The problem with “The Late Capitalism of K-Pop”, and the K-pop industry
The purpose of this article is to provide a critical response to a YouTube video essay entitled “The Late Capitalism of K-Pop” by the channel Jonas Čeika — CCK Philosophy (henceforth Čeika), formerly known as Cuck Philosophy. The video essay sets out to provide a leftist analysis of the notoriously exploitative Korean idol music industry, also known as the K-pop industry.
“The Late Capitalism of K-Pop”, four years since its publication, is still an extremely popular video essay with over 1 million views. It was recently watched on a livestream by popular leftist Twitch streamer HasanAbi, serving as a basis for his conversation about the exploitative nature of the K-pop industry; but even before this, the video essay has been widely posted and circulated on social media, often from non K-pop fans in arguments with K-pop fans.
In this article, I seek to critique “The Late Capitalism of K-pop” by pointing out its inaccuracies, as well as critically reading some of the information presented and the feelings it potentially engenders in those who support it uncritically. But before I do so, please know that this article is:
- Not a personal attack on the character of Čeika, HasanAbi…
