Expanded Case Analysis Example: K-Pop

EthicsBowl.org contributor, ethics bowl coach and judge, Michael Andersen, recently shared several examples of expanded case analysis worksheets he creates for his team (a lucky team indeed!). The format: generate interest with engaging media, share the case as originally presented, consider tweaked discussion questions, offer bonus research resources, and close out by connecting the current case to related cases. I think it’s a marvelous approach, and thank Michael for his permission to share an example with our readers. If you have your own coaching tips or resource samples to share with the community, we’d be happy to feature them. Just reach out to matt (at) mattdeaton.com, or use the contact form at MattDeaton.com. Thanks as always, Michael!

Ethics Club 11/5/20 EB Case #7. The Korean Pop Industrial Complex

Today’s Discussion Topic: ​Do listeners have a moral obligation to stop supporting the K-Pop industry if they know that performers are mistreated? Is the entertainment industry inherently exploitative?

Pre-Discussion Resources:

• (Video) “​Contractarianism: Crash Course Philosophy #37​” ​[9:31]

• (Article) “​The dark side of Asia’s pop music industry​” By Mariko Oi @BBC News, 26 January 2016.

2020-21 Regional Ethics Bowl Case #7. The Korean Pop Industrial Complex

Within the past decade, Korean Pop, more commonly known as K-Pop, has rapidly become a global sensation. South Korean artists have hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart at least eight times. In 2019, BTS became the first K-Pop group to be nominated for a Grammy. Adored due to its distinctive blend of catchy tunes, clean choreography, and glamorous idols, the K-Pop industry has grown along with the rise of Hallyu, a Chinese term which describes the popularity of South Korean culture internationally.¹ Via Korean pop, drama, skincare regimens, and more, South Korea has become a fixture in popular culture worldwide.²

In an increasingly globalized society, many think that the rise of K-Pop is a force of moral good. Cultural globalization allows people from all parts of the world to understand one another and appreciate different ideas, meanings, and values. In turn, this enables the ability to empathize and relate to others, no matter where they are from. K-Pop is also a way for South Korea to develop its “soft power”, which describes the “intangible power a country wields through its image, rather than through hard force,” such as military or economic power.³

However, for K-Pop performers, the journey to fame is a grueling one. Stories of tired performers putting up a happy front to excitedly greet fans is not uncommon in an industry where exploitative contracts, demanding beauty ideals, and even human rights violations are mainstay. K-Pop performers work long hours which go largely undercompensated, as the money their content earns is often funneled back into corporate hands or toward chipping away at looming debt.⁴ Plastic surgery, too, is an open secret in the industry.⁵ Many trainees are expected to go under the knife, with the most common procedures designed to achieve highly-coveted features like double eyelids or a straighter nose. Of additional concern, sexual exploitation is a quiet phenomenon and a common truth for women in Korean entertainment. Young performers are often taken advantage of by power brokers behind closed doors. In a culture which often stigmatizes sexuality, these scandals are obscured from public view.⁶ Moreover, the K-Pop industry exists to meet and cater to the demands of a hungry fanbase, who are consistently starved for new content. Fans are often criticized for propagating a system which treats its artists poorly.

Still, many assert that K-Pop is a net good. Although the exploitative habits of the industry are suspect, performers voluntarily enter their contracts. Additionally, Korean culture emphasizes work ethic. According to the OECD, “South Koreans work more hours per week on average than all but one other country, and almost 50% more than famously industrious Germany.”⁷ To criticize the K-Pop industry based on the dedication of performers, some argue, would be inconsiderate of differing cultural values..

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: ​(Slightly modified and extended from ​original Qs​)​:

1. Do listeners have a moral obligation to stop supporting the K-Pop industry if they know that performers are mistreated?
2. a) If people voluntarily enter contracts, does it matter that the terms of the contract are exploitative or otherwise unethical? b) How can we distinguish between coercion and voluntary agreement?
3. a) Is the entertainment industry inherently exploitative? b) How should we decide if working conditions should be properly described as “exploitative” and therefore morally impermissible?

