Culture

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Idol History: K-pop By The Numbers

A few weeks ago, my fellow writer Nicholas wrote about the trials and tribulations of spotting new talent among the many rookie groups that debut ...

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Timing Is Everything: Why Now, Hallyu?

K-pop has a strong and loyal fandom which includes both Korean and non-Korean listeners. By now, nearly every follower knows what the Hallyu wave represents. ...

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“Stuff” K-Pop Fans Say

OMG saranghae you guys LOL <3 <3 <3, just kidding. Not going to seriously put you guys through all that unpleasantness, but it’s finally time ...

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All Together Now: Exploring Fanchants

According to the Oxford Concise Dictionary, a chant is: “A spoken sing-song phrase, esp. one performed in unison by a crowd etc.” (Urban Dictionary offers ...

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What About Sex?

Sex sells big time, everywhere and everything. You’ve got a product on the market? Just find an ‘insert alphabet letter’ line girl or a chocolate-abs ...

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Raising an Idol: Parents of K-Pop Stars

May 8th was Parents’ Day in South Korea. It was a day for many Korean children, young and old, to acknowledge the impact and sacrifices ...

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Variety’s Role in Hallyu: Going Beyond Idol Vehicles

Variety shows have a pretty niche role in idoldom. They are used by idol groups to stay relevant and sell a supposed new, “real” or ...

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Does Hallyu Only Have a Short Time Left on a Global Stage?

Hallyu is known as the spread of South Korean entertainment and pop culture on a global scale. In just the past few years, ‘Hallyu’ has ...

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Double Standards: When Gender Politics Meets K-pop

Last month, I humbly offered my remarks on the bit of backlash that SNSD‘s Yuri encountered after her CF for skincare and makeup brand Mamonde rubbed ...

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No Individuals Allowed: Originality and K-Pop

Prolific writer and French philosopher Voltaire said it best about originality; that “[it] is nothing but judicious imitation.” This quote comes to mind whenever a ...

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