More Wisdom From Lee Joon: MBLAQ Singer Talks About Hypocritical Standards Of What Is Sexy In K-Pop

Lee Joon may be young, but he sure knows all the right things to say.

The 25-year-old MBLAQ member is often praised by the media and fans following his talk show appearances for his down-to-earth insight and wisdom.

On the July 24 episode of MBC's Radio Star, Lee Joon, Clara, and the other guests on the panel got to talking about K-Pop idols' revealing outfits.

Lee Joon was quick to point out the hypocrisy in the Korean media regarding male and female entertainers showing too much skin.

"I get sad because I think people are really hard on female celebrities," he said. "When male celebrities take their shirts off, people say, 'Oh, they're so cool,' but when female celebrities do it, people say, 'She looks so cheap.'"

"He's right," responded Clara. "People say, 'She's just trying to get attention.'"

Lee Joon also added, "To be honest, I have taken my shirt off to get attention, too. I admit that I have done that. But I think that to women is just rude."

The conversation raised, once again, the ongoing issue of the summer comeback season of whether female idols are going too far with the sexy imagery.

Many media outlets and netizens have labeled the 'almost bare' outfits and suggestive dance routines as noise marketing, a way for the groups to one-up each other in the increasingly competitive market.

While the female celebrities are chastised for being "slutty" or "cheap," shirtless male idols are celebrated and applauded for showing off their bodies and exuding sex appeal.

Just as it is hard nowadays to find a girl group music video that does not show legs, midriff, or cleavage, boy bands too, cannot seem to release a new song without someone's abs being the center of attention.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe unintentionally, but Lee Joon seems to have brought up a much bigger cultural issue, and one that is certainly not exclusive to Korea, about gender stereotypes and inequalities in general.

We just wonder what other words of wisdom Lee Joon will have for us on his next talk show appearance.

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Lee Joon
MBLAQ
Clara
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