VICE ASIARSS feed for https://www.vice.com/enhttps://www.vice.com/en%3Flocale%3Den_asiaenWed, 21 Feb 2024 10:58:41 GMT<![CDATA[Sneaker Con SEA: Where Sneakerheads Unite For The Ultimate Street Culture Experience ]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/m7bw8n/sneaker-con-sea-where-sneakerheads-unite-for-the-ultimate-street-culture-experienceWed, 21 Feb 2024 10:58:41 GMTSneakerheads hol’ up! Sneaker Con SEA 2024 will make a grand comeback to the shores of Singapore this March. Happening all under one roof on the 2nd and 3rd March 2024 in Resorts World Sentosa, the much-awaited Sneaker Con 2024 is a gathering like no other, where global street culture personalities behind the world-renowned FRGMT, and the infamous Staple Design, widely known for the pigeon logo will showcase their works. 

Streetwear enthusiasts can expect a never-before-seen in-person gathering of the who’s who in the industry. Attendees can expect not only to see but also meet FRGMT’s Hiroshi Fujiwara, Staple Design’s Jeff Staple, Patta’s Edson Sabajo, and Carrot’s very own Anwar Carrots.  

Southeast Asian giants like Singapore’s Mark Ong from SBTG, Jakarta’s Tamish Aswani from AGLXY, and Filipino sneaker king Big Boy Cheung will be headlining the event, making this one of the most monumental editions of Sneaker Con 2024 yet. 

The upcoming sneakerhead’s paradise promises to be a transformative experience, intertwining the rich tapestry of sneaker culture, streetwear fashion, music, and urban lifestyle, with an array of experiences for enthusiasts. 

MIKE_0243_MIK_6709.jpeg
Photo by Sneaker Con SEA 2024

The event's highlight will be the exclusive unveiling of 12 pairs of Kintsugi Air Jordan 1 Highs by Mr Sabotage. A fusion of craftsmanship and storytelling, each pair is carefully crafted with vintage scarves and bandanas, embodying the art of Kintsugi. 

That is not all the event has to offer because the Marketplace at Sneaker Con SEA 2024 will boast a carefully curated line-up of over 200 international and local renowned brands and collaborations for fans to cop the latest trends, limited editions, and exclusive drops. 

The backbone of  Sneaker Con is the Trading Pit, where the event takes center stage. 

Attendees can buy, sell, and trade their favorite footwear and apparel, bringing together fans and streetwear lovers from the region and beyond as they showcase their collections and discover coveted gems. 

The legendary 40 for 40 Stage Game Spectacular, a perennial favorite at Sneaker Con events worldwide, returns to thrill attendees as they stand a chance to win incredible prizes, including created-for-Sneaker CON SEA items. 

Tickets are now on sale with three distinct tiers: General Admission, Premium, and the unparalleled VVIP experience. For more information and updates, visit the official website at sea.sneakercon.com or follow Sneaker Con SEA on Instagram

Sneaker Con is the world’s premier sneaker event that provides both physical and online platforms for the global sneaker community to engage around the culture. Founded in 2009 by Vinogradov and Yu-Ming Wu, Sneaker Con has displayed over 500,000 sneakers – bringing together more than 2000 vendors across 40 cities worldwide, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

]]>
m7bw8nUshar DanieleWendy NeoUshar DanieleStreetwearsneakerconSEASingaporeSneakers
<![CDATA[Celebrating Valentine’s As a Polyamorous Quad]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/g5ynnm/celebrating-valentines-as-a-polyamorous-quadTue, 13 Feb 2024 04:00:00 GMTMy partner, Dee, and I were making Valentine’s plans and we were stuck about who to spend it with. 

We’ve been dating for almost four years now, and we celebrated the past three Valentine’s together. 

But for this year, I was thinking of spending it with my other partner, Rane.

As expected, Dee was hesitant. I offered to celebrate “our own Valentine’s” on a day that isn’t February 14.

Though Dee and Rane know each other and are on relatively good terms, they never hang out. 

Their personalities are just too different. 

Rane likes sewing, visiting cute cafes, and wearing light-colored, frilled dresses styled in between goth and lolita fashion. 

She speaks quietly with a natural demure. 

Meanwhile, Dee prefers to spend her time finding solutions to human rights problems and she sports corporate and artsy aesthetics more. 

Eira is Dee's girlfriend. The three of us have, for the lack of a better term, a throuple-ish dynamic when together. I met Eira two years prior. But she and Dee hang out more. 

Recently, Eira started dating someone new and we wouldn't be surprised if she spent Valentine’s with her new boyfriend instead.

Ethical non-monogamy has a term for that: New Relationship Energy. 

John+Eira+Dee2.jpeg
John and some of his partners spends an afternoon together

NRE often increases the risk of neglecting other partners. It's something that anyone in a polyamorous set-up eventually must learn to manage. As with every type of relationship, open and honest communication is key.

Hence the lengthy Valentine’s talks. Resentment is the silent killer of relationships — ethically non-monogamous or not.

Our conversations weren’t always this smooth. Back when Dee and Rane and I just started, we’d often have fights. 

The biggest lesson I learned from handling multiple relationships is, strangely, how to understand a partner’s “Personal Vocabulary.”

Words have a dictionary meaning. But people also attach their own interpretation, bias, and connotation to different words. 

This forms their Personal Vocabulary. 

When people get together without understanding each other’s Personal Vocabulary — that’s when relationship problems arise. 

Or so I’ve learned the hard way.

For example, when Rane says, “It’s okay,” I often have to probe deeper because that phrase can be synonymous with, “I don’t really like it. 

But I don’t dislike it enough to reject it outright.” 

This is important when we’re deciding things like ordering an expensive salmon steak. 

It would be a waste to spend so much on something we didn’t love enough to eat.

Dee, meanwhile, has no problem expressing her dislike through groans and facial cues. 

She sometimes does that whenever I order a healthy, vegetarian dish for both of us, after a weekend of cholesterol and calorie-rich debauchery.

Eira. Well. She eats anything and everything. Among all of us, she has the biggest appetite. Probably because she’s the youngest. She’s also the tallest and longest limbed. She loves vanilla-scented perfumes because, according to her, “it’s the only thing vanilla about me.”

