K-pop
K-pop | |
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Stylistic origins | |
Cultural origins | Nominally early 1990s, South Korea (roots traced to the 1960s) |
Typical instruments | |
Local scenes | |
Seoul | |
Other topics | |
K-pop (an abbreviation of Korean pop;[1] Hangul: 케이팝; RR: kei-pap)[1] is a musical genre originating in South Korea that is characterized by a wide variety of audiovisual elements. Although it comprises all genres of "popular music" within South Korea, the term is more often used in a narrower sense to describe a modern form of South Korean pop music covering a wide range of styles including dance-pop, pop ballad, electronic, rock, metal,[2] hip-hop music and R&B.[3]
In 1992, modern K-pop was ushered in with the formation of Seo Taiji and Boys, whose successful experimentation with different music styles had sparked a paradigm shift in the music industry of South Korea.[4] As a result, the integration of foreign musical elements has now become a common practice in the K-pop industry.[5]
First gaining popularity in East Asia in the late 1990s, K-pop entered the Japanese music market towards the turn of the 21st century. In the late 2000s, it grew from a musical genre into a subculture among teenagers and young adults of East and Southeast Asia.[6] Currently, the spread of K-pop to other regions of the world, via the Korean Wave, is seen in parts of Latin America,[7][8][9] Northeast India,[10][11] North Africa,[12][13] the Middle East,[14][15] Eastern Europe[16][17][18] and immigrant enclaves of the Western world.[19][20][21][22]
Korean pop culture is becoming an increasingly global phenomenon, caused in part by the K-pop industry's adeptness at tapping into social networking services and the video sharing platform YouTube.[23] Since the mid-2000s, the K-pop music market has experienced double digit growth rates. In the first half of 2012, it grossed nearly US$3.4 billion[24] and was recognized by Time magazine as "South Korea's Greatest Export".[25]
Overview
The hallmarks of K-pop are:
- Diversity of audiovisual content: Although K-pop generally refers to South Korean popular music, some consider it to be an all-encompassing genre exhibiting a vast spectrum of musical and visual elements. The French audiovisual organization Institut national de l'audiovisuel defines K-pop as a fusion of synthesized music, sharp dance routines and fashionable, colorful outfits combining bubblegum pop with the musical elements of electro, disco, rock, R&B, and hip-hop.[26]
- Systematic training of singers: The larger management agencies in South Korea offer binding contracts to children starting from age 9 to 10. Trainees live together in a tightly regulated environment and spend many hours a day learning music, choreography, foreign languages and communication techniques with fans and journalists. This "robotic" system of training is often criticized by Western media outlets.[27] In 2012, the cost of training a single member from SM Entertainment's nine-member band Girls' Generation averaged US$3 million.[28]
- Synchronized dance formations and key movements in the choreography: When performing K-pop music, multiple singers in a band, often made up of more than three members, switch their positions while singing and dancing by making prompt movements in synchrony.[29] The K-pop choreography often includes a hooking, repetitive dance that matches the characteristics of the lyrics of the song.[30][31]
- Rapid distribution via the Internet: As the South Korean music industry is comparatively small, songs are released onto national television and simultaneously uploaded onto YouTube to reach out to a worldwide audience.[32] This is often preceded by a series of eagerly anticipated announcements and promotional activities referred to as a "comeback", which altogether generates a significant amount of hype and excitement before the official release of songs and music videos.[33]
- Support of government agencies: The South Korean government has acknowledged that an increased interest in South Korean popular culture will benefit the country's export sector.[35] According to government estimates, a US$100 increase in the export of cultural products results in a US$412 increase in the export of other consumer goods.[36] Government initiatives to expand the popularity of K-pop are mostly undertaken by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which is responsible for the establishment of dozens of Korean Cultural Centers worldwide. Embassies and consulates of South Korea have also participated in the planning and organization of K-pop concerts outside the country,[37] and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regularly invites overseas K-pop fans to attend the annual K-Pop World Festival in South Korea.
- Dedicated fanbase: Fan activities include translating Korean song lyrics and publishing them in English and other languages. An article by The Wall Street Journal indicated that K-pop’s staying power will be shaped by fans, whose online services have partly evolved into "micro"-businesses and small-scale ventures.[38] It is common for fans to organize flash mobs at prominent public areas via Facebook, performing and dancing to the latest K-pop songs so that a concert would be held.[39] Others have turned to other avenues such as calling the local South Korean consulate or embassy to request a concert.[40]
While the roots of K-pop run all the way back to the 19th century, it was mostly contained within the Korean Peninsula until the 21st century when it became an integral part of the Korean Wave; a newly coined term describing the rise and spread of South Korean culture first across Asia, and then to the West and to other parts of the world.[41] According to a 2011 survey conducted by the Korean Culture and Information Service, the total number of active members in Hallyu (Korean Wave) fan clubs around the world is estimated to have surpassed 3 million for the first time.[42]
History
The beginnings of Korean popular music
Oppaneun punggakjaengi
(오빠는 풍각쟁이) A 1938 trot song by Kim Song Kyu and Park Yeong Ho. Sung by Park Hyang Rim. | |
Problems playing this file? See media help. |
The history of Korean popular music can be traced back to 1885 when an American missionary, Henry Appenzeller started teaching American and British folk songs at a school. These songs were called changga in Korean, and they were typically based on a popular Western melody sung with Korean lyrics. The well-known song "Oh My Darling, Clementine" was for example known as "Simcheongga".[note 1] During the Japanese rule (1910–1945) popularity of changga songs rose as Koreans tried to express their feelings against Japanese oppression through music. One of the most popular songs was "Huimangga" (희망가, The Song of Hope). The Japanese confiscated the existing changga collections and published lyrics books of their own.[43]
The first known Korean pop album was "Yi Pungjin Sewol" (This Tumultuous Time) by Park Chae-seon and Lee Ryu-saek from 1925 and contained popular songs translated from Japanese. The first pop song written by a Korean composer is thought to be "Nakhwayusu" (낙화유수, Fallen Blossoms on Running Water) sung by Lee Jeong-suk in 1929.[43] In the mid-1920s, Japanese composer Masao Koga mixed traditional Korean music with Gospel music that American Evangelists introduced in the 1870s. This type of music became known as Enka in Japan, and later in Korea as Trot (Korean: "트로트").[44][45] These songs became extremely popular.[43]
Later, in the 21st century K-pop singers rediscovered the genre of trot, for example singers like Daesung from Big Bang and several members of Super Junior produced trot singles.[46][47]
1940s–1960s: Arrival of Western culture
After the Korean Peninsula was partitioned into North and South following its liberation in 1945 from Japanese occupation, Western culture was introduced into South Korea on a small scale with a few Western style bars and clubs playing Western music. After the Korean War, which started on June 25, 1950 and lasted for 3 years, U.S. troops remained in South Korea for protection. With the continued presence of the U.S. military, American and world culture began to infiltrate South Korea. During this time, Western music became more accepted to a wider crowd of young adults.
The United Service Organizations made it possible for several prominent figures of American entertainment, like Marilyn Monroe or Louis Armstrong to visit the soldiers stationed in Korea. These visits prompted attention from the Korean public. In 1957 the American Forces Korea Network radio started its broadcast, spreading the popularity of Western music. American music started influencing Korean music, as pentatony was gradually replaced by heptachords and popular songs started to be modeled after American ones.[48]
Improvements in the recording systems encouraged the production of LP records in the 1960s, which led to the pursuit of diverse voice tones.[49] Many singers sang for the American troops in Korea at the time, usually in dedicated clubs, the number of which rose to 264. They performed various genres like country music, blues, jazz and rock & roll. Popular Korean singers earned a total of 1.2 million dollars a year which almost equaled the country's export income at the time.[48]
In the 1960s, the South Korean economy started blooming and popular music followed the trend. The appearance of the first commercial radio stations played a significant part in spreading popular music, Korean cinema began to develop. Korean musicians and singers formerly only performing at American clubs started opening up to wider audiences. When The Beatles fever reached the shores of Korea, the first local rock bands appeared, the very first is said to be Add4,[50] founded in 1962.[48] The first talent contest for rock bands in Seoul was organized in 1968. Besides rock and pop, trot songs remained popular.[48]
Some of the Korean singers managed to gain international popularity. The Kim Sisters, Yoon Bok-hee and Patti Kim were the first singers to debut in such countries as Vietnam and United States. The Kim Sisters became the first Korean group to release an album in the United States, they performed various times in Las Vegas and appeared several times on Ed Sullivan's TV show.[51] Han Myeong Suk's 1961 song titled "The Boy in The Yellow Shirt" was covered by French singer Yvette Giraud and was also popular in Japan.[48]
1970s: Korean hippie folk pop
At the end of the 1960s and beginning of the 1970s Korean pop music underwent another transformation. Musicians now tended to university students and graduates and made music fun and self entertaining unlike the earlier generations. These young musicians were heavily influenced by American culture and lifestyle, unlike their predecessors who had to experience war and Japanese oppression. This generational conflict was well reflected in the reception of the folk pop music of the 1970s. The audience consisted mostly of students following the American hippie style in fashion and music alike, with guitars and jeans becoming a symbol of youth.[49] These young people opposed the Vietnam war as much as American hippies did which resulted in the Korean government banning songs with more liberal lyrics. In spite of this, hippie folk pop remained popular among the youth so much so that the local television channel MBC organised a music contest for university students in 1977, which consequently led to the foundation of several modern music festivals.[52]
One of the leading figures of the era was Han Dae-soo, raised in the United States, influenced by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and John Lennon. Han's iconic song "Mul jom juso" (물 좀 주소, Give Me Water) became a hymn for young people in Korea, his daring performances and unique singing style often shocked the public and later he was banned from performing in Korea. Han moved to New York and pursued his musical career there, only returning to his home country in the 1990s.[52] Other notable singers of the period include Song Chang-sik, Young Nam Cho and Hee Eun Yang.
In the 1970s, DJs also started to become popular, deeply impacting teenage culture.[49]
1980s: The era of ballads
The 1980s saw the rise of ballad singers, the genre became popular after the 1985 release of Lee Gwang-jo's "You’re Too Far Away to Get Close to" (가까이 하기엔 너무 먼 당신, Gakkai Hagien Neomu Meon Dangsin). Lee's album sold more than 300,000 copies. Other popular ballad singers included Lee Moon-se (이문세) and Byun Jin-seob (변진섭), nicknamed the "Prince of Ballads". One of the most sought after ballad composers of the era was Lee Young-hoon (이영훈), whose songs were compiled into a modern musical in 2011 titled Gwanghwamun Yeonga (광화문 연가, Gwanghwamun's Song).[53]
In 1980, the Asia Music Forum was launched. National singers from five different Asian countries competed in the event. Cho Yong-pil won first place and earned a high reputation as a Korean singer in Japan.[49] His first album, Chang bakkui yeoja (창 밖의 여자, The Woman outside the Window) was a hit and he became the first Korean singer to take the stage at the Carnegie Hall in New York. He won nearly all relevant awards at major events, including best composer and best song awards. He was invited to perform in Japan and Hong Kong, among other countries. Cho's musical repertoire included rock, dance, trot and folk pop.[53]
1990s: The turning point
In the 1990s, early Korean pop musicians incorporated American popular music styles like rap, rock and techno in their music.[55] In 1992 the emergence of Seo Taiji & Boys brought a true turning point in the history of K-pop.[56] The trio debuted on MBC's talent show with their song "Nan Arayo" (난 알아요, I Know) and got the lowest rating from the jury.[56] However, the song and the album with the same title became so successful that, according to MTV Iggy, "K-pop music would never be the same" again:[57] "Its new jack swing-inspired beats, catchy rap lyrics and memorable choruses took Korean audiences by storm".[57] The lyrics of Seo Taiji & Boys dealt with the problems of Korean society, which other entertainers of the era failed to do.[57] Their sound paved the way for the "success format" of K-pop songs,[57] and their footsteps were followed by a wave of successful hip hop and R&B artists like Yoo Seungjun, Jinusean, Deux, 1TYM and Drunken Tiger.[56]
In 1995 Korean entrepreneur Lee Soo-man founded South Korea's largest talent agency and record label, SM Entertainment.[58] By the late 1990s, YG Entertainment, DSP Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and FNC Music had burst onto the scene as well and were producing talent as quickly as the public could consume it.[59]
The success of Seo Taiji & Boys brought a new audience to K-pop: teenagers, which led to the emergence of so-called idol bands: young boy and girl bands.[56] H.O.T. is considered as the first K-pop idol boy band, they debuted in 1995. They were followed by bands like Sechs Kies, S.E.S., Fin.K.L, NRG, Taesaja, Baby V.O.X., Diva, Shinhwa and g.o.d[56] The 1997 Asian financial crisis prompted Korean entertainers to look for new markets: H.O.T. also released a Chinese language album[56] and Diva released an English album in Taiwan.
The 1990s were also a successful period for underground music clubs, punk rock bands like Pipi Band or Crying Nut managed to gain mainstream popularity.[56]
21st century: Rise of Hallyu (Korean Wave)
The increasing popularity of K-pop has been termed the “Korean Wave”, which refers to “the popularity of South Korean culture in other Asian countries”.[60] Nowadays, the Korean Wave can be seen not only within Asian countries, but it is also making appearances in the Western music scene. This is due not only to the ways in which other cultures influence K-pop, but also to the idea that the K-pop industry and entertainment houses places immense pressure on their artists to be global performers. “K-pop entails the export of music ‘made in Korea’ to global consumers”.[61] K-pop is created with the goal of not only being popular within Korea and Asia, but also to display ‘Korean culture’ to those outside of Asia.
