Idols Playing Sports:SM Entertainment Likes to Display the Athletic Abilities of its Idols
The members of EXO display an unique approach to bowling during the January 30th epsiode of EXO's Showtime. The activity was selected due to the fact that the members sited bowling as a hobby that was enjoyed by the entire group. To bolster his credibility with the sport, Kai noted that he had participated in a bowling club for six years. EXO's Chanyeol and Lay were the team captains, with the mega group split teams containing six members.
The wholesome and athletic appearance of a bowling outing for EXO is consistent with the sporty image that SM Entertainment has established for its groups such as SHINee and Girls' Generation. While YG Entertainment may have one of the most talented and social media friendly personal trainers such as Hwangssabu, SM Entertainment maintains both male and female groups whose images are synonymous with preppy physicality. SM's SHINee, EXO, and Woolim Label's INFINITE participated on what was referred to as the Strongest Team for the sport of futsal during the upcoming Idol Star Athletics Championship. Set to broadcast on January 30th and 31st, the Idol Star Athletics will features 250 idols engaging in various sports including archery, as well components of track and field.
SHINee's Minho and Girls Generation's Sooyoung have extended their athletic abilities beyond variety programs and incorporated these talents into drama roles.
Minho convincingly portrayed Kang Tae Joon, a track and field athlete who was renown for his high jump capabilities in the 2012 drama To The Beautiful You. Minho is also one of the most winning idols on the variety program Let's Go Dream Team! which features idols and actors in various athletic scenarios. Girls' Generation's Sooyoung displayed her fantastic batting skills during ball cage scenes from her drama Cyrano Dating Agency. Members of Girls' Generation have been tapped to throw out the first ball pitch both in Korea and in the United States for the Los Angeles Dodgers. By embracing baseball as a group interest, Girls Generation has successfully maintained their girl-next door appeal while avoiding the pitfall of hyper-sexual marketing that has started to pervade K-Pop.
To contrast the actual athletic abilities of EXO, SM Entertainment released photos of EXO-M members Tao, Kris, and Luhan on a basketball court in conjunction with the The 23rd Seoul Music Awards.
Net users noted that Kris was sporting a Hermes belt and that couture fashion worn by the members was a sharp contrast to normal basketball attire. EXO's Tao and Kris playing basketball in blazers with Tasty on 'Let's Go Dream Team!'
During their 2013 promotion for Freestyle Sports, the members of f(x) achieved a look similar to the EXO-M's basketball concept in that their was a juxtaposition between the fashions worn. In both concepts, the basketballs act as convincing accessories, when the athleticism of the idols is factored in.