Then, there’s money.

Eira is a university student whose upper-middle class parents are controlling with her allowance. 

So Dee, who works as a bookkeeper while attending law school, tends to spoil her. 

Later, Dee would train her large, puss-in-boots eyes at me as we looked at a restaurant menu. 

I’d offer to pay and she’d whoop and cheer, then, rhetorically, ask if she’s making me do what she does for Eira. 

She’d offer to pay for our next date, and she does.

Rane and I used to split every expense in the middle. Until we did the “payslip reveal.” 

Nowadays, we split things based on who’s feeling richer at that moment.

We all live separately so rent and other daily expenses were never an issue. We spend a weekend or a couple of days together. 

The rest of the time, we’re busy with our individual lives and pursuits.

Since Dee has evening class on Wednesday, February 14th, we scheduled an early, special dinner at a local chef’s house. 

Afterward, we’d have a quiet wine and cheese night, with a custom, yellow, daffodil-designed cake I ordered from a friend. 

If she’s free then, Eira could join us.

Rane and I would have our Valentine’s on the tenth, a Saturday. 

We planned to do things we haven’t tried together, despite dating for almost a year: Bowling, watching a movie, and playing the Unstable Unicorns card game. 

I’d also cook her the salmon steak that she likes for dinner. 

I considered ordering two cakes from my friend but since Rane mentioned wanting to eat at a certain bakery, I figured I’d spend that other cake money at the bakery, I figured I’d spend that other cake money at the bakery instead.

Friends often ask whether it’s expensive having multiple partners. 

Last Christmas, I spent on multiple gifts and now, I'm spending on multiple Valentine’s. 

My answer is this: I think it depends on the people involved. 

Neither me nor my partners are into expensive jewelry, gadgets, and brand-name clothes. 

Most of our date-money is spent on food, transportation, and accommodations (for when we take out-of-town trips). 

These are relatively above-average expenses, but we also earn above-average relative to the median income in our city. 

In that way, we live within our means.

“What about kids?” Another friend asked.

“We can’t afford those yet,” I answered. Besides, both Dee and Rane had expressed little interest in having one until they've pursued their careers to the fullest.

“Actually, Eira jokingly volunteered to be the ‘birth mother’ if we ever reached that point,” I shrugged. “But who knows what’ll happen in five or ten years.”

I remember this one, extended weekend I spent with my partners.

Dee, Eira, and I were having a quiet, lazy Sunday at my apartment. 

Dee was on her period. And Eira would probably have no problem with the blood; she might even do as Oliver (Barry Keoghan) did with Venetia (Alison Oliver) in the movie Saltburn

She's not "vanilla" as she says. 

But Dee and I aren't vampires, so we contented ourselves with heavy petting and kissing. 

We were in bed almost all weekend, eating takeout deliveries, and talking about things we'd eventually forget; inconsequential but fun conversations among lovers.

The following night, Monday, after Dee and Eira had gone home, I met Rane at a convenience store to munch on some chocolate-dipped breadsticks. 

We returned to my apartment (which had been cleaned, with the sheets and bedding replaced), made love, shared Spotify songs, and fell asleep. 

She got up early the following morning, for work, and I sent her off at my apartment gate.

My partners and I function like any other monogamous couple. 

We have, roughly, the same concerns, issues, jealousies, even fights. 

The only difference is that there is more than one person involved. That's it, really. That's what it's like to celebrate Valentine's with two or three partners.

]]>
g5ynnmJohn Pucay Ushar DanieleDatingPolyamory relationshipSex and Dating
<![CDATA[SPCA Singapore to Work with Authorities to Regulate Pet Ownership Amid 79% Surge in Cruelty Case ]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/z3m5we/spca-singapore-work-with-authorities-to-regulate-pet-ownership-amid-79-surge-in-cruelty-caseFri, 02 Feb 2024 09:08:15 GMTAn animal welfare organization in Singapore is working closely with the authorities on a licensing framework for ownership of cats and small animals after a report revealed that there was a whopping 79 per cent increase in cruelty and welfare cases in 2023. 

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SCPA) Singapore believes that there is a pressing need for legislative changes to strengthen protection for animals, which includes imposing stricter sentences for those found guilty of animal cruelty and penalties for neglect and welfare issues. 

One example by SPCA Singapore was an abandoned 14-year-old rescued Japanese Spitz that had been suffering from severe ear infections and deteriorating dental health, and vets had no choice but to remove all of its teeth. 

Aarthi Sankar, SPCA Executive Director, told VICE that the rise in cases was alarming, and SPCA believe several reasons are driving the numbers up. One potential reason was the COVID-19 pandemic, where many chose to get a companion during the work-from-home period. 

Many of these owners purchased dogs from a shop or breeder with little education at the point of sale to ensure that new owners understand animal care and dog training. 

“With more people returning to their pre-pandemic routine, some owners may not be able to offer the same amount of time or care for their pets and in other instances, the lack of training and socialization at the right age may encourage certain behaviors, and these could cause frustration to the pet owners who might decide to abandon their pets,” Aarthi said.

SCPA also considers neglect and withholding of medical treatment for an unwell pet to be a form of abuse. There are also instances of pet owners with multiple pets who did not sterilize their pets, which leads to breeding and unwanted litter, and due to this inability to care for a large number of pets, the result leads to compromised welfare and abandonment. 

However, Aarti said Singaporeans have become more vigilant and cognisant of animal welfare. 

“More people might be coming forward to report cases of abuse they have witnessed, which led to the increase in the number of cases reported. “

In Singapore, animal welfare cases come under the Animals and Birds Act, but there are severe challenges to enforcing the law. Cats and small animals are currently not regulated, and this lack of accountability makes it easier for owners to abandon their cats without consequences. 

“Unless there is a witness to the act of abandonment, it is difficult to prosecute offenders for the crime of abandonment,” Aarthi explained. For those looking to adopt or get a new pet, SPCA Singapore emphasizes many heartbreaking cases of adopters surrendering their pets years later. Some things to consider before adopting are the fit between the entire family and the pet in terms of preference and lifestyle. 

