Admit it, it’s true. Infinite’s Myungsoo (or “L”) is right. It is 60% looks and 40% talent. Now, I’m not saying ALL their artists are not talented. No, because I know that some of them are based on their LIVE performances from pre-debut days. But you know what? The trend of SM Entertainment has ALMOST ALWAYS been looks over talents and I’ll give you artists that fit under these categories.
Kim JaeJoong, ex-member of TVXQ, current member of JYJ. JaeJoong was UNABLE to sing back then when he auditioned for SM Entertainment. He admitted that he entered, being told that he was tone deaf. What happened? He trained. He got in due to his looks and SM had their trainers TRAIN him in singing and dancing so he could be where he is today. I believe that there are such thing as ‘natural talent’. However, there is also a way for you to develop that talent by training as you can see from JaeJoong. JaeJoong is artist I love and respect and someone whom I admire to the point where he’s MY inspiration to pursue a music career. Rather than dissing him and saying he has no talent, that’s not true. My point is that Kim JaeJoong is one example of SM Entertainment being biased towards those who look good over those who are talented.
SNSD’s Yoona or Yuri (one of the two) admitted that she couldn’t sing. She couldn’t sing nor dance and got in due to looks. Originally, because of that, SM Entertainment wanted to debut her as an actress but later on, changed their mind and trained her even harder in singing and dancing thus giving her a position in SNSD. I think this SM artist is a GREAT depiction of SM Entertainment choosing artists’ looks over talent. Because of her visuals, they thought that placing her in a girl group would potentially be beneficial. After all, Korea is known for ‘beauty’ right?
These artists mentioned (Kim JaeJoong & the SNSD member(s)) are indeed talented. JaeJoong, as I’ve said before, is an artist who has worked incredibly hard to be where he is today and developed a lot from the time he was a part of SM Entertainment to the time he left. As of the SNSD member, she is successful partly because SNSD is a “pretty” group. Now, I won’t get into an argument of whether or not SNSD is talented because trust me, there are some members such as Taeyeon who has impressed me so much that even I, an aspiring musician, would love to work with her in the future. However, I’ll say this. Infinite’s L is right. SM Entertainment pretty much is looks over talent. Although there are some exceptions such as Super Junior’s Eunhyuk and even Shindong. However, if you look at MOST of their artists, they pretty much are good looking and pretty.
Now why is this such a big deal? Korea is a country where not only does education matter but so does beauty. Beauty is SO IMPORTANT in Korea that students who graduate from high school even gets plastic surgery as presents from their parents. Knowing SM Entertainment, because looks are so important, this also affects a Korean’s life as well. Let’s face it. We’re influenced by the media period. We dress the way we do because of friends or those around us but why or how do they dress that way? One answer, the media. We always try to follow the latest trend and even try to catch up with ‘what’s in’ and SM Entertainment’s influences is no exception. As the leading company of Hallyu Wave and being known as one of the “Big Three” in Korea, SM Entertainment’s artists never fails to impress netizens with their looks. When Infinite’s Myungsoo’s comment online was read, people began to bash on him while others supported him. Me? I support him. As an aspiring musician, I have also wanted to be under SM Entertainment due to my idol. I thought ‘Ah, SM must be so nice’. However, as I got more into KPop and music overall, I realized that even if SM is a “Big Three”, they emphasize more on looks than any of the other three. JYP Entertainment is more on the 50/50 side while YG Entertainment is talent > looks. Now, I’m not saying SM Entertainment as a whole is a shitty company because they’re not. If they were, they wouldn’t be considered the “Big Three”. If they were, their artists wouldn’t be so successful. What I’m trying to say is yes, of the “Big Three”, SM Entertainment emphasizes on looks more than talent as compared to JYP Entertainment & YG Entertainment.
Now all of you SM stans can bash me all you want saying things like “You just hate our oppas or unnis” but think again. Don’t you think it’s true too? SNSD, a group that was NEVER popular until “Gee”. There has to be one reason as to why their popularity suddenly skyrocketed. And don’t tell me it’s because of talent. There’s more to it and you know it. SM has talented and pretty artists such as Chinese singer Zhang Li Yin (Jang Ri In). Yet, why is she under promoted? Is she not fit for the ‘Korean’ standard of beauty then? That’s the thing about SM as well. They believe they can rely on just one specific artist to make money. An example, TVXQ. TVXQ pretty much was popular from their debut days to even today. Although their popularity is not as great as before the split, they’re still popular. However, due to that small decline though, what does SM Entertainment due? Have Super Junior and SNSD make comebacks because they can ‘bring up’ the stocks for the company. All in all, SM Entertainment is indeed a company that bases looks over talents as they can train a ‘pretty’ person to be at the level of those whom we define talented today. But I gotta hand it to SM, they did well with such tactics considering how wealthy they are. I just hope they realize that one day, Korea will change and that looks can’t always be factored into EVERY decisions they make.
Please remember I am entitled to my opinions and that I’m not writing this to bash on SNSD, TVXQ/JYJ, etc. I’m writing it because I want to voice my own opinion on how SM chooses their artists based on what Myungsoo said.
Day 16: A memorable JaeJoong quote
It’s actually one of my favorite quotes from him especially since I went through a phase where I felt really depressed and even thought of ending my life.
“Think of hope the minute you feel miserable with your life. Take up the habit of finding joy in the smallest of things in life. The misery you feel now will be a strong foundation for your future and you will become someone with an invaluable life. Also, hold the hand of the person next to you. Don’t think that you’re the only one living in this world. Don’t let your sorrow grow, and ask for help from the person next to you.” - Kim JaeJoong (JYJ)
![86.01.26HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAEJOONG ! :D
It’s been nearly four years since your lawsuit with SM Entertainment and just a few months ago, the verdict has ended and you as well as your band members are free from the stress of going to court. Time flies by quickly doesn’t it? Five years ago, you and TVXQ released the fourth full album called ‘Mirotic’. And now, here you are, after nearly 10 years of being a singer, you’ve debuted as a solo artist. Today is your birthday. Have you been doing well? Have you been overworking yourself? You’re holding a concert later tonight despite it being your birthday. This year, now that you’re 27 (28 Korean age), I hope you’ll be able to continue on this path [music] and somewhere along the way, find love. I can’t help but think ‘When will he find his happiness?’ when I read your interviews. This year, JYJ will be releasing a new album together as a group as well. It’s been nearly two years since the release of ‘In Heaven’. I hope that as time goes on, the bond between you three will grow stronger and that even after marriage, you’ll continue to work together to produce great music. I hope this new year will be filled with great memories for you and JYJ and because it’s your birthday, I hope you’ll have a great time. Don’t embarrass yourself on stage. HAHA. 생일축하합니다 ~](http://24.media.tumblr.com/2ff84e3a9e58828978139d82fa8d6553/tumblr_mh7euvMJWB1r9b7gco1_500.jpg)
