GROWTH OF K-POP
Music is a form of entertainment that is easily accessible to people due to the growth in technology. Many people experienced music through their devices, and occasionally they would have the chance to meet their musical idols during live concerts. It was at the peak of the technological advancements in the music industry that K-Pop music made its way into the music scene. In her book, Suk-Young Kim takes us through the history of K-Pop music and how it made its way to the concert stages globally. Suk-Young describe K-Pop as more than just music as the artists put in work in the “dramatic presentation of their choreographed dance routines, being charming guest in the various shows and being presentable public personalities” (Kim). The artists were not only focused on the feel-good effect that their fans will get during the live concerts but also on how they presented themselves to their fans.
The growth of K-Pop music in the United States was, for the longest time, tied to what fans watched on Television. Suk-Young recollects how the first K-Pop concert, which took place in Los-Angeles, attracted many Americans (Kim). The belief that K-Pop music cannot be performed in a live concert due to its diversity was discredited when the first concert took place in America. Many begun to understand that K-Pop is not just music, and the shows are more than just a channel to see their favorite pop artists. Suk-Young highlights the appreciation the artists received for their choreographed dance and their focus on how they presented themselves (Kim). The diversity in the live concerts was the birth point of the multiple K-Pop concerts, which took place all over American cities.
South Korean entertainment industry faced a drastic transformation at the beginning of the civilian government reign. “South Korea had been under a military dictatorship until the 1990s and transitioned to civilian government” (Kim). The transition brought forth changes that embraced diversity even in the entertainment areas. In the introduction, Suk-Young focuses on the growth of the K-Pop industry in the American market. South Korea entertainment industry was also experiencing the new K-Pop culture for the first time. During the military era, K-Pop artists were forced to “suspend their personal lives and focus on building their career as artists by submitting to the demands of the music companies that they were signed to” (Kim). In the new culture, a person pursuing music can have a successful career and a flourishing personal life without putting any at risk. The social, cultural changes were not well captured in the introduction to the K-Pop culture.
Music, as entertainment, can be used as an agent for social change because of its relatability among people of all ages and the influence it has on people, globally. K-pop artists have not used their music and live performances to drive social change. According to Suk-Young, for K-Pop artists, “their focus is often on their performance, their appearances and how lively their concerts are” (Kim). Artists of other music genres have used their platforms to plug into the community and spearhead social transformation. Others use their influence to create awareness on global issues such as world hunger. K-Pop artists are yet to tap into the power of music and use it for the good of the society.
Works Cited
Kim, Suk-Young. K-Pop Live Fans, Idols, And Multimedia Performance. 1st ed., 2018, p. Introduction.