a huge extent.
Even the Korean language has gone through fetishization and been sexualized, especially with the word “oppa,” which translates to older brother or close elder male friend. People that don’t know the Korean language have sexualized this word by calling their favorite K-pop idols oppa. The word, which did not originally to have sexual connotations, was shifted into something that it’s not.