The K-Pop Documentaries You Should Know About
As global superstars, you don't really get to know the person behind the cameras. You can watch them seemingly "get real" during an interview, or you might think you know who they are during a fancall or livestream.
But are they still performing? Most of the time, yes.
The closest thing we, as the audience, can get to understanding who an artist is underneath the glitz and glamour is in a documentary. Yes, there is still an element of performance, but you can see what goes into building their untouchable identity. Why do they want to do what they do? What parts of their image are based on their raw interests and passion?
Below, find five K-pop documentaries you should know so you can understand who your favorite idols are beyond the music.
NCT 127: The Lost Boys
In four episodes, watch the nine members of NCT 127 share intimate stories from their youth to bring context to who they are as artists. Each episode features two to three members conducting their "neo essays" through plays, animations and more.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER: Our Lost Summer
As the second group to debut under Big Hit Entertainment, the pressure was on for TOMORROW X TOGETHER. But unlike the K-pop performers that came before them, they had years to ride the highs of their first few years. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, their career came to a halt.
Their new documentary, TOMORROW X TOGETHER: Our Lost Summer, shows their bumpy journey back into the real world with the first post-pandemic tour, including their performance at Lollapalooza, which marked the first K-pop group appearance at the festival.
SUGA: Road to D-Day
For all of his career, SUGA of BTS has been applauded for his vulnerability and honesty in discussing challenging topics in an industry notoriously far removed from reality. After moving to the top, you'd assume SUGA had it all, but underneath it, he still felt those very visceral anxieties and perfectionist behaviors from the beginning of his career. As he made his studio debut, Road to D-Day watched SUGA find freedom in his new music and understand what those feelings all meant as a 20 and 30-year-old.
Also read about: 30 Quotes from SUGA: Road to D-Day That Reveal the True Artistry of the BTS Rapper
j-hope IN THE BOX
j-hope IN THE BOX might be our personal favorite from this list. This documentary follows the BTS phenom as he prepares for his historic headlining performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago and the launch of his debut studio album, Jack in the Box. Beyond giving a sneak peek into his daily life as a global celebrity, this documentary solidified that j-hope's passion for music runs deep. The odds weren't ever in his (or any of BTS member's) favor, coming from a small company with little to no training, but they persisted. And that same humble, hard-working nature still exists within j-hope today.
BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky
In 2019, K-pop was generally unheard of in festival landscapes, so it became monumental for the four girls of BLACKPINK to perform at Coachella. Blackpink: Light Up the Sky unveils the intensity behind their performance and the journey to get there, tracing back to their debut in 2016.
Have a BTS superfan in your life? Celebrate them with one of THESE five gifts.