Response

Idol Groups in South Korea

Korean pop music (k-pop) is seeing more fans than ever thanks to the popular song, “Gangnam Style,” that went viral in the summer of 2012. With songs that sound like a mix of Euro-pop and the mainstream music that plays on our radios in America, there is definitely a catchy element to the music that overcomes the language barrier. With this rise in popularity, it seems that new k-pop groups are debuting every month, giving new fans a chance to follow a band and see if they have what it takes to be a new generation idol group. 

                Idol groups are popular now, and for good reason. With physically attractive members, each with their own individual skill and charm, it is easy to become intrigued by them. Companies do this intentionally, creating groups that are pleasing in every aspect. For example, male group EXO, is made of 12 members, six promoting their title track in Korea, and the other six performing the same song with Mandarin lyrics in China. Members’ personal talents include not only the standard dancing and singing, but martial arts, acting, and athletic talents as well. All of these attributes appeal to a wide variety of fans, making the group even more marketable. Each song that is released by an idol has its own concept from outfits, to stages, to choreography, and make-up. Daily music shows give fans multiple chances to see their favorite artists perform live on tv, with aesthetically appealing set designs and fellow idols hosting the whole thing. Each member of an idol group has their own role. There is usually a leader, a rapper, a main vocalist, and a main dancer. It is becoming increasingly rare to come across a group without at least one English speaker, who serves as the international representative for the group. Fans around the world take each new concept and make it their own with dance covers, makeup tutorials, and hair tutorials. There is also a dating ban for idols, some even written in their contract. Finding out that an idol is dating in Korea, is huge catastrophic news for some fans. When popular idol groups members, Goo Hara, and Jun Hyung were found to be dating, schools complained to their respective companies saying that their students were too distraught by the news to pay attention to class. With these kinds of bans in place, it makes the idol seem like a more attainable goal, when in reality, it’s impossible to know them. These are some of the things that make kpop stars seem so accessible and easy to like.

                With the flashy display that is k-pop groups, it is often easy to forget the work it took for them to get there. Idols usually begin their training in early teens, learning and fine-tuning skills in dance, singing, languages (English, Japanese, and Chinese primarily,) as well as acting, interview skills, and other skills. These trainees begin practicing in the early morning, go to school, return to practice again, and then repeat this cycle. Most trainees live in small, cramped dorms and scrap by on little money while they wait to make it big. The sad reality is that a majority of them won’t, and they will have sacrificed years in the hopes that they will be on stage one day. Some of the more popular companies have reported that they have doctors come in and regularly check their trainees for depression. With a schedule this packed, it is hard to remember that they are children. The companies want the groups to appear perfect. It is almost as if the singers are puppets, being trained to do whatever it is demanded of them. 

                Finally, the day comes when the company calls the trainees together and announces the ones who have been chosen to begin training as a potential group. These trainees are now considered to be of higher status, and jealously often runs rampant as some people are chosen who have only been training for a year or two, while others have been for five or more. Although these select people have been chosen, there is still no guarantee that they will be the final formation of the group. These people will now train for hours together, perfecting choreography and practicing lyrics until they can sing them in their sleep. They are trained hard, it is common to hear of singers being taken to the E.R. for an IV drip due to exhaustion. Once their debut date arrives, and their promotional schedules are in place, the competition is on. New groups are facing seasoned professionals and second-generation idol groups, and are fighting for attention. With the attraction this generation has to reality television, it is no surprise that groups are treated like show contestants. Each music show has an award ceremony at the end of the show, winning points based on album sales, their position on the charts, and viewer votes. It is this obsession with seeing other people make it or break it that drives the Korean music industry. Each move that an idol makes is captured. Entertainment industries view the idols as money makers, booking them for musicals, dramas, variety shows, commercials, promotional appearances, army performances, and more. Idol groups often juggle school on the side, adding more stress to their everyday lives. 

                How do these groups become popular? Usually groups are launched to popularity through key points in their choreography, or of their songs. Girl group the “Wonder Girls,” found instant success in their choreography from song “Tell Me.” In response to the popularity, the girls recorded the song in English, Chinese, and Japanese. They later made their way onto Disney’s radio station with their song “Nobody,” which also featured a catchy dance that fit the lyrics of the song. Another song that was made popular through the choreography was Super Junior’s “Sorry, Sorry,” which has been referenced by Conan O’Brien on television. Groups have been desperately trying to break into the American music market, which makes “Gangnam Style’s,” success all the more ironic, as it was a song intended to satirize the lives of people in Gangnam, South Korea. Here is Psy, a man who is humorous, average looking, and entirely the opposite of everything an idol group stands for, and he is easily recognized in America.