K-pop (short for Korean pop ; Hangul: Ã, ??? ) is a musical genre originating from South Korea, characterized by various audiovisual elements. Although it covers all the genres of "popular music" in South Korea, the term is often used in a narrow sense to describe the modern form of South Korean pop music inspired by styles and genres from around the world, such as Western pop, rock, experimental, jazz, gospel , Latin, hip hop, R & amp; B, reggae, electronic dance, folk, country and classic on the roots of unique Korean traditional music. A more modern form of genre emerged with one of the earliest K-pop groups, Seo Taiji and Boys, formed in 1992. Their experiments with different musical styles and genres and the integration of foreign musical elements helped to reshape and modernize South Korea's contemporary music. scene.
K-pop modern "idol" culture begins with boy band H.O.T. in 1996, when K-pop grew into a subculture that garnered a large fandom of teenagers and young adults. After the early K-pop slump, from 2003 TVXQ and BoA started a new generation of K-pop idols that broke the music genre to the adjacent Japanese market and continued to popularize K-pop internationally today. With the advent of online social networking services and Korean TV shows, K-pop's global spread and Korean entertainment, known as the Korean Wave, is seen not only in East and Southeast Asia but also Latin America, India, North Africa, the Middle East and the West , gaining a large global audience.
Video K-pop
Characteristics
Audiovisual content
Although K-pop generally refers to South Korean popular music, some regard it as a genre that includes everything that features a wide spectrum of musical and visual elements. The French National Institute de l'audiovisuel defines K-pop as "synthesized music synthesized, sharp dance routines and fashionable and colorful clothing." Songs usually consist of one or a mix of pop, rock, hip hop, R & amp; B and electronic music genres.
Training a systematic artist
Management agencies in South Korea offer binding contracts to potential artists, sometimes at a young age. The trainees live together in an orderly environment and spend many hours a day learning music, dance, foreign languages, and other skills in preparation for their debut. This "robot" training system is often criticized by Western media. In 2012, The Wall Street Journal reported that the cost of training a Korean idol under S.M. Entertainment averages US $ 3 million.
Hybrid genres and transnational values ​​
K-pop is a cultural product that displays "value, identity, and meaning that goes beyond their rigorous commercial value." It is characterized by a mixture of Western sounds with aspects of Asian performance. It has been argued that there is a "vision of modernization" inherent in Korean pop culture. For some people, K-pop transnational values ​​are responsible for its success. A commentator at the University of California says that "contemporary Korean pop culture is built on [...] transnational flows [...] that occur throughout, beyond, and beyond national and institutional boundaries." Some examples of K-pop transnational values ​​that may appeal to those from different ethnic, national and religious backgrounds include dedication to high-quality output and the presentation of idols, as well as ethical work and social behavior that are polite, made possible with the training period.
Marketing
Many agencies have presented new idol groups to an audience through a "showcase debut", which consists of online marketing and promotion of television broadcasts as opposed to radio. Groups are named and "drafts", along with a marketing hook. These concepts are the kind of visual and musical themes that idol groups use during their debut or comeback. The concept can change between debut and fans often differentiate between the concept of boy group and the concept of girl group. Concepts can also be shared between general concepts and theme concepts, such as cute or fantasy. New idol groups will often debut with a well-known concept in the market to secure their first successful debut. Sometimes sub-units or sub-groups are formed between existing members. The subgroup example is Super Junior-K.R.Y. which consists of members Kyuhyun, Ryeowook, and Yesung, and Super Junior-M, which became one of the best-selling K-pop sub-groups in China.
Online marketing includes music videos posted to YouTube to reach audiences around the world. Before the actual video, the group released a photo and a teaser trailer. The promotional cycle of the next single is called comebacks even when the musician or group does not continue hiatus.
Use of the English phrase
Modern K-pop is characterized by the use of English phrases. Jin Dal Yong of Popular Music and Society wrote that its use may be influenced by "Korean-Americans and/or Koreans studying in the US who make full use of their English-language eloquence and cultural resources that are not found publicly among those raised and educated in Korea. "In 1995, the percentage of English song titles on the top 50 charts was 8%. It fluctuated between 30% in 2000, 18% in 2005, and 44% in 2010. Similarly, the increasing number of K-pop bands use English names rather than Korean names. This allows songs and artists to be marketed to a wider audience around the world. Examples of Korean songs with a large proportion of English lyrics are "Jumping" Kara, released at the same time in Korea and Japan for much success.
More and more songwriters and foreign producers are hired to work on songs for K-pop idols, such as will.i.am and Sean Garrett. Musicians, including rappers like Akon, Kanye West, Ludacris, and Snoop Dogg, also performed in K-pop songs.
However, the use of English has not guaranteed the popularity of K-pop in the North American market. For some commentators, the reason for this is because the genre can be seen as a distilled version of Western music, making it difficult for K-pop to find acceptance in these markets. In addition, Western audiences tend to emphasize the authenticity and individual expression in music, which the idol system can be seen as emphasis.
Choreography
Dance is an integral part of K-pop. When combining several singers, the singers often switch positions while singing and dancing by making rapid movements in sync, a strategy called "change of formation" (Korean: ????, Jaribaggum). K-pop choreography (Korean: ??, Anmu) often includes so-called "dance points" (Korean: ????), referring to a dance consisting of hook and repetitive movements in choreography that match the lyrical characteristics of the song. Super Junior's "Sorry Sorry" and Brown Eyed Girls' "Abracadabra" are examples of songs with important "point" choreography. To make a dance choreography for a song requires the authors to take account of the tempo. According to Ellen Kim, a Los Angeles dancer and choreographer, fans' ability to take the same steps should also be considered: Consequently, K-pop choreographers should simplify the movement.
Mode
K-pop has a significant influence on fashion in Asia, where the trend started by the idol is followed by a young audience. Some idols have set status as fashion icons, such as G-Dragon and CL, who have repeatedly worked with fashion designer Jeremy Scott, who is labeled his "muse".
There are some concerns over trends such as skin whitening popularized by industry, which has been criticized for its narrow standard of beauty.