K-pop industry statistics | ||
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Year | Total exports in US$ | YouTube views |
2008 | $16.5 million[62] | |
2009 | $31.3 million[62] | |
2010 | $84.9 million[63] | 800 million[64] |
2011 | $180 million[63] | 2.2 billion[65] |
2012 | $235 million[66] | 7.0 billion[65] |
Exports by country (US$) | ||
Year | Japan | China |
2008 | $11.2 million[67] | $1.80 million[68] |
2009 | $21.6 million[69] | $2.36 million[69] |
2010 | $3.60 million[68] | |
2012 | $204 million[70] |
Towards the turn of the 21st century, the K-pop genre began spreading out to other regions of the world as part of the global Korean Wave. In 2002, Baby V.O.X.'s single "Coincidence" became popular in many Asian countries because it was released and promoted right away during the World Cup in South Korea and BoA became the first K-pop singer to reach No. 1 on the Japanese Oricon music chart.[71] Shortly afterwards, the South Korean music artist Rain gave a sold-out concert to 40,000 fans in Beijing.[72]
In 2003, the girl group Baby V.O.X. topped the Chinese music charts with their Chinese single I'm Still Loving You from their third album Devotion, thus being the first idol group to do so and making a huge fanbase in China and also charted in various music charts in Thailand with singles What Should I Do and I'm Still Loving You. Since the mid-2000s, a huge portion of the East Asian music market has been dominated by K-pop idol groups.[73]
In 2008, South Korea's cultural exports (including television dramas and computer games) rose to US$2 billion for the first time, maintaining an annual growth rate of over 10%.[74] That year, Japan accounted for almost 68% of all K-pop export revenues, ahead of China (11.2%) and the United States (2.1%).[75] The sale of concert tickets proved to be a lucrative business as fans were willing to fork out large sums to see their idols. For example, TVXQ's Tohoshinki Live Tour in Japan sold over 850,000 tickets at an average cost of US$109 each, generating a total of $US92.6 million in revenues.[76] Over 60% of the K-pop industry's export revenue is derived from the sale of concert tickets.[76]
According to Foreign Policy, the K-pop genre subsequently took off in Southeast Asia before reaching out to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South America.[18] In 2012, the number of fans in Turkey surpassed 100,000 for the first time,[77] and reached 150,000 in 2013.[78] That year, there were 70 K-pop fan clubs in Mexico, with at least 60,000 members altogether.[79]
Several singers decided to expand their music careers by releasing English language-studio albums in the hope of bringing over the genre to Western music markets. Such attempts did not yield much success.[80]
In 2012, K-pop's breakthrough into the Western mainstream media occurred through the release of Psy's "Gangnam Style," which racked up over 2 billion views on YouTube as of July 2014, the first ever Internet video to reach one billion views.
Other recent milestones attained by K-pop bands and musicians include:
- February 2006: Rain had two sold-out performances at the theater at Madison Square Garden.[81]
- May 2007: Rain was the first K-pop music artist to perform at Japan's biggest concert hall, the Tokyo Dome, in front of 40,000 fans. The show was sold out within two days after the tickets went on sale.[82]
- October 2009: The Wonder Girls entered the US Billboard Hot 100 music chart with their single "Nobody", which was widely noted for its music video's viral spread. It has surpassed 50 million views on YouTube.[83][84]
- September 2010: SM Entertainment held its first concert outside the Asian continent with the SMTown Live '10 World Tour in Los Angeles.[85] This preceded two sold-out concerts at the Zénith de Paris a few months later in France.[86] The original concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles grossed over US$1 million,[87] and took the 9th position on the Billboard Boxscore Chart.[88]
- August 2011: Billboard launched the Korea K-Pop Hot 100 music chart which was discontinued in 2014.[89]
- November 2011: 2NE1 was the first K-pop artist chosen as MTV Iggy’s "Best New Band in the World."[90]
- November 2011: Big Bang faced off competition from Britney Spears and German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut to clinch the 2011 MTV Europe Music Award for Best Worldwide Act.[91] Shortly after, Google announced that its subsidiary YouTube would launch its own K-pop channel.[92]
- December 2011: The total number of YouTube views generated by K-Pop videos in 2011 surpassed 1 billion. It had tripled from 800 million in the previous year to more than 2.3 billion, spurred by growth in viewership from Europe and the Middle East.[93] In the same month, the United Cube Concert was held in São Paulo, Brazil, heralding the arrival of K-pop in South America.[94]
- February 2012: Girls' Generation's appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and Live! with Kelly on January 31 and February 1, 2012, in the United States where they performed remixes of the English version of their song, "The Boys". It marked the first time that a Korean musical act has performed on each of the shows.
- March 2012: The longest running boy band in the industry, Shinhwa, who debuted in 1998, released new music after a four-year hiatus during which the band members had served individual mandatory military services.[95][96] After becoming the first K-pop band to enter the Billboard 200 music chart with their album Alive, Big Bang kicked off the Alive Tour in 25 cities worldwide.[97][98] The tour ended in early 2013, and was attended by 800,000 concert-goers around the world.[99]
- September 2012: 2NE1 became the first K-pop girl group to rank on Billboard's Current Box Score. The group held their New Evolution Concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on August 24. 6,680 of the 6,714 tickets put on sale were sold, bringing in a gross sales of $653,716, and ranking at #29 on Billboard's Current Box Score.[100]
- November 2012: Psy's "Gangnam Style" became the most viewed video on YouTube. He became the first Asian pop star to cross over worldwide as well as helping K-pop penetrate the Western music markets.[101][102] After topping the record charts of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.[103] It was also awarded the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video,[104] and became the first video on YouTube to hit a billion views.[105]
- December 2012: Towards the end of the year, The New York Times selected 2NE1's performance at the Prudential Center in New Jersey as one of the "Best Concerts of 2012".[106]
- March 2013: f(x) became the first K-pop group to perform at SXSW during the K-Pop Night Out at SXSW in Austin, Texas.[107][108]
- April 2013: Girls' Generation's YouTube video for its 2009 single "Gee" surpassed 100 million views and becomes the first by a K-pop idol group to do so.[109] In the same month, Super Junior extended the Super Show 5 Tour to Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Santiago and Lima, making it the largest K-pop tour in South America.[110]
- August 2013: TVXQ concluded its successful Japanese tour Live Tour 2013: Time with two landmark performances at the prestigious Nissan Stadium, in front of a total of 140,000 fans across the two nights. They became the first Korean artists in history to perform at the venue, and only the fourth musical artist overall to do so.[111]
- November 2013: Girls' Generation was awarded with the "Video of the Year" at the 2013 YouTube Music Awards for their music video "I Got a Boy".[112]
- December 2013: EXO; with over a million copies sold, their 1st album "XOXO" became Korea's best-selling album in 12 years.
- May 2014: EXO's album Overdose sold 300,000 copies of the Korean version of the album. EXO-K's version of the five-track EP got into the Billboard 200 at No. 129, setting the record for the highest-charting album for male groups in K-pop. EXO-K's first-week sales surpassed the chart position of K-pop band Big Bang, who hit No. 150 on the Billboard 200 with "Alive" in 2012.[113]
- August 2014: Microsoft recruited 2NE1‘s "I Am The Best" to promote the Surface Pro 3.[114][115]
- December 2014: 2NE1's 'Gotta Be You' was named MTV Iggy's "Song Of The Year." [116] 2NE1's album Crush was the only album of an Asian artist listed on Fuse TV’s 40 Best Albums Of 2014 List.[117] That album was also the only one from an Asian artist named on Rolling Stone's "20 Best Pop Albums of 2014" list.[118] Crush ranked at No. 11 on Billboard's year-end World Albums chart, marking the first time a K-pop act has appeared on the year-end chart.[119]
- April 2015: Girls' Generation's Japanese version of "Mr. Taxi" surpassed 100 million views on YouTube. They became the first K-Pop group to have 4 official YouTube videos, "Gee", "I Got A Boy", "The Boys" and "Mr Taxi (Japanese Version) with 100 million or higher views.[120]
- April 2015: EXO's album Exodus sold 600,000 copies of their new album. It was the largest sales week ever for a K-pop act's album in America, landing the group at No. 70 on the Top Album Sales chart and No. 95 on the Billboard 200. This beats 2NE1's Crush album, which hit No. 61 on the Billboard 200 after selling 5,000 copies in the week ending March 2, 2014, and formerly held the record for K-pop's biggest sales week. EXO now holds the record for not only the biggest sales week for a K-pop album ever, but also the highest-charting album for male groups.[121]
Characteristics
Hybrid and transnational values
According to a Rolling Stone author, K-Pop embraces "genre fusion" with both singing and rap, while emphasizing solid performances and visuals at the same time.[122] It is a mix of genres like pop, rock, hip hop, R&B and electronic music. K-pop can be described as a globalized music; it is a mixture of Western and European sounds with an Asian flavor of performance. The way these Korean singers perform their songs with synchronized dance moves and complex gestures has increased the popularity of K-pop. It now takes a big place in the music market throughout Asia and the world.[123] As a Chinese K-pop fan describes it: "Korean pop culture skillfully blends Western and Asian values to create its own, and the country itself is viewed as a prominent model to follow or catch up, both culturally and economically". In this article, the author Doobo Shim adds that even if cultural proximity plays a big role in the popularity of K-pop in Asia, that is not enough. For him, this is that 'vision of modernization' inherent to the Korean pop culture that plays a part in making it acceptable.[124]
According to Eun-Young Jung, the transnational and hybrid values of K-pop are responsible for its success. He argues that values in K-pop are not only western or Korean. Indeed, according to how the process of transnationality developed, K-pop does not consist of Japanese and US values that have been mixed to match a marketing process. The cultural imperialism of Japanese and US societies deeply changed Korean popular values at multiple levels and inversely the rise of Korean popular culture started to influence the values of other countries. He says, "Contemporary Korean pop culture is built on such unavoidable transnational flows, as its multi-layered and multi-directional mobility has been creating various socio-cultural contacts taking place across, beyond, and outside national and institutional boundaries." He concludes that K-pop is not only a side genre that tries to survive next to the mainstream US pop, but that contemporary phenomenon are much more complex. He thinks that because of the development of digital technologies (Digital revolution) and globalization, consumers of twenty-first-century pop culture now have the choice between many cultural products from all over the world.[125]
K-pop is well known for its high quality artistic craft, the clean-cut features of its singers, their polite and genteel demeanor, as well as strong emphasis on middle class and suburban values which resonate with people across many different ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds around the world.[126] K-pop music has become diversified into many different genres. Some K-pop musicians offer songs with the mixture of the tunes from Western genres, such as country music. The combination of Asian singers singing Western and European style music contributes to the unique features of K-pop and makes it more global.[127]
Prior to the nineties, the K-pop music industry was relatively stagnant as the youth preferred American pop songs to local ones. Furthermore, live concerts were rarely held, and were often at a small venue. Musicians were also required to perform in accordance to rules set by local television networks. They often had to collaborate with the network’s own studio bands and dancers, which disallowed the country the opportunity to incorporate diverse elements of other musical genres to grow the K-pop scene. However, with restrictions on foreign travel being lifted shortly after, the Korean citizens were able to be exposed to music heard in other countries. Musicians began to experiment with multiple genres, and began appropriating foreign music styles. Local citizens were growing tired of the same old ballads that lacked liveliness and innovation. Not long after, bands began using the strategy of hybridization to enhance their music. Genres such as rap, soul, rock, hip-hop, and reggae were being mixed in a creative fashion. Within just over a decade, the country became the second largest music market in Asia. The quick ascension of K-pop eventually coincided with the rise of the digital age. Global sales were increasing at an exponential rate as new idols were being discovered and systematically produced by different management firms. The singers go through rigorous training regiments to reach a level of perfection in their singing and even their dancing. With the goal of achieving international success, many of the groups are required to elevate their music through the creation of memorable dance moves, and visually appealing music videos.[128]
Use of English for Widest Market Appeal
Recently, K-pop has been dominated by a trend to use increasing amounts of English in songs. This is a part of an effort to achieve a wider pan-Asian market. According to some scholars, "the Korean music industry has been directly influenced by the English boom, partly because Korean-Americans and/or Koreans who studied in the U.S. take full advantage of their English fluency and cultural resources that are not found commonly among those who were raised and educated in Korea."[129] In 1995, the percentage of song titles using English in the top 50 charts was only 8%. This increased to 30% in 2000, 18% in 2005, and 44% in 2010. Similarly, increasing numbers of K-pop bands use English names rather than Korean ones. [129] The economic reason for the increasing use of English lyrics is to appeal to a wider Asian market. Songs that contain high amount of English lyric can be marketed to Japan directly. A good example is Kara’s Jumping which was a very popular song in 2010. This song contained simple English lyrics that are repeated throughout the song. This song was released at the same time in both Korea and Japan.[129]
Interestingly, the use of English has not helped K-pop to penetrate in any significant way in the North American market. Although K-pop bands have attempted to hire successful North American producers to create songs for them, most of these results were not successful. This is because the way K-pop is produced, with the network of training camps, similar singing styles and dance moves, and does not sit well with a North American audience. In addition, according to Dal Yong Jin and Woongjae Ryoo, “K-pop has a tough time making it in America because it strives to differentiate itself from its American counterparts, but, at the same time, it looks and sounds too much like it”.[129] It becomes difficult for K-pop to break into a music industry and offer it something that it already has, or sell the same ideas and culture but repackaged and labelled as something else. Since K-pop can be seen as an appropriated and distilled version of Western music, it is difficult for K-pop to find acceptance in these markets.[129] North American audiences place a heavy emphasis on authentic individual expression in music, which is a fundamentally different purpose then that of the Korean studio system.[129]
The concept of global entertainment
"As the global music market shifts from a tangible product to a digital one, the very nature of what the industries sells is changing. With so much content instantly accessible across the world, they succeed not by selling music but by selling sensations, a product that ratherly crosses languages and cultural barriers." [130] The concept of global entertainment aim to provide sensations rather than only music, by complete products and performances : music, dance, fashion, shows, TV appearance, acting... For the Korean cultural industry, trainee system is an important part of the global entertainment, it was called the cultural technology by the founder of SM Entertainment. It doesn't allow mistakes and program the rookies to become multi-talent stars.[131]
The BBC describes the K-pop group singers Super Junior and the Wonder Girls as "highly produced, sugary boy- and girl-bands with slick dance routines and catchy tunes."[132] K-pop is also recognized for pretty-boys and girl groups[133] that are young and considered attractive.[134][135]
More than 60 boy and girl bands are produced each year in Korea, making way of labeling K-pop as a "star factory". Many of these bands disappear after a few hits.[136] K-pop is a fast paced and high-competition industry, according to the Korea Times it produces easily consumable and disposable one-time hit songs that the audience downloads and then deletes.[137] The majority of K-pop songs spend only a short time on music charts and it is rare for a hit to lead the charts for several weeks.[138] The basic format is usually built upon a catchy chorus part and a spectacular, easy-to-master dance to accompany the song – like "Sorry, Sorry" from Super Junior, "Gee" from Girls' Generation or "Abracadabra" from Brown Eyed Girls. The songs are marketed for one or two months and then are usually forgotten as new ones take their place.[136][137] Singer Insooni complained that "the songs that we sang back in the day are still sung today. But music these days – people perform for three months than [sic] stop. Fans have lost a sense of responsibility."[139]
Visual experience is an integrated part of K-pop, which comprises the artist's physical appearance and clothing as well as the sophisticated visuals of concerts and music videos.[140] K-pop videos are often vivid, colourful, strident, extravagant and compared to traditional pop videos can even be shocking or incomprehensible.[141][142][143]
There are instances of foreign songwriters and producers composing songs for Korean performers, such as will.i.am, Sean Garrett, and American-raised Teddy Park.[144][145][146] Musicians who have collaborated with various K-Pop idols include many notable recording artists from the African American hip hop community, such as Akon, Kanye West, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and will.i.am.[147][148][149] It is not uncommon for K-pop songs to be composed by songwriters from Norway and Sweden.[150][151] As a music executive told The Wall Street Journal, South Korean music labels want "a mix of U.S. beats but with a Scandinavian songwriting style."[152]
In recent years, K-pop has been overwhelmingly dominated by new generation idol bands and the expansion of genre is almost entirely driven by the Internet. As traditional media records are losing popularity among consumers, the significance of digital records has risen. In order to capture the audience's attention in a shorter period of time, K-pop record labels generally prefer releasing and distributing shortened EP or single formats (as compared to full-length albums). This has led to the widespread use of so-called 'hooks', which refers to catchy choruses that is easy to memorize.[72]
Marketing
Korean talent agencies stage manage the debut of new acts in order to create anticipation for the new act, which will often officially debut live on one of the main television music programs with a "debut stage". For the debut single acts will be have an overall "concept", a marketing hook, which influences the name of the act, clothes, choreography, catch phrases and how they are presented, within bands individual members will have a personal concept, this being a role that they will play within the band, e.g. leader, visual, maknae, rapper etc.
