BTS, Iz One and How Tensions Between Korea and Japan Play Out in K-pop

Idols' scandals rarely make headlines outside of Korea and the K-pop fandom. But when a Japanese television appearance by BTS was canceled in earl…

Tiffany and the Rising Sun: A Glance at South Korea-Japan Relations

On August 15, SNSD's Tiffany got into a scandal that is being discussed in a fervent manner, not just in South Korea, but amongst international fans as…

Exhibiting the Silence and the Voice of ‘Comfort Women’

For anyone who has been part of the K-pop fandom for a considerable time, the term ‘comfort women’ shouldn’t sound unfamiliar. Ranging from fleeting me…

Japan: K-Pop’s Hiding Spot

Prior to To the Beautiful You, who had honestly heard of J-Min? Do you ever find yourself wondering what happened to a group? Do you ever wonder why yo…

“Arirang” and Korean Nationalism

Perhaps unbeknownst to some of our readers -- particularly among our critical living-beneath-a-rock demographic -- there is currently a state of height…

So You Wanna Listen to J-pop: A K-pop Fan’s Guide

One of the many benefits to liking music from another country is that it opens up a large musical gateway. We’ve discussed this before in regards to K-…

Worry for the Right Reasons: K-pop and Kohaku

KARA's members were nervous, and with good reason. They were minutes from opening the second act of 2011's Kohaku Uta Gassen, Japan's famous New Year's…

SHINee’s “1000 Years, Always by Your Side” Culturally Assimilates Death

SHINee, the under-appreciated younger sibling of the SM family, has gone under the radar in establishing quite the year for themselves. Like their much…

Marketing Outside of Korea: The Case of SHINee

In Seoulbeats' recent light-hearted discussion about K-pop fears, the idea that SHINee may never come back to release new material in Korea was a commo…

SB Exchange #28: K-pop in Japan

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another SB Exchange! This week we look to the east--more specifically, Japan. Despite a complicated history exis…