Why K-pop performances look flat on American TV and how the spectacle is lost in cultural framing

When the Korean pop group Aespa appeared on Good Morning America in late September, the highly anticipated broadcast drew intense backlash online in South Korea.

Korean fans, in particular, pounced on the performance, criticizing everything from low energy levels to an unimpressive visual presentation. But what may have looked like a subpar showing at first glance was also a lesson in how cultural expectations, production choices, and television styles shape the way performances are perceived.

K-pop has long mastered the science of stagecraft. Korean music shows like SBS’s Inkigayo, Mnet’s M Countdown, or KBS’s Music Bank build their programming around the spectacle of idol performances. Multi-camera rigs, carefully timed edits, sweeping crane shots, and bright LED stage designs ensure t