What is kpop

K-pop (abbreviation of Korean popular music or Korean pop) is

a music genre originating in South Korea that is characterized by a wide variety
of audiovisual elements. Although it includes all genres of "popular music"
within South Korea, the term is often used in a narrower sense to describe a
modern form of South Korean pop music drawing inspiration on a range of
styles and genres incorporated from the rest of the world such as Western pop
music, rock, experimental, jazz, gospel, Latin, hip hop, R&B, reggae, electronic
dance, folk, country and classical on top of its uniquely traditional Korean
music roots.The more modern form of the genre emerged with one of the
earliest K-pop groups, Seo Taiji and Boys, forming in 1992. Their
experimentation with different styles and genres of music and integration of
foreign musical elements helped reshape and modernize South Korea's
contemporary music scene.
Modern K-pop "idol" culture began with the boy band H.O.T. in 1996, as K-pop
grew into a subculture that amassed enormous fandoms of teenagers and young
adults.After a slump in early K-pop, TVXQ and BoA started a new generation
of K-pop idols that broke the music genre into the neighboring Japanese market
and continue to popularize K-pop internationally today. With the advent of
online social networking services and Korean TV shows, the current global
spread of K-pop 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 Western world, gaining a widespread global
audience.

I. The difference
The relationship between artist and management company/music record
company

USUK: music record not to interfere in the private lives of the artists, instead,
only the image orientation, personality in music, whose music artist pursued.
The artists of course has the right to participate in the process of producing his
spiritual children.

Kpop: most management companies have the "ultimate power": not only decide
about the music but also product management including private life of the artist.
Many artist whether in top in Kpop still just puppets in the hands of a
management company, totally dependent.
Musical groups

USUK: has long ceased to be the Group's forecast. Among the male and female
music group currently, there is only One Direction is successful.
Kpop: were the saturation period idolgroup long but the Group remains the
dominant force in Kpop nowadays.

The dance

USUK: Once upon a time, the Teen Pop of Britney Spears and the Backstreet
Boys, Boyzone, Westlife, N * SYNC, etc. the dance group were very popular.
On bouncing today, the dance group still exists in USUK music but made by the
extra graphic dancers rather than artists.

Kpop: dance group awaited years! Kpop is in years of dance and also group
idolgroup. Up to 99% the idolgroup still prefer the dance group. Big Bang and
2NE1 are two rare groups have confines of the importance of the dance group in
recent music products.

MV

USUK: dancing is not set heavy role on the stage and in the MV too. The
quantity of MV is built in the form of short films less than Kpop.

Kpop: MV Kpop of yore put heavy on choreography and plot, especially the
plot to make viewers cry. Today, the long MVs of short films have been
lessened.

Promo single

USUK: USUK artists often promote the album singles, respectively (usually
from 3 and more singles for each album) and every single has a MV. A single
was released from another in 2-3 months interval.

Kpop: Historically, unique single was promoted in each time on the floor.
Today, the number has increased to 2 songs for one times appeared. The songs
were brought up to the stage to promote with one month interval.

Forms of promotion

USUK: USUK artists often promote new single in the TV show, on stage at the
awards ceremony took place during around and in the tour to promote the
album.
 Kpop: Normally, Kpop artists perform 1 new track with frequency from 4-5
times a week in 1-2 months on fixed shows. Not every artists would also
organize the tour to promote the album.

The album

USUK: the albums were invested carefully from beginning to end.

Kpop: due to the peculiar of only focusing to promote 1 to 2 songs, so many

artists collected not good songs when making the album to fill up the album.
Investment for quality album now is only belongs to YG.
Performance costumes

USUK: USUK artists, especially male artist often performs with daily and
comfortable costume.
Kpop: Kpop artists always appear with sophisticated costumes.

