An American pop star (think Olivia Rodrigo/Troye Sivan energy) and the leader of the biggest K-pop boy group are forced to collaborate on a Billboard Hot 100 single. The catch: they hate each other. Or rather, they hate how much they don't want to stop looking at each other.
The U.S.-pop Korean relationship is no longer a novelty. It is a staple. It has produced some of the most heart-wrenching, hilarious, and honest romantic storylines of the past five years. From the quiet pier in Past Lives to the snowy border of Crash Landing on You , these stories have proven one universal truth: love is the most powerful translator. An American pop star (think Olivia Rodrigo/Troye Sivan
To appreciate the current renaissance, we must first acknowledge the painful awkwardness of the past. Early representations of Korean-American romance were defined by three toxic tropes: From the quiet pier in Past Lives to