I think kpop is a very interesting phenomenon to look at, when talking about the sexualization or even, perhaps, objectification of male bodies. I'm young enough to have been exposed to the hype of kpop, when it first started spreading to the west a few years ago, and I admit that I had a bit of a cultural shock in the beginning. Prior to kpop, I had never seen men depicted like that in videos or on stage (or anywhere). The outfits, the dance moves, the styles and looks, it all felt like they were built with a female audience in mind. There's a lot of lip biting, hip gyrating, almost erotic dancing (not to mention the so called "skinship" between the male members of the group), and I find it very fascinating, because I don't think there's any western male celebrity out there who is catering to the "female gaze" like that.

Also, the guys in kpop seem to be going through the same extreme cosmetic procedures that are expected of women around the world. Most of them are hairless, their skin is soft and flawless looking, they wear lots of makeup, etc. And, while that isn't something every straight woman is going to be into, their rising popularity among teenage girls and young women seems to indicate that there is, actually demand for stuff like that. Women also want to see hot guys strike sexy poses, while half naked, but it's just not something the western industry is interested in producing. Not sure why, though.

I would also like to point that, while I understand the appeal of kpop, I think it's a highly exploitative industry, and I'm not sure I'd want to see it replicated in the west.