II. The influence

We can say that more than 10 years, South Korea has become the "Hollywood
of the East", produced a series of stars of film, music, television ... make
influence to the Asian entertainment market Island, with a huge fans in Japan ,
China, India, South East Asia ... Despite differences in language, but many
similar customs of the East make the social and cultural barriers reduced help
for Korean films are accepted easily, enjoyed and loved in the countries in the
region. [25]

However, there were many signs show that the Korean wave has been recessed,
the South Korea super stars have no longer the absolute attractiveness with
fans . A survey shows thatr 6 of the 10 foreigners believed that South Korea
culture favourite trends such as K-pop, film, television and the stage production
of the opera will decrease in the next few years. 20.5% of respondents said they
were "tired of standardized content". Televison has only some old themes such
as adultery, revenge, secrets about the origins or the character's identity. It is
difficult to atracte audiences. The spectators are full with the breeze dance,
sexy body while the vocals too weak, easy-listening market music easily bored.
[27]

III Generations
1st Generation - Started by Seo Taiji and Boys success. H.O.T, G.O.D,
Shinhwa etc.
The initiator of K-pop. They are the REAL FIRST of everything. Started the
fandom culture. Since there were no digital songs, their physical sales were
super high(Most sales are still unrivaled)
Disadvantages:
Unfair contracts, zero international exposure, horrendous style and fashion.

THERE IS A GAP OF YEARS BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND

GENERATION AS THE KPOP-GROUP HYPE WENT DOWN. THIS WAS
THE SOLOIST ERA; RAIN, LEE HYORI, BOA etc.

2nd Generation -Initiated by DBSK. Super Junior, Big Bang, The start of
Hallyu wave(From Japan and to mostly Asian countries). The start of
international fandom and subbing teams(Cassiopeia as the initiator) This was
the golden era of K-pop(in Korea). There were literally idols in every tv shows.
There were so many idol centered shows. Idols were the craze, hence maximum
exposure to the public. Idols musics were therefore became public friendly.
Plus, since Korea just went through the soloist era, the public were more
accepting of kpop groups.
Disadvantages:
Medium for wider international exposure were limited. Youtube etc, was not as
it is now. Hence, smaller international exposure. Horrendous styling and
fashion(STILL)

3rd Generation and so on...(Groups that debuted in 2011 and/or get

popular afterwards). A-pink, EXID, EXO, BTS, TWICE etc
Perks:
They are continuing 2nd gen pathways, hence they debuted with wider
international audiences. Wider international exposure(better technologies etc).
Better styling in general. Easier advancement route.
Disadvantages:
Dying public interest. Less exposure with the general public. Idol stereotyping.
Over-saturated market.
IV.EXO-ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS GROUP IN KOREA
Exo is a South Korean-Chinese boygroup which debuted in 2012.Formed by
S.M.Entertainment ,the group first had twelve members separated into two subgroup:Exo-k
and Exo-M performing music in Korean and Mandarin,respectively.The first album of
Exo,XOXO(2013) was a critical and commercial success which sold over 1 million
copies,making Exo the best-selling Korean artist in 12 years.One MV of this album,called
“Overdose”,was peaked at No.2 on Billboard World Album Chart-the highest chart of one
Korean male group at the time.The lawsuit of three member: Kris,Luhan and Tao leading to
the departure of these members from Exo.So, Exo only promote with 9 members now.
1.Exo’s concert: The first solo concert “Exo from Exoplanet #1-The Lost Planet” was held
on May 24,2013 at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastic . Tickets for the concert sold out in 1.47
seconds, breaking the record for the fastest sold out concert by a Korean artist.

Exo’s second solo concert “Exoplanet #2-The Exo’luxion” ,which held in March 2015 at the
Olympic Park Stadium ,attracted 1,2 million fans to attend.Their third concert tour-
“Exoplanet #3-The Exo’rdium” was held from July 24,2016 to May 18,2017,with over
84,000 attendees. Exo established a record as the first artist to hold as many as six
consecutive concerts at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena.Exo announced their world tour
“Exoplanet #4-The Elyxion” on October 19,2017 ,starting with three concert in Seoul on
November 24-26,2017.
2.Exo’s album: From thier debution in 2012 ,EXO has released four album (XOXO, Exodus,
Ex’act, The War), which always peaked in Top 10 on Billboard World Album Chart and
Melon Digital Chart. The MV “ Call Me Baby” was the most watched MV of EXO, with over
163 million views ( updated on November 28,2017).Specially,the album “The War”,which
released on July 18,2017,peaked at no.1 on the Melon Digital Chart and the Billboard Album
Chart ,making Exo the first artist to do so in 2017.Two albums( Ex’act and The War ) was
recorded for the highest first week sales of a Korean album,with over 500,000 copies for
each.On the whole,Exo has the biggest and most famous boyband in Korean.