u/Chemical-Drawer-8425

i saw this video on tiktok where this person made some points about how cortis is a "perfect example why kpop sucks now/is a dying genre" (that was the starting claim word for word), saying "old kpop" as a genre had groups with their own identities with addictive choreography and aesthetics, and now companies abandoned that for aesthetics popular with western audiences (matching stage outfits in favor of luxury clothing, creative visuals watered down to be more palatable). they say kpop groups now make music closer to their "western counterparts" which led to the creation of cortis, promising authenticity but having similarities to other groups so they aren't actually unique and different.

c&p from my last post: judging from the comments under this creator's videos about cortis, it appears they have an infamous history of making misinforming and harsh videos about them and other hybe groups for clout, but that aside, in my opinion i think kpop is not a genre because there isn't one specific sound every group uses. kpop has always had "western counterparts" and while original can be authentic, authentic doesn't always mean original, and the only people claiming they invented the sound their music has are some coers but not cortis themselves. sorry if this is mean but in 2026, the yearning for old kpop HAS to die down because even older and more popular groups like bts are changing their sound and aesthetic to get with the times, and that's definitely working even with people who aren't fans, so kpop sure isn't a "dying genre" either.

what are your opinions on their takes? i tried to summarize as best i could without the video to avoid drama and sending hate, but please don't be afraid to be honest if you have similar thoughts!

Collage created by me!

I have noticed complaints about CORTIS being "too inspired by Western rap" and it inspired me to research Korean/East Asian mythology, in hopes of finding some kind of story that would be best for a concept and I think I cooked. I will make a few points explaining my thought process and how this could work for CORTIS.

Dragon Kings (mythology) - In most mythical adaptations of stories by Buddhists, there are either one or five dragon kings: the Azure Dragon of the East Sea, Black Dragon of the North, Red Dragon of the South, White Dragon of the West, and a Yellow Dragon in the center as a leader to the others. I imagined Keonho to be blue (azure), Seonghyeon to be red, James to be black, Juhoon to be white, and Martin to be yellow. These dragons have their own stories, so I thought CORTIS could make this mythology their own by instead of outright being dragons (similar to other HYBE lore with vampires and wolves), they would tell a story of them being young imugis (serpent-like creatures that aren't dragons yet) in search of their individual yeouijus (magical orbs symbolizing wisdom and clarity). Picture a music video scene of one of these yeouijus falling from the heavens into a member's hands, symbolizing maturing and growth.
The Music - I think they should keep the hip-hop/indie sleaze direction they appear to be having fun with, but blend it with traditional Korean instruments (sampling a gayageum, janggu, buk, etc.) to fit an album like this. To really tell a meaningful story visually and sonically about their journey as "imugis", pansori (Korean musical storytelling) would work best, too, and maybe a dial down on their usual autotune a bit to hear their unique voices. I would also like to be as culturally sensitive as possible and be mindful of James, who is Thai and Taiwanese, and not make this concept "Korean-exclusive", including elements from his culture as well.
Stage Outfits - Look up brands such as Ed Hardy and Karakuri Tamashii and they are perfect examples of what I am picturing them wearing. Streetwear with maximalist East Asian art/aesthetics is a beautiful sharing of culture. Jean shorts and jackets with dragons, sweatpants and t-shirts with hangul written on them, and jade/beaded jewelry (plain to avoid disrespecting cultural significance) are a great fit for this story + sound. I know some people might say that it could border on being tacky, so even more plain clothing could work too if layered and styled right (stylish bandanas in pants pocket/belthole, multicolored accessories).
Overall Vibe - Finally, imagine the "tokyo-drift" neon lights, nightlife/street culture, indie aesthetic but if it was "seoul-drift" and based in Korea. This would follow the concept of a modern adaptation of the dragon mythology I mentioned and is (hopefully) captured in this image I made on pinterest.

I will share this post to a few other subreddits as well. Please share your opinions and constructive criticism is welcome!

cortis criticsm (reupload)

If CORTIS had an album concept that felt like this image, what would you guys think?