The appearance of Seo Taiji & amp; The boys in 1992 paved the way for the development of contemporary K-pop groups that fans love today. Seo Taiji & amp; Boys revolutionized the world of Korean music by combining American rap and hip-hop conventions into their music. This Western-style adoption spread to the fashion worn by boy bands, and boys adopted hip-hop aesthetics. Seo outfits and bandmates for promotion cycle "Nan Arayo" (????, I Know) include lively street clothes such as oversized shirts and sweaters, windbreakers, overalls worn with one rope, overalls worn with one trousers rolled up, and American sports team shirt. Accessories include retractable baseball caps, bucket hats, and do-rags. Since K-pop "was born from the post-Seo trend," many of the actions that follow Seo Taiji & amp; Boys adopt the same style of fashion. Deux and DJ DOC can also be seen wearing hip-hop fashion trends such as saggy baggy pants, sportswear, and bandana in their looks. With Korean popular music turning into a youth-dominated media, the teen idol group produced began making its debut in the mid- and late-90s, dressed in a coordinated costume that reflected the popular fashion trends among youths at the time. Hip-hop mode, considered the most popular style in the late 90's, remains, with idol group H.O.T. and Sechs Kies wearing styles for their debut song. The use of accessories enhances the idol style of everyday fashion into performance costumes, such as ski sunglasses (worn around the head or neck), head worn on the neck, and large gloves worn to accentuate the widely used choreographic movement. HOT's hit 1996 "Candy" exemplifies the calculated level of coordination for idol costumes, as each member wears color designated and given accessory with face paint, oversized gloves, visors, bucket hats and earplugs, and uses stuffed animals, backpacks, and messenger bag as props. While male idol group costumes are built with similar color schemes, fabrics, and styles, the clothing worn by each member still retains individuality. On the other hand, female idol groups in the 90s wore homogeneous costumes, which were often identical. Costumes for female idols during initial promotions are often centered on the portrayal of innocent and childish imagery. SES's 1997 debut "I'm Your Girl" and Baby Vox 1998 debut "Ya Ya Ya" featuring girls wearing all white clothes, and Fin.KL "To My Boyfriend" featuring idols in pink school girl outfits. To illustrate a natural and cute picture, accessories are limited to large hair bows, pom pom hair ornaments, and scrunchies. With the maturation of a female idol group and a move away from bubblegum pop in the late 90s, female idol clothing focused on following the fashion trends of the time, many of which revealed clothing. The next promotion for girl group Baby Vox and Jewelry exemplifies this trend, as members can be seen wearing warm pants, micro mini skirts, crop tops, peasant tops, translucent outfits, and sweater tops.
K-pop has shown a significant trend over the last few decades. In the early 90s ~ 2000s, ullzang culture emerged as a good-looking internet celebrity posting photos on popular sites like Haduri (webcam facial site), Daum community. The appearance of ulzzang style is parallel to the K-pop phenomenon, so many K-pop idols are adopted look, which is described as "big eyes like smooth bamboo with double petals and a small soft nose with high bridge is a prerequisite.Full pale white skin and lips rosebud is also desirable, as well as small and sharp chins to achieve a perfect "V-line" face, ideally no bigger than the size of your palm. " This display is almost impossible to obtain naturally, thus increasing the popularity of circular contact lenses, plastic surgery, and skin whitening products. Since K-pop became a modern hybrid of Western and Asian cultures from the late 2000s, fashion trends in K-pop reflect diversity and differences as well. Fashion trends from the late 2000s to early 2010s are largely categorized as follows:
- Street: focuses on individuality, vibrant colors, mix-and-match style, graphic prints, sports brands like Adidas and Reebok (eg 2NE1-Fire, SHINee-Ring Ding Dong, etc.)
- Retro: aims to return "nostalgia" from the 1960s to the 1980s, point prints, detail patterns, common outfits including denim jackets, boot-cut pants, wide pants, hair ribbons, scarves and sunglasses (eg Wonder Girls -Nobody, Tiara-Roly Poly, etc.)
- Sexy: highlights femininity and masculinity, reveals clothes made of satin, lace, fur and leather, general clothing including miniskirts, corsets, clean stockings, high heels, sleeveless vests, transparent shirts (eg Girls 'Generation -The Boys, After School, TVXQ-Mirotic, etc.)
- Black & amp; White: modern emphasize & amp; chic, symbolize elegance & amp; charisma, mostly applied to formal wear (eg Girls' Generation-Genie, Super Junior-Sorry Sorry, Beast-Fiction, etc.)
- Futurism: generally wearing with electronic and hip-hop genres, popping color items, metallic details and prints, aims to have futuristic views (eg 2NE1-I Best, Wonder Girls-Like Money, NCT U-Seventh Sense, etc..)
Government support
The South Korean government has recognized the benefits to the country's export sector as a result of the Korean Wave (estimated in 2011 that an increase in export of cultural products by 100 US dollars resulted in an increase in exports of other consumer goods by US $ 412 including food, clothing, cosmetics and IT products ) and thus has subsidized certain efforts. The government's initiative to expand K-pop's popularity is largely undertaken by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which is responsible for the establishment of the Korean Cultural Center around the world. South Korean embassies and consulates also hold K-pop concerts abroad, and the Foreign Ministry regularly invites K-pop fans abroad to attend the annual K-Pop World Festival in South Korea.
Maps K-pop
History
Korean popular music origins
The history of Korean popular music can be traced back to 1885 when an American missioner, Henry Appenzeller, began teaching American and British folk songs at a school. These songs are called changga in Korean, and they are usually based on popular Western melodies sung with Korean lyrics. For example, the song "Oh My Darling, Clementine" is known as "Simcheongga." During the Japanese rule (1910-1945) the popularity of the changga song increased when Koreans expressed their feelings towards Japanese oppression through music. One of the most popular songs is "Huimangga" (???, The Song of Hope). The Japanese confiscated their existing changga collection and published their own lyric books.
