Fans and Idol Alike yearn for a "Safer Kind of Love"[Moment of K-Content]

Article published July 07, 2023

Original source: https://www.sisain.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=50571&kakao_from=mainnews

English translation: plaveintl

The typicality of appearance also reflects the typicality of personality. Anyone who has been exposed to manhwa for a long time can deduce a character's personality based solely on their appearance. If they possess a noble-looking exterior, one would expect them to exhibit kindness and a refined attitude. If they have the appearance of a wolf-human hybrid, they are generally expected to be cool and aloof, but occasionally display mischievous or adorable charm. PLAVE borrows this manhwa format, effectively bringing the entire context in which individual characters were situated within the manhwa onto the stage as a whole.

The Enigmatic 'Original Self' 

However, at the same time, PLAVE consistently reminds us that there are 'people' behind the characters. Those chosen as members of PLAVE portray individual characters using their own voices to sing, dance, and actively participate in choreography and composition, rather than relying on AI-generated voices. They not only act as the characters but also actively contribute to shaping their identities. As a result, fans of PLAVE are curious about the person portraying the character, the 'original self.' Whenever PLAVE is searched on portals, the keyword 'PLAVE original self' always ranks highly for this reason. 

However, since no one has openly revealed themselves as a member of PLAVE, the identity remains a matter of speculation rather than certainty.

The fact that the 'original self' remains undisclosed is a unique characteristic of virtual idols. It sets them apart from typical 'sub-characters' in that their true identities cannot be known or openly acknowledged, not even by themselves. While those who portray PLAVE's members actively express their own personalities through their characters, they must always 'pretend' not to have an actual physical appearance, and fans must also 'pretend' not to know. What we enjoy is not the individuals themselves but the 'characters' they portray.

Fans describe PLAVE as "idols who would never appear in society." Just think about how many idols, involved in crimes such as drunk driving, drugs, or prostitution, have emerged not in the "entertainment sphere" but in the "social sphere." Since PLAVE is designed purely as manhwa characters, they cannot step outside the stage. There is no existence for them beyond what is officially presented to fans. Through virtual idols, fans have obtained idols who, at the very least, will never disappoint them in terms of privacy issues.

On the other hand, being virtual idols could provide those portraying idols with a good opportunity to separate their lives as idols from their everyday lives. Although their body shapes may be somewhat shared through motion capture devices, they are not directly filmed, so they don't have to obsessively manage their weight. The same goes for their faces. Since their facial features are created graphically, the actual faces of the actors are not of great importance to virtual idols. This might relieve them from the pressure of plastic surgery or appearance concerns.

Crimes, cyberbullying, depression, and even suicide—despite the rapid growth of the idol industry, these incidents that have been irresponsibly overlooked have left deep scars on both fans and idols. Virtual idols represent a new form of love that emerges amidst this harsh reality. Of course, it remains uncertain whether this will lead to further exploitation or become an unprecedented liberating outlet. The truth that can be emphasized here is that both fans and idols desire a "safer kind of love."