ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the peculiarity of Tablo's incident to explicate a kind of transgressive enjoyment specific to K-pop spectatorship transgressive because the source of pleasure hangs precariously between the violation of and subscription to social norms. Tablo's academic accomplishment was a different variety of "perfection" fans expected to see in the general pool of K-pop idols whose appeal usually rests on physical beauty, musical talent, or performative prowess. Tablo's incident effectively showcases the social, political, and economic dynamics of K-pop spectatorship, the underlying objective and system of which boils down to the idea of "entertainment" as a commodity. The political turmoil and dictatorship that followed the Korean War marred the legitimacy of the leading forces in the political power structure, whose growth-driven economic policies also led to a widespread discontent concerning the opportunities for and distribution of economic wealth. A deep-seated distrust of the political, economic, and intellectual elites has permeated Korean society for over half a century.