SPCA recommends interested parties to ensure they are capable to meet commitment levels concerning quality time spent with the pet and financial resources. New owners are encouraged to have contingency plans if they fall sick, relocate or are no longer able to care for the pet.

]]>
z3m5weUshar DanieleUshar DanieleAnimalanimal crueltyabuseSingaporeSPCA
<![CDATA[Photographer Captures the Shire on the Hilly, Chilly Mountains of Malaysia ]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/y3w43b/photographer-captures-the-shire-on-the-hilly-chilly-mountains-of-malaysiaTue, 30 Jan 2024 01:00:00 GMT


“I am going on an adventure,” said Bilbo and so he did. 

Aereon Wong, a travel content creator from Kuala Lumpur finds himself in awe of the peculiar views of J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle Earth in the cool temperatures of the misty mountains Cameron Highlands. 

Located high up on the hills of Pahang in Malaysia, the region once known for its tea and strawberry plantations but is now Hobbitoon, a Shire-inspired tourist attraction that opened its doors in Cameron Highlands to fans of Middle Earth. 

The Lord of The Rings fantasy series is set in Middle Earth where wizards, men, elves, dwarves, dragons, and hobbits live a life fighting the dark forces of the dark lord Sauron.

Peter Jackson, a Kiwi filmmaker breathed cinematic life to the books as he produced and directed the trilogy in 1997 in New Zealand. The film set remains a popular tourist attraction to date.

Tolkien’s work has inspired fans from across the world because now we have Hobbit holes in Southeast Asia. 

“Hobbitoon definitely reminded me of the beautiful scenes in Lord of The Rings, especially when Gandalf entered the tiny Hobbit hole,” Wong said. 

From Minas Tirith to the dark shadows of Mordor and from the Misty Mountains to the deepest darkest pits of the Mines of Moria, Tolkien’s The Lord of The Ring has enthralled generations of bookworms and nerds. 

Fans of the works of Tolkien even formed an official group—endorsed by New Line Cinema and all— since 1999 and are still active. 

Wong dubbed the films and books a “masterpiece” and finding out about Hobbitoon in Malaysia was a pleasant surprise to the photographer because it was only a three-hour drive away from Kuala Lumpur

The books are a part of a trilogy The Fellowship of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King has inspired three multi-award winning blockbuster films throughout the years. It even inspired a prequel film trilogy from the original series. 

There are more reasons to celebrate Tolkien’s work this year; Lord of the Rings trilogy celebrates its 70th anniversary and the premier of a new film.

The animated fantasy The Lord of the Rings: The War of The Rohirrim film is set to premier in December with a star-studded line of casts including the original cast of Eowyn, Miranda Otto who will return to lend her voice to the character for the animated film. 

The film is directed by Kenji Kamiyama from a screenplay written by Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. 

Wong said he could not wait for the story to unfold in this new film, describing the works of Tolkien in three words: Adventure, fantasy and mythological.

]]>
y3w43bUshar DanieleUshar DanieleAereon WongLord Of The RingsshireTolkienhobbiton
<![CDATA[Same-Sex Marriage Buzz: Thailand Experiences Rise in Wedding Reservations ]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/n7em77/same-sex-marriage-buzz-thailand-experiences-rise-in-wedding-reservationsTue, 30 Jan 2024 01:00:00 GMTWhen Thailand announced their progressive move to legalize same-sex marriage in 2023, it spelled hope for many in the country.

Excitement over the proposed act has already seen LGBTQ wedding inquiries increase, according to Wannida Kasiwong, owner at Wonders and Weddings in Bangkok. 

“There’s definitely an increase of interest. I take up 12 weddings per year, and I have 1 to 3 couples who are LGBTQ couples. So that would be about like 25 percent of all the bookings,” Wannida told VICE. 

“A lot of couples are looking to celebrate. But I do have a lot of couples who say that [they] really want the law to finally pass first. They want to do the marriage registration first, the legal protection, [get] access to social welfare or spousal support. That's more important than the celebration itself,” she added.

Thailand is a popular destination for weddings with the industry contributing to the country’s crucial tourism industry. International visitors choose the Southeast Asian country because of its luxurious resorts, pristine islands, and favorable weather.

Wannida said that she will form a consultancy team to cater tofor an expected surge in inquiries if same-sex marriage becomes legal.

“We are thinking and exploring the consultancy base where they can come and we [can] provide some guidelines. [We are] also working with vendors as well to understand how to accommodate LGBTQ couples,” she said.

Thanadech Jandee, 34, told VICE that the equality law makes him feel like everyone is truly equal, living together as a family. Thanadech was born biological female but had gender reassignment surgery to identify as male last year. The Bangkok-resident now lives happily with his 33-year-old girlfriend and her son from a previous relationship. 

“I am hopeful that the new marriage equality law will be passed,” he told VICE, adding that before he didn't think of getting married, but now he is excited to get married if the law passes.

When Thailand announced a marriage-equality law was being deliberated in parliament late last year, the optimism was like never before within the country’s LGBTQ community.

Thailand's lawmakers voted in favor for a marriage equality law in a first hearing after four drafts had been proposed by political parties and civil society groups in December. This year the draft bill will be deliberated in several more hearings before a finalised version is proposed.

Prempreeda Pramoj Na Ayutthaya, a Thai transgender activist, said legalizing the marriage-equality law is essential.

Approximately 9 percent of Thai people identify as LGBTQ, according to market research firm Ipsos Group. That translates to over 6 million people, based on a 71 million population. 

“Thailand really needs to improve its legal protection for LGBT people, to ensure it becomes the real paradise for gender diversity and this is not only at the level of social practices, but the legal support can improve protection of rights and liberty of all Thais regardless gender,” Prempreeda told VICE.

“Legal support can also stimulate cultural spheres, which embrace all genders, for today we hope marriage equality would pass, so that the general public can go together beyond the [stigmatization] that love can only occur and maintain positively among heterosexuals.”

The prospect of marriage equality was boosted after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin threw his support behind the draft law.But not every politician supports it.

Lawmakers for Thailand’s Prachachat Party, a conservative political party that is popular with Thailand’s Muslim-majority in the country’s south, have said in recent years they would vote against the bill as it “defies natural order” and goes against Islamic teachings.

Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn, a Thailand human rights associate at Fortify Rights, said the Senate will be the biggest hurdle to overcome.

In 2020, a nationwide protest was carried out, where demands from protestors included LGBTQ rights in tandem with democratic changes. 

The community demanded for marriage equality in Thailand, which led to the development of the draft of the Marriage Equality Bill. 

“I think [the 2020 protests] was one of the first moments that brought issues of LGBTQI rights into the mainstream political narrative in this country, and then just a couple years later, we see the bill into the parliament. There is a kind of cause and consequence to these incidents for sure,” Mookdapa added.

While the approval of the bill remains uncertain, Thanadech and his girlfriend could only dream about getting legally married but they still remain hopeful that the marriage-equality law may open the door for policy changes for same-sex couples, such as IVF treatment and adoption.

“[The marriage-equality law] is necessary for other matters. Sadly, there is still no law to support having children through medical procedures. Even though the law has been drafted and approved by the Cabinet, it still does not allow for joint adoption of children.”

]]>
n7em77Tommy WalkerUshar DanieleLGBTQLGBTQIThailandmarriagemarriage equalitysoutheast asia
<![CDATA[These Women Cope With the Challenges Of Being Queer In South Korea Through House Parties]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/n7ekp8/these-women-cope-with-the-challenges-of-being-queer-in-south-korea-through-house-partiesFri, 15 Dec 2023 09:15:21 GMTSouth Korea is known for its socially conservative culture, but it’s making strides towards a more inclusive society for LGBTQ people. A South Korean court made a landmark ruling recognizing same-sex couples’ rights for the first time in the country early this year; a lesbian couple became the country’s first openly same-sex parents in August.

That being said, many LGBTQ people are still struggling to find a community where they feel like they can be themselves. With less representation in public and the media, queer women, in particular, are finding it difficult to meet their peers they can talk to freely and openly.

Kim Ha-na, who is 26 and identifies as pansexual, was going through this very dilemma—until she was invited to a private house party for queer women by her queer friend. At the party, held for the first time last December, Ha-na drew Christmas trees and played recreational games with other participants, who were either friends or friends of friends.

lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women
lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women

Ha-na said she met her “chosen family” that night. She, along with the others, endeavored to make sure the house party wasn’t just a one-off.

The women held two more parties in March and June (which Ha-na hosted at her place), and around eight people showed up to each of them. The community wasn’t a grand vision. It happened organically because the women can relate with others who have similar perspectives.” Ha-na told VICE. “We thought, ‘Why not hang out and have a ball together?’”

lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women

There’s no set rule for the parties. The women take turns hosting the gathering in their places, making sure that the space is safe and judgment-free.

“From our favorite porn and lesbian clubs to gossip, veganism, and BDSM, we talk to one another comfortably about all types of topics, including taboos like sex,” Ha-na said. She is proud that everyone in the community is open-minded and non-judgmental. “One of my friends candidly shared her preference of having flings, and how hard it is to have a one-night stand because the lesbian culture [in the country] primarily seeks romantic love.”

lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women
lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women

The parties are also a venue where they can freely express themselves through what they wear. Their dress code is “embarrassing costume,” which refers to clothes they like but wouldn’t wear daily for fear of judgment. “In South Korea, what we can wear is limited,” Ha-na said. “I would be looked at and judged if I wore a cropped T-shirt outside. So, at the parties, we would wear these kinds of clothes and take photos to keep the memories.”

Ha-na thinks women feel at home at the parties because they don’t have to worry about people questioning their existence and judging their looks. She said she was thrilled that she managed to gather all the women in one place where they could dress freely and chat about whatever they wanted.

lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women

Another member—who identifies as lesbian and requested anonymity due to safety concerns—said the parties give her the courage to be herself. She hosted the party in March. “Everyone is on the same page that these [taboo topics such as LGBTQ and sexuality] don’t have to be hidden and should be brought out. Just sharing my thoughts with like-minded people gives me confidence and helps me feel solidarity and a strong bond,” she told VICE.

lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women

The two women echoed that living as a queer woman in a conservative country is tough. “Queer women are more likely to be sexually objectified and not taken seriously when they come out, so they’re more vulnerable to hate crimes,” the lesbian member said.

Ha-na said that being a woman in the country is already challenging due to the prevailing misogyny, but when you add queerness to the equation, the intensity of hatred as well as sexualization, it escalates even further. “Lesbians often have to deal with [rude people] who ask them to kiss another woman right before their eyes to prove their identity,” she said.

The women added that while the gay community in this country is active with a larger online forum, more mobile applications, and bars and nightclubs, the lesbian community is not.

“While there’s a diversity of music genres in gay clubs, there’s no diversity in lesbian clubs. It’s not appealing and there are not so many people either. Everyone would joke, ‘We have to bite the bullet and go to a lesbian club,’ since there’s no other way to meet people like us,” Ha-na said.

lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women

She is hoping to keep these queer parties going and make them even bigger.

“I’m getting tired of hiding who I am. I’m from one of the most rural areas. I had to keep my sexuality and my personality hidden. I’m ready to be my true self now, and I’m hoping people can just move on if they don’t like me,” she said. “I’m dreaming of throwing a bigger queer party, inviting queer men as well as queer women, and making the LGBTQ culture far richer.”

lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women
lesbian, gay, bisexual, seoul, south korean women

If South Korea is a pitch-black space, then for Ha-na these parties are like a ray of light piercing the darkness. “We don’t get together regularly, but the fact that it exists makes me brave. Like the proverbial salt and light. This is a comfort zone where we can just be ourselves.”

Follow Junhyup Kwon on X (Twitter).

]]>
n7ekp8Junhyup KwonNikki NatividadKanghyuk LeeLGBTQSouth KorealesbianPhotosIdentity
<![CDATA[When Your Favorite Idol Turns Out To Be a Rapist]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/ak3qd4/when-your-favorite-idol-turns-out-to-be-a-rapistThu, 14 Dec 2023 04:42:00 GMTPeople go the extra mile for those they care about—especially superfans with their idols. Oh Se-yeon, 24, is a South Korean film director and seongdeok (a Korean slang word meaning “successful fan,” used to describe those who got to meet their idol in person) who has a lot of experience in this department.