The first known Korean pop album was "Yi Pungjin Sewol" (The Difficult Times), by Park Chae-seon and Lee Ryu-saek in 1925, which contained popular songs translated from Japanese. The first pop song written by a Korean composer was considered "Nakhwayusu" (????, Fallen Blossoms on Running Water) sung by Lee Jeong-suk in 1929. In the mid 1920s, Japanese composer Masao Koga incorporated Korean traditional musical music with Gospel music being introduced by American Evangelist in the 1870s. This type of music is known as Enka in Japan, and later in Korea as Trot (Korean: "???" ).
1940s-1960s: The arrival of Western culture
After the Korean Peninsula was partitioned into North and South after its release in 1945 from the Japanese occupation, Western culture was introduced to South Korea on a small scale, with some Western-style bars and clubs playing Western music. After the Korean War (1950-53) US forces remained in South Korea. With the continuing presence of the US military over the years, the American and South American cultures and the Western music have gradually become more accepted.
United Service Organizations allow for some American entertainment figures, such as Marilyn Monroe and Louis Armstrong to visit soldiers stationed in Korea. This visit prompted the attention of the Korean community. In 1957, American Forces Korea Network radio began its broadcast, spreading the popularity of Western music. American music began to influence Korean music, as the pentatony was gradually replaced by heptachord and popular songs began to be modeled after the American ones.
In the 1960s, the development of LP records and improvements in recording technology led to the pursuit of a variety of tone of voice. Many singers sing for American troops, usually in special clubs, whose numbers rise to 264. They feature genres such as country music, blues, jazz, and rock & amp; rolls. The South Korean economy began to bloom and popular music followed the trend, propagated by the first commercial radio station. The Korean cinema also began to flourish and Korean musicians began to appear to a wider audience.
When Beatlemania reached the Korean coast, the first local rock bands appeared, the first being Add4, a band founded in 1962. The first talent contest for rock bands in Seoul was held in 1968. In addition to rock and pop, popular.
Some Korean singers gained international popularity. Sister Kim, Yoon Bok-hee and Patti Kim are the first singers to debut in countries such as Vietnam and the United States. The Kim Sisters became the first Korean group to release an album in the United States, performing in Las Vegas and performing several times on Ed Sullivan's TV show. 1961 Han Myeong Suk song "The Boy in The Yellow Shirt" is covered by French singer Yvette Giraud and is also popular in Japan.
1970's : Hippie and folk influences
In the late 1960s Korean pop music underwent another transformation. More and more musicians are students and graduates who are heavily influenced by American culture and lifestyles (including hippie movements) and make light music like their predecessors, influenced by war and Japanese oppression. The younger generation opposed the Vietnam War as much as American hippies, which resulted in the Korean government banning songs with more liberal lyrics. Nevertheless, populist-influenced pop remained popular with youth, and MBC's local television channel held a music contest for students in 1977. This is the basis of some modern music festivals.
One of the main characters of this era is Han Dae-soo, who grew up in the United States and was influenced by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and John Lennon. Han's song "Mul jom juso" (??, Give Me Water) became an icon among young people in Korea. His bold appearance and unique singing style often shocked the public and then he was banned from performing in Korea. Han moved to New York City and pursued her music career there, only returning to her native country in the 1990s. Other notable singers from this period included Song Chang-sik, Young Nam-cho and Hee Eun-yang.
In the 1970s, the DJs also began to become popular.
1980s: ballad era
The 1980s witnessed the emergence of ballad singers after Lee Gwang-jo's 1985 album, "You're Too Far to Close" (??????, Gakkai Hagien Neomu Meon Dangsin) sold over 300,000 copies. Other popular ballad singers include Lee Moon-se (???) and Byun Jin-seob (???), nicknamed "Prince of Ballads". One of the most sought-after ballad composers in this era is Lee Young-hoon (???), whose songs are compiled into modern music in 2011 titled Gwanghwamun Yeonga (????, Song Gwanghwamun).
The Asian Music Forum was launched in 1980, with representatives from five different Asian countries competing in the event. Korean singer Cho Yong-pil won first place and went on to have a successful career, performing in Hong Kong and Japan. His first album Chang Bakkui yeoja (?, ??, Woman outside the window) became a hit and he became the first Korean singer to take the stage at Carnegie Hall in New York. Cho's music repertoire includes rock, dance, trot and folk pop.
1990s: The development of modern K-pop
In the 1990s, Korean pop musicians incorporated some of the Europop music styles and most American music styles such as hip hop, rock, jazz, and electronic dance in their music. In 1992 the appearance of Seo Taiji & amp; The boys mark the revolutionary moment in K-pop history. The trio debuted on MBC talent show with their song "Nan Arayo" (????, I Know) and got the lowest rating from the jury; However, songs and albums with the same name became so successful that it paved the way for other songs of the same format. The success of this song is attributed to the new jack-inspired beat and the impressive chorus, as well as the innovative lyrics that deal with the Korean community's problems. Their footsteps are followed by a wave of successful hip hop and R & amp artists. B like Yoo Seung-jun, Jinusean, Solid, Deux, 1TYM and Drunken Tiger.
In 1995, South Korean record producer Lee Soo-man founded an entertainment company, S.M. Entertainment. Former Seo Taiji & amp; Boys' member Yang Hyun-suk formed YG entertainment in 1996, as did South Korean K-pop singer Park Jin-young founded JYP Entertainment in 1997.
Idol bands (young boyband or girlband) are formed, inspired by Seo Taiji & amp; Boys, to serve a growing audience of teenagers. HOT. is one of the first idol boyband, debuted in 1996. Their success was followed by bands such as Sechs Kies, S.E.S., Fin.K.L, NRG, Baby V.O.X., Diva, Shinhwa and g.o.d. The 1990s were also a successful period for underground music clubs and punk rock bands like Crying Nut.
The 1997 Asian financial crisis prompted South Korean entertainers to seek new markets: H.O.T. released an album in Mandarin and Diva released an English-language album in Taiwan.