Once a rookie act's debut cycle has ended they enter their second promotional cycle with a "comeback", called as such even when the musician or group in question did not go on hiatus.[33] Each promotional cycle will be presented with its own concept.
In order to make their new albums known to the public, K-pop artists participate in various promotional activities, such as appearing and performing on national television. Popular Korean music programs in which bands and musicians usually make their comeback include the Korean Broadcasting System's Music Bank, the Seoul Broadcasting System's The Music Trend, and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation's Show! Music Core. The first performance by a K-Pop artist on a music program specifically for the promotion of their new album or single is also known as the "comeback stage".[153] In addition to stage performances, teaser images and video clips are commonly released to the public as part of a "comeback".[154] These are released one after another, often within the space of a few days before the full release.
Agencies may form "sub groups", also known as "sub units", from the members of a band, this allows band members to pursue different individual projects and engagements at the same time. Sub groups will be presented with a variant of their parent groups concept. The first modern K-Pop sub-group was Super Junior-K.R.Y., consisting of members Kyuhyun, Ryeowook and Yesung of Super Junior. The group focused on ballads as opposed to the usual dance-pop style of Super Junior.
Dance
Dance is an integral part of K-pop. When combining multiple singers, the singers often switch their positions while singing and dancing by making prompt movements in synchrony. Since the debut of Seo Taiji & Boys, multiple singers began to switch their positions while singing and dancing, a strategy called "formation changing" (Korean: 자리 바꿈, Jari ba'ggum)[29] and a turning point for the establishment of K-pop choreography (Korean: 안무, Anmu).
The K-pop choreography often includes the so-called "point dance, "(Korean: 포인트 댄스) referring to a dance made up of hooking and repetitive movements within the choreography. The key movements standing out and being easily remembered are supposed to match the characteristics of the lyrics of the song. "Point dance" in a song has almost become a stereotype of K-Pops as shown in the success of the key movements like rubbing hands together side to side as a Korean hand gesture for apology in "Sorry Sorry" from Super Junior.
To choreograph a dance for a song requires the writers to take the tempo into account.[155] A fan's ability to do the same steps must also be considered: "The Korean people really want their fans to be in the music as well. That's why as choreographers we have to simplify movements," according to Ellen Kim, a Los Angeles dancer and choreographer.[155]
Cover dances and YouTube
A new phenomena for the Korean Wave is dance covers. Dance covers and cover groups are a popular hit on the world of YouTube. As the word suggests, it is when an individual, or group of individuals, mimic the dance moves of the original artist, as if they were really them.[156] This involves mimicking the dance moves, the style of dance, as well as facial expressions.
The emergence of YouTube, in 2005, allowed for the circulation of the music videos and dance videos of different K-pop artists.[157] The creation of YouTube also allowed the posting of dance practice videos from the companies which the artists are a part of, through personal YouTube pages, and to the public so that people from all around the world can view the videos.[158] Popular YouTube channels like "MirrorHD", flip the original dance videos released by K-pop artists, so that the video is mirrored.[159] This makes it easier for people to replicate the movements. With this, people can create their own cover dance videos to also post online and get more recognition from people around the world. People upload their dance cover videos on YouTube so that others may view them as well.
Publishing dance videos on YouTube will also help in the spread of K-pop to other parts of the world. Many K-pop groups have also acknowledged dance groups for their support and help in the recognition of K-pop around the world.[159] K-pop girl group T-ARA once acknowledged cover videos by creating a montage video of a few.[159]
Cover dance groups
The K-pop industry targets a young audience.[160] That is why many of the dance cover groups online are often young adults and teens. There is a number of groups and individuals who upload dance cover videos to YouTube for the world to see. Depending on the country, some groups are more recognized than others. While some individuals and groups prefer to film their covers in a simplistic manner, a simple point and shoot, some prefer the more theatrical and cinematic approach.
Vietnam
There are two dance groups that have risen above and beyond the others. They are the most popular among the K-pop community and the most recognized of all dance groups. These two groups are St. 319 and YG Lovers Crew.
St.319 is a group that was formed in 2011, and started out with only 2 members but has since grown in members and popularity.[161] St. 319's viewings on their YouTube videos range from two to three million views.[162] For this reason, this dance group has gathered a huge fan base from all over the world. This group covers all of the most popular K-pop songs and focus on the pop aspects of songs.[163] St. 319's ratings and views outnumber the rest of the dance groups in Vietnam, such as YG Lovers Crew, and are the most popular among the K-pop community.[164]
Another popular group emerging from Vietnam is YG Lovers Crew.[162] This group, in particular covers songs from YG Entertainment, a K-pop based company.[163] This group, in comparison to St. 319, focuses more on hip hop choreography rather than the pop elements.[163] Much like St. 319, this group has acquired a huge fan base in Vietnam and is also one of the most popular and well known K-pop cover dance groups.
Ottawa
In Canada, particularly in Ottawa, K-pop dance cover group Ottawa Hallyu Dance Team, is among other dance cover groups, one of the most popular and well known.This dance cover group has over 600 subscribers on YouTube, and well over 10,000 views on some of their videos.[165] The group was originally formed when members of the group met through a Korean language course class and were asked to form a dance group.[165] From there, the Ottawa Hallyu Dance Team grew in numbers and now consists of 17 active members[165] ranging from different cultures, ages, and ethnicity. This dance cover group is well known for their theatrical and cinematic recording of dance covers, similar to the original K-pop music videos. They are a well-known group within the Ottawa region for they were the first dance cover group to be formed.[165]
Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, California, dance cover group NYX is one that has acquired over 110, 000 subscribers on YouTube and over 15 million views on their channel.[166] The group originally started out with only two members, until they added a third member after both having competed in a K-pop competition in Los Angeles.
Fashion
K-pop also influences fashion, especially in Asia, where clothes and accessories worn by K-pop stars, as well as their hairstyles and the cosmetic brands they use are sought after by young listeners.[167] Fashion brands release copies of clothing worn by idols.[168] Some K-pop idols including G-Dragon from Big Bang have established themselves as a fashion icon by attracting the attention of Western fashion designers, most notably Jeremy Scott, who expressed his interest in working with singer CL from 2NE1.[169][169][170][171][172][173]
In January 2012, Korean artists held a fashion show in Japan, which was attended by 33,000 people.[174] In Thailand authorities worry over the fashion items popularized by Korean pop, as Thai teenagers are willing to wear items unfit for local weather conditions (e.g. leggings) and also use skin whitening products to look like Korean celebrities.[175] In North Korea, despite strong governmental regulations, South Korean fashion is a topic of interest. K-pop popularized high-heel shoes, sleeveless tops and fashionable accessories, although such attire is forbidden in the country.[176]
K-pop as an industry
Agencies
K-pop has spawned an entire industry such as production houses and event management companies; music publishers; distributors of K-pop music and many K-pop and Hallyu other merchandise and service providers. The three biggest agencies in terms of revenue are S.M. Entertainment, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment,[177] often referred to as the "Big Three", whose stocks are traded at the Korea Exchange.[178] In K-pop these record labels also function as agencies for the artists.[177] They started operating as such at the beginning of the 2000s.[177] They are responsible for recruiting, financing, training, marketing and publishing new artists as well as managing their activities and public relations.
In terms of market share the biggest agency is S.M. Entertainment.[178] Their artists started K-pop's Hallyu and managed to break into Japan.[178] The "Big Three" occasionally cooperate, for example Se7en, managed by YG Entertainment received a song from JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young in 2012[179] and the representatives of the three agencies judged at the SBS reality talent show "K-pop Star".[180] The "Big Three", together with Star J Entertainment, AM Entertainment and Key East founded the United Asia Management (UAM),[181] which aims to spread K-pop globally as well as facilitate the development of better artist recruitment and management processes.[182] UAM auditions are global and not restricted to Korean talents.[182] Besides musicians, UAM also manages actors, directors, stylists, hair and make-up artists.[182] The merge was highly criticised as it might put pressure on content providers as well as further pressurize other Asian countries, like the Chinese market, which is unable to respond to and compete with the mass production of Korean entertainment companies.[182]
In 2009, DFSB Kollective became the first distributor of K-pop songs on iTunes.[183] The recent overseas expansion by K-pop music agencies has led to significant increases in profit and total revenue.