When she was younger, she used to skip school and sell household items to raise enough money to go to K-pop shows and fan events. She even wore a hanbok, a traditional Korean garment, to the events to stand out. She did all this for her then-idol, former singer-songwriter Jung Joon-young.

Jung first rose to fame in 2012 when he joined the TV talent show, Superstar K4, as a contestant. He became known for his goofy and humorous personality and soft rock vocals paired with his guitar skills, and went on to star in some of the most popular variety shows in the country.

As a seongdeok, Oh didn’t just meet the singer and get his autograph, she also made herself known to him by appearing on the TV show Byeolbaragi with him, a talk show where die-hard fans get to meet their favorite musicians and talk about their fandom.

kpop, fandom, idols, love, kpop, fans
Oh Se-yeon on the TV show Byeolbaragi in 2014, “Fanatic” still. Photo: Courtesy of AUD
kpop, fandom, idols, love, kpop, court, trial, crime
Seoul High Court, “Fanatic” still. Photo: Courtesy of AUD

In 2019, Jung was charged with rape as well as the filming and distribution of multiple non-consensual sex videos. The top court confirmed his guilt and sentenced him to five years a year after. This wasn’t the first time Jung had been accused of criminal behavior. In 2016, his ex-girlfriend accused him of illegally filming her during intimate moments but later dropped the charge.

After Jung’s conviction, Oh went from being a seongdeok of the singer to becoming his most vocal critic. She released her debut film last year, a documentary called Fanatic which captures her own experience and that of others who felt failed by their idols. It went on to become a hit at multiple film festivals around the country. We spoke to Oh to learn more about how her experience has changed her life.

VICE: Can you share some of the crazy things you did for Jung?
Oh Se-yeon:
I started selling stuff online via the secondhand platform Joonggonara back in middle school to pocket some cash. I walked on eggshells around my mom then because I thought fangirling over a celebrity was not something my parents would approve of. It also didn’t make sense to me to ask for money for it. That’s why I ran a little business. I sold everything: books, clothes, shoes, and a phone—all to save up for things like train tickets from Busan to Seoul.

kpop, fandom, idols, love, kpop
K-pop Idols merchandise, “Fanatic” still. Photo: Courtesy of AUD

Some fans would pull the craziest stunts to stand out and get noticed by their idol. I wore a hanbok at a fan event once, just because I wanted to get his attention and see him smile. It was just a selfless hope. But his first reaction was not the big smile I imagined, it was pretty disappointing. It was the first time we ever talked, actually. He treated me like any other fan and asked me if I had just come from a jesa ceremony (a traditional memorial to the ancestors) and that somehow made him more attractive to me. His unexpected reaction sparked a personal challenge. So I kept attending his fan events in similar outfits. When he was asked about his most memorable fan in a later interview, he mentioned me. So it worked, in the end.

I aimed to attend a college in Seoul. I believed it would make it easier to see him. Then, at another event, he encouraged me to come to Seoul—a goal I pursued throughout high school.

kpop, fandom, idols, love, kpop, filmmaker, director
Oh Se-yeon. Photo: Junhyup Kwon

Could you describe how your feelings have evolved over the years?
When I first heard that his ex-girlfriend accused him of illegally filming their sexual intercourse [in 2016], I was totally shocked. I just thought he was being set up and I couldn’t understand why people would bully such a good and innocent guy. I wanted to defend him by any means. When the charge was dropped, I loved and supported him even more than before.

But when a similar charge came up for the second time [in 2019], it was harder to dismiss. I thought, ‘This time, the accusations might be true…’ I realized I had been turning a blind eye to the facts because I was so into him. I regretted ever liking him in the first place. It’s not easy to be objective as a fan, but my disbelief doesn’t change the truth.

[When the report came out confirming his crime] I ended up in tears. Not because he turned out to be a shady guy, but because I felt a sense of pity for myself. I started to wonder who he really is—the idol that we loved so much. I felt like I invested a big part of my life in something that now feels wasted. I went from shocked to sad, then mad, and back to sad. Maybe I didn’t let it all out the first time.

Do you have any thoughts on the victims?
It feels like I’m involved in his crime just because I was a huge fan of his. I had no clue what was happening, but it’s the fans who boosted his fame. So I can’t help but feel guilty for the victims.

How has the incident influenced your perspective on fangirling?
I realized anyone can mess up too, because they’re humans after all. What we see of them is not the whole story. I thought maybe I shouldn’t be too caught up in one person, just to protect my feelings. But being a fan brought me so much happiness and that feeling is irreplaceable. It made me want to be a better version of myself, and that’s good. I casually followed other celebrities recently, and whenever it happens, it pushes me harder to succeed as a filmmaker so I can work with them someday. I still have those kinds of motivational thoughts as a fan.

How do you now view fans who are as passionate as you were?
I feel bad for the fans who are super into someone. They could end up getting hurt just like I did. On the other hand, I also envy those who can be in pure admiration without expecting anything in return. I don’t think I can do that again considering what I’ve been through. Taking a step back, though, I realized it genuinely makes me happy to see someone in love. So I’m happy for them, even though deep inside I’m a bit worried that such things might happen.

How would you describe the role of fangirling in your life?
I think it can be a source of motivation to live harder. It brought me joy and gave me energy. I always had a new goal, like attending his next concert or telling him I did better in school, and it feels like that encouraged me to live my life to the fullest. You wouldn’t want to damage his reputation as a fan because everyone around you is aware that you’re a superfan. You can’t live irresponsibly in this situation. I tried to make him proud, to become a better person for him and all the others, and to achieve professional success in the hope that we’d collaborate someday.

What have been the highs and lows of this emotional journey?
I ended up making a bunch of friends while I was fangirling. I have friends scattered all over the country. We dedicated our efforts towards a shared goal. I’ve come to realize how to care for others. And from that incident, my first film took shape. But I’ve become a bit skeptical of humanity in general. When I’m getting into someone, it’s hard not to wonder if they might be up to something like that. It makes it tough to fully give my heart to someone.

kpop, fandom, idols, love, kpop, filmmaker, director, friends
Oh Se-yeon (left) and her friend. Photo: Courtesy of AUD

How would you define love?
It’s about wanting the other’s happiness to be greater than yours; maybe that’s what it is.