21st century: Awakening Hallyu
The increasing popularity of K-pop is part of the Hallyu , or Korean Wave, which refers to South Korean cultural popularity in other countries. K-pop is increasingly making appearances on Western charts like Billboard. The development of online social media has become an important tool for the Korean music industry in reaching a wider audience.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the K-pop market has degenerated and the K-pop idol group that has seen success in the 90s has declined. HOT. was dissolved in 2001, while other groups such as Sechs Kies, S.E.S., Fin.K.L, Shinhwa, and g.o.d became inactive in 2005. Solo singers such as BoA and Rain grew in success. However, the success of boyband TVXQ after its debut in 2003 marked the rise of idol groups to Korean entertainment and K-pop growth as part of Hallyu. The second generation K-pop was followed by the successful debut of SS501 (2005), Super Junior (2005), Big Bang (2006), Wonder Girls (2007), Girls' Generation (2007), Kara (2007), SHINee (2008 ), 2NE1 (2009), 4Minute (2009), T-ara (2009), and After School (2009).
During the early 21st century, K-pop idols began to accept success elsewhere in Asia: in 2002, the single Baby V.O.X. "Coincidence" became popular in many Asian countries after it was released and promoted during the World Cup in South Korea. BoA became the first K-pop singer to reach No. 1 on the Oricon Japanese music charts and shortly after, Rain had a sold-out concert for an audience of 40,000 fans in Beijing. In 2003, Baby V.O.X. topped the Chinese charts with the Chinese singles "I'm Still Loving You" from their third album Devotion , the first idol group to do so, creating a huge fanbase in China. They also charted on various music charts in Thailand. TVXQ marks the emergence of K-pop boy band in Japan. In 2008, their single "Purple Line" made TVXQ the first foreign boy band and second Korean artist after BoA ​​became Oricon's top music chart.
Since the mid-2000s, most of the East Asian music market is dominated by K-pop. In 2008, South Korean cultural exports (including television dramas and computer games) rose to US $ 2 billion, maintaining an annual growth rate of over 10%. That year, Japan accounted for almost 68% of all K-pop export earnings, above China (11.2%) and the United States (2.1%). The sale of concert tickets proved to be a lucrative business; Tohoshinki Live Tour TVXQ in Japan sold over 850,000 tickets at an average cost of US $ 109 each, generating a total of US $ 92.6 million in revenue.
Elsewhere in the world, the genre is growing rapidly, especially after the music video Psy "Gangnam Style" is the first YouTube video to reach one billion views, reaching a wide range in mainstream media. As of November 2016, the video has 2.7 billion views. Despite some attempts by entertainment companies (with idols like BoA, Wonder Girls, and CL releasing English singles) to penetrate the English-speaking market, this has not all achieved overall success.
As part of the Korean Wave, K-pop has been embraced by the South Korean government as a tool for projecting the soft power of South Korea overseas, especially towards overseas youth. In August 2014, the leading English news magazine The Economist dubbed the Korean pop culture "the leading trendsetter in Asia".
In May 2017, K-pop received international coverage after the boy group won the BTS for Top Social Artist at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, making them the first K-pop group to win BBMA. In November 2017, BTS made their US television debut at the American Music Awards featuring DNA, which reached number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first K-pop group to perform at the awards show. In May 2018, BTS became the first K-pop group to reach number 1 on the Billboard 200 with Love Yourself: Tear. They also made two appearances on Ellen, highlighting their success and popularity, as well as the growing popularity of K-pop, in the US
In January 2018, EXO boy group was invited to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for Dubai Fountain Show. Their single, "Power", was chosen as the first K-pop song to be played in a fountain for a choreography fountain show in Dubai. This prompted the group's agency, SM Entertainment, to hold its first SM Town concert in the country in April.
Industry
Agencies
K-pop has spawned an entire industry that includes music production houses, event management companies, music distributors, and other goods and services providers. The three largest companies in terms of sales and revenue are S.M. Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment, often referred to as the 'Big Three'. These record labels also function as representative agents for their artists. They are responsible for recruiting, financing, training, and marketing new artists as well as managing their music and community relations activities. Currently, the largest market share is S.M. Entertainment. In 2011, along with Star J Entertainment, AM Entertainment, and Key East, three large companies set up a joint management company United Asia Management.
Sales and market value
In 2009, DFSB Kollective became the first K-pop distributor on iTunes.
In 2011, 1,100 albums were released in South Korea. The hip-hop genre has the most representation, in two-thirds of the total album. A third of the albums come from a variety of other genres, including rock, modern folk, and crossovers.
In 2012, the average cost of getting K-pop songs in South Korea is $ 0.10 for one-time downloads, or $ 0.002 when streamed online.
In the first half of 2012, according to Billboard , the Korean music industry earned nearly US $ 3.4 billion - a 27.8% increase over the previous year - and was recognized by Time magazine as "South Korea's Great Exports".
The trainee system
With conventions in modern K-pop, trainees undergo a rigorous training system for an undetermined amount of time before debut. This method was popularized by Lee Soo-man, founder of S.M. Entertainment, as part of a concept labeled "cultural technology". The Verge describes this as an "extreme" artist management system. According to CEO of the Southeast Asia Universal Music branch, Korea's idol training system is unique in the world.
Due to the training period, which can last for many years, and the large number of investment agents given to their trainees, the industry is very serious about launching new artists. Trainees can enter the agency through auditions or coaching, and once recruited are given accommodation and classes (usually singing, dancing, rap and foreign languages ​​such as Mandarin, English and Japanese) while they prepare for debut. Young training participants sometimes attend school at the same time. There is no age limit for becoming a trainee and there is no limit to the duration that can be spent as a trainee.
Record graph
Korean charts include Korean K-Pop Hot 100 and Gaon Singles Chart. Recently, several K-pop recordings have appeared on the Japanese Oricon Album Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 from the United States. In May 2014, EXO became the third K-pop acting to enter the 200-year-old Billboard after 2NE1, Girls' Generation and Wonder Girls was the first K-Pop acting charted on the Billboard 200.