Year of establishment |
Record label | 2008 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | S.M. Entertainment | 42.5 | 87.1 | 129 | 241 | 268 | 286.9 | [184] |
1996 | YG Entertainment | 51.8 | 70.3 | 96.9 | 116.6 | 156.3 | [185] | |
1997 | JYP Entertainment | 3.1 | 9.1 | 17.8 | 13.5 | 21.4 | 48.5 | [186] |
Sales and market value
The Korean music industry grossed nearly $3.4 billion in the first half of 2012, which amounts to a 27.8% increase from the same period last year, according to Billboard.[24] Before the digital market took hold, the South Korean music industry was nearly destroyed in the early 2000s by the large amount of illegal file sharing, a problem threatening other countries at the time as well. In 2006, however, South Korea's digital music market surpassed the physical market,[187] with more than half of revenue coming from digital sales.[188] K-pop's social media presence on Korean and English websites such as Facebook and YouTube have also had a major impact on the size of its global market.[189] Viki, the video and music streaming website, has influenced global K-pop trends by providing translated subtitles for music videos.[190]
In 2011, 1,100 albums were released in South Korea. The hip-hop genre had the most among them at two-thirds of the total albums.[191] One-third of the albums were from other genres, including rock, modern folk, and crossover.[191] This shows that there is a variety of genres in South Korea outside of what is produced by K-pop idols.[191] Illegal downloads have pushed down prices significantly. In 2012, the average cost of obtaining a K-pop song in South Korea amounted to US$0.10 for a single download, or $0.002 when streamed online.[192]
K-pop is a business model which augments tourism on a global scale. Fans from all over the world are coming to South Korea for tours, and this has contributed positively to the total sales and market value of K-pop. Hence, according to Mfrascog, K-pop is "a model used to drive geographical interest and spawn tourism."[193]
K-pop (in Korea) global music market rank | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Physical* | Digital |
2005 | 27[194] | |
2006 | 27[195] | |
2007 | 32[196] | 23[188] |
2008 | 24[197] | |
2009 | 24[198] | 14[188] |
2010 | 21[199] | |
2011 | 11[195] | 11[188] |
2012 | 11[195] | 8[200] |
* includes albums, singles and DVDs sold |
Trainee system
Cultural technology, or CT, is a concept popularized by Lee Soo-man, founder of the South Korean music label and talent agency S.M. Entertainment.[5] It is a 3-step process of exporting K-pop overseas as part of the Korean Wave and consist of a tightly controlled training system. Joseph L. Flatley from the American news network The Verge described it as one of the most "extreme" systems of pre-packaging K-pop bands,[201] which are owned by a handful of entertainment agencies.[202] The three steps to the Cultural technology described by Lee Soo-man consists of the following: (1) exporting cultural products; such as placing Korean singers in different countries, (2) creating international collaborations and (3) globalizing the product by cooperating with musicians from different countries to create a global brand. Lee's CT method makes the singers to have different images and styles depending on the nation that they perform in, thus allowing to target the specific audiences in the right way.[203]
The K-pop industry is very serious about the creation of K-pop idols and the launch of new musicians. Much of the time is spent on the production value of its idols where they do not make their debut until their brand and performances have been perfected. A significant amount of effort is invested towards crafting unique and marketable images mixed with sound and strategic promotional, advertising, and marketing decisions to increase the chances of success with the launch of new talent.[204] South Korean entertainment companies such as S.M. Entertainment have created a process to train singers and dancers in its groups. The journey to stardom often starts around age 9 or 10, when tightly supervised trainees begin dance and voice classes at night and live together while attending school.[205] Besides singing and dancing trainees are also taught foreign languages, most notably English, Japanese and Chinese.[206] According to the CEO of Universal Music's Southeast Asian branch, the Korean idol trainee system is unique in the world.[177]
To guarantee the high probability of success of new talent, talent agencies fully subsidize and oversee the professional lives and careers of trainees, often spending in excess of $400,000 USD to train and launch a new artist.[207]
Record charts
Several popular K-pop record charts include the Korea K-Pop Hot 100 and the Gaon Singles Chart. Since the early 2010s, some K-pop records have topped the Oricon Albums Chart of Japan, while others have made it to the Billboard Hot 100 of the United States. In May 2014, Exo became the third K-pop act to enter the Billboard 200 that year after 2NE1 and Girls' Generation.[208]
K-pop culture
Basic notions and conventions
K-pop uses a set of genre specific expressions.[209] These include traditional Korean honorifics, used by both idols and fans. Besides this traditional social system, K-pop adds its own subculture. As much as age is important, the debut date and popularity of the artist also matters. Younger artists or those who debuted later are called hubae (후배) and they must greet the older and earlier debuted colleagues (선배, seonbae, "senior") with an insa (인사), the traditional deep bow. Failing to do this have met with strong criticism from the industry and the fans alike.[210][211]
Boy and girl groups in Korea are referred to as idols or idol bands.[212] Idol bands have a strict hierarchy. Every band has a leader, chosen by either the members or the managing company based on age, personality and leadership qualities. The leader is a representative of the band as well as responsible for group harmony.[213] The youngest band member is called maknae (막내), which is a special position as it is traditionally regarded that the cuter the maknae the more potential a band has in terms of popularity.[214] The use of the term in Japan was influenced by SS501 when they expanded their activities in the country in 2007. Its Japanese translation "マンネ" was often used to name the group's maknae Kim Hyung-jun in order to differentiate him from their leader with a similar name and spelling, Kim Hyun-joong.[215] Idols are recruited and trained in a trainee system regarded as exceptional in the pop industry.[216]
The Korean pop industry involves the so-called fan service,[140] which is largely based on bromance of a non-sexual nature between band members of male idol groups. Fans pair their favourites into "OTPs" (one true pairing), who in turn reinforce the pairs by acting cute and brotherly with each other on television. The names of such bromantic pairs are contracted from the original stage names of the members, for example the G-Dragon–Seungri OTP is commonly referred to as "GRi". OTP pairs are called "ships", from the English term "relationship", and fans of these "ships" are called "shippers".[217][218]
Gender in K-pop
The popularity of male and female groups in Korea has swung both ways in recent years. In the 2013 Billboard ranking,[219] female groups only made up 20 percent of the most viewed K-pop videos with male groups making up 40 percent. However, in the 2014 ranking [220] the popularity swung in the favor of the female pop groups when they gained an additional 16 percent and the male groups fell by 12 percent. Although it appears there are not many co-ed pop groups, male and female groups both take alternating turns in the spotlight as is clear from the results of the 2013 and 2014 rankings.
While K-pop has many bands with huge popularity from both genders, there are significant differences in what is considered acceptable topics between males and females. One of the overarching themes is that is acceptable to be a "bad boy", whereas it is considered offensive to be a "bad girl". In South Korean culture, being a bad boy is considered mysterious, and excusable. Oftentimes these "bad boys" are seen as controlling in the relationships, but it is viewed as acceptable. There are dozens of K-pop songs over the past few years that have titles such as "Bad Guy", "I’m a Bad Guy", and "The Bad Guy". All of these songs focus on the same thing that it is acceptable and considered a positive thing to not always be an upstanding and morally correct male in South Korean society.[221]
K-pop is often gender-differentiated when it comes to longevity. Fans are often very dedicated to groups that are considered their "idols", and it is considered shameful to be a fan of multiple groups, especially of the same gender. K-pop is built around dedicated fans, and the majority of K-pop fans are female. With the majority of fans being female, male groups are often more idolized than females, leading to longer and more lucrative careers. Another problem for female groups is that they lose their appeal much quicker than male groups, as female groups often become famous based on sexy and cute appeal that is hard to maintain.
There are many other impacts that gender roles have in reference to K-pop. One of the bigger impacts is with foreign affairs. According to South Korean media, the Ministry of Defense set up many large TV screens across the border in North Korea in order to broadcast music videos by many of the notorious K-pop girl groups such as Wonder Girls, Girls' Generation, After School, 4Minute, and Kara as part of "psychological warfare" against their rival country. Sources close to the country said that the "revealing" outfits worn by the female singers as well as their provocative dances may have a significant impact on the North Korean soldiers.[222]
One of the main criticisms with K-pop is that many bands do not get paid nearly as much as they believe they should. Management company’s have so much leverage at the beginning of a groups’ career that many contracts signed are for many years that pay significantly less than they should. All-girl bands often feel the brunt of this unfair practice. Rainbow, a seven-member girl-band, is immensely popular in South Korea yet receive very little of their profits. After working unbearably long hours for a few years, their parents were heartbroken to hear how little they were being paid. Unfortunately, much of this is attributed to remarkably low profit margins throughout the K-pop industry. In order for pay to improve for the artists, revenues must increase.[223]
Frequently used expressions
Addressing others | ||
---|---|---|
Korean | Romanized | Explanation |
오빠 | oppa | woman's elder brother; Korean women call older male family members and friends as well as their lovers this way. Fans commonly refer to male idols as oppa.[224] |
형 | hyung | man's elder brother; Korean men call older male family members and friends this way. Younger members of idol groups call the older members hyung as well. Failing to do this is regarded as rude and impolite.[225] |
언니 | unni | woman's elder sister; Korean women call older female family members and friends this way. Younger girl group members also refer to older members as unni.[226] |
누나 | noona | man's elder sister; Korean men refer to older women in their family as well as their friend circles this way.[226] |
동생 | dongsaeng | younger sibling; regardless of sex, people in close relationship with the speaker are referred to as dongsaengs.[209] |
선배 | seonbae | senior, someone with more experience in the respective field, regardless of age[211][227] |
후배 | hubae | junior; someone with less experience in the respective field, regardless of age.[211] |
Other frequent expressions | ||
Korean | Romanized | Explanation |
화이팅 | hwaiting | Originated from the English "fighting", this expression is widely used for encouragement and support.[228] |
대박 | Daebak | As an exclamation, daebak generally means "awesome". It's not a direct translation, but it's the meaning that is conveyed when the word is said.[229] |
대상 | Daesang | At music awards several artists receive Bonsangs for their outstanding achievement in music, then one of the Bonsang winners is awarded with a Daesang, the "Grand Prize".[230] |
본상 | Bonsang | |
Expression | Explanation | |
All-Kill (AK) Perfect All-Kill (PK) |
They refer to chart positions as certified by Instiz.net. "AK" means that the song reached number one on the charts of the seven biggest online music portals (including Instiz) of South Korea on the same day. "PK" songs add the criteria that the song must lead the ringtone download charts.[231][232] | |
mini album | A mini album in K-pop means that the record (physical or digital) usually contains two or three songs and their remixes, although some mini albums have as many as ten unique tracks. Roughly equivalent to an EP, it is longer than a single but shorter than a full length album.[209] | |
title track | Title track in K-pop means the main promoted track of the album; it has a music video released, and is promoted on music shows like Inkigayo by live performances.[209] | |
repackaged album | Repackaged album means that after the first promotions of the album are finished, the album is re-released with new design, containing one or two new tracks, out of which one is a "title track" with a new music video.[209] | |
promotion | Promotion in K-pop refers to promoting the "title track" in several televised music shows like Inkigayo. Promotion on TV shows usually last one month, with a "debut stage" for newcomers, a "comeback stage" for regulars and a "goodbye stage" at the end of the cycle.[209] | |
point dance | Point dance consists of hooking and repetitive key movements within the choreography, which matches the characteristics of the lyrics.[31][30] |
Appeal and fan base
A publication in New York magazine calls K-pop "catchy but derivative" and states that Girls' Generation fans admit to liking the group for its members' looks and their personality, radiating what the magazine calls "humility" and friendliness to each and one of the fans. A fan stated to the magazine that when Girls' Generation performs on stage, you get the illusion of the girls sometimes looking right at you and interacting with you personally.[233]
Many K-pop fans travel overseas to get the chance to see Korean bands. Tours from Japan and China bring fans to see K-pop concerts.[234] A K-pop group tour from Japan had more than 7000 fans fly to Seoul to meet boy band JYJ.[235] During JYJ's concert in Barcelona, fans from many parts of the world camped overnight to gain entrance.[236]
Korean fan clubs play an essential role in K-pop, their structure and operation is different from Western fan clubs.[237] Each club has its own name and color. For example, TVXQ fans are called "Cassiopeia" and their official color is "pearl red"; SS501 fans are named "Triple S" and their fandom color is "pearl light green"; and Super Junior's fan club is called "E.L.F." and they use the color "pearl sapphire blue".[237] Colors play an important role in fandoms, as fans express their unity and loyalty this way, especially in concerts where other artists also perform: fans from a certain fan club create their own sectors with the represented colors, usually with light sticks or official balloons and create a "Kpop Ocean".[237][238] If a color is already taken, fanclubs of new artists cannot choose them unless the color they want is taken by a soloist or a group of a different gender.[237] As colors are limited some artists do not have an official color, Big Bang fans for example hold crown shaped yellow light sticks, while Se7en's fans are represented by the number 7.[239]
Official fan clubs have subscription "waves"[237] when fans need to register, usually after paying the club fee and then the fan receives a membership cards and other items such as light sticks and official balloons for an idol. Clubs are well organized, united in nature and frequently participate in charity events to support their idols.[237] They purchase bags of fan rice as gifts to their favorite bands in order to show their love and support. Many fan rice projects are philanthropic acts. When the fans send a rice wreath to their idol to congratulate him/her, the rice goes to a charitable institution in Korea.[126] According to Time magazine, for Big Bang's first show in months, 12.7 tons of rice were donated from 50 fan clubs around the world and stacks of rice bags were lined up like shrines to the K-pop idols. Similarly, K-Pop idol Xander asked his fans to bring donations for victims of typhoon Yolanda instead of a gift for himself.[126] There are businesses dedicated to shipping the rice from farmers to the venues.[240] The rice bags are then donated to people in need.[241] Another way for fan clubs to show devotion is sending lunch to the stars, and there are special catering companies in South Korea for this purpose. The trend started when fans picked up complaints that the stars do not eat properly due to their busy schedules.[242]
A unique feature of K-pop fan clubs is the so-called organized "fan chant" during live performances when fans chant parts of the song lyrics or the names of the idols (in order of birth) at parts of the performance previously decided and organized by the club.[209][243] Standardized phrases are generally chanted during non-vocal part in the song, as to not disturb the singers. There are various websites and video tutorials for fan chants of K-pop songs.