What would you say if you could send a message to yourself 10 years ago?
Take more risks. Missing more classes won’t shake your world. The shows you choose not to go to will become legendary. So go, even if it means borrowing some money. It’s OK to love harder. I might have maxed out already, though. Also, enjoy it while it lasts, because you have no idea what’s coming. Who needs to know the future anyway? And keep an eye on your spending.

kpop, fandom, idols, love, kpop, filmmaker, director
Oh Se-yeon. Photo: Courtesy of AUD

Is there anything you’d like to say to Jung?
I hope you reflect on what you did and are aware you deserve this.

Follow Junhyup Kwon on X (Twitter).

]]>
ak3qd4Junhyup KwonSowon LeeNikki NatividadJoe ZadehLoveCrimeCultureVICE K-Pop South Korea
<![CDATA[What Happens To Dance Floors When ‘Everyone’ Is a DJ]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/m7bk5n/what-happens-to-dance-floors-when-everyone-is-a-djFri, 24 Nov 2023 08:12:48 GMT

It’s difficult to tell how many DJs there are in the world. Whatever estimates are available likely don’t count your roommate who has a few hundred songs and occasionally plays at your local bar; your uncle who learned to DJ while bartending in his 20s and jumps on a controller whenever he sees one; the so-called professional DJ who only makes money selling real estate. Still, all those people are DJs, at least according to them and the people who hear their music.

But what does it mean for dance floors when just about anyone can get behind the decks and attempt, as DJs do, to create an atmosphere?

Even someone who doesn’t listen to DJs often can tell when one is really bad. Playing several songs that empty the dance floor and none that pack it is a clear indication. Transitions that grate at the ears and make people wonder if the DJ is hearing the same thing they are another. 

It takes more attention to notice a good DJ. Their song choices and transitions keep a crowd in what some might call a trance, lost in the music instead of wanting to run away from it. Their sets might feel like journeys as opposed to random selections of music. Good DJing is like air. It’s easier to notice when it’s absent.

The quip “Everyone’s a DJ” has played on loop in the scene for years. Whether it’s said with an exhausted eyeroll or an encouraging smile, it reflects the reality that it’s rather easy to learn the technical ins and outs of playing one song after another. It’s also increasingly affordable. You can learn with a laptop, free software, and a few YouTube videos, no need for additional equipment, as many people did during the COVID-19 lockdowns. But there must be more to being a DJ than turning a few knobs.

What makes a good DJ?

“Being an actual DJ for me is understanding how tracks work together, how a crowd responds to them, and to have a passion and vision for a set,” Miri, the booking agent of Equation, the artist agency behind Vietnam’s “cave rave” told VICE. 

Miri added that a good DJ has knowledge of music history and spends a lot of time digging through tracks to find hidden gems. All the better if DJs can produce their own music or remix existing tracks. 

Nobody would be able to tell just by listening to DJs whether they have knowledge of music history, or how long they spent sifting through music to find their tracks, or whether they can produce their own songs. We all just hear the music thumping from the speakers. But the more you pay attention to their sets, the more you notice the less obvious ways DJs can be good. Knowledge of music history, a taste refined by exposure to more music, and production skills are not only important to “serious” DJs or booking agents. They may very well dictate whether the people hearing a DJ’s music bounce on the dance floor or from it. 

“Unfortunately, nowadays everyone can call themselves [a] DJ as soon as they have headphones and a USB, so the bar is getting lower,” said Miri. 

Professional DJing is all about intent for Sean Bautista, a DJ who also takes care of programming at Manila Community Radio, an independent online radio station.

That intent is informed by community and context. Good dance music DJs might intend to play sets that reflect their community’s history and respond to its current needs. Good scratch or hip-hop DJs might intend to flex the technical skills involved in mixing their genre of music. 

For Bautista, professional DJs know their intent and see it through in the right contexts and for the right people. 

Who gets booked? 

Few people will be good when they start DJing. Most will get better before they play more gigs. There are benefits to having as many DJs as possible: Provided the DJs aren’t just parroting other DJs, it means more music for everyone. It means more people expressing themselves while connecting with other people. It also means more people potentially learning about the rich history of music and how it has formed communities, decorated cultures, and fueled revolutions.

But “to differentiate yourself as a professional DJ and do it as a living [as opposed to being a hobbyist] comes with a responsibility,” said Bautista.

Professional DJs are responsible in large part for how good of a time the people listening to them have, at least if music is important to those people. They also compete for jobs with other DJs. In many cities, especially in Southeast Asia, where underground nightlife battles questionable policing and conservative cultures, having more DJs can be far better for the dance floors than it is for the DJs.

According to Sai Versailles, an archivist at Manila Community Radio who DJs as well, more DJs playing professionally in Manila, Philippines, has created a surplus of DJs and a big demand for them.

“But there is a lack of supply of places to play and money to give to everyone,” said Versailles.

That’s because most music venues are necessarily businesses. A bad track played at the wrong time can lead to a tab closed for the rest of the night. In order to make sure customers stay and keep coming, some venues will often book the same DJs over and over again instead of cueing in new ones. 

Versailles said that this pattern sometimes has little to do with actual DJing skills. An “influencer-y” DJ who is guaranteed to bring in a crowd will get more gigs than a skilled, and likely more intentional, experimental DJ.

“The big con about everyone being a DJ is that not everyone’s getting compensated fairly,” said Versailles. 

Booking the same DJs can sometimes be less about maximizing profits than about protecting the spirit of a scene. This might mean having fewer people at an event. But it allows the organizers to be more forthright about the atmospheres they are trying to create.

A queer rave might stick to its favorite half-dozen DJs instead of inviting one of many other DJs because the favorites know how to build an atmosphere that its patrons appreciate. Bringing in new DJs might also bring new crowds that inherently change the energy of the dance floor, driving out the people it was originally supposed to welcome.

What now?

