Denial Of Relationships & Withholding Information Helps YG Entertainment Avoid The Same Pitfall As SM Entertainment [Opinion]

On October 8, news from Korea regarding a tabloid photo spread featuring Big Bang’s G-Dragon and Japanese model Kiko Mizuhara, began to spread to K-Pop fans throughout the world.

Korean gossip outlet Dispatch revealed a series of photos which featured G-Dragon and Kiko Mizuhara in what appears to be various states of happy coupledom. The story was initially reported in English by the news outlet Koreaboo

The paparazzi photos that are provided by Dispatch are so pretty, they resemble a commercial or music video photo shoot, much like the recent scripted photos of T.O.P and Ahn So Hee for Reebok CLASSIC. While the photos of T.O.P and Ah So Hee were fake, the latest photos of G-Dragon with Kiko Mizuhara are real.

G-Dragon has been the subject of on-going dating rumors which have ranged from Angela Baby to Paris Hilton, however the most persistant rumor has surrounded his relationship with Kiko Mizuhara. While some fans of G-Dragon were upset by this latest news, which is yet another piece in the on-going puzzle regarding his rumored relationship, others were in awe of the cute overload depicted in the photos.
Fans refrained from posting negative comments on the Instagram account of Kiko Mizuhara (i_am_kiko), which was mentioned in the Dispatch report.

One of the top comments on the Big Bang forum, Big Bang Updates, was a positive one from user Kyaah! VIP. This user stated,”If you look closely at the reflection of the window he is very happy! I've been waiting so long for this GD original smile, it reminds me when he was just debuted! And Of course all GD's smiles are GD Handsomeness!” While the situation may bear some similarities to the scandal involving EXO's Baekhyun and Girls' Generation Taeyeon in terms of fan exposure, the major difference is that it is not an idol to idol relationship. 

Aside from the photos and relationship timeline presented by Dispatch, the most newsworthy aspect of this story is the statement provided by YG Entertainment. As opposed to an earth shattering declaration that confirmed the relationship, YG Entertainment’s response to the the claims from Dispatch was “ We tend to respect the personal lives of our artists so we don’t have anything to tell you at the moment.” Clearly, the agency is stating you will know more when it is your business to know more.

In recent years, YG Entertainment has become increasingly guarded about the private lives of its artists.
One of the most telling examples of YG Entertainment’s desire not to cave to pressure from Korean media and fans has been the slow release of information regarding the health status of Big Bang’s Seungri. Channel A reported on October 7 that Seungri had allegedly received a summons for allegedly speeding during a car accident on September 12. While that is some news regarding Seungri’s automobile accident, it does not provide any updates regarding his health or any other personal information.

YG Entertainment also stood behind Park Bom during recent allegations that the 2NE1 was involved in a prescription drug smuggling case. Many audiences have began to applaud the method in which YG Entertainment addresses what would become widespread scandals in other agencies.

Many K-Pop fans dread hearing news that may confirm relationships involving their favorite idols. In the current, social media driven world, fans are accustomed to seeing regular status updates of their own relationships and those involving friends. For many people in the digital age, a dating relationship is not confirmed until their Facebook or SNS status is changed to in a relationship, engaged, or married. For Korean entertainment fans, Dispatch has been like the friend almost everyone has who posts photos of two people who are dating, then tags those photos, even before the couple made a formal announcement.

Throughout 2014, Dispatch has dropped numerous bombshells that shook the worlds of K-Pop and K-Drama. SM Entertainment was prompted to announce the relationship of Girls’ Generation member YoonA and Lee Seung Gi following the release of photos and an article depicting the couple on December 31, 2014. Following this confirmation, Dispatch has announced numerous relationships leading to many scandals including the recent shakeup involving “It’s Okay, That’s Love” stars Jo In Sung and Gong Hyo Jin.
What does the release of information by Dispatch and the way that is handled have to do with the differences in policies shown by YG Entertainment verses SM Entertainment?

SM Entertainment has been at the forefront of announcing idol relationships, particularly in 2014. With every relationship SM confirms, the reaction from fans tends to become a bit harsher. The breakup of Girls’ Generation as a nine member group was almost apparent after the realization that five of the members were dating. In the case of YG Entertainment, there has been a widely known dating ban imposed on 2NE1 and the members of Big Bang have not publicly acknowledged relationships. This old-school separation of public and private life appears to be working well for YG Entertainment, while acknowledging relationships may be negatively impacting SM Entertainment.

K-Pop agencies routinely take hits for claims that they are responsible for the unfair treatment of their idols, in addition to allegations about unsafe or psychologically damaging work conditions. The lax reaction for YG Entertainment regarding G-Dragon and Kiko Mizuhara may seem wishy-washy but it is a brilliant move to retaliate the schoolyard bully tactics of Dispatch. Not only is YG Entertainment providing protection for G-Dragon through their statement, but also Kiko Mizuhara. While the Dispatch expose may bring fans closer to the truth of the relationship between G-Dragon and Kiko, it is apparent that YG Entertainment will not release confirmation until G-Dragon is ready for that news to be delivered.

Does the story released by Dispatch make you think differently about G-Dragon and his alleged relationship with Kiko Mizuhara? 

Do you think the photos depicting Big Bang’s G-Dragon with Kiko Mizuhara are cute? Do you think that YG Entertainment was correct in not caving to pressure to provide a confirmation of their relationship, if G-Dragon or Kiko Mizuhara did not wish to have this information released? Should open dating become a standard for K-Pop idols? Comment below.

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The opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of KpopStarz.

Tags
G-Dragon
Kiko Mizuhara
T.O.P
Big Bang
YG Entertainment
park bom
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