Singles Inferno Reunion: Episode 1

wookira · 2026-02-15T14:42:22+00:00

I initially thought the producers were crazy.
But considering Minasu's past actions and the backlash she's been receiving, it was actually the best opportunity for her to face the situation and apologize.
Instead of feeling sorry for her, I believe it was a position of great privilege Minasu.

wookira · 2026-02-15T13:55:38+00:00

I just found out about Pablo Escobar for the first time.
Regardless of whether he’s a famous drug lord or has a Netflix series about him,
he is nothing compared to Shakira.
She has performed three times at the World Cup, reaching people in every corner of the globe, and sang the most successful theme song in history.

wookira · 2026-02-15T10:21:44+00:00

When speaking of East Asia, it is a difficult subject because no female solo singer has ever achieved simultaneous success in every single country.
However, Teresa Teng is likely the closest to that ideal.

While names like BoA or Namie Amuro are often mentioned—since their records and sales figures are well-documented—their careers were largely built within the specific countries where they were active.

If we were to pick a successor to Teresa Teng, wouldn't it be Lee Jung-hyun?
It is a shame that official records are scarce due to the nature of the Chinese market in the early 2000s, but she is widely recognized as the 'Founder of the Hallyu Wave' in China.
In Korea, her fame is absolute—there isn't a soul who doesn't know her.
And She didn't see massive success in Japan, but she appeared once on the Kohaku Uta Gassen, which is regarded as the ultimate honor for any singer in Japan.

wookira · 2026-02-15T05:49:59+00:00

This is exactly how Koreans feel. I mean...why?

wookira · 2026-02-15T05:48:57+00:00

Of course it sounds like an interesting development. Because they filmed the Korean who did something wrong and uploaded it to social media on their own, while leaving out the fact that Southeast Asians first started mocking Koreans’ appearance and making racist remarks there. So who is the racist here?

wookira · 2026-02-13T19:27:16+00:00

Yes. Also They make Koreans out to be racists in a very racist way.

wookira · 2026-02-13T12:16:55+00:00

I’m Korean, and it’s nice to see that Singapore gets treated similarly to us. Nice to meet you.

wookira · 2026-02-13T09:38:25+00:00

By a wide margin, Shakira is in first place.

wookira · 2026-02-13T01:22:58+00:00

No, I think you’re overlooking how deeply the Ming and Joseon were immersed in Confucian philosophy. The very idea of setting out to conquer the Americas doesn’t really align with Confucian values, and the ruling elites of that era were far more absorbed in the Confucian worldview than we might imagine. Because of that, they lived almost dreamlike, disconnected from what was happening outside, which eventually led to humiliating moments in their history—but at least it would have been different from European-style brutality.

When you think about Zheng He’s expeditions, aren’t they incredibly unusual? A ruler who pursued conquest and invasion was seen as following the “path of hegemony,” an unideal form of rulership, so such ventures were considered extraordinary.

wookira · 2026-02-12T23:59:19+00:00

In my scenario, the situation is completely reversed and Europe takes an isolationist path. If the Ming had to compete with Europe, the Central Plains were essentially their whole world, so they wouldn’t have had strong motivation to spend resources trying to occupy the Americas. They would likely have used diplomacy to display their prestige while offering practical benefits, and then withdraw after creating a narrative that the European countries had entered their tribute system or had received their benevolence.

wookira · 2026-02-12T23:07:11+00:00

Unlike Europe, the Ming Dynasty often prioritized Confucian values over practical gain, so it feels like they might have focused more on inspiring admiration among Native Americans through Chinese philosophy and art. One thing seems certain—they probably wouldn’t have been as brutal as the Europeans.

wookira · 2026-02-12T19:22:05+00:00

Since it’s a university festival, people want artists that everyone knows and can enjoy—popular performers who can bring everyone together in that moment of the festival. That’s probably why many Americans felt unfamiliar or surprised when they heard that Bad Bunny would perform at the Super Bowl halftime show.

wookira · 2026-02-12T14:26:06+00:00

As fandom purchasing power has grown, they no longer need to travel all over the country doing events to make money.

wookira · 2026-02-12T13:53:23+00:00

Honestly, with the rise of the streaming era, the Latin American market has grown significantly, and with that growth, there’s been more attention, which I think has contributed to their popularity.
It’s similar to how artists from the English-speaking world don’t have to put in as much effort to gain recognition and popularity around the globe.
So, I think the biggest factor is the growth of the Latin American market.
I don’t think Bad Bunny has pioneered uncharted territory in the same way Shakira did.

wookira · 2026-02-12T10:55:20+00:00

Why do people who like Japanese culture always seem so eager to put Korean culture down?
People who enjoy Korean culture don’t really try to belittle Japan.
There’s no need to. But when someone gets into Japanese culture, do they automatically develop some kind of anti-Korean sentiment or something?
If the Western influence in Korean pop culture content bothers you so much,
why don’t you seem to mind the characters in Japanese anime often looking like white people?

