Synopsis: The Straits Times examines the ins and outs of pop culture in the Asian entertainment and Hollywood scene.

This week, #PopVultures host Jan Lee welcomes podcast producer Penelope Lee to talk and air their feelings about idols dating!

Did you know that South Korean tabloid Dispatch usually releases a report on the first day of the new year that exposes a celebrity romance? Celebrity couples who confirmed they were dating after the Dispatch New Year report includes Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, Exo's Kai and Blackpink's Jennie and Lee Seung-gi and Girls Generation's Yoona. 

Using that as a jumping-off point, Penelope and Jan - who are both long-time fangirls of different groups like BTS, Arashi and One Direction - discuss the taboo around dating for idols, how idols are marketed, the consequences that can arise from a dating or marriage scandal and their own thoughts on the issues.

Highlights (tap/click above):

02:06 Are there dating bans for idols? Why aren't idols allowed to date? And how do the Hollywood and Asian entertainment industries differ on this front?

10:45 How pop idols are different from actors or singers

13:36 Consequences and case studies on idols who have been caught dating with examples from Super Junior's Heechul and Twice's Momo, AKB48's Minami Minegishi and pop singers Hyuna and Dawn

30:57 Final thoughts

Produced by Jan Lee ([email protected]) and Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee & Hadyu Rahim

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