Black Ocean‘s meaning in K-pop is related to the negative reaction of a band’s fandom. Fans can make or break the world of idols, and many K-pop groups have faced criticism in their journey. Such harsh realities of this part of the entertainment industry can lead to fan wars.
Black Ocean is a term that means the opposite of “ocean of light.” K-pop fans showcase their love and appreciation for their favorite bands through light sticks, especially during concerts. Each fandom has a particular light stick representing their favorite group. When the bands perform, the fans light up the sticks to show their support. But what happens when a stadium goes dark?
When fans are unhappy, they show their displeasure by switching off the light sticks. This act is known as Black Ocean.
Black Ocean meaning in K-pop explored
The meaning of Black Ocean in K-pop is significant in fan culture. It can majorly affect a group’s popularity and demoralize the band members. Such harsh acts mostly happen when more than one band performs at a concert.
During a shared stage performance, one K-pop fandom switches off their light sticks when another group performs. Also, it can happen if there is a dispute between solo stans of the same group. In the past, many Korean pop bands have faced this problem.
In 2008, Girls’ Generation was a rookie band among Wonder Girls and Super Junior. During the 2008 Dream Concert, the girl group faced a 10-minute-long Black Ocean. Thankfully, the band is currently one of the most loved groups.
In 2016, South Korea’s famous K-pop group BTS experienced the same thing at the Golden Disc Awards and the Melon Music Awards. The fandom of another band, EXO, has apparently executed Black Ocean amidst an online war. However, BTS was already quite popular, so the act didn’t affect their status.
Some other K-pop bands that experienced such issues include Seventeen at the 2015 MAMA Awards, Lovelyz at the 2015 Pepsi Concert, and T-ARA at the World Conservation Congress K-Pop Nature 2012 and Dream Concert 2015.
