Ever since the Korean media have ventured out to other countries, they’ve become hooked onto broadcasting K-Pop flashmobs and events around the world especially after SM Town Paris. But the thing is, it seems to be having an impact on K-Pop and the fan’s views on the genre both positivity and negatively. Why? Well…
With the success of SM Town Live in Paris, they managed to make it the best day of 14,000 fans lives. Now, K-Pop fans from all over the world in their countries are coming together to do flashmobs and get the Korean idols and the media’s attention to acknowledge them and come to their country. It’s weird actually because before most K-Pop artists were aiming to debut and “conquer” in America. But it seems like Europe is getting attention.
I can tell you now this month, UK fans in London have organised three flashmobs after everyone saw SHINee in Abbey Road Studios like the previous YG flashmob. Go to United Kpop for upcoming events. I knew this was going to happen because after people had seen SHINee at Abbey Road Studios before their eyes, they want more and it was just the push that UK K-Pop fans needed even though it is yet to be confirmed if Cube Ent. are actually having a concert here in London. Through the Korean media, the companies are starting to branch out into other countries around the world for concerts e.g. SM Town in France, Japan and soon South America as well as JYP Nation in Japan. Be honest with yourself, it means more money to a Korean company if they can hold concerts in other countries for fans.
This is just the positive side though. The negative impact on fans is it’s not possible for a Korean group to become well known worldwide because of language barrier unless their English is perfect and people are more open-minded to listening to Korean music. From the people I have talked to both online and in London, there is a point of view that people are agreeing upon: they don’t like K-Pop advancing to other countries as well and don’t want it to become popular. But the Korean media has made K-Pop so hyped up that some fans will think it is actually spreading and becoming mainstream. Maybe because it’s Visit Korea Year (2010 – 2012)? I’m not sure though but it would take a while for any Korean artist to be a world star.
Maybe I’ve mumbled on and not put together the points of K-Pop spreading worldwide. But from my opinion, I see the way the Korean media have portrayed K-Pop as exaggeration. Sure, the people I know outside of college love the music but we are still a small minority in London compared to countries like France which has official K-Pop fanclubs. What interesting is how the media portrays K-Pop artists to be compared to successful American stars e.g. in an American magazine BoA and the Wonder Girls were compared to Britney Spears and the Spice Girls. I can’t remember whether it was sarcasm or praise but it didn’t sound right to me.
What do you think of the Korean media’s persuasion? Is K-Pop becoming popular worldwide?
Is Kpop becoming popular worldwide, well, yes and no.
The fact that so many people are organising flashmobs (there will be one in Sydney soon) shows that there’s a lot of love for Kpop, but even then, that doesn’t necessarily mean that that Kpop is becoming globally popular.
For one, until (and yes you pointed this out) our Kpop stars are fluent in English – and by this, I mean no accent, no slurs, they probably won’t be accepted. Yes, they can sing brilliantly, have amazing dancing skills, but because they aren’t known to have brilliant English skills, they are often passed over and looked down on. People just can’t seem to accept artists that they can’t communicate with directly.
As such, I don’t believe that Kpop will ever be popular worldwide, but it will make its mark.