The point is not to gatekeep DJing. It’s to understand why some DJs are better than others, why a handful get booked more than the rest, and how the quantity and quality of DJs affect the people who hear their music.

These are all, for better or worse, the rules of the game. It’s up to the DJs to play.

Follow Romano Santos on Instagram.

]]>
m7bk5nRomano SantosNikki NatividadNightlifeMusicdjCultureDJing
<![CDATA[Rappers Are Using Music To Fight the Myanmar Military]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/g5ym57/rappers-are-using-music-to-fight-the-myanmar-militaryWed, 25 Oct 2023 09:01:04 GMT

When 42-year-old Osho woke up in his home in Yangon, Myanmar, on the morning of Feb. 1, 2021, he found that his telephone line and internet access had been cut. Television broadcasts were suspended. Domestic and international flights canceled. The Myanmar parliament was scheduled to endorse the results of the national election held the previous November that morning. But the Tatmadaw, the country’s military, seized power in a coup d’état first.

It was both confusing and all too familiar for Osho. He grew up under the junta that trumped the democratic uprising in Myanmar in 1988. “There was a lot of trauma revisited,” he told VICE. “Osho” is an alias that the long-time musician has adopted to protect his identity from the military.

He saw for himself how the 1988 junta violently ended what some call a stillborn revolution and became one of the longest-running military dictatorships in the world. Osho would not have that happen again. He wanted resistance against the oppressive regime, and justice and peace in his country. 

Osho had a network of what he called “conscious musicians” long before the 2021 coup. This group, he said, had always sought to bring people together through music and push the limits of freedom of expression. When the military seized power that morning in February, these musicians were eager to fight back. 

“We started going out in the streets [along with other protesters] with the sound system we had, with all the equipment we had, and we started organizing these street concerts and joining the protests with music,” Osho said. “Out of chaos, Rap Against Junta was born.” 

Rap Against Junta comprised trusted members of Osho’s network. Some of them are famous rappers in Myanmar. The group’s mission was to use hip-hop as a “platform for creative resistance against oppressive regimes.”

Hip-hop musicians, especially rappers, have wielded the genre to express dissent against systemic injustice and police violence all over the world. Iconic tracks like “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five detail the difficulty of life in poor black communities in the United States, where the genre originated. In “FUCKTHEPOPO/屌狗,” JB, a hip-hop artist from Hong Kong, criticizes the Hong Kong police’s liberal use of tear gas and rubber bullets along with other abuses of power. In Thailand, a country that has been trapped in a cycle of its own coups, a group called Rap Against Dictatorship has been credited for mobilizing citizens and gaining political leverage against a corrupt government.

The same rang true in Myanmar. Local hip-hop legend Phyo Zeya Thaw rose to fame along with his group ACID in 2000. Their first album, SaTin Gyin resonated with the frustrated youth living under then-military dictator Than Shwe. Phyo Zeya Thaw went on to become a pro-democracy activist and lawmaker with the National League for Democracy, Myanmar’s democratic party. 

Osho said that many young musicians in Myanmar remained excited about hip-hop. There was also more room to create hip-hop music with big producers. Rappers in particular are skilled with words, able to express their emotions through written and freestyle verses. All that made hip-hop and rap make sense as the sound of the revolution, according to Osho. 

Rap Against Junta’s first real event, outside of joining protests with microphones and speakers, happened a few weeks after the military staged the coup. It was a badly-organized show in downtown Yangon, on the sidewalk next to a police station. “Right in front of our concert was a police truck,” Osho said.

There were four, maybe five, performers on the lineup. They performed for an hour or two. The group could not yet plan the show like a proper concert, so it simply told its network that it would be on the streets at a certain time. The chaos in the streets made it difficult to tell exactly how many people were there for the show.

Its second show, in March 2021, was bigger and better organized. Rap Against Junta worked with a large shopping mall in Yangon to stage the performances. But the power was cut off in the middle of the concert. Still, the group felt good about what it had pulled off.

The next day, the military started shooting protesters. 

The United Nations reports that the Tatmadaw and those working with it have killed at least 2,890 people, noting that this is almost certainly an underestimation. Approximately 1.2 million people have been internally displaced and over 70,000 have left the country. Osho included. 

Thousands of civilian structures, including homes, clinics, schools, and places of worship, have been burned over the past two years. The country’s economy has also collapsed. Nearly half of the population now lives below the poverty line. Police and soldiers have shot demonstrators in the head, raided homes, and arrested anyone suspected of supporting democracy. 

Rap Against Junta laid low amidst these threats. But it continued to make music. The group released tracks on its YouTube channel, with artists concealing their faces and using code names. Osho said that nobody should be scared of expressing their dissent against the military, but using their real identities and platforms online would make the artists easy targets for arrest. In order for the group to stand a chance against the junta, it had to be smart.

Among the group’s releases is the track “Dictators Must Die.” It features artists from Indonesia, Taiwan, and other countries battling oppressive regimes. There’s also “Blood,” which has artists from different Myanmar ethnic groups rapping in their own languages—a show of unity across the country. 

The beats of these tracks are punchy and aggressive. The lyrics are by no means subtle. The chorus of “Blood” begins with the lines “This is our blood, our blood / Never gonna be under the military regime / And will fight till the end.”

Osho explained that Rap Against Junta got away with these forms of protest because the military prioritized arresting prominent political figures over artists.

But in November 2021, the military arrested Phyo Zeya Thaw, the hip-hop legend who later became a pro-democracy activist, for his participation in what they described as terrorist attacks. In July last year, the military hanged him. It was the first use of capital punishment in the country in decades. 

“We never believed that they would actually hang him, but now he’s gone, for doing the right thing,” Osho said.

Recently, Rap Against Junta said it has reason to believe that its members are next on the military’s list of arrests. This has prompted the group to be even more low-key. It can’t force artists still in Myanmar to get behind a mic in times like these, said Osho. He is even more careful after the execution of Phyo Zeya Thaw, not wanting to lose anyone else. But he’s not silent. 

Osho and Sai Hlyan, a Myanmar DJ also not currently in the country, have taken to producing a podcast. It aims to spread the word on the current situation in the country and serve as a form of community and mental health support for young musicians. 