In October 2016, BTS Wings became the first Korean album to enter the UK Album Charts chart, reaching # 62, and the highest chart and the best-selling K-pop album on the Billboard 200. They also became the first Korean artist has three entries on the Billboard 200 and the first K-pop action has an entry for more than a week on the Billboard 200. In February 2017, BTS landed their fourth album, "You Never Walk Alone," at # 61 on Billboard 200, into acting The first K-pop to have four entries on the Billboard 200. They also became the first Korean artist to top 10 in the US iTunes sales chart with the title song "Spring Day" at # 9. In May 2017, BTS also became a Korean artist group the first to win the Billboard Music Award. In September 2017, BTS landed at # 14 on the UK Album Charts with their new album, Love Yourself: Her , becoming the first Korean artist to land on top 40 charts. In addition, on May 27, 2018, the band reached # 1 on the Billboard 200 with their album "LOVE YOURSELF: Tear". With 135,000 copies sold, BTS made history as the first Korean band to top the Billboard charts.
Television
The Korean music industry has spawned a variety of related reality shows, including talent shows like Superstar K and K-pop Star, special rap competitions Show My Money and his female counterparts Unpretty Rapstar, and many 'survival' performances, which generally pit the trainees to each other to form new idol groups. Examples of survival shows include Jellyfish Entertainment MyDOL , which formed the VIXX boy group; YG Entertainment WIN: Who Is Next , which formed the boy group WINNER; MIX & amp; MATCH , which forms the IKON; JYP Entertainment SIXTEEN , who formed the girl group Twice; Starship Entertainment's No.Mercy , which formed the boy group Monsta X; Cube Entertainment Pentagon Maker , which formed the PENTAGON boy group; Mnet's Produce 101 , which formed the girl group I.O.I and boy group Wanna One,; Duble Kick Entertainment Search for Momo Land , which formed the girl group Momoland; and lastly, Mnet's Idol School, which formed the girl group Fromis 9.
Culture
K-pop artists are often referred to as idols or idol groups. Groups usually have leaders, who are often the oldest or most experienced members and speak for the group. The youngest group member is called maknae (??). The popular use of this term in Japan was influenced by the SS501 boy group when they expanded their activities in the country in 2007. The Japanese translation "???" often used to name the youngest member of the group Kim Hyung-jun to distinguish him from their leader with a similar name and spelling, Kim Hyun-joong.
The K-pop group is often depicted very clearly, with each member having a specific role or role in the group. Roles are divided primarily into singing, dancing, and tapping, with "main", "lead", or "sub" added before the main role to distinguish between skill levels or group members positions. The group also has a "visual", which is a member of the most traditional or handsome group. The group's "face" refers to the members of the most famous or popular group, and sometimes changes between releases due to fluctuating popularity.
Industry-specific expression
Appeal and fan base
Not all K-pop fans are young women, though most; in 2012 New York magazine interviewed Girls' Generation adult male fans, who claimed to be fond of the group for the appearance and personality of the members, citing the humility and friendliness of the members towards the fans.
Many fans travel abroad to see their idols on the tour, and tourists usually visit Korea from Japan and China to see K-pop concerts. A K-pop tour group from Japan has over 7,000 fans flying to Seoul to meet JYJ's boyband in 2012, and during the JYJ concert in Barcelona in 2011, fans from various parts of the world camped overnight to get admission. The 2011 survey by the Korean Culture and Information Service reported that there were more than 3 million active members from Hallyu fan clubs.
An article by The Wall Street Journal indicates that K-pop's future strength will be shaped by fans, whose online activities have evolved into "micro business". K-pop groups typically have special fanclubs with collective names and sometimes specified colors, which they will launch. For example, TVXQ fans are known as 'Cassiopeia', and their official color is 'red pearl'. Some of the more popular groups have personalized light stick for concert use; for example, Big Bang fans holding a yellow crown-shaped light rod.
Fan clubs sometimes participate in charity events to support their idols, buying 'rice fan' bags to show support. Rice sacks donated to those in need. According to Time , for one of the Big Bang events, 12.7 tons of rice was donated from 50 fan clubs around the world. There are businesses in Korea dedicated to the delivery of rice from farmers to places. Another way that fan clubs show their devotion is sending lunch to the idol during their schedules, and there are catering companies in South Korea specifically for this purpose.
K-pop's unique fandom feature is "fan chant". When the idol group releases a new song, the chanting, usually composed of the group member's name, is performed by a live concert audience during a song part that does not sing.
Obsession
Some idols and idol groups have faced problems from obsessive fans who enjoy stalking or invasive behavior. These fans are known as sasaeng fans, from the Korean word for 'private life', which offends their penchant for attacking the idol's privacy and idol group members. There are extreme behavioral accounts from fans who are trying to get idol attention as well as taxi service destined for those who want to follow the idol. Korean public officials recognize this as a unique but serious issue.
Some idols react angrily to fans of sasaeng , which they receive backlash; including JYJ members, Super Junior members Kim Hee-chul, and Jang Keun-suk.
In response to this issue, a new law introduced in February 2016 in Korea saw the penalty for stalking to rise to around US $ 17,000 and possibly a two-year jail term.
Events
International tour
Music conventions and festivals
- 2003-present: Korean Music Festival at Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles
- 2011-present: K-POP World Festival in South Korea
- 2012-present: KCON in California
- 2015-present: KCON in New York
- 2015-present: KCON in Japan
- 2009-present: K-pop Philippines Convention
Social media
Social media has played a role in the global reach of K-Pop, especially YouTube video-sharing sites. Of the 2.28 billion K-pop viewers worldwide in 2011, 240 million came from the United States, more than double than 2010 (94 million).
Popularity and impact
Asia
Japanese
After the lifting of World War II restrictions imposed on exchanges and trade between Korea and Japan in the late 1990s, the first generation girl group SES became the first Korean artist to debut in Japan in late 1998 and their first album Reach Out in 1999. Album The 2002 debut of BoA, titled Listen to My Heart , was the first album by Korean singers to debut at the top of the Japanese Oricon charts and become a RIAJ certified "seller-million" in Japan.