Obsession
There is a recognized concern of K-pop fans turning to obsession and compulsive behaviors such as stalking and invasion of privacy. These fans are called sasaeng, or "private life" fans. These fans are usually young females, 13 to 22 years old.[244] Some sasaeng fans hire taxis to follow their idols. There are taxi services catering specifically for these fans that are willing to speed after the vans transporting idols. Korean public officials recognize this as a unique but serious concern.[244][245]
During a press conference, the boy band JYJ confirmed they were victims of invasion of privacy and stalking. There were instances of breaking into their private households, where fans would take pictures of them in sleep or steal items.[246] Junsu from JYJ told reporters that obsessive fans have even installed GPS trackers under his car to monitor his every move.[247] Fans also resort to harassing artists by acquiring their phone numbers, hitting them or touching their private parts.[248] Some sasaengs go as far as engaging in prostitution to earn the money necessary for following their idol's every step.[245] Some sasaeng fans have installed CCTV surveillance cameras near Park Yoochun’s home.[249] In another incident, as KBS reports TVXQ member Yunho drank a beverage containing super glue given to him by an anti-fan and had to receive medical attention.[250][251]
Many celebrities have expressed their concern over the sasaeng activities, in 2012 a member of JYJ, which has the most sasaeng fans among all K-pop idols,[244] was accused of resorting to violation and shouting when confronted by stalking fans on the street.[252] Super Junior member Kim Heechul and popular singer-actor Jang Keun-suk have also reacted angrily at sasaeng moves.[244] In response to a growing number of K-pop fans displaying anti-social behaviours, a law was passed on March 11, 2013 to discourage harassment and making it illegal to infringe the privacy of a person. Under the revision, first time offenders making persistent phone calls and sending letters could face a fine of up to 80,000 South Korean won (US$72).[253]
Events
International tours
K-pop concert tours have been held outside of Korea since the mid-2000s. Most Korean artists conduct Asian tours but worldwide tours have also become frequent since 2011, when SM Town held its first non-Asian leg of the SMTown Live '10 World Tour.[254]
Conventions and music festivals
- 2003–present: Korean Music Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles
- 2011–present: K-POP World Festival in South Korea
- 2012–present: KCON in California
K-pop and social media
The spread of K-pop is further spurred on by ordinary Internet users, bloggers and Hallyu websites. According to a researcher from Yeungnam University, a website called "dkpopnews.net" has played a critical role in spreading the K-pop music genre across Southeast Asia, while in Japan, a Twitter user named "kpop_lov" is recognized to be a "major" source of K-pop information.[255]
On April 6, 2013, the 26th Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, sent a birthday greeting to Super Junior's Choi Siwon after a fan known as "MaddyIsOk" requested him to do so on his official Twitter account.[256][257] An article by The Wall Street Journal indicated that K-pop’s staying power will likely be shaped by fans, whose online services have partly evolved into "micro"-businesses and small-scale ventures.[38]
In the United States, a fan website known as "soshified.com" draws over 10 million clicks each month.[258] Some other popular K-pop websites include:
- Allkpop: Frequently visited by K-pop fans from English-speaking countries
- Soompi: One of the largest and oldest K-pop websites. In order to cater to international fans, Soompi has recently begun to publish articles in extra languages such as Spanish, French and Portuguese.
- Eatyourkimchi: Run by a Canadian couple residing in South Korea and portrays the country's popular culture from a Westerner's perspective.[259]
Internet memes
Since February 2013, an Internet meme known as the Gwiyomi song has been spreading across the global K-pop community via social media platforms.
YouTube views
Of the 2.28 billion worldwide K-pop YouTube views in 2011, 240 million came from the United States, which was more than double that of 2010 (94 million).[260]
Rank | Artist(s) | Title | Year | Notes | Official video(s) | Views (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Psy | Gangnam Style | 2012 | The most viewed video on Youtube and first to reach 1 billion and 2 billion . | YouTube | 2518 |
2 | Psy | Gentleman | 2013 | YouTube | 931 | |
3 | Psy ft. Hyuna | Oppa Is Just My Style | 2012 | YouTube | 622 | |
4 | Psy ft. Snoop Dogg | Hangover | 2014 | YouTube | 246 | |
5 | Big Bang | Fantastic Baby | 2012 | First video by a K-pop group to surpass 200 million views on YouTube[262] | YouTube | 205 |
6 | Girls' Generation | Gee | 2009 | First video by a K-pop group to surpass 100 million views on YouTube[262] | YouTube | 155 |
7 | Girls' Generation | I Got a Boy | 2013 | YouTube Music Award 2013 - Video of the year | YouTube | 155 |
8 | 2NE1 | I Am the Best | 2011 | YouTube | 144 | |
9 | Girls' Generation | The Boys | 2011 | Korean Version | YouTube | 134 |
10 | Psy | Daddy | 2015 | YouTube | 119 | |
11 | Girls' Generation | Mr. Taxi (Dance Ver.) | 2011 | Japanese Version | YouTube | 111 |
12 | Big Bang | Bang Bang Bang | 2015 | YouTube | 110 | |
13 | Hyuna | Bubble Pop | 2011 | YouTube | 105 | |
14 | Super Junior | Mr. Simple | 2011 | YouTube | 104 | |
15 | f(x) | Electric Shock | 2012 | YouTube | 91 | |
16 | GD X Taeyang | Good Boy | 2014 | Big Bang Sub-unit | YouTube | 92 |
17 | Girls' Generation | Oh! | 2010 | YouTube | 90 | |
18 | EXO | Overdose | 2014 | Promoted as EXO-K | YouTube | 91 |
19 | EXO | Growl | 2013 | Korean Version | YouTube | 90 |
20 | Big Bang | Loser | 2015 | YouTube | 84 | |
Last Update: February 12, 2016 |
PPopularity and impact
South Korea is emerging in the 21st century as a major exporter of popular culture.[263] As part of the Korean Wave, K-pop has been embraced by the South Korean government as a tool for soft power abroad, particularly towards youth.[264] The Economist has dubbed Korean pop culture as "Asia’s foremost trendsetter".[265]
Prior to the rise of social media networks, K-pop concerts and related events outside East and Southeast Asia were mostly unheard of. However, with the growing acceptance of YouTube during the late-2000s as a popular music sharing platform, K-pop has since become increasingly well known in many parts of the world, including the West.[266] According to The New York Times, "attempts by K-pop stars to break into Western markets had largely failed prior to the proliferation of global social networks." However, K-pop artists are now gaining more international exposure through social media networks such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, making it easier for them to reach a wider audience.[80] Among the consumers of K-pop around the world, there are significant demographic differences depending on location:
Region | Time period | Demographics of K-pop audience |
---|---|---|
Japan | 2010–2012[269][270] | Teenagers and middle-aged women from the upper class[271][272] |
United States | Before 2010 | Mostly Korean Americans |
Since 2010 | Mostly Korean Americans and other Asian Americans,[21][273] but also some Caucasians and a growing number of African Americans[20][22][274] | |
Rest of the world | Since 2010 | Mostly teenagers and young adults,[275] especially girls, women in their 20s,[276][277] and some women in their 30s[278] |
Globally
Skeptics believed the Korean Wave, and with it K-Pop, would die off in the global market, but that never came to be. In fact K-Pop, with the help of K-Dramas, have spread across the Earth, with France have 20 dedicated website streaming K-Pop music videos and translates K-Dramas into roughly 16 different languages.[279] But, the translations are not always necessary, due to the catchy beats of songs and the sporadic English thrown in the lyrics, those that do not understand Korean can easily listen and feel entranced by the music. These “hook songs” include repetitive choruses and catchy beats such as “Gee” by Girl’s Generation and Mister by Kara provide easy to listen music that the global audience can find appealing. Several songs are accompanied by memorable music videos that have their own dances named after it, such as, Psy’s horse dance, and Super Junior’s Sorry Sorry dance.[280]
Scholars argue that K-Pop is a trend of the Korean manufacturing process, where Korean companies rely on exporting the finished product, such as Samsung and Hyundai, to the center market. They also go on to state that unless Korea obtains technologies and social capital, K-Pop sub culture will remain as a sub culture.[281]
The global expansion of K-Pop can be explained by understanding the power of the Internet along with social media. Each music group boasts their own fan following, known as ‘fandoms’. These fans are known for their participatory culture, as they upload, share, and forward content produced by their idols to wider audiences. With their assistance, K-Pop is able to spread on an international scale, and the development of fandoms overseas become possible. With almost four million of these fans actively participating, there are further implications beyond just this large number. These fans are largely invisible but play a key role in the development of the music industry, leading to the concept of imagined communities to describe these fandoms. Imagined communities consist of a collective group of people in which its members do not engage in face to face interaction, but perceive themselves as part of the group. Moreover, they will utilize social media to encourage other fans to participate in these imagined communities. For instance, some fans will create sites with forums or blogs to promote their followings, or even upload videos of their idol group’s performances. There have been numerous award shows created to reward the hard work of the music groups. However, without the help of their fans (who are in charge of voting for their favorite groups for various categories), they can only get a limited amount of recognition. Thus, fans will take over different social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter and post content related to their biased groups and help promote their cause. YouTube is another popular social media platform where fans will upload videos and actively engage in conversation in the comments section. Beyond just K-pop, these fans will also participate in contributing to other industries such as film. One of their primary goals is to be able to allow audiences consume the content, regardless of their background.[282]
Asia
Following the lifting of import/export restrictions between South Korea and Japan which were in place since World War 2, the album Listen to My Heart by BoA was the first album by a Korean artist to debut at the top of the Japanese Oricon charts and become an RIAJ-certified million-seller in Japan.[283] On January 16, 2008, TVXQ (known as Tohoshinki in Japan) reached the top of the Oricon charts, with their sixteenth Japanese single "Purple Line". This made them the first foreign and Korean male group to have a number-one single in Japan.[284][285] Afterwards, the Japanese music market has seen the influx of Korean pop acts including SS501,[286] T-ara, Shinee,[287] Super Junior,[288] Big Bang,[289] Kara, Girls' Generation, 2NE1, 2PM, and Brown Eyed Girls.[290] In 2011, it has been reported that the total sales for K-pop artists' has increased 22.3% during 2010–2011 in Japan. Some artists have been in the top 10 selling artists of 2011 in Japan.[291]
With the undying tension between Japan and Korea, the import of K-Pop and Korean influence to Japan has been met with resistance. Such movements have been named the “Anti-Korean Wave” and people have spoken out saying that K-Pop artists are only entering Japan for “lucrative reasons”. But the chairman of the Presidential Council on National Branding is taking a positive look on this saying, “movements in Japan against the Korean Wave rather prove how successful Korean Wave is.” And as K-Pop grows in Japanese media grows, the opposition intensifies; with one such demonstration against the Korean Wave broadcast on Japan’s Fuji TV, having roughly 500 participants and over 120,000 watching on the Internet.[280]
According to the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, K-pop has been a successful export of Korean culture in Asia. On its "Korean Wave" index, the top country in 2010 was Japan, in a list that also included Taiwan, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.[292]
K-pop has yet to make a major impact in China but there has been considerable success. In 2005 Rain held a concert in Beijing with 40,000 people in attendance.[72] The Wonder Girls won an award in the 5th annual China Mobile Wireless Music Award for having the highest digital sales for a foreign artist with five million digital downloads in 2010.[293] Super Junior and their sub-group Super Junior-M have had successful results on the Kuang Nan Record, CCR and Hit Fm Taiwan music charts.[294]
India
In the Indian state of Manipur, where separatists have banned Bollywood movies, consumers have turned to Korean popular culture for their entertainment needs. The BBC's correspondent Sanjoy Majumder reported that Korean entertainment products are mostly pirated copies smuggled in from neighbouring Burma, and is generally well received by the local population.[10][295]
This has led to the Korean language becoming more popular among young people, with phrases such as "Annyeong-haseyo" (안녕하세요) and "Kamsahamnida" (감사합니다) now commonly heard in everyday speech.[10] In response to the growing Korean cultural influence, Professor Amar Yumnam from Manipur University proposed setting up Korean language classes for students, after a meeting between university officials and diplomats from the Korean Embassy in New Delhi was held in 2011.[296]
In order to capitalize on the popularity of K-pop in Manipur, many hairdressing salons have offered "Korean-style" cuts based on the hairstyles of K-pop boy bands.[10][295] This wave of Korean popular culture is currently spreading from Manipur to the neighbouring state of Nagaland.[297]
Nepal
In Nepal, K-pop gained popularity after the success of Korean dramas and films in the country.[298] K-pop has become influential in the Nepali music industry and K-pop music videos are often used as an accompaniment to Nepali music on YouTube and has become a popular trend in the country.[299]
Malaysia
In Malaysia, among the three main ethnic groups – Malay, Chinese and Indian many prefer to listen to music in their own languages, however the popularity of K-pop alongside movies and TV dramas have managed to become popular among all three ethnic groups. The pan-ethnic popularity has resulted in Malaysian firms tapping into K-pop as it appears to be an easier way to appeal to all three ethnic groups.[300]
Philippines
In 2015 Filipino-Korean singer/comedianne Ryan Bang released Shopping, a P-Pop-K-Pop mashup single.[301]
North America
One of the first significant K-pop events to be held in the United States were Rain's 2006 sold-out concerts in New York City and in Las Vegas 6 months later. In 2009, the Wonder Girls became the first K-pop artist to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[302] They also joined the Jonas Brothers in the Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009. In 2010, they toured 20 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and were named House of Blues "Artist of the Month" for June.[303]
In 2010 SM Entertainment organized SMTown Live '10 World Tour, touring in Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. In May 2012, SM Town returned to California again with the SMTown Live World Tour III in Anaheim.