“The revolution has been going on for quite a long time,” said Osho. “The situation in Myanmar is extremely hard. It’s tremendously challenging. They can’t even live peacefully. Every day is a big struggle for safety, for shelter, for food. The space for creativity is shrinking, every moment, minute by minute, day by day.” 

Follow Romano Santos on Instagram.

]]>
g5ym57Romano SantosNikki NatividadMyanmarRapHip Hop 50Musichip pop
<![CDATA[Inside Seoul’s BDSM Party ​​Where Kinky Fantasies Come Alive]]>https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/g5y8gm/inside-seouls-bdsm-party-where-kinky-fantasies-come-aliveWed, 04 Oct 2023 04:45:43 GMTA woman with a bullwhip spanking the exposed backside of a man clad in bondage. The man sitting on his bare knees, held on a leash by the woman wearing a black leather miniskirt, fishnet stockings, and ankle boots. The man and woman surrounded by partygoers with glittering eyes in a dark space. Sex toys like handcuffs and butt plugs hanging from the ceiling of the DJ booth. These are just some tableaus from a BDSM (bondage, dominance, submission, and masochism—a type of sexual fetish) party held in Seoul, South Korea last June.

Shade Seoul, Sex, Seoul Party, BDSM, Club Party, Itaewon, South Korea, DJ
BDSM gear. Photo: Kanghyuk Lee
Shade Seoul, Sex, Seoul Party, BDSM, Club Party, Itaewon, South Korea, DJ
The Sins party is held by the party collective Shade Seoul. Photo: Kanghyuk Lee

The Sins party known for its BDSM shows has been a staple event since it was launched by party organizer Shade Seoul in 2018. The “inclusive DJ and party label” according to its X account, hosts a range of parties—from its mother party Shade, it also has Glow, Femme, and Sins, each with a different musical genre and theme. The Sins party is the much darker version, featuring harder beats and sexually explicit performances. Held almost every other month, it invites people to explore BDSM and release their sexual energy.

Shade Seoul, Sex, Seoul Party, BDSM, Club Party, Itaewon, South Korea, DJ
BDSM show performers Oleeverr (right) and Flowerbomb. Photo: Kanghyuk Lee
Shade Seoul, Sex, Seoul Party, BDSM, Club Party, Itaewon, South Korea, DJ
BDSM show performers Oleeverr (right) and Flowerbomb. Photo: Kanghyuk Lee

BDSM and other erotic practices are often considered taboo in conservative South Korea. Some locals see it as an abnormal sexual desire saying that it’s pleasure derived from violence and mistreatment. In articles published on local media, it is often described as perverted libido. When Love and Leashes, a BDSM-themed South Korean movie, was released on Netflix last year, locals debated whether it was appropriate to bring the topic to light.

Shade Seoul, Sex, Seoul Party, BDSM, Club Party, Itaewon, South Korea, DJ
BDSM show performer Flowerbomb. Photo: Kanghyuk Lee

But it looks like at least some young people in Seoul are ready to start the discussion. According to the organizer, roughly 400 people attend Shade Seoul’s Sins party whenever they hold the event, with many looking to live out their kinky fantasies away from judgmental eyes. “Those who have come to the Sins party have been given an insight into it [BDSM] and the freedom to explore after,” Shade Seoul’s co-founder Lindsay Ryklief, also known as Ligrye, told VICE. “Take it home, see what you can get into, be a sub, be a pup, pour some wax, get into shibari. You know?”

The party is also its “response to a need for a space for people to experience harder sounds.” With a focus on the techno and industrial music genre, the party has become a platform for diverse BDSM performances because whips and chains go hand-in-hand with harder sounds. “We wanted to show ideas of BDSM, but not say definitively that this is BDSM. It’s just themed, which we feel is an important distinction,” Ligrye said.

Shade Seoul, Sex, Seoul Party, BDSM, Club Party, Itaewon, South Korea, DJ
Performer Rust. Photo: Kanghyuk Lee

Another thing that makes it special is the collaborations with local and international artists. Ligrye said some of the most memorable moments for the team consisting of himself, Korean DJs Net Gala and Seesea, include the wax show, where performers pour wax from candles all over their bodies, and the sparks show, where they shoot sparks out of metal spikes on their bras. Some of the biggest collaborations include those with burlesque performer Flowerbomb and artists like Arca, Juliana Huxtable, and Yaeji.

Shade Seoul, Sex, Seoul Party, BDSM, Club Party, Itaewon, South Korea, DJ
Shade Seoul crew member and DJ Seesea. Photo: Kanghyuk Lee

These parties are usually held in Cakeshop, an underground club in Seoul’s nightlife district Itaewon where many LGBTQ bars and clubs can be found. The collective does its best to ensure that its party is a safe space for everyone and reminds partygoers of its policy for each event: “There will be a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind… Body shaming, slut shaming, racism, ableism, ageism, transphobia, homophobia, xenophobia, and fatphobia are not tolerated.”

Shade Seoul, Sex, Seoul Party, BDSM, Club Party, Itaewon, South Korea, DJ
The Sins party is held by the party collective Shade Seoul. Photo: Kanghyuk Lee

“It’s really nice because whoever you are, you can come to the party regardless of your gender identity and sexual orientation,” said photographer Kanghyuk Lee, who captured the party.

“In Seoul, it’s almost impossible to find a club party where everyone can blend in with one another. Surprisingly, my gay friends also said they had more fun and felt more liberated at the event than at other parties only for gay people as they don’t have to dance under the table.”

Shade Seoul, Sex, Seoul Party, BDSM, Club Party, Itaewon, South Korea, DJ
The Sins party is held by the party collective Shade Seoul. Photo: Kanghyuk Lee

“BDSM performances are more of letting people get vicarious pleasure. I hope that there will be more such events,” the photographer said. “Our sexual desires are repressed in South Korea. People need to have those sexual outlets. How could anyone possibly live without finding the release?”

Follow Junhyup Kwon on Twitter.

]]>
g5y8gmJunhyup KwonNikki NatividadKanghyuk LeeCultureSouth KoreaPhotosLifeBDSMSexParty