On January 16, 2008, TVXQ (known as T? H? Shinki in Japan) also reached the top of the Oricon charts with their 16th single "Purple Line". This makes them the first group of Korean men to have number one in Japan. Since then, the Japanese market has seen the entry of Korean pop acts such as SS501, SHINee, Super Junior, Big Bang, KARA and Girls' Generation. In 2011, it was reported that total sales for K-pop artists increased 22.3% between 2010-2011 in Japan. Some Korean artists are in 10 best-selling artists of the year in Japan.
With the remaining tensions between Korea and Japan, the import of Korean popular culture has met with various forms of resistance, in the form of 'Anti-Korean Wave'. A demonstration against the Korean Wave with about 500 participants aired on Fuji TV Japan to a internet audience of over 120,000. However, the president of the Presidential Council on National Branding cited this refusal as proof of "how successful the Korean Wave."
China
The 1990s saw the rise of K-pop in China through groups such as H.O.T. and SechKies - sparked China's investment in the Korean entertainment industry. K-pop artists have achieved great success in China since then: in 2005, Rain held a concert in Beijing with 40,000 people attending. In 2010, the Wonder Girls won the award for the highest digital sales for foreign artists, with 5 million digital downloads, at the fifth annual China Mobile Wireless Music Awards. Recently, China has become the largest market of South Korean entertainment industry for export. Twelve percent of SM Entertainment's sales in 2015 went to China, and this number rose to 14.4 percent by mid-2016. China has found that K-pop is a profitable investment. According to the Director of Communications for the Korean Institute of American Economy Jenna Gibson, sales for a particular shampoo brand rose by 630% after Super Junior supported it on a Chinese reality show. The popularity of K-pop has also encouraged China's e-commerce company Alibaba to buy about $ 30 million shares of SM Entertainment in 2016 to help expand into the online music industry. China's Legend Capital has also invested in the BigHit Entertainment BTS label. In early 2017, China took about 8-20 percent of the total sales of major Korean entertainment companies. Chinese entertainment companies also claim shares in the industry, partially overseeing groups such as EXID and T-ara or representing groups such as UNIQ and WJSN, which include Chinese and Korean members. Having a Chinese member in the K-pop group is one way Korean entertainment companies make K-pop more valuable and exciting in China. Other strategies include naming Chinese-sounding Chinese names, releasing songs or entire albums in Chinese, and creating subgroups with Chinese-dominated members - such as S.M. Entertainment's EXO-M and Super Junior-M, which have had successful results in Kuang Nan Record and CCR.
The K-pop industry method of producing idols has influenced the practice of Chinese entertainment companies. These Chinese companies aim to reproduce the success of K-pop idols with their own stars so that Chinese entertainers can compete better globally. To achieve this, Chinese entertainment companies have recruited K-pop industry experts, and some of these insiders have been actively starting to move to the Chinese music industry to capitalize on the increasing influence of K-pop on market demand. The Chinese reality show Idol Producer further highlighted the influence of K-pop in the entertainment world of China: very similar to Korea Produce 101 .
A number of Chinese K-pop idols, such as Han Geng Super Junior-M and Kris EXO-M, Luhan, and Tao, have left their respective K-pop groups to pursue solo careers in China. However, lately, Korean entertainment companies have let their Chinese K-pop idol more freely in pursuing solo work in China. Therefore, GOT7 Jackson Wang, for example, has released some of its own songs in China and, in 2017, reached number one on the Chinese music charts.
In addition, the rise of K-pop has led to an increase in the number of Chinese tourists in South Korea - 3.8 million more China toured South Korea in 2016 than in 2015 according to the Association of International Associations. K-pop has also made Chinese youth discover a "cool" South Korean culture, and K-pop has helped facilitate a greater understanding between Korea and China.
North Korea
Although North Korean traditional isolationism is very tight, K-pop has managed to reach North Korean audiences. While South Korean entertainment consumption can be put to death in North Korea, it is still becoming increasingly available with the increase in global technology and the implementation of an underground smuggling network over the past few decades. Utilizing an increasingly sophisticated smuggling network, several thousand USB drives and SD cards containing K-pop and K-drama have been distributed and sold through the treatment package and the black market. In fact, access to USB drives and SD cards is exponentially increasing from 26% to 81% from 2010-2014, with a large majority containing South Korean music and dramas. Content on USB drives and SD cards is then viewed by plugging the device into the notel, a small portable media player. Although this practice originally started with forbidden books and simple radio, there is now a higher demand for South Korean media following the hallyu culture phenomenon, Korean Wave.
Dissemination of K-pop and Korean media is very important in bringing North Korean reality to its citizens. By detailing the basic conditions of life in South Korea and introducing foreign ideologies, Korean media has caused civil unrest among citizens and elites about the difference between living conditions inside and outside of North Korea. High demand for Korean media continues to increase as now about 70% of North Koreans consume foreign media in their homes. A researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification claims to have never met a single defector who has not seen or listened to foreign media before entering South Korea.
Even North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has shown a desire for K-Pop music. In 2018, Kim said he was "deeply moved" after attending a two-hour concert in Pyongyang featuring South Korean artists such as singer Cho Yong Pil and popular girl band Red Velvet.
Taiwan
Despite sharing a similar past, Taiwan did not bring positive sentiments towards South Korea after 1992, when South Korea broke off diplomatic ties with Taiwan to pursue one with mainland China. This changed in the early 2000s when the cultural spread of Hallyu has contributed to the reconstruction of South Korea's image among the people of Taiwan. The change is partly driven by the South Korean government, which wants to push goodwill between the two countries after a diplomatic break. Now many Taiwanese have said that Korean popular music and Korean dramas have helped develop new interests and healthier relationships with South Korea.