In 2010, during the 8th Annual Korean Music Festival, K-pop artists made their first appearances at the Hollywood Bowl.[304] Notable K-pop concerts in the United States in 2011 include the 2011 KBS Concert at the New York Korea Festival, the 2011 K-Pop Masters Concert in Las Vegas, and the Korean Music Wave in Google, the latter held at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California.[305]
At the start of 2012, Girls' Generation performed the English version of "The Boys" on the late night talk show Late Show with David Letterman and on the daytime talk show Live! with Kelly, becoming the first Korean musical act to perform on each show, and the first Korean act to perform on syndicated television in the United States.[306] In the same year, the group formed their first sub-unit, entitled Girls' Generation-TTS, or simply "TTS", composed of members Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun. The subgroup's debut EP, Twinkle, peaked at #126 on the Billboard 200, becoming the highest charting K-Pop album on the chart.[307]
In December 2011 2NE1 won MTV Iggy's Best New Band award.[308] In August 2012, as part of their New Evolution Global Tour, 2NE1 held their first American concert in the New York Metropolitan Area at the Prudential Center of Newark, New Jersey.[309]
In September 2012, Junsu became the second K-pop idol to perform in Mexico, after first performance of Wonder Girls in Monterrey in 2009.[310]
In November 2012, as part of their Alive Tour, Big Bang held their first solo concert in America going to the Honda Center in Los Angeles and the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The tickets sold out in only a few hours, thus additional dates were added.[311]
On November 13, 2012, the American singer-songwriter Madonna and a few of her backup dancers performed "Gangnam Style" alongside PSY during a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. PSY later told reporters that his gig with Madonna had "topped his list of accomplishments".[312]
On January 29, 2013, Billboard, one of America's most popular music magazines, launched Billboard K-Town, an online magazine column on its Billboard.com site, to cover K-pop music; artists, concerts, chart information and news events.[313][314][315]
In March 2013, f(x) performed at K-Pop Night Out at SXSW in Austin, Texas. They, alongside the The Geeks who represented K-rock, represented Korea's entertainment at the festival. f(x) were the first K-pop group to perform at SXSW.[316]
Latin America
In the first Latin America K-pop Competition in 2010, 92 teams from 10 countries participated. In 2011, they were joined by more countries for the second Latin America K-pop Competition.[318]
In 2011, the United Cube Concert was held in São Paulo, Brazil right after the first edition of the K-Pop Cover Dance Festival with MBLAQ as judges.[319]
In March 2012, the boyband JYJ performed in both Chile and Peru. When JYJ arrived at the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Peru for the JYJ World Tour Concert, the band was escorted by airport security officials through a private exit due to safety reasons concerning the large number of fans.[320] At the Explanada Sur del Estadio Monumental in Lima, some fans camped out for days in to see JYJ.[321]
In Colombia, Caracol TV and Arirang TV made a K-pop reality show in April 2012.[317]
In September 2012, Junsu became the first K-pop idol to perform alone in Brazil, he performed in Mexico as well, the concerts sold out well in advance.[310]
In January 2014, Kim Hyung-jun performed in Peru, Chile, and Bolivia, marking him as the first K-pop idol to perform in Bolivia.[322] The tour proved his popularity in the continent as both fans and the media followed him everywhere he went, causing traffic on the roads and police to be called to maintain safety.[323] Fans were also seen pitching their tents outside the concert venue for days before the actual concert.[324][325]
Since 2009, about 260 fan clubs with a total of over 20,000 and 8,000 active members have been formed in Chile and Peru respectively.[326][327]
Europe
In London, Beast and 4Minute performed during the United Cube Concert. The MBC Korean Culture Festival was also held in London.[328] When Shinee arrived at the London Heathrow Airport for a concert at the Odeon West End, part of the airport became temporarily overrun by frenzied fans. The reservation system of Odeon West End crashed for the first time one minute after ticket sales began as the concert drew an unexpectedly large response.[329] Shinee also had a 30 minute performance at the Abbey Road Studio, which is reserved for top singers and groups such as the Beatles, Stevie Wonder. The ticket demand for this showing was so high that the fashion magazine, Elle U.K., gave away forty tickets through a lottery. The performance was also televised in Japan through six different Japanese sports channels.[280] In 2011, the Korean boyband Big Bang flew to Belfast and won the Best Worldwide Act during the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards in Northern Ireland.[330]
In May 2011, Rain became the first K-pop artist to perform in Germany during the Dresden Music Festival.[331] later followed by JYJ performed in Berlin and Barcelona. In February 2012, the boyband BEAST held the Beautiful Show in Berlin. According to the local Berliner Zeitung, many fans who attended the Beautiful Show came not just from Germany but also from neighbouring countries such as France and Switzerland.[332]
The SMTown Live '10 World Tour was held in Paris, followed by the Super Junior Super Show 4 Tour, also in Paris. In February 2012, the Music Bank World Tour drew more than 10,000 fans to the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy[333]
In 2012, Big Bang won the Best Fan category in the Italian TRL Awards.[334]
In Barcelona, Spain, K-pop parties are periodically held in Razzmatazz nightclub, one of the most popular nightspots in the Spanish city. In February 2011, Teen Top performed in Barcelona's concert hall Apolo.
K-pop is becoming increasingly popular in Poland. In 2011, the K-pop Star Exhibition was held in the Warsaw Korean Culture Center, as well as a K-pop party which attracted fans all across Poland. Fans told The Warsaw Voice; "we want to express our admiration for Korean music and our hope that some day they will perform in Poland."[335] There have also been K-pop flash mobs in other European cities including Prague, and Warsaw.[336][337]
In Russia, K-pop is seeing a surge in popularity since 2011 and is spreading from major cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg to more rural areas of the country and all the way to the Siberia.[16] During the 2011 K-pop Cover Dance Festival, 57 Russian dance teams took part to win a trip to South Korea.[338] During the second round of the competition, the boyband Shinee flew to Moscow as judges of the competition and they also performed in front of the Russian fans and participated in a flash mob.[339] On February 3, 2014, Park Jung-min became the first ever Korean singer to hold a solo concert in Moscow.[340] In addition, a K-pop magazine called K-Plus has been launched in Moscow by Russian youths in 2012 where the magazine will widely cover Korean pop culture centered on K-pop and Korean dramas. As of 2012, the number of Russian K-pop fans has reached 50,000.[16]
Middle East and Africa
In Turkey, Korean culture is catching on quickly and Internet-savvy generation of Turks are using their computers and phones to explore cultures around the world and a large chunk of the pre-teen demographic is flocking to South Korean culture.[341] In 2012, the total number of active members in K-Pop fan clubs across Turkey surpassed 100,000 members.[77]
The boyband ZE:A appeared for a meet and greet session for fans in Dubai[342] and a concert in Abu Dhabi.[343] In Cairo, hundreds of K-pop fans came to Maadi Library’s stage theater to see the final round of the K-POP Korean Song Festival, organized by the Korean Embassy. Fans drew banners in Korean and many were screaming along to the Korean songs.[344]
K-pop is becoming increasingly popular in Israel and the Palestinian Territories since the late 2000s and early 2010s. In July 2011, local K-pop fans met South Korea's Ambassador to Israel Ma Young-sam and Israeli fans traveled to Paris for the SMTown Live '10 World Tour in Europe.[345] In a region troubled by a raging conflict between two different peoples, it is hoped that a larger infusion K-pop would serve as a bridge towards peace by utilizing the genre to help young Israelis and Palestinians take their minds off of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Dr. Nissim Atmazgin, a professor of East Asian Studies at Hebrew University, "Many young people look at K-pop as culture capital -- something that makes them stand out from the crowd." And sociologists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reportedly have shown that K-Pop may be possible solution to bring Israelis and Palestinians together. In Israel, there are over 5000 K-pop followers and 3000 followers in the Palestinian territories as of 2012.[346] As of 2012, the most popular K-pop bands in Israel are the male bands Super Junior and Shinee while other popular bands include 2NE1, Big Bang, FT Island, G-Dragon, Taeyang, TVXQ, MBLAQ, Rain, Girl's Generation, and T-ara. Many dedicated Israeli and Palestinian K-pop fans tend to see themselves as "cultural missionaries" and actively introduce K-pop to their friends and relatives, further spreading the Hallyu wave within their communities.[347]
Oceania
Concerts in Australia include the 2011 K-Pop Music Festival, at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney,[348] featuring Girls' Generation, TVXQ, B2ST, SHINee, 4minute, miss A, 2AM, and MBLAQ. While, in New Zealand, a K-pop Festival is planned to take someplace sometime during the summer of 2012/2013, starring Girls' Generation, 2PM and Kara and the South Korean Embassy will be backing New Zealand's first national K-pop competition.[349] NU'EST visited Sydney in August 2012 at Sydney Harbour and at the University of New South Wales, as they were judges of a major K-pop concert that was being held there. 4Minute also went to Sydney in 2013 and were judges at the same kpop contest.[350] Psy toured Australia in October 2012, after his single "Gangnam Style" reached number one in Australia on the ARIA charts.[351]
Current issues
K-pop and foreign policy
On May 25, 2010, South Korea responded to an alleged North Korean sinking of a navy ship by declaring "psychological warfare" and broadcasting 4Minute's newly released single HuH across the Korean Demilitarized Zone.[353] In response, North Korea affirmed its decision to "destroy" any speakers set up along the border.[354] According to South Korean media, the Ministry of Defense had considered setting up large TV screens across the border to broadcast music videos by several popular K-pop girl groups such as Girls' Generation, Wonder Girls, After School, Kara and 4Minute as part of "psychological warfare" against North Korea. A spokesman representing the ministry told reporters that the "revealing" outfits worn by the performers and their "provocative" dances could have a considerable impact on North Korean soldiers.[355]
In September 2012, North Korea uploaded a video with a Photoshopped image of South Korea's current president Park Geun-hye performing the dance moves of "Gangnam Style". The video labels her as a "devoted" admirer of the Yushin system of autocratic rule set up by her father, Park Chung-hee.[356][357]
Since the early 2010s, several political leaders have acknowledged the global rise of Korean pop culture, most notably U.S. President Barack Obama, who made an official visit to South Korea in 2012 and mentioned about the strong influences of social media networks in the digital age, and added that it is "no wonder so many people around the world have caught the Korean wave, Hallyu."[358] A few months later, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a speech in front of the National Assembly of South Korea, where he noted South Korea's "great global success" in the fields of culture, sports and the arts, before pointing out that the Korean Wave as well as the recent rise of Korean popular music is "making its mark on the world".[359]
Jaejoong to meet his Turkish fans at Ankara University[360]
This had occurred a few days after U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland remarked in a daily press briefing that her daughter "loves Korean pop",[361] which sparked a media frenzy in South Korea after a journalist from the country's publicly funded Yonhap News Agency arranged an interview with Nuland and described Nuland's teenage daughter as "crazy about Korean music and dance".[362]
In November 2012, the British Minister of State for the Foreign Office Hugo Swire addressed a group of South Korean diplomats at the House of Lords, where he emphasized the close ties and mutual cooperation shaping South Korea–United Kingdom relations and added: "As "Gangnam Style" has demonstrated, your music is global too."[363] In February 2013, the Vice President of Peru Marisol Espinoza gave an interview with South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, where she voiced her desire for more South Korean companies to invest in her country and named K-pop as "one of the main factors that made Peruvian people wanting to get to know South Korea more".[364]
According to an article published by the international relations magazine Foreign Policy, the spread of Korean popular culture across Southeast Asia, parts of South America, and parts of the Middle East is illustrating how the gradual cessation of European colonialism is giving way and making room for unexpected soft power outside the West.[365] On the other hand, an article published by The Quietus magazine expressed concern that discussions about Hallyu as a form of soft power seems to bear a whiff of the "old Victorian fear of Yellow Peril".[366]
Criticism
The K-pop genre has received substantial criticism for its:
- Unoriginal, shallow character which copies and plagiarises Western music patterns[367][368][369]
- Strict training regime and "pre-packaging" of idol bands and songs for fast consumption[370]
- Heavy emphasis on visuals elements at the expense of musical sounds[136][137]
- Misuse of English words in its lyrics and "meaningless" song titles[371][372]
- Female K-pop groups are hyper-sexualized and male dependence[373]
- K-pop groups living in harsh conditions[374]
In 2002, Time reported that television producers were arrested for "accepting under-the-table payments guaranteeing TV appearances to aspiring singers and musicians. According to Seoul District Prosecutor Kim Kyu Hun, the arrests of Hwang Yong Woo and Kim Jong Jin were just the first in a wide-ranging investigation into systemic corruption in South Korea's music business". Companies investigated included SidusHQ, SM Entertainment and others.[59]
K-pop companies are also criticized for taking advantage of their "idols" through overworking and restrictive contracts that were described as "slave contracts" in a BBC report.[370] In July 2009, SM Entertainment was taken to court by TVXQ and a Super Junior member alleging that working conditions had caused adverse health effects and other problems.[375][376] Court decision in the TVXQ lawsuit determined their contract void and as a result the fair trade commission released contract templates to regulate conditions.[370]
Regarding the quality of music, K-pop has been criticized for its heavily manufactured character, which involves the "pre-packaging" of idol bands and songs produced for fast consumption. The genre is also labeled to have copied Western patterns, lacking originality and lyrics were noted to be shallow. Repeated song patterns and formats as well as the use of Autotune is also sometimes considered to be a negative aspect of K-pop. It has also been regarded as "artificial", where visuals matter over singing ability.[136][137][377][378][379]
K-pop has been criticized for overtly relying on American sound and being "copycats" of Western music patterns. Some Korean artists have even been involved in accusations of plagiarism.[377][380] New York magazine calls K-pop songs "catchy but derivative".[233] The genre is often called bubblegum pop.[57][136] Lyrics have been criticized for being shallow and lifeless and for containing meaningless or non-existing English words.[378]
Despite its growing popularity, some commentators have remained doubtful of K-pop's ability to break into Western music markets. CNN published an article written by freelance journalist Esther Oh, who wrote that big music markets "simply don't care".[381] The New Yorker's staff writer John Seabrook described Girls' Generation as being a dominant girl group positioned to "conquer the West", but also added that some analysts in the music industry consider K-pop's idol groups too robotic to become mainstream.[382]
According to Soyoung Kim a staff writer from The Harvard Crimson provides her option on the portrayal of women in the K-Pop Industry. Kim believes that these women are often depicted as hyper-sexualized; "a hybrid between children and sexually devolved adults".[373] In 2009 Girls Generation released their top hit song "Gee" and it had been number one on various charts. However, the song has been criticized by their portrayal of women being "clueless" and need for "dependence on men". The companies are triggering the male audience and "suggests that women’s societal role" by depicting them girls as mannequins in a store window.
