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Thursday, December 11, 2014

My Thoughts on Non-Asians coming into the Korean Music Industry (in essay format)

This is my essay I wrote in my English and it discusses the topic of Non-Asians wanting to come into the K-pop world. ENJOY!!! ^_^



Non-Asians in K-pop
The Gloss, is a new and upcoming rookie K-pop girl group consisting of four members. The girls are extremely talented and pretty girls and no one would second guess them and assume immediately that they are all Asian; until they look closer. One member in the group is not of Asian descent at all. Her name is Olivia and she is of European descent born and raised in France. She is planning to debut with the group very soon. To the K-pop community this is startling; a Non- Asian in a K-pop group is uncommon and hadn’t exist until now, But for those who are new to K-pop I’ll explain the situation.
            Korean popular music, abbreviated K-pop, is a fairly new genre of music that originated in South Korea. It is known for it’s addictive beats, complicated choreography, creative concepts, and a swimming pool full of attractive boys and girls in great make-up with a stylistic fashion sense. The love for K-pop is rapidly spreading around the world. There’s Black, White, Hispanic, young and old people all bumping to the electronic melodies of K-pop, but it wasn’t always this way. K-pop was first introduced in 1992 by a three member boy group called, Seo Taiji the boys.  They were the creators and pioneers of the popular growing music genre today. They took Korea by storm with this new genre of music. Back then K-pop was strictly a “Korean thing”. There were only Koreans allowed to be in the groups and that’s understandable because it was something that originated in Korea. It wasn’t until later on that it would change. In 2005, when a 13 member boy group named, Super Junior, came on the scene with a new fresh look. All of the members were Korean besides, one. Hangeng was the first ever Chinese and Non-Korean member in a K-pop group. Since then Korean entertainment companies have been putting not only Chinese members, but also Thai, Japanese and Malaysian members in their companies because of the growing success and popularity of the members in Asia.
            Lately in the K-pop community there is a topic that gets discussed many times on blogs, and forums about since Korean entertainment companies accept Non-Koreans now would they also accept Non-Asians. The reason why this topic is brought up is because Korean entertainment companies are trying to spread K-pop not just in Asia anymore but in America as well; and the argument is whether they need Non-Asians in their K-pop groups to help spread the music genre to the states. Olivia’s entry into the K-pop scene could be the answer to that question. Some people think that “only Asians” need to apply and that people who are not Asian shouldn’t even try because some people don’t like the idea of a Non-Asian as a K-pop star/idol. Others love the idea of a Non-Asian in a k-pop idol group and want to see more Non-Asians in the k-pop scene. Different people have different opinions about whether Non-Asians will actually be accepted as K-pop idols. But regardless of race any one should be able to be a K-pop idol as long as they are willing to learn the language and culture; and if Korean entertainment companies would not accept a talented applicant simply because they were not Asian that would display the racism and discrimination that dwells not only in K-pop but South Korea as a whole.
            In K-pop this topic is brought up constantly on whether Non-Asians can become K-pop idols. Some say no for multiple reasons. In an article a young author stated that “ K-pop is a platform where Asians get to shine, and as an Asian person it makes me happy to see myself getting represented not only in Asia, but internationally as well ” (KpopSecrets).  To the author the main reason why Non-Asians shouldn’t be K-pop stars is because they are simply not Asian. I can understand where they are coming from because K-pop does stand for Korean popular music and is a part of not only Korean culture but also Asian culture. On blogs and forums many people ask whether a Non-Asian could be accepted into a Korean entertainment to become K-pop idols; and many people say no because they believe that applicants need to be Asian or at least half-Asian to be considered. On a Yahoo Answer forum one commentator said, “No. At least you have to be half Asian, preferably half Korean. It's hard enough for KOREANS to become K-pop idols, so just imagine how hard (impossible) it would be for a non-asian. If you want to sing or dance do it in your own country.” (Bazinga) There are plenty of comments that express these same feelings towards Non-Asians in K-pop. But, in the comment I used it stated that to even be considered to become a K-pop idol you must be of Korean descent, whether it is full Korean or half Korean. But there are Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Malaysian idols now and more are being recruited. Times have changed; young hopefuls don’t have to be of Korean descent to be a K-pop idol.  Korean entertainment companies host auditions in other Asian countries like China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and recently Indonesia. I used that comment to prove that if companies only wanted Koreans than they wouldn’t spend money going to these different places to host auditions.
Many also feel that if someone really wanted to do music they would do it anywhere; and as the commenter claimed if you want to sing or dance do it in your own country.” Since this is a part of Asian pop culture there should only be Asians a part of it; K-pop is how Asians get representation in the music industry and according to the author of KpopSecrets K-pop is the ONLY platform for Asians to be represented.  One of the commenters even stated that “The Korean market is pretty strict when it comes to nationality and stuff. It's pretty hard to pursue your music career in [a] country where [you’re] not really familiar with. Why don't you try out in the country [you’re] living in?” (Bazinga). To this person the idea of a Non-Asian wanting to be a K-pop idol is ridiculous; that they would have a better chance just trying to break into their own companies market. But if that were the case than K-pop music industry shouldn’t try to spread to the American entertainment market and should just stay an “Asian thing”. Korean entertainment companies are constantly producing idol groups with goals, specifically, to enter the American market. For every K-pop idol group that debuts in every interview when they are asked “What are their main future long-term goals as K-pop idols?” Every one of them says to become GLOBAL international stars; they can’t do that if they only promote in Asia. The three main companies in Korea such as, JYP entertainment, SM entertainment and YG entertainment are constantly trying to promote their groups in America. In 2009, JYP began promoting their first idol girl group, The WonderGirls, in the US performing the English version of their song “Nobody” and opening on tour with the Jonas Brothers. Their song reached number seventy-six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This act made the WonderGirls the first South Korean group to enter the charts (WonderGirls-Wikipedia). In 2008, SM entertainment solo artist, BoA, made her English debut with the single “Eat You Up”; it made it to number nine on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was even remixed with a feature from well-known rapper, Flo-Rida. She did this in pursuit to become a world renowned artist like Janet Jackson (BoA-Wikipedia). Also in 2008, YG entertainment’s solo artist, Se7en, released his first English track “Girls” featuring the legendary female rapper, Lil Kim. “Se7en 's "Girls" music video premiered on BET 106 & Park on June 2, 2009” (Seven-Wikipedia). These are just a few of the many attempts the Korean entertainment market have done trying to break into the American market. If they would have just stayed in Asia the idols and companies would be limited to their level of popularity. They also wouldn’t be able to collaborate with other artist from other countries other than their own; and it would be limiting the overall revenue of the idols and the company. Why would any company want to do that?
            It’s understandable that some people would want K-pop to stay the way it is now; to some having a non-Asian in K-pop would make K-pop not K-pop anymore. In a YouTube video I watched there were two American girls giving their opinions about whether Non-Asians would make it the K-pop music industry. One stated that “I feel that this just isn’t going