Singapore
There is a growing K-pop fan base in Singapore, where idol groups, such as 2NE1, BTS, Girls' Generation and EXO, often hold concert tours. K-pop's popularity with Korean drama has affected Singapore's aesthetic image. Korean "straight eyebrows" have become very popular among many Singaporeans and men of Chinese, Malay and Indian descent. Singapore's beauty salons have seen an increasing number of customers interested in getting Korean style "straight eyebrows" and Korean style haircuts in recent years. On 5 August 2017, Singapore hosted the 10th Bank Music World Tour, a Music Bank spin-off concert, a popular weekly music program by KBS South Korean broadcaster. More than 7,000 fans were treated to the spread by five music acts, namely BTS, Red Velvet, SHINee, Mamamoo and CNBlue, in a sold-out session at Suntec Singapore Convention & amp; The exhibition center. This event proves the enormous popularity of the Hallyu wave in Singapore.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, among the three main ethnic groups - Malays, Chinese, and Indians - many prefer to listen to music in their own language, but the popularity of K-pop with Korean movies and TV series has become popular among the three ethnic groups, Malaysian companies have used it. The popularity of K-pop has also resulted in politicians bringing K-pop idols to the country to attract young voters.
Indonesia
K-pop along with Korean TV series and movies have turned into a popular culture, especially among the younger generation of Indonesia. This trend can be observed in every major city in the country. Music in Indonesia is also influenced by Korean Pop (K-Pop) music. The popularity of Korean culture has continued to rise in Indonesia since the early 2000s, beginning with the booming popular culture of East Asia.
India
In the state of Manipur in Northeast India, where separatists have banned Bollywood movies, consumers have turned to popular Korean culture for their entertainment needs. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reports that Korean entertainment products are largely unlicensed copies smuggled from Myanmar, and are generally well received by the locals. This has led to the increasing use of Korean phrases in the common language among the young Manipur.
To capitalize on the popularity of K-pop in Manipur, many hairdresser salons offer "Korean style" pieces based on K-pop boyband hairstyles. This wave of popular Korean culture is now spreading from Manipur to nearby Nagaland state. K-pop pursues in various other countries in the country and millions of fans hold festivals and competitions in the same.
Nepal
In Nepal, K-pop gained popularity along with Korean dramas and movies. K-pop has become influential in the Nepali music industry and K-pop music videos are often used as a companion of Nepali music on YouTube and has become a popular trend in the country.
North America
In 2006, Rain held a sold-out concert in New York and Las Vegas as part of his Rain World Tour.
In 2009, Wonder Girls became the first K-pop artist to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. They went on to join the Jonas Brothers at the Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009. In 2010, they toured 20 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and was named House of Blues "Artist of the Month" for the month of June.
In 2010, S.M. Entertainment held the SMTown Live '10 World Tour with dates in Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. In the same year, during the 8th Annual Korean Music Festival, K-pop artists made their first appearance at the Hollywood Bowl.
The famous K-pop concert in the United States in 2011 included the KBS Concert at the New York Korean Festival, the K-Pop Master Concert in Las Vegas, and Korean Music Wave at Google, held at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California.
2012 marks the year of breakthrough for K-pop in North America. Early in the year, Girls' Generation featured an English version of "The Boys" on the lately show talk show
On January 29, 2013, Billboard, one of America's most popular music magazines, launched Billboard K-Town, an online column on its website covering K-pop news, artists, concerts, and chart information.
In March of that year, f (x) performed at K-Pop Night Out at SXSW in Austin, Texas, alongside The Geeks, representing Korean rock. f (x) is the first K-pop group ever to appear on SXSW. Mnet hosted a Kcon event in NY and LA in July 2016.
In 2017, BTS was nominated for the Top Social Artist Award at the Billboard Music Awards 2017. Their victory from this award marked the first time a Korean group won the Billboard award, and for the second time a Korean artist has won the award, after Psy's triumph in 2013. BTS won the award at the Billboard Music Awards 2017 and 2018. They performed at the American Music Awards 2017 and 2018 Billboard Music Awards, making them one of the first Korean groups to perform at the awards show. BTS Love Yourself Album: Tear reached # 1 on Billboard 200, making it the first Korean actor to do it. In addition, the single BTS, "Fake Love", debuted at # 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making them the second Korean artist to be in the top ten list.
Latin America
Many idol groups have a loyal fan base in Latin America. 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.
In 2011, the United Cube Concert was held at SÃ £ o Paulo, shortly after the second round of the first K-Pop Closing Dance Festival held in Brazil, with MBLAQ as a jury.
In March 2012, JYJ performed in Chile and Peru. When the group arrived at Jorge ChÃÆ'¡vez International Airport in Peru for JYJ's World Tour Concert, they were escorted by airport security personnel through private exits for security reasons regarding the large number of fans (over 3,000). At Explanada Sur del Monumental Monumental in Lima, several fans camped for days to see JYJ. In April, TV Caracol and Arirang TV together aired a K-pop reality show in Colombia. In September, Junsu became the first K-pop idol to perform solo in Brazil and Mexico, after the Wonder Girls in Monterrey in 2009. The concert sold well in advance. In that year there were 70 K-pop fan clubs in Mexico, with at least 60,000 members.
In January 2014, Kim Hyung-jun performs in Peru, Chile, and Bolivia, becoming the first K-pop idol to appear in Bolivia. The tour proved his popularity on the continent as fans and media followed him wherever he went, causing traffic on the road and police called to keep safety. Fans were also seen throwing their tents outside the concert venue for days before the actual concert.
Mexico
Korean media in Mexico experienced a surge in 2002 after the Mexican Governor, Arturo Montiel Rojas, visited South Korea. From his journey, he brought Korean films, movies, and other programs to Mexican broadcasting channels: TelevisiÃÆ'³n Mexiquense (channel 34). Korean dramas expose the Mexican public to Korean products and spur interest in other aspects of Korean culture. K-Pop started to get land in Mexico because of the accompanying music series. Fans mainly searched their respective soundtracks to Korean broadcast dramas.
However, the arrival of K-Pop into Mexico is also associated with the influence of Japanese media in Mexico and the introduction of PIU (Pump It Up). The comic convention, La Mole, started selling Japanese comics and music and then started selling K-Pop. PIU combines games and dances, introduces Mexican youth to Korean gaming software and arouses interest in Korean music.
