The K-pop world has its own terminology and way of appreciating K-pop groups performing on a stage similar to what is called the Black Ocean. Well, if you’re an avid k-pop fan, you should definitely be familiar with the term Black Ocean and how it affects performance. But if you have no clue about it. Then, here, we will try to understand the meaning of Black Ocean in the K-POP world.
Read ahead to learn more about the Black Ocean and what it means in the K-pop world.
Connection between Black Ocean and the K-Pop World
You may have seen K-pop groups that are gaining popularity over time. This is what fans use when attending a concert for that group. What fans do best with these light sticks is to turn them on when their favorite groups are performing. This is done in the level of support for K-pop groups.
A black ocean is a very well-planned act and not something that comes to mind at the last minute. It is detrimental to the artists. Imagine working day and night hoping people/fans will enjoy your stage. And you can only see: Black, nothing, no light+
— Mr Jordan (@Mr_jordan69) July 26, 2022
When a fan turns on a light stick during a performance at a concert. The sea of light that spreads among the fans is fun to watch. It is an act of cheering for a K-pop group. However, not all of the opposite happens when the lights are turned off to show a lack of support during a group’s performance. To create a black ocean among the audience. Therefore, in the K-pop world, a black ocean refers to the part of the audience who turns off the lights during a performance and is not supported.
In Kpop, light sticks are known. Almost every fandom has an official fandom. We wave and light our lightsticks to show our support, show our love, and acknowledge the hard work of an artist for their work and performance.
— Mr Jordan (@Mr_jordan69) July 26, 2022
When does a black ocean occur?
Generally, when a group audience doesn’t support a K-pop group or its performances, only one person in the audience can witness the Black Ocean. This site is mainly found at concerts performed by more than one K-pop group.
Sometimes it may be due to a lack of interest in the group’s performance. Or the actions of the opposing team’s fans. Where they willingly turn off the light sticks and create a black sea. There have been many cases of black oceans in the K-pop world.
“Fans have never been so toxic before”
Also, at the 2008 Dream Concert, Girls’ Generation was still a rookie, and while they were performing in the Black Sea, while Suju and TVXQ fans shouted Wonder Girls, the fans pic.twitter.com/0e2YJ78F0Q
— Soon (@kibumkeyk_) December 26, 2020
Which K-pop groups are facing the Black Ocean?
Although all this seems normal in the k-pop world. However, both the Sea of Light and the Sea of Black influence the performance of K-pop groups. In fact, there were many K-pop groups who witnessed Black Ocean while performing at the venue.
One of them was Girls’ Generation, there during a concert in 2008. They watched the Black Sea while performing at the Dream Concert. No doubt there were other k-pop groups to perform at this event as well. In 2015, Seventeen also experienced such a black ocean at the MAMA Awards.
BTS also had to face the Black Ocean at the Melon Music Awards. The place where the fans of the EXO group turned off the lighthouse towards BTS in retaliation.
So, Seventeen went back to 2015 and experienced the Black Ocean?? At first I didn’t believe this because SEVENTEEN at MAMA 2015 was one of their most iconic performances. I deserve it…😭 pic.twitter.com/T5xoivAzJ
— Wen (@awwwoozi1) August 20, 2020
BTS received the Black Ocean in 2013-2016, and all fans blow out candlesticks at every awards ceremony when it’s time for BTS to perform, but if you look at it now, they own the entire kpop awards ceremony like their own concert. pic.twitter.com/GOIi9i15Sl
— divi (@tkluvus) June 11, 2020