K-pop Companies are often criticized for the living environment of the idols. In the SBS broadcast of "Roommate", Seo Kang Joon revealed that the conditions in which he and his group, 5urprise live. The broadcast showed the 5urprise members sleeping on the ground together in a small one bedroom dorm. Joon stated, "We only eat ramyun in our dorms. Or sometimes we go to restaurants and eat Korean food, because we really wanted to eat meat".[374]
Regulations
In 2014, South Korea passed law to regulate its music industry, protecting underage K-pop stars from unhealthy labor practices and overtly sexualized performances, as well as raising awareness of rules that guarantee the right to "learn, rest and sleep." According to the Hollywood Reporter, "Korea’s entertainment business is notoriously improvisational and unregulated. In-demand K-pop stars — many of whom are teenage ‘idols’ — have been known to rehearse and perform without sleep."[383]
List of K-pop artists
See also
Notes
- ↑ Not to be confused with the pansori story of the same name.
References
- 1 2 Holden, Todd Joseph Miles; Scrase, Timothy J. (2006). Medi@sia: global media/tion in and out of context. Taylor & Francis. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-415-37155-1.
Since the 1990s, the term "K-pop" has become popularized to refer to Korean popular music, being widely used throughout East and Southeast Asia.
- ↑ "Head-banging to K-pop: Metal in the Korean Pop Industry". MTV Iggy. April 3, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
- ↑ Rothman, Lily (2013-04-12). "Beyond PSY: 5 Essential K-Pop Tracks". Time. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
- 1 2 Chang, Dae Ryun; Choi, Kyongon (July 21, 2011). "What Marketers Can Learn from Korean Pop Music". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ↑ "South Korea’s pop-cultural exports", The Economist
- ↑ Anjani Trivedi (Aug 1, 2013). "Forget Politics, Let’s Dance: Why K-Pop Is a Latin American Smash". Time (magazine). Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ Marlon Bishop (December 15, 2013). "Meet Latin America's Teenage Korean Pop Fanatics". NPR. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ "South Korea's K-pop spreads to Latin America". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 Kember, Findlay. "Remote Indian state hooked on Korean pop culture". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ Anugya Chitransh (Jun 3, 2012). "‘Korean Wave’ takes Indian kids in its sway". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ↑ "Korean pop culture spreads in Cairo". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- ↑ "Egyptian-Korean ties endorsed through pop idol competition". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
- ↑ "Middle East: Korean pop 'brings hope for peace'". BBC. 7 August 2013.
- ↑ Natalie Long (December 7, 2013). "Infinite lead K-Pop invasion in Dubai". Gulf News. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 "K-pop magazine published in Russia". Korea.net. Oct 15, 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "K-pop Comes to Poland". The Warsaw Voice.
- 1 2 James Russell, Mark. "The Gangnam Phenom". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
First taking off in China and Southeast Asia in the late 1990s, but really spiking after 2002, Korean TV dramas and pop music have since moved to the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and now even parts of South America.
- ↑ Brown, August (2012-04-29). "K-pop enters American pop consciousness". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
The fan scene in America has been largely centered on major immigrant hubs like Los Angeles and New York, where Girls' Generation sold out Madison Square Garden with a crop of rising K-pop acts including BoA and Super Junior.
- 1 2 Seabrook, John. "Cultural technology and the making of K-pop". The New Yorker. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
The crowd was older than I’d expected, and the ambience felt more like a video-game convention than like a pop concert. About three out of four people were Asian-American, but there were also Caucasians of all ages, and a number of black women.
- 1 2 Chen, Peter (2013-02-09). "'Gangnam Style': How One Teen Immigrant Fell For K-Pop Music". Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
It is common for Chinese teens in the U.S. to be fans of K-pop, too.
- 1 2 "Black is the New K-Pop: Interview With 'Black K-Pop Fans'". The One Shots. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ↑ Yoon, Lina. (2010-08-26) "K-Pop Online: Korean Stars Go Global with Social Media". Time. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
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The Korean music industry grossed nearly $3.4 billion in the first half of 2012, according to Billboard estimates, a 27.8% increase from the same period last year.
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K-pop is a fusion of synthesized music, sharp dance routines and fashionable and colorful outfits.
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The management firms pay for everything; leading talent house SM Entertainment has pegged the cost of rearing a single idol at around $3 million, which for Girls’ Generation would be multiplied by nine.
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One of the unique things about album releases by K-pop artists is that they are routinely called 'comebacks' even when there's been no evidence that the musician or group went away or, in the conventional sports usage of the term, experienced a setback or loss.
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A BOK official said the increase "is related to a surge in exports of cultural products amid the rising popularity of K-pop in Europe and the U.S. as well as in Asia."
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The government then identified the cultural industry as the next growth driver. Numerous state research agencies were created and some projects were subsided in an attempt to boost the nation’s cultural industry.
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But for every $100 increase in exports of cultural products themselves, outbound shipments of processed food, clothes, cosmetics and IT products also grew $412 on average.
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Others handle things like publishing lyrics, translations of lyrics or spreading news about K-pop groups and stars. To get a feel for this micro-business, we asked the operators of a K-pop lyrics translation site called pop!gasa.com to provide a glimpse of their role in the Korean Wave. Our takeaway: it’s as competitive as any business.
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Some fans have called HyeJeong Ahm, consul for cultural affairs at the Korean Consulate, but booking concerts isn't the consulate's primary focus. "If a Korean entertainment company wants to have a concert (in Toronto), we can support it," Ahm said. "But they have to find their own sponsors and local promoting company."
- ↑ Russell, Mark James. "The Gangnam Phenom". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
First taking off in China and Southeast Asia in the late 1990s, but really spiking after 2002, Korean TV dramas and pop music have since moved to the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and now even parts of South America.
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The result, according to a survey conducted by the Korean Culture and Information Service, is that there are an estimated 460,000 Korean-wave fans across Europe, concentrated in Britain and France, with 182 hallyu fan clubs worldwide boasting a total of 3.3m members.
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Since the 1990s, popular genres like rap, rock and techno house have been incorporated into Korean popular music... which often emulates American models.
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According to South Korea's Trade and Investment Agency, income from cultural exports like pop music and TV shows has been rising by about 10% a year. In 2008, it was worth almost $2bn.
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It accounts for most of K-pop albums’ overseas sales. As of 2008, Japan accounted for 68 percent of Korea’s total music industry exports in 2008, while the Chinese and U.S. markets accounted for only 11.2 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively.
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Türkiye’de kayıtlı 150.000 K-POP fanı bulunuyor.
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there are now 70 fan clubs for Korean pop music in Mexico, with at least 60,000 members.
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According to Billboard Boxscore Concert Grosses for the week ending Oct. 9, the SM Town ’10 World Tour in LA ranked at No.10, earning $1,101,582 (about P47.55 million) in ticket sales.
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That L.A. performance at The Staples Center was a sell-out landing the show at No. 9 Billboard's Boxscore Grosses that week
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In total, Gangnam Style has reached Number 1 in 27 countries , including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and, of course, the UK. In fact, it would have been quicker to list the countries where Gangnam Style wasn’t Number 1 - take a bow Brazil, Columbia, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Venezuela!
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The American hip-hop community's recent interest in K-pop has helped open a lot of doors for other artists and managers Stateside, too.
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Lidell's Norwegian writing team DSign make hundreds of thousands of pounds from K-Pop each year.
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They wanted a mix of U.S. beats but with a Scandinavian songwriting style," Mr. Lidell said, adding that in Korean pop, because of the nature of the language, "the top vocals are more rhythmical, with more 16th notes.
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DFSB Kollective was the first company to begin direct distribution of Korean music acts on iTunes, in 2009. It began with more than 50 Korean artists in the alternative, hip-hop and electronica genres; now there are hundreds of Korean artists available in the online music store.
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South Koreans pay less than $10 a month for a subscription to a music service that allows them to download hundreds of songs or have unlimited access to a music streaming service. That makes the cost of a downloaded song about 10 cents on average. The average price for streaming a song is 0.2 cent.
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Korea is the eighth-largest digital music market in the world, larger than Sweden, China and India. It's also the first country where digital surpassed physical sales. Currently, physical is making a modest comeback as merchandise, thanks to elaborate packaging.
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- ↑ "25 Top Viewed 2014 K-Pop Videos in America". Billboard.
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- ↑ "Dae~bak! What?". The Korea Blog. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
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- ↑ "Big Bang first to achieve 'Perfect All Kill' in 2012". Allkpop. 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
- ↑ "IU achieves a certified all-kill with 'The Red Shoes'". Allkpop.com. 2013-10-09.
An Instiz certified all-kill ("AK") occurs when an individual song sweeps all of South Korea's major music charts simultaneously, placing first on both the real-time and daily charts.
- 1 2 "Grown Men Creepily Moved by South Korean Girl Groups". New York. 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
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- ↑ 아이돌 팬 '응원 풍선 색깔찾기 전쟁' (in Korean). Hani.co.kr. 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
- ↑ Mahr, Krista (2012-03-07). "South Korea's Greatest Export: How K-pop's Rocking the World". Time. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
- ↑ "'Rice wreaths' indicate that K-Pop fandoms are becoming more mature". Allkpop. 2011-08-16. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
- ↑ "Video: Treating Your Idol to Lunch Is the True Test of Fandom". The Wall Street Journal. 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "Super Show 4: Bigger & Better". Channel NewsAsia. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
- 1 2 3 4 "'Sasaeng Stalkers' (Part 1): K-pop fans turn to blood, poison for attention". Yahoo! Singapore. 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- 1 2 "When an autograph isn't enough". Korea JoongAnd Daily. 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "JYJ members confirm invasion of privacy, surveillance by stalker fans". Manila Bulletin. 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "JYJ apologises over rough treatment of obsessive "sasaeng" fans". Channel NewsAsia. 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "Idol manager of 10 years discloses his memories of sasaeng fans". Allkpop. 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- ↑ "JYJパク·ユチョン、私生ファンたちが駐車場にCCTVまで?". Nate. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "TVXQ Member Recovers from Poisoning". KBS. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "TVXQ's Yunho finally talks about being poisoned by an anti". Allkpop. 2011-02-15. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "JYJ's Sasaeng fan at the center of the recorded audio clip speaks up". Allkpop. 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- ↑ (LEAD) Stalking, public indecency to be fined, Yonhap, 11 March 2013
- ↑ "SMTOWN LIVE ’10 WORLD TOUR in Los Angeles". Allkpop. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ↑ "Successful social marketing translates into profits for K-pop acts". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
In Japan, a Twitter user with id "kpop_lov" was the major hub of K-pop information, whereas a hallyu blog "dkpopnews.net" contributed to the spread of K-pop the most in Southeast Asia.
- ↑ "KRuddMP: siwon407 Happy Birthday Choi. KRudd". Twitter. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ↑ "Hon. Kevin Rudd sends birthday greeting to Super Junior’s Siwon from Australia". Allkpop. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ↑ "Soshified’s Soy: "The Fans in America Really Want Girls Generation to Come"". BTS Celebs. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
The 9 member group, who is managed by SM Entertainment, has over 200,000 members on Soshified alone. Soy has put together a total of 176 staff members and maintained an average of 10 million monthly page views on the fan site.
- ↑ "Funny video explains what South Koreans think about the North". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
Simon and Martina Stawski, the married couple behind the blog, are close enough to South Korean pop culture that they seem to know it well, but distant enough that they’re good at explaining it to fellow Westerners.
- ↑ "K-Pop Videos Set New Record on YouTube". Soompi. 2012-01-02. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ↑ Anthony Wing Kosner (21 December 2012). "Out Of This World! Gangnam Style Hits One Billion Views And Now Even NASA's In PSY's Orbit". Forbes. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- 1 2 "SNSD's 'Gee' Becomes First Idol Group MV to Reach 100 Million Views". CJ E&M.
- ↑ "South Korea pushes its pop culture abroad". BBC. 2011-11-08. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ↑ Constant, Linda (23 September 2012). "K-Pop Soft Power for the SK Government". Huffington Post.
- ↑ South Korea’s soft power: Soap, sparkle and pop The Economist (August 9, 2014). Retrieved on August 12, 2014.
- ↑ Oliver, Christopher. "South Korea's K-pop takes off in the west". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ↑ American teenager with illness meets K-pop idols, Associated Press
- ↑ Super Junior and SHINee meet a young American girl, KOREA.com
- ↑ "K-POP著作権収入、最大市場の日本で激減". 朝鮮日報. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ↑ "NHK「領土問題は影響しなかった」 紅白「韓国ゼロ」の理由明かす". J-CASTニュース. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ↑ Wood, Stephanie. "Dream machine". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
... but he has noticed an increasing audience among wealthier, middle-aged women
- ↑ Mahr, Krista (2012-03-07). "South Korea's Greatest Export: How K-Pop's Rocking the World". Time. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
Tours from Japan and China bring busloads of teenagers and middle-aged women to see K-pop concerts and do some shopping while they’re at it.