The presence of K-Pop in Mexico can be outlined through the growing number of Korean music acts in the country. In recent years, the number of K-Pop concerts in Mexico has increased and branched out into other parts of the country. Idol groups, including BIGBANG and NU'EST, have visited Mexico through their respective world tours. JYJ's Kim Jun-su became the first Korean star to perform solo. The concert held in Mexico City was sold out in advance. The World Bank Music Tour also brings various actions to the Mexican community. Many of the groups covered very famous songs, such as the EXO cover of Sabor A Mi.
In 2017, Mexico also became the first Latin American country to host KCON. The two-day service held on March 17-18 brought over 33,000 fans to the Ciudad de MÃÆ'Ã… © xico Arena. Much like the artist during Music Bank, the idol covered the Spanish songs.
Strength and a large number of fanclubs continue to help promote and support K-Pop throughout the country. More than 70 fan clubs dedicated to Korean music are present in Mexico, bringing together about 30,000 fans. Although many fanclubs were created around 2003, they reached a public presence in 2005 when former Korean president Roh Moo Hyun visited Mexico to meet former Mexican president Vicente Fox Quesada. About 30 Hallyu fanclubs held a "rally" asking Roh to bring in actors Jang Dong-gun and Ahn Jae-wook to their country.
Demonstrations have continued over the last few years. On May 13, 2013, a huge parade was held in Mexico City, ZÃÆ'³calo. Called KPOP: MASSIVE MARCH K-POP MEXICO II , this is the second mass march that brings together hundreds of diligent K-Pop fans.
However, the larger fanclub organizations in Mexico receive direct or direct support from Korean cultural programs. KOFICE (Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange) and the Korean Cultural Center in Mexico often work together with fanclubs. These larger organizations contain several fanclubs in their structure. The three largest are MexiCorea, Hallyu Mexican Lovers, and HallyuMx. Both MexiCorea and Hallyu Mexican Lovers are supported by KOFICE while HallyuMx previously worked with the Korean Cultural Center and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Mexico.
Europe
In 2010, both SMTown Live '10 World Tour and Super Junior Super Show 4 Tour were held in Paris.
In February 2011, Teen Top performed at the Apolo concert hall in Barcelona. In May, Rain became the first K-pop artist to perform in Germany, during the Dresden Music Festival. JYJ also performed in Berlin and Barcelona. Big Bang flew to Belfast and won the Best Worldwide Act during EMA MTV 2011 in Northern Ireland. In Poland, the K-pop Star Exhibition is held at the Korean Cultural Center of Warsaw. K-pop also saw a spike in popularity in Russia, where 57 dance teams took part in the K-pop Dance Festivals. During the second round of the competition, SHINee flew to Moscow as a jury, also performing for Russian fans. The following year, the young Russians launched K-Plus, a Korean cultural magazine, and the number of Russian K-pop fans reportedly reached 50,000.
In February 2012, BEAST held their Beautiful Show in Berlin. According to Berliner Zeitung, many fans are present not only from Germany but also from neighboring countries such as France and Switzerland. Also in February, the Music Bank World Tour attracted over 10,000 fans to the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy. That year, artists like Beast and 4Mute performed at the United Cube Concert in London, where the MBC Korean Culture Festival was also held. When SHINee arrived at London Heathrow Airport for a concert at Odeon West End that same year, a portion of the airport was overrun by busy fans. The reservation system from Odeon West End fell for the first time a minute after ticket sales began when the concert drew an unexpected big response. At this time, SHINee also held a 30-minute show at Abbey Road Studio. Ticket requests for the show are so high that Elle fashion magazines provide forty tickets by lot, and the show is also broadcast in Japan through six different channels. Also in 2012, Big Bang won Best Fan category in the Italian TRL Award.
2014 sees a sustained increase in K-pop popularity in Russia. On February 3, Park Jung-min became the first Korean singer to hold a solo concert in Moscow.
Middle East and Africa
K-pop has become increasingly popular in the Middle East and Africa over the past few years, especially among young fans. In July 2011, Israeli fans met with South Korean Ambassador to Israel, Ma Young-sam, and traveled to Paris for the World Tour SMTown '10 in Europe. According to Dr. Nissim Atmazgin, professor of East Asian Studies at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, "Many young people see K-pop as a cultural capital - something that makes them stand out from the crowd." In 2012, there are more than 5,000 K-pop fans in Israel and 3,000 in the Palestinian territories. Some dedicated Israeli and Palestinian fans see themselves as "cultural missionaries" and actively introduce K-pop to their friends and relatives, further spreading Hallyu waves within their communities.
In 2012, the number of fans in Turkey surpasses 100,000, reaching 150,000 by 2013. ZE: A appeared for a meet-and-greet fan session in Dubai and a concert in Abu Dhabi. In Cairo, hundreds of fans went to the Maadi Library theater stage to see the final round of the K-POP Korean Song Festival, hosted by the Korean Embassy.
Oceania
In 2011, the K-Pop Music Festival at ANZ Stadium was held in Sydney, featuring Girls' Generation, TVXQ, B2ST, SHINee, 4minute, miss A, 2AM and MBLAQ. There are also requests for concerts from New Zealand.
In August 2012, NU'EST visited Sydney Harbor and the University of New South Wales, as a jury for the K-pop contest held there. The following year, 4Minute was judged at the same contest in Sydney. In October, Psy toured in Australia after the single "Gangnam Style" reached number one in Australia on the ARIA charts.
In May 2016, B.A.P held a concert in Auckland, becoming the first K-Pop group to perform in New Zealand.
In May 2017, BTS came to Sydney as part of the Wings Tour. The show was sold out in under 48 hours, and attracted fans from other Australian and New Zealand states. This is the second time the group visits Australia after the Red Bullet Tour in 2015.
Foreign relations
On May 25, 2010, South Korea responded to the alleged sinking of North Korean naval vessels by broadcasting 4Minute's single "HuH" across the DMZ. As a hermit
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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