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On December 2, the prestigious 2023 Melon Music Awards unfolded, showering K-Pop groups with recognition and providing a platform for them to showcase their talents on a grand stage. While the event was meant to be a celebration of musical achievements, a peculiar observation by some fans cast a shadow over the festivities.
During the award acceptances of IVE and NewJeans, keen-eyed fans noted an unusual sight in the audience – a sparse display of illuminated light sticks, creating the visual illusion of what is commonly referred to as a “black ocean”.In K-Pop culture, a black ocean is a solemn gesture of protest, where fans collectively turn off their light sticks, enveloping the performing group in darkness as a form of disapproval or discontent.
The concept of a black ocean dates back to instances like the 2015 Pepsi Concert when fans protested against Jisoo’s addition to Lovelyz. More recently, disgruntled fans exhibited this symbolic act of protest at KCON LA 2023 during Rain’s performance, expressing dissatisfaction with his treatment of other groups.
Understandably, the prospect of IVE and NewJeans facing a black ocean raised concerns and stirred emotions among fans. Speculations began circulating, with some attributing the perceived lack of support to attendees from boy groups, while others questioned why such beloved girl groups would encounter such a situation.
Upon closer examination, it appears that the initial assumption of a black ocean might have been a misunderstanding. Analysis of various fan cams and images revealed that the dimmed light stick display was not exclusive to the girl groups in question. Even male idol groups experienced similar moments with fewer illuminated light sticks during certain segments of the event.
It turns out that during award acceptances, fans might have temporarily lowered their light sticks as a courtesy to capture moments on their cameras, particularly when groups were accepting prestigious awards. Similar behavior was observed during performances, where fans focused on recording rather than holding up their light sticks.
Instances of NewJeans’s Hanni and NCT’s Jaemin and Jeno fan cams show well-lit light sticks from other groups in the background, suggesting a broader pattern of temporary dimming during specific moments.
In conclusion, it appears that what initially seemed like a concerning trend of black oceans for IVE and NewJeans was, in fact, a product of misunderstandings and the dynamics of fan behavior during different segments of the awards ceremony. Fortunately, it seems that these respected girl groups did not face the grave scenario of a black ocean during the 2023 Melon Music Awards.
During the award acceptances of IVE and NewJeans, keen-eyed fans noted an unusual sight in the audience – a sparse display of illuminated light sticks, creating the visual illusion of what is commonly referred to as a “black ocean”.In K-Pop culture, a black ocean is a solemn gesture of protest, where fans collectively turn off their light sticks, enveloping the performing group in darkness as a form of disapproval or discontent.
The concept of a black ocean dates back to instances like the 2015 Pepsi Concert when fans protested against Jisoo’s addition to Lovelyz. More recently, disgruntled fans exhibited this symbolic act of protest at KCON LA 2023 during Rain’s performance, expressing dissatisfaction with his treatment of other groups.
Understandably, the prospect of IVE and NewJeans facing a black ocean raised concerns and stirred emotions among fans. Speculations began circulating, with some attributing the perceived lack of support to attendees from boy groups, while others questioned why such beloved girl groups would encounter such a situation.
Upon closer examination, it appears that the initial assumption of a black ocean might have been a misunderstanding. Analysis of various fan cams and images revealed that the dimmed light stick display was not exclusive to the girl groups in question. Even male idol groups experienced similar moments with fewer illuminated light sticks during certain segments of the event.
It turns out that during award acceptances, fans might have temporarily lowered their light sticks as a courtesy to capture moments on their cameras, particularly when groups were accepting prestigious awards. Similar behavior was observed during performances, where fans focused on recording rather than holding up their light sticks.
Instances of NewJeans’s Hanni and NCT’s Jaemin and Jeno fan cams show well-lit light sticks from other groups in the background, suggesting a broader pattern of temporary dimming during specific moments.
In conclusion, it appears that what initially seemed like a concerning trend of black oceans for IVE and NewJeans was, in fact, a product of misunderstandings and the dynamics of fan behavior during different segments of the awards ceremony. Fortunately, it seems that these respected girl groups did not face the grave scenario of a black ocean during the 2023 Melon Music Awards.