- ↑ Han, Sang-hee. "Korean Music Festival in LA Unites Races, Generations". The Korea Times. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
This year, not only Korean Americans but also thousands of visitors from 10 Asian and European countries came to the venue to enjoy the music, while 95 percent of the tickets sold through the Internet Web site were purchased by non-Koreans. The enthusiasm proved that the Hallyu (Korean wave) was still alive, marking the event as one of the biggest cultural festivals in the L.A. area. Avid fans from Hawaii, San Francisco and San Diego also flew to Los Angeles to participate.
- ↑ "'K-pop' goes global". CNN. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ↑ Constant, Linda (2011-11-14). "K-pop: Soft Power for the Global Cool". Huffington Post. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
...but K-pop is an authentic reflection and spectacle of youth culture that is impressively close to the pulse of the "global cool."
- ↑ "AFP: South Korea's K-pop spreads to Latin America". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
...K-pop offered a new cultural experience, particularly for trend-conscious teenage girls and women in their 20s in Latin America.
- ↑ Mukasa, Edwina (2011-12-15). "Bored by Cowell pop? Try K-pop". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 4 March 2013.
Its audience is largely female, from early teens through to late 20s.
- ↑ Rose A. Garcia, Cathy. "Is South Korea losing its appeal to Filipino tourists?". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
These are usually women in their 20s and 30s who travel to Korea because of their interest in Korean dramas and K-pop music, as well as fashion and beauty products.
- ↑ Badeges, Abdul. "The Global Phenomenon of K - Pop Culture: The Case of Music Industry in Korea" (PDF). iwahs.org. World Association for Hallyu Studies. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 Kim, Yeojin. "A Possibility of the Korean Wave Renaissance Construction Through K-Pop: Sustainable Development of the Korean Wave as a Cultural Industry". Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ↑ Ingyu Oh, Ingyu; Park, Gil-Sung. "The Globalization of K - Pop: Korea ’ s Place in the Global Music Industry" (PDF). iwahs.org. The Institute of Korean Studies. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ↑ Kim, Youna (2013). The Korean Wave: Korean Media Go Global.
- ↑ "RIAJ 2002 million-seller list by year". RIAJ.
- ↑ "東方神起-リリース-ORICON STYLE ミュージック" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ 동방신기 오리콘 위클리 1위 아시아-남성가수 최초 (in Korean). Newsen. 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "THE 22nd JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARD 2008". Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
SS501 released their first Japanese single Kokoro in 2007, debuting at the 5th spot on the Oricon chart, and moved to 3rd spot the next day. It was also chosen as an ending theme song for an anime entitled Blue Dragon. The next year in 2008, the group received the "Newcomer Award" by Japan Gold Disc Award marking the first time for Korean artists to receive this award.
- ↑ "SHINee Ranks #2 on Oricon Upon Release". 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "CDシングル 月間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "BIGBANG Major Debut in Japan" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "How Korean Pop Conquered Japan". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ 지은, 백 (2012-02-17). "韓가수, 지난해 日서 3490억 벌었다! "소시-카라, 견인차 역할"". Sports Joseon. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ↑ "Highest 2010 Korean Wave Index Goes to Japan". Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ↑ Mendoza, Jaime (2009-12-31). "Wonder Girls to Invade China in 2010". Asia Pacific Arts.
- ↑ "슈퍼주니어M, 중국 가요계 완전 싹쓸이". Newsis. 2011-03-08.
- 1 2 "A little corner of Korea in India". BBC. 2010-10-17. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ Roy, Esha. "Manipur finds a Seoul-mate in Korean culture". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ Sugathan, Priya. "South Korean films inundate Manipur market". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ Kala, Advaita (2012-11-30). "Seoul mate to the world: What is it about the Koreans that makes them so popular?". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved 2 December 2012.
- ↑ "Korea in Nepal". beed. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
- ↑ "Malaysian firms tap into K-Pop power". BBC (Kuala Lumpur). 2012-07-03. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ↑ "Next Psy? Ryan Bang wants 'Shopping' to go viral". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. June 23, 2015.
- ↑ "South Korean Pop Sensation Wonder Girls Hits The States". Access Hollywood. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
- ↑ "Featured artist at House of Blues". House of Blues. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "Upcoming K-Pop Concerts In The US". Soompi. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ Hong, Grace Danbi. "K-Pop Stars to Take Over Google Headquarters". Mnet. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ McCurry, Justin (2012-09-28). "K-pop stars: the lowdown on South Korean pop". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "Girls' Generation Splinter Group Enters Billboard 200". Billboard. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "2NE1". MTV Iggy. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
- ↑ "2NE1 Holds First Concert In The US". Manila Bulletin. 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
- 1 2 "JYJ Charts New Territory for K-Pop Solo Act in Mexico". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ↑ "Big Bang adds two additional tour dates for the U.S". Allkpop. 2012-09-29. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ Kaufman, Gil. "Madonna Goes 'Gangnam Style' With Psy". MTV. Retrieved 2012-11-15.
- ↑ Bae, Soo-min (January 31, 2013). "Billboard launches K-pop column with INFINITE". The Korea Herald. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (January 29, 2013). "Billboard & Girls' Generation Welcome You to K-Town!". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ↑ Carr, David (January 7, 2014). "New Leader at Billboard Sees Future in Visuals". The New York Times. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ↑ "f(x) Schedule at SXSW". SXSW. 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
- 1 2 "Colombia Getting into K-Pop Groove with Reality TV Shows". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "K-Pop Fever Spreads to Latin America and Africa". The Korea IT Times. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ↑ "'2011 K-POP Cover Dance Festival to Celebrate the Visit Korea Year Campaign', The Second Round Contest Held Successfully in Russia and Brazil". Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ↑ "Over 3,000 Peruvian fans gather to greet JYJ in Peru". Allkpop. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "AFP: South Korea's K-pop spreads to Latin America". Google. 2012-06-19. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ↑ "Kim Hyung Jun completes his South American concert tour on a successful note". Yahoo.ph. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
- ↑ "Kim Hyung Jun Is Greeted By Huge Kpop Fan Base In Bolivia". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
- ↑ "Kim Hyung Jun Gathers Crowds of Fans Everywhere in Peru". Mwave. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
- ↑ (Korean)"김형준 남미 인기 이 정도? 페루공항 마비 포착". Naver. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
- ↑ Oh, Seok-min. "(Yonhap Feature) K-pop fever takes hold in Latin America". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ↑ Shin, Hyon-hee. "K-pop craze boosts Korea's public diplomacy". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
In Chile alone, there are about 20,000 members of 200 clubs also for Big Bang, 2PM, CN Blue, SHINee, MBLAQ and other artists. Peru is another K-pop stronghold, with nearly 8,000 people participating in 60 groups.
- ↑ "'MBC Korean Culture Festival in London 2012′ gathers 2,500 fans". Allkpop. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "SHINee's London Concert Causes a Stir". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ Edwina Mukasa (2011-12-15). "Bored of Cowell pop? Try K-pop". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ↑ "German press praises Rain at the Dresden Music Festival". Allkpop. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "Schön frisiert und wohlerzogen". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ Kleinman:, Kleinman. "KPop 'Music Bank' World Tour: Korean Star Groups Pack Paris Stadium". International Business Times. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "Big Bang Wins 'Best Fan' MTV TRL Award In Italy". MTV. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "K-pop Comes to Poland". The Warsaw Voice. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ↑ "K-Pop Flash Mob hits Poland". Allkpop. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "K-POP FLASH MOB in Prague". First Post. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "К-РОР Сover Dance Фестиваль". Muz TV. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "SHINee in Russia on first episode of 2011 Cover Dance Festival 'K-Pop Road Show 40120′". Allkpop. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "Park Jung Min to Hold Solo Concert in Russia". Mwave. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ↑ "Hallyu stars open Turkish hearts". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ Tusing, David. "Korean pop phenomenon ZE:A in Dubai". Gulf News. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "K-pop invasion". Gulf News. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "Egyptian-Korean ties endorsed through pop idol competition". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
- ↑ "Israeli fans latch on to ever-mobile K-pop wave". JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ↑ "Middle East: Korean pop 'brings hope for peace'". BBC. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ↑ Nissim Otmazgin, Irina Lyan (December 2013). "Hallyu across the Desert: K-pop Fandom in Israel and Palestine" (PDF). Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "2011 K-POP MUSIC FEST". Azn stadium. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "Tidal wave of K-pop heads our way". The New Zealand Herald. 2012-04-26. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "NU'EST to judge K-pop contest in Sydney". DKpopnews. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "Gangnam Style's Psy on way to Australia". news.com.au. 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ↑ "Remarks by President Obama and President Park of South Korea in a Joint Press Conference". White House. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
And of course, around the world, people are being swept up by Korean culture -- the Korean Wave. And as I mentioned to President Park, my daughters have taught me a pretty good Gangnam Style.
- ↑ "South Korea blasts pop music, propaganda over the border". Daily News (New York). Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ↑ "South Korean Propaganda Blasts". Time. 2010-06-07. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ↑ "Girl Bands to Assist in 'Psychological Warfare'". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ↑ "N. Korea takes 'Gangnam Style' shot at South politician". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. August 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
- ↑ Kwon, K. J.; Mullen, Jethro (September 20, 2012). "North Korean video evokes 'Gangnam Style' to taunt South Korean candidate". CNN. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
- ↑ "Remarks by President Obama at Hankuk University". White House. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
It’s no wonder so many people around the world have caught the Korean Wave, Hallyu.
- ↑ "United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's Statements". United Nations. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
As is clear with the recent rise of Psy’s "Gangnam Style", the Hallyu-wave and Korean pop music, Korean culture is making its mark on the world.
- ↑ <李대통령 "터키인, 한국기업 취업 길 많다"> (in Korean). Yonhap. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
이 대통령은 K-팝 공연이 터키에서 열릴 수 있도록 도와달라는 한 한류팬의 말을 듣고 "초대하고 싶지만 K-팝(가수들)이 너무 바쁘다"면서 "양국을 위해 (K-팝 가수들이) 유럽을 갈 때 터키에 들를 수 있도록 도움을 주도록 해보겠다"고 말했다.
- ↑ "Daily Press Briefing – October 3, 2012". United States Department of State. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
No, but I bet you my daughter does. She loves Korean pop.
- ↑ Chi-dong, Lee. "Psy-loving Nuland hopes for closer Korea-US-Japan ties". Yonhap. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
Nuland's teenage daughter was the first in the family to go crazy about Korean music and dance, dubbed K-pop
- ↑ "Speech: Anglo-Korean Society Dinner". gov.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
As "Gangnam Style" has demonstrated, your music is global too.
- ↑ "(LEAD)(Yonhap Interview) Peruvian vice president hopes for further economic ties". Yonhap. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
"K-pop and soap operas have taken popularity. It was one of the main factors that made Peruvian people wanting to get to know South Korea more," Espinoza said.
- ↑ James Russell, Mark. "The Gangnam Phenom". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
More generally, it illustrates the new reality that the North-South pattern of trade and cultural exchange that has dominated the world since the ascendance of European colonialism is giving way and making room for unexpected soft power.
- ↑ Barry, Robert. "Gangnam Style & How The World Woke Up To The Genius Of K-Pop". The Quietus. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
While suspicious talk of Hallyu as 'soft power' akin to the CIA's cultural Cold War bears a whiff of the old Victorian fear of yellow peril,
- ↑ Chamberlain, Adrian. "Victoria songwriter compensated after melodies plagiarized by South Korean pop star". Global Calgary. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ↑ Dixon, Tom. "The Journey of Cultural Globalization in Korean Pop Music". e-International Relations. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ↑ Seabrook, John. "Cultural technology and the making of K-pop". The New Yorker. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
...have an Asian flavor, but the music sounds Western: hip-hop verses, Euro-pop choruses, rapping, and dubstep break
- 1 2 3 "The dark side of South Korean pop music". BBC. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ Lindvall, Helienne (2011-04-20). "Behind the music: What is K-Pop and why are the Swedish getting involved?". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 24 March 2013.
K-Pop is a genre that sounds a bit like the Black Eyed Peas – only in Korean. A few English words are added to create meaningless song titles: Chocolate Love or Hurricane Venus, for example. Sometimes they even make up their own words, like Mirotic
- ↑ "Lost in Translation: The Reduced Role of Lyrics in K-pop". Seoulbeats. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
A fan can only take so much songs talking of the same topics or nonsensical ones before getting tired of researching up translations altogether, generalizing all K-pop songs as meaningless and lacking in depth.
- 1 2 Kim Inc, 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 16 Mar. 2015., Soyoung. "Female Empowerment or Exploitation". The Crimson. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- 1 2 I.said.hi. "Seo Kang Joon Reveals 5urprise’s Dorm Life". Soompi. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- ↑ "Will TVXQ Stay Together?". KBS World. 2009-10-28. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
- ↑ "한경 "SM, 非정상적 활동강요" Star News. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 2012-05-01 (Korean)
- 1 2 Cho, Hae-joang (2005). "Reading the 'Korean Wave' as a Sign of Global Shift". Korea Journal. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
- 1 2 "K-pop scores a knock out with lyrics you can't forget". Korea JoongAng Daily via XinMSN. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
- ↑ "K-Pop's Soft Power". In These Times. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ↑ "K-Pop's Plague of Plagiarism". Soompi. 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
- ↑ Oh, Esther. "K-Pop taking over the world? Don't make me laugh". CNN. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
- ↑ Seabrook, John. "Cultural technology and the making of K-pop". The New Yorker. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ↑ South Korea Passes Law Regulating K-Pop Industry WonderingSound.com (July 8, 2014). Retrieved on August 3, 2014.
Bibliography
Look up k-pop in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to K-pop. |
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