Lightsticks are one of the unique things about K-pop, and is usually used during an artist's performance to show their support by lighting up the venue with these lightsticks. Each K-pop artist have different lightstick designs, which make for pretty cool "oceans" during their performances. However, there are also instances where the dreaded "black ocean" happens.

A "black ocean" is an organized protest wherein the audience turns off their lightsticks as a way to show their lack of support or displeasure at a particular artist, leaving the venue in darkness. While many groups were fortunate not to have experienced it, here are some of the groups that sadly did.

1. Girls' Generation

Girls' Generation was one of the K-pop groups who were first to experience the infamous black ocean. They first experienced this back in 2008 at the annual Dream Concert, only a year into their debut.

The black ocean is said to have happened due to the group's association with SM Entertainment's male artists.

Reportedly, there was even a physical altercation between Girls' Generation fans SONEs, and Super Junior's ELFs, before the Dream Concert took place.

Thus, when the girl group performed on stage, the audience turned off their lightsticks for ten minutes. They even chanted Wonder Girls' name during their performance.

2. T-ARA

T-ARA was at the peak of their career when they became embroiled in a scandal with former T-ARA member Hwayoung, after the latter had accused the group of bullying her.

READ ALSO: K-pop Community Discusses Rarity of Girl Groups With 'Sexy' Concept: 'It went extinct'

As one of the results of the scandal, T-ARA became victims of the black ocean during the World Conservation Congress K-Pop Nature+ Concert in 2012.

The audience had expressed their displeasure at Hwayoung leaving the group through the black ocean, in addition to chanting Hwayoung's name throughout T-ARA's performance instead of the usual fan chant.

3. SEVENTEEN

Less than a year into their debut, SEVENTEEN performed at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA).

At the time, SEVENTEEN hadn't released a lightstick yet, leading to the group's fans to improvise during their performances or use another group's lightstick.

Unfortunately, this led to SEVENTEEN experiencing a black ocean after a majority of the audience at the awards show turned off their lightsticks.

4. BTS

Throughout their career, BTS endured a couple of black oceans back in 2016. The first time they experienced this was during the Golden Disk Awards when, reportedly, BTS' fandom ARMY was in a fan war with EXO's fandom EXO-L during the rise of BTS' popularity.

The group suffered another black ocean during their performance at the Melon Music Awards in the same year.

5. TWICE

A little over a year after TWICE made their debut, the girl group performed their hit songs "Cheer Up" and "TT" at the 2016 Melon Music Awards. However, the JYP Entertainment girl group experienced a black ocean during their performance.

Although it was unclear what the exact reason behind the black ocean was, fans deemed it was due to TWICE's rising popularity and the fact that "Cheer Up" was nominated for Song of the Year at the time, which they later won.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TWICE MISAMO: Debut Date, Album Details, Trailer, Concept Photos, MORE!

Which other groups experienced a black ocean?

For more K-pop news, follow and subscribe to KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Robyn Joan