Helpful (But Optional) Resources for Further Study:

1. (Video) “​The Late Capitalism of K-Pop​” @ Jonas Čeika – CCK Philosophy.​[17:33] While I was not able to find any biographical details of this video essayist with an admittedly leftist bent, his analysis of the K-Pop industrial complex in Korea presents some helpful historical and philosophical context. In this notes for the video, he cites his sources as well as corrections to the script since the publication of the video in 2017–a signifier of some intellectual credibility, at least.
2. (Video) “​Does Capitalism Exploit Workers?​” @ Libertarianism.org. [6:07] ​For a contrary view to the video above (although not focused on the K-Pop context), U. San Diego Philosophy Prof. Matt Zwolinski explains why capitalism actually tends to protect workers’ interests. “The idea that capitalism exploits workers stems from Karl Marx’s work in the late 1800s. Although the definition of “exploitation” has changed since then, many still believe capitalist systems take advantage of vulnerable workers. …Zwolinski contends that even if it were exploitative, increasing political regulation and control would actually make the problem worse. Increases in government make citizens more vulnerable to the state.”
3. (Article) “​Exploitation | The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy​” ​“​To exploit someone is​to take unfair advantage of them. It is to use another person’s vulnerability for one’s own benefit. Of course, benefiting from another’s vulnerability is not always morally wrong—we do not condemn a chess player for exploiting a weakness in his opponent’s defense, for instance. But some forms of advantage-taking do seem to be clearly wrong, and it is this normative sense of exploitation that is of primary interest to moral and political philosophers….”
4. (Video) “​What is Consent?: Consent #1 – Ethics | WIRELESS PHILOSOPHY​” ​[6:50] What is consent? In this Wireless Philosophy video, Prof. Tom Dougherty (University of Cambridge) considers the nature of consent and its relationship to morality, rights, and harm.
5. (Video) “​Consent and Rights: Consent #2 – Ethics | WIRELESS PHILOSOPHY​” ​[7:53] In this Wireless Philosophy video, Prof. Tom Dougherty (University of Cambridge) continues his exploration of the nature of consent and its relationship to morality, rights, and harm.
6. (Article) “​Exploding the myths behind K-pop | Bright and irresistible, K-pop provides the beat to South Korea’s youth culture. But behind the perfect smiles and dance routines are tales of sexism and abuse​.” By Crystal Tai, The Guardian​, Sun 29 Mar 2020.
7. (Article) “​A**holes, job dependency, and intimacy: 3 reasons it’s hard to end harassment in Hollywood | The way the film and TV industries are structured makes them a breeding ground for abuse​.” By Emily VanDerWerff, ​Vox​, Nov 17, 2017.
8. (Article) “​Sexual Abuse in the Entertainment Industry.​” @ NWG Network, Oct 23, 2017.

Related Ethics Bowl Cases:

1. (Related Ethics Bowl Case) ​2014-15 National EB Case #2: Ethical Consumerism​“Maria wonders whether it is morally acceptable to buy cheap products manufactured by people working for low wages in bad conditions. Are we morally obligated to ensure that none of our actions indirectly harm others?”
2. (Related Ethics Bowl Case) ​2015-16 National Case #2: Prison Work​​“Many states make use of work prisons where prisoners “volunteer” to work and then receive a wage. Does this constitute exploitation of prisoners or is it necessary to reduce the high cost of the criminal justice system and help prisoners gain work skills? Is it ethical for a private company to pay workers in prison less than workers outside prison? Is it ethical for private companies to earn a profit from prison labor?”
3. (Related Ethics Bowl Case) ​2014-2015 National Case #6. NFL Fandom​​“Is being a fan of the NFL football morally defensible? Critics state the NFL treats players as faceless commodities, and football is a potentially dangerous and degrading activity. Supporters stress the importance of players’ consent.”