Lightsticks play a crucial role in K-Pop performances, generating beautiful "oceans" of light and allowing audience members to support their favorite artists. To demonstrate their support, attendees of concerts, music performances, and award ceremonies always bring lightsticks. Additionally, as additional acts take the stage, fans frequently continue to keep their lightsticks glowing to support all the performances. There are also infamous cases of the dreaded "black ocean". An intentional act of artistic defiance is known as the "black ocean." The lightsticks of the audience will be turned off, leaving a "black ocean" in their wake. These K-Pop artists made it through a "black ocean."
1. Girls’ Generation
One of the first bands to experience the "black ocean" during the 2008 Dream Concert was Girls' Generation. The Dream Concert, one of the biggest annual concerts in Korea, consistently has a stellar cast of performers. Girls' Generation, although becoming one of K-most Pop's recognizable female groups, encountered criticism when they made their debut in 2007 due to their affiliation with several SM Entertainment's male musicians. Fans of Girls' Generation and Super Junior allegedly got into a fight before the Dream Concert, escalating the rivalry between the fandoms. Fans of other performers turned off their lightsticks for the ten-minute Girls' Generation performance when they took the stage. In addition to the "black ocean," Wonder Girls' name was supposedly being screamed by fans of other performers to harm Girls' Generation. Of course, Girls' Generation is now a legendary group with fervent fans longing for their return. But they had to go through numerous difficulties to achieve their fame and prosperity.
2. Seventeen
When SEVENTEEN performed at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards, they were a rookie group. At the time, SEVENTEEN hadn't yet launched a lightstick, so although some fans of other artists supported them a sizable audience turned off their lightsticks to express their displeasure with the rookie group. However, despite all of the challenges SEVENTEEN have had during their careers, they have unquestionably grown to be a very successful group that is adored for their incredible songs and excellent performances.
3. Lovelyz
Lovelyz, the first girl group under Woolim Entertainment, had various challenges during their time together. Jisoo, one of the eight members, was unable to make her debut with Lovelyz as a result of controversies surrounding false rumors that were disseminated about her. For their 2015 album, Lovelyz8, Jisoo formally joined the lineup of Lovelyz. However, Lovelyz fans appeared to be reacting negatively to Jisoo joining the group despite the scandal by giving a "black ocean" for their performance at the 2015 Pepsi event. According to rumors, some of Lovelyz's supporters even requested help from supporters of other musicians to create the menacing "black ocean." Despite their hard beginning, Lovelyz continued to succeed in promotion until their current dissolution in 2021.
4. T-ARA
Similar to Lovelyz, T-ARA had to contend with a "black ocean" created by their supporters. Former group member Hwayoung allegedly suffered harassment at the hands of the other members. After the alleged evidence of this became viral, Hwayoung quit the group. Fans appeared to have shown their displeasure with Hwayoung departing T-ARA at the 2012 World Conservation Congress K-Pop Nature+ Concert by not only creating a "black ocean," but also by purportedly yelling Hwayoung's name instead of the customary fan chant. Years later, T-ARA was still known as the "bully female group," and it wasn't until 2017 that the group's innocence was established after Hwayoung unintentionally said something inappropriate on the show. Along with this, former members Ahreum and previous staff members spoke out against Hwayoung's fabrications, restoring T-ARA's reputation. Even after an indefinite sabbatical, T-ARA made a comeback in late 2021, demonstrating their ability to withstand any adversity.
5. BTS
Despite being one of the most well-known musicians in the world, BTS has faced two distinct "black oceans." At the 2016 Golden Disk Awards, they experienced the iconic "black ocean" for the first time. The "black ocean" was purportedly created at the time, when BTS's fame was rising, as a retaliatory fan war with EXO fans, with each side accusing the other. At the 2016 Melon Music Awards, BTS performed once more in front of a "dark ocean" that was only dimly lit by their fans' lightsticks, continuing the fan conflict. Fortunately, both bands have maintained their wildly successful careers and won't ever have to deal with a "black ocean" again thanks to the strength of their fan bases.
6. Twice
TWICE performed their successful singles "Cheer Up" and "TT" at the 2016 Melon Music Awards, just over a year after their debut. The JYP Entertainment girl group, however, encountered a "dark ocean" while performing. Fans believed that the black ocean was caused by TWICE's growing notoriety and the fact that their song "Cheer Up" was at the time nominated for Song of the Year, which they later won.
7. Chen
Exo member Chen, a member of SM Entertainment, was given a black ocean at the SMTown concert in August 2022 at the Suwon World Cup Stadium. When Chen entered the stage, Exo fans reportedly turned off their lightsticks, and when member D.O. entered the stage to perform, the entire stadium lit up once more. Online forums were abuzz with speculation that Chen's "reckless" behavior in getting married and starting a family led to the dark ocean.
