Oh well hello... it's almost 2 am in my country lol and I've been literally digging this thread for the last hour or so. I've come to a place of feeling desperate, because I never thought that since being born-again in Christ, leaving kpop behind is one of the most difficult things for me to do. I've grown so attached, and they purposely make you addicted to their personalities, making you believe that somehow you KNOW them. Coincidentially or not, the moment I was introduced to kpop, my darkest period in my life started. I got seriously depressed and anxious, having panic attacks on a daily basis. Funny enough, the only thing that would make me be kinda 'alive' was kpop! nothing else made me feel better. So if I didn't have kpop, I would have no escape for my growing mental illness.
Now I'm way better, without any depression or anxiety left, by grace of God, but now I realize the hold kpop has in me, and it's not normal. It's not something that you just simply like, it becomes your whole life. In my opinion it's even worse than western music. In kpop you have so much more things to get attached to, and constantly seeing these idols being feminized really messes with your mind. I cannot tell you how many people I met in the kpop fandom who are changing their gender identity on a daily basis. I was one of them.
Anyways sorry to ramble I just wanted to share my experience with kpop and its influences. God bless you all!!