Black oceans are usually used to protest K-Pop artists.
Koreaboo
Lightsticks are an important part of the fan experience, and using them during shows is also special for artists. When K-Pop idols perform, they can expect to see an “ocean” of light coming from the glow sticks that fans are holding, showing their support.
pink ocean with 70K flashes, it’s so beautiful! 🤯pic.twitter.com/uBGHhgslSP
— pinksviral 🪐 (@pinksviral) March 4, 2023
blue ocean in SK, Thailand and Manila, IT’S SO DAMN BEAUTIFUL pic.twitter.com/hfo2ywxq24
— luigi (closed) (@acewtnb) July 31, 2022
This is the fullest green ocean even in the standing section pic.twitter.com/ua05rArdeC
— smoke 🥃 (@shyboyjae) December 3, 2022
The same goes for large multi-group events like music festivals that have multiple fandoms in attendance: more often than not, out of kindness, fans of other groups leave their lights on when someone else is on stage.
However, in the past, there have been times when the audience created a “black ocean” by turning off the lights, leaving the group to perform in an almost completely dark place. One of the most infamous cases of this event involved Girls’ Generation receiving a black ocean.
Remembering the incident of the female generation that shook the world of K-Pop
It has recently been stated that a THE SERAPHINS they were the recipients of a black ocean, but is it true?
On Christmas Day, the 2024 Gayo Daejeon took place, boasting a line-up perceived by many to be the best of the year-end festivals.
During the show, LE SSERAFIM took to the stage, performing a program entitled “The category is LE SSERAFIM”. Their performance included a special dance break and one of the “Crazy” remixes.
While the group put on an amazing performance, some online questioned the crowd’s reactions, with some wondering if the group had received a black ocean. Over the past year, SSERAFIM have been at the center of criticism for their live vocals, which unfortunately included hatred towards the members.
When watching the clips, the audience appears blown out, the technical definition of a black ocean.
sincere question, is that a black ocean? https://t.co/SrLFILyJ15
— cata (@xenogsl) December 25, 2024
a black ocean in the great 2024…. this can’t be real https://t.co/QCIe9nKbNu
— enter my bowl (@bisgouit) December 25, 2024
apparently these monsters gave le sserafim a black ocean girl like that clears the fact that they tore that stage apart 😭 jobless behavior, napaka-acm https://t.co/lCmF0D5jEL
— miggy🪽 (@say_chaeese) December 25, 2024
However, this was not the case in this circumstance.
Although there weren’t many lights during LE SSERAFIM’s performance, the same could be said for other groups, including aespa and ILLIT.
Many shared this, saying that rather than SSERAFIM being singled out for a black ocean, glow sticks were not lit during many performances and audiences reacted to the groups.
cmiiw but I don’t think there was a black ocean… I tried watching other groups’ performances for comparison and the audience area looked the same pic.twitter.com/S0Bn8y8Mve
— Geo (@agicheetah) December 25, 2024
I’m not sure if the “black ocean” story is true… in the clearer videos, almost everyone in the audience is seen filming 😂 🤷🏻♀️ In any case, the Fimmies did well! pic.twitter.com/wp8s2cXTgm
— Liz³⁹ (@39liz) December 25, 2024
There wasn’t a black ocean I look at from Izna’s performance at le sserafim and I didn’t see any difference in the crowd https://t.co/uwyNNY6lI5
— MICHIN (positive) ⚡️ (@roseisa9) December 25, 2024
Thankfully, it appears that SSERAFIM were not targeted with hateful intent!
