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7/31/2013

Hallyu (한류): One Hit Wonders & Summer Vacations

8 Comments

Read Now
 
by Gerry Krzic (K-41; 1977-80)

K-Pop

Picture
Summer:  a time for vacations and reunions...a time for FOK members to relax at the beach listening to K-pop -- a major part of Hallyu (한류) - the Korean wave.

Hallyu (한류) has been going strong in many parts of Asia for over a decade.

However, except for fervent followers of K-pop or fans in the Asian-American community, the Hallyu hadn’t really caught fire in mainstream America until PSY came along last summer with Gangnam Style (강남스타일). While people may be tired of hearing "오빠, 강남스타일," there is no doubt that PSY is now a part of American culture and wedding celebrations will never be the same -- move over Chicken Dance and Macarena.

The spread of 강남스타일 throughout the U.S. surprised me. When the song first came out in the summer of 2012, my daughter, a fervent K-pop fan, asked me what I thought.  "Cute, but a "one-hit wonder," I said with extreme confidence. "It'll never catch on in America."  Then, a few weeks ago, while on summer vacation, my nephew, who has never been to Korea and knows little about the country, told me how much he likes PSY's newest song "Gentlemen" (젠틀맨) and then proceeds to do the dance steps.  Now, I am thinking, "This can't be possible."

PSY posted 강남스타일 on YouTube in 2012 and by summer of 2013 has had over 1.7 billion views!  The big question is: How did PSY make it in the U.S. while all the other K-pop acts such as Rain and the Wonder Girls have fallen short?  Is he seen as a novelty?  Is it the music?  The best explanation I have found to date is here.  

Interesting. My prediction for PSY is a "two-hit wonder," but I have been wrong before.

Many FOK members will remember some of the golden songs of the past before K-pop. Too bad the world seems to have missed great Korean singers such as:
* Yang Hee Eun's (양희은) 1970's hit 아침이슬. 
* Han Dae Soo's (한대수) 1974 classic 행복의 나라로
* Lee Sun Hee's (이선희) 1984 popular J에게
* Kim Kwang Seok's (김광석) 1990's 나의 노래

    Favorite Korean Singer

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Check Out the Latest K-pop

Picture
Back to 2013: Check out the K-pop band "Nu’est" (right) posing for a pic with their oldest American fan (above).
FOK blog post by Gerry Krzic (K-41)

Results of the Survey

Yang Hee Eun (양희은) was the winner of our survey. So, we offer one more selection of hers from a mid-90's television performance:  "When I'm 40 Years Old (내 나이 마흔살에는)."

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8 Comments
Dan Duch
8/3/2013 05:49:32 am

This is a great article-good idea for a blog. Here's a link I came across about the "10 hottest banned KPop videos." It's a few years old, and most of the links don't work, but they can be found on YouTube. The interesting part is the reasons given for them being banned. Makes me wonder how PSY got his videos out.

Reply
Dan Duch
8/3/2013 05:50:19 am

Here's the link: http://www.buzzfeed.com/empressmaruja/5-hottest-banned-korean-pop-music-videos-1fox

Reply
Gerard Krzic
8/3/2013 09:14:40 am

Thanks Dan and for the link!

Reply
Harley R link
12/6/2020 03:15:13 am

Thank youu for this

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  • Welcome
    • O'Donnell Distinguished Friend of Korea Award - >
      • Call for Nominations - closed
      • 2024 Honoree - Jon Keeton
      • 2023 Honoree - Donald Mosley
      • O'Donnell Award - previous honorees >
        • Photos of O'Donnell Honorees
    • Remembering Rosalynn Carter
    • Peace Corps - an essay by G. Krzic
    • A Simple Prayer - a musical tribute
    • Remembering in the time of COVID-19
    • Photos and Videos >
      • Photo Gallery: Biwon in Winter
      • Video Gallery
      • Photo Gallery: Arriving in Korea
      • Photo Gallery: TB Program in Korea
      • Photo Gallery: Road Show 1981
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Reflections on Service
    • Statement on diversity and respect
    • Board of Directors
    • 2023 Annual Report >
      • Annual Reports - 2022 & earlier
    • Honorary Membership
    • KOICA/World Friends Korea
    • FOK Blog
    • Past Annual Meetings >
      • 2018 Annual Meeting >
        • 2018 annual meeting - slide show
      • 2017 Annual Meeting >
        • 2017 annual mtg photo gallery
      • 2016 Annual Meeting >
        • 2016 annual mtg photo galllery
      • 2015 Annual Meeting >
        • 2015 Annual Mtg Photo Gallery
  • Resources
    • FoK Webinars - 2023 >
      • FoK Webinars - 2022 >
        • FoK Webinars - 2021 >
          • 2020 Webinars
          • Korean Studies and Peace Corps Volunteers
    • Korea Times column
    • Newsletters >
      • Yobosayo - June 2020
      • Yobosayo - Nov 2019 >
        • Suggestions for further reading
      • Yobosayo - March 2019
      • Yobosayo - May 2018
      • Yobosayo - November 2017
      • Yobosayo - April 2017
    • News about Korea
    • News Sources
    • Korean Cultural Treasures
    • Korean Food >
      • Dining Out in North America: Korea Style
    • Blogs of Interest
  • Events
    • 2024 Annual Meeting video
    • Sept 11 2024 webinar
    • 2023 Annual Meeting - video
    • 2022 Annual Meeting - video
    • 2021 Annual Meeting - video
    • 2020 Annual Meeting - video
    • Revisit Trips >
      • Impressions of the revisits
      • Slide Show - Korea, Then and Now
    • 2018 Reunion - LA >
      • In Remembrance - A Tribute
    • Upcoming Events - Universities
    • Upcoming events: KEI & Korea Society
    • Upcoming events: Korean Cultural Centers - DC, NYC & LA
  • Projects
    • Paths of Grass and Stone
    • Project Bridge - Youth Ambassadors
    • USC Archives - PC Korea
    • The Korean Transformation
    • FOK Publication -- "Through Our Eyes"
    • The Museum Project >
      • Exhibit opening
      • Museum Slide Show
      • Video -- MOU signing & volunteer interviews
      • Seoul in Sept 2016
  • Recent News
  • Support
    • Join us
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    • Zazzle - Peace Corps Korea Store
  • Contact
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