Theories, theories...

Yes, even in K-pop there are theories. Some K-pop bands have hidden stories in their songs and music videos. These songs and MVs often are often parts of one story presented by a band or solo artist. Fans are given dots and it’s their ‘job’ to connect them and solve the riddle.

This post is short, comparing to the previous ones. There are links to music videos and theories formulated by fans of the undermentioned bands to show you how does it looks like:

BTS:

Theory

Theory

Stray Kids

Theory

Theory

ATEEZ

Theory

K-pop more western?

The use of English phrases is a feature of modern K-pop. Among Korean lyrics one can hear some English words or even whole sentences. The whole songs in English happen as well. Artist names, song titles, and lyrics have exhibited a significant growth in the usage of English words.

But it wasn’t always this way. No singers in the top fifty charts in 1990 had English in their names: people who worked in the Korean music industry viewed using Korean names as standard. After the 1997 financial crisis, the government stopped censoring English lyrics and Korea started to have a boom in English. Since the late 1990s, English usage in singers' names, song titles, and lyrics has grown quickly.

This phenomenon is primarily the effect of Korean idols who were born or used to live in the USA or another English-speaking country. The Korean Wave has enabled K-pop artists to get into music market outside Asia. Thus, Korean agencies apply the technique of English in K-pop to gain more popularity in the West. Most idols learn English, because it’s a common (similar trends are found in the case of Japanese). More and more K-pop bands use English names rather than Korean ones. Analogously, idols chose English stage names.

Korean names (e.g. Baekhyun and Jeongyeon) are seen less frequently, and many K-pop singers have English names (e.g. I.U.and GOT7). Notably, until the early 1990s, musicians with English names would transliterate them into hangul, but now singers would use English names written with the roman alphabet.

EXO's Baekhyun

I.U.

Fashion

K-pop draws attention because of many factors: catchy songs, visual effects in music videos, lively choreography, attractive appearance of idols, variety of clothing idols wear... Music videos are often a whole story and once can see several sets of clothes. What may be fascinating, artist perform on stage and have got their clothes from music video on.

K-pop fashion is definitely the factor that distinguishes itself. Korean music is influenced by numerous genres, so is idols’ fashion. Consequently, music evolves along with fashion. The k-pop fashion we know today is a hybrid of Western and Asian cultures, starting from the late 2000s.

South Korean artists seem not to be afraid of experimenting with different looks. Colour blocked outfits, denim on denim, lots of tights and fishnets. The main part of the K-pop aesthetic is to match the accessories to the outfit: pumps, booties, mini bags and backpacks, flower crowns, beret hats, chokers, multiple rings, asymmetrical earrings are highly popular. 

TWICE's Momo

Not only female, but also male idols dye their hair. One may say that every colour has been seen on their heads: from soft lavender and gray to shocking green and orange. Changing hair colour happen frequently in K-pop, most often during their comeback. When it comes to hairstyles, there are a lot of options: double buns, micro braids, pixie and bob cuts.

Monsta X's Wonho

We can’t forget about makeup. Artists try face stickers, jewels, matching eyebrow to eye shadow and lip colour, eyelash gems.

Fashion trends (from the late 2000s) can be categorised under the following:

Street (BTS "We Are Bulletproof Pt.2")

Retro (MAMAMOO"Mr. Ambiguous")

Sexy (Miss A "Hush")

Black & White (BTS "ON")

Futurism (BIGBANG "Fantastic Baby")

The sad side of k-pop

Last autumn, the world of k-pop lost two idols: f(x)’s Sulli (25 y.o.), and her friend, Kara’s Goo Hara (25 y.o.). Before they both committed suicide, they had been subjected to cyberbulling. In the winter 2017, the death of Kim Jong-hyun (27 y.o.), the member of famous group Shinee, made the world of k-pop hake. He was in state of depression, which resulted in suicide.

Kim Jong-hyun

Some k-pop idols have indicated that the uncertainty and pressures of their jobs as entertainers may pose a threat to their mental health. As stated by Park Kyung, a member of Block B: “There are many people who debuted with no sense of self yet, and they come to realize later that every move and every word they say is being observed, so they become cautious and lose their freedom”. K-pop idols are supposed to behave irreproachably. Their every move, every word they say in front of the cameras and their posts on social media are carefully planned. Their bodies have to look healthy and perfect. “Some female idols have been ostracised for not smiling in a television show and reading a book about feminism that contradicts male-dominated, patriarchal South Korean society,” as has been said by Park Hee-a, a k-pop journalist.

