Musical star and former Fin.K.L member Ock Joo-hyun has sparked controversy after slamming some singers for relying on Auto-Tune and heavy post-editing.
Messages Ock sent to fans through a private fan communication platform have been going viral across online communities and social media. In them, she criticizes the increasingly excessive use of Auto-Tune and post-processing on music shows and pre-recorded stages.
Ock wrote, "These days, no matter how poorly someone sings, they do extreme post-work with Auto-Tune," adding, "People who perform fully live aren’t happy about it." She stressed that live stages need rawness and constant improvement, expressing frustration that lack of skill is being masked by editing.
In particular, she said, "During recordings, things that you’d think could never make it to broadcast end up strangely leveled once they go through Auto-Tune," confessing, "Honestly, it makes me angry." She also added that she doesn’t want to appear on the same programs or share a stage with such people.
She acknowledged her words might come off harsh. Ock said, "You might think it’s a rude comment, but it’s the truth," and, "With today’s Auto-Tune post-work, it looks like anyone can just come out and sing."
When a fan worried about how strong her wording was, Ock didn’t back down. "We shouldn’t be nurturing hopeful trainees who think they can take on a singing career even if they can’t sing," she insisted, emphasizing, "We need to nip that in the bud."
Public reaction has been split since her remarks surfaced. Some agreed, saying, "Over-editing is out of control these days" and "Given all the live-singing controversies, her point makes sense." Others countered, "We get the message, but the expression is too strong" and "As a senior, she should have been more careful with her words."
Ock Joo-hyun debuted in 1998 as a member of Fin.K.L. Beginning with the 2005 musical Aida, she has built a solid career starring in multiple major productions.
Known for her powerhouse vocals and longevity on stage, Ock’s latest comments have reignited a fierce debate in the K-pop industry over live ability and heavy post-editing.