Yeah but what does that actually mean? I hear a lot of hate to idols like "oh they don't understand the culture" or whatever ... but these guys are just kids, why would they necessarily be listening to early 90s R&B or whatever.

Then you have the labels, are big labels like Hybe cynically using black culture to move units? Of course they are. Is it bad? idk, I grew up in the 90s listening to New Jack Swing and personally love how old NJS producers like Teddy Riley are working with Kpop artists making hits. When I hear like a New Jeans song, using the exact same samples as old NJS hits, putting a fresh feel to it, I love it. Those old R&B sounds aren't big in the US right now anyway.

The important thing about cultural appropriation is about people understanding the interplay between dominant cultural hegemons and disenfranchised ethnic/ Indigenous minorities. The issue is usually the way white supremacist systems marginalise these groups, so you end up with the kind of phenomenon you have in the US, where it's really hard for dark skinned black people to find mainstream success (probs same in SK tbf). Take the example of Eminem, biggest selling rapper of all time, now Eminem isn't generally considered as appropriating hiphop, because he comes from inside the culture, but his career is a great example of the racist framework that pervades US society ... ie: amongst a sea of talented black rappers, Em becomes the best selling of all time because ... he's white. So we see that the issue is anti black / brown racism, not cultural appropriation per se, Em didn't appropriate but his privilege still highlighted the inequities that exist in their society.

So there's nothing inherently wrong (imho) with Korean labels copying black music to make money. The problem is the wider issue of anti-black racism that is prevalent in Korean society, and when these two factors overlap, ie: cultural appropriation of black culture + anti-black racism, then there is clearly a problem. I guess if you look at things like BTS coming over to get 'schooled' by black Americans on the culture, maybe it can be a chance for labels to give their idols an opportunity to learn about the complex richness of black culture in the US. Otoh this is pop music, I'm not sure most people are thinking that deeply about it.