The country (South Korea) has one of the world’s highest rates of suicide, which is among the leading causes of death among people under 40. Taboos about mental illness prevent many people from seeking help. K-pop stars, like millions of other South Koreans, are discouraged from seeking help for depression, which is still viewed as a failure of moral character. “The blame lies with South Korean society in general,” said Ryu. “Many people with mental health issues are reluctant to take medication for fear of being seen as weak-minded. Mental health problems should be treated in the same way as a common cold. South Korean society needs to catch up.”

As it can be seen, the Korean society should get rid of the elephant in the room.

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Entertainment Agencies – Idol Farms

When you want to be, for example, a computer programmer, you undergo a training, in which you learn all the required things. But what if I told you that this is similar to k-pop idols? Yes, that is true: almost all the k-pop idols undergone trainee period prior to their debut. Let’s see how does it work!

Once in a while, Korean entertainment agencies announce auditions, even global. Hundreds, or even thousands of people with a dream of becoming an idol attends them. There are no limitations on age, although it’s rare when trainees and idols are very young. They are assessed in terms of singing, dancing and looks. The auditions include public, closed, and street-cast. It’s also possible to be casted by agency without audition, in regard to looks or potential talents. Those people who pass the auditions with success are offered a trainee contract, which may last for months or years.

A dance class

Ok, we’ve become trainee – what includes trainee period?

Trainees attend classes, such as dancing, singing and language. Trainees live together in dormitories as well. Some of them attend schools, and some even drop out of school to focus fully on their carrier, some have part-time jobs. Trainees are regularly evaluated and they compete with each other. Agencies present solo artist or group. As regards groups, they are “artificially” formed and consist of the best trainees. So good luck and may the best person win!

The company invest a huge amount of money in their trainees, in order to prepare them to idol work and life. Therefore, trainees “contract a debt” in their agencies, whose clearing may last long years after their debut (it depends on the company profitability and how much popularity idols gain).

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Dating ban in k-pop?

It is not common to k-pop artists to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Moreover, when an information on idols being in a relationship leaks to the press, Korean fans are often outraged and feel betrayed. Exactly – Korean. Of course, international fans behave in a similar way; although, this attitude seems to be typical of the Korean people.

An example of this can be the situation of September, 2018, in which a relationship between HyunA and E’Dawn was announced, which caused a big fuss in the industry. In the same year, they was kicked out of their company, Cube Entertainment. It’s a fuss over nothing, isn’t it? Well, not to the Cube Ent.; the trust with these two artists was “broken beyond repair.”

HyunA and E'Dawn

 K-pop industry is a business where profit is more important than privacy, and relationship status has a direct impact on one’s popularity. Agencies expect a lot from their artists – they have to be focused on their carrier, rather than dating.

You may have heard of dating bans imposed on k-pop idols, which have been confirmed by some of them. For instance, JY Park, the CEO of JYP Entertainment affirmed that “there is a have three-year dating ban at his company, during which trainees are encouraged to focus on practising and refrain from dating and meeting idols.” After these three year, trainees and idols can date.

LINK to the tweet

The issue on dating differs in other Korean Agencies. “Trainees [...] practiced in a separate studio segregated by gender until 10 and 11 p.m., depriving them of an opportunity to mingle and leaving them with no time to meet anyone.” This is a harsh, but real example.

What do you think of the dating ban – should it be or not?

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Hello!

Hello everyone and welcome to The Empire of K-POP!

I’m Agassi and I’m a huge fan of this genre from the far South Korea.

K-pop (Korean pop) has become a widespread phenomenon all around the world. This genre impressed people with colourful music videos and super synchronised choreography. The interest in Korean culture arose as well. Many of you must have heard about Gangnam Style, am I right?

The purpose of this blog is to inform you, readers, about k-pop. The posts will deal with some issues concerning the Korean industry, which often go hand in hand with Korean culture.

Who knows? Maybe you will like Korean music as much as I do 😉

Do you know BTS?