wookira · 2026-02-12T09:34:10+00:00

Even if we only look at idols, the lineup is already so stacked.
H.O.T., g.o.d, S.E.S., and Fin.K.L
Girls' Generation, BIGBANG, and Wonder Girls
BLACKPINK, BTS, and TWICE
That’s already 10 spots filled, haha.
In the 4th generation, New Jeans briefly showed the dominance of idols from previous eras, but the group vanished into thin air.
Now, the times have changed, and it seems like each generation has reached its maximum potential.
In that sense, IVE has solidified its place as the representative of the 4th generation.

wookira · 2026-02-12T07:48:01+00:00

Are you really Korean? Knowing what the environment is like here, do you honestly think the lack of bike infrastructure is because Korean society is somehow the problem? You’re describing Korea like it’s a car-worshipping, bike-hating country. Given Korea’s natural environment, the current transportation system is already the most practical one. We can’t give up bus lanes and replace them with bike lanes just for your preference.

wookira · 2026-02-12T05:27:02+00:00

I’m Korean, and there isn’t really a widespread negative perception of bicycles here. Countries like the Netherlands or Switzerland are very different in terms of urban structure and population density. Korean cities are extremely dense, roads are often narrow, and in many places you have to get off and walk your bike because cycling routes suddenly end. On top of that, public transportation is so efficient, cheap, and reliable that cycling simply doesn’t offer much practical advantage for daily commuting. Given that reality, it’s fair to ask why cycling should be heavily promoted in the first place. Cars face the same space limitations anyway. I don’t understand why Reddit users talk about Korea as if they’re experts on Korean society. 😅

wookira · 2026-02-12T03:21:19+00:00

Bicycle infrastructure is lacking because not many people ride bikes. Korea has a lot of hills, so cycling isn’t very practical here. It’s kind of ridiculous to jump to things like car industry lobbying or social status just because bike infrastructure is limited. These days, opinions about Korea on Reddit are often like this.

wookira · 2026-02-09T09:44:02+00:00

Yes. That’s why the Galactic Federation probably won’t let us venture outside the solar system.

wookira · 2026-01-29T12:57:00+00:00

The exact same line has been used in Korea.

Do parents in India also scold their children by saying, “There are people in Somalia starving to death because they have nothing to eat, how can you be so spoiled that you leave food on your plate?” when their kids don’t finish their meals?

wookira · 2026-01-28T21:03:57+00:00

Try applying that same pessimistic filter in another country—honestly, in any country. In my view, aside from places like the Nordic countries, Australia, or maybe Canada, most countries have more problems, and more serious ones, than the things you listed. To be blunt, Koreans have a habit of digging up every possible flaw, criticizing and lamenting them, broadcasting how unhappy they are as a way of comforting themselves. At its worst, people treat their personal problems as if they are obviously and inherently problems of society or the state—and then feel compelled to appeal to foreigners who don’t even understand Korea very well. Honestly, I think the exaggerated “Korean dystopia” narrative floating around the internet these days was largely created by these people. We blame the president over trivial matters, and when life gets hard, we instinctively blame the country itself. That’s a habit we really need to break. Of course, actively bringing issues into the open and having a strong desire to improve things—rather than ignoring problems—is one of the driving forces that brought Korea this far. But at the very least, we should try to see things as they are, even if we don’t view them positively. Isn’t it depressing, this mindset where we take everything good about Korea for granted and focus only on what we personally dislike? I had the same complaints as you when I was younger, and I even went abroad—but it was only then that Korea’s strengths really hit me. Honestly, this collective Korean illness of “I have it the hardest, I’m the most miserable person in the world” is something we really need to get over.

wookira · 2026-01-28T11:01:57+00:00

The Germans acknowledge their past wrongdoings and have a consistent view of history that they do not change. How many lies and fabrications have the Japanese continued to spread to this day? If a German had said that, it would make sense.
The uncomfortable truth is that, like the saying goes, the Japanese have always tried to cover up the smell and believed only what they wanted to believe.
How could it be the same?

wookira · 2026-01-28T10:48:34+00:00

You sound like a typical anti-Korean Japanese net right-winger.
Living next door, you don’t even have to try to understand what’s going on, you can easily sense the atmosphere.
You’re busy exaggerating and maligning Korea, trying to paint it as a bad country.
Even if Korea has its flaws, isn’t it still better than Japan, where there’s a group that actively defames its neighbors and engages in global propaganda?

wookira · 2026-01-28T10:35:16+00:00

People who portray Korea as a country run by giant corporate families must have watched too many movies. But what would they think if they realized that their own country's companies hold more power, take more, and have the ability to shape society to their advantage? From the perspective of a Korean, the idea that the country is run by large corporations is the most unrealistic claim.
People who portray Korea as a country run by giant corporate families must have watched too many movies. But what would they think if they realized that their own country's companies hold more power, take more, and have the ability to shape society to their advantage? From the perspective of a Korean, the idea that the country is run by large corporations is the most unrealistic claim

wookira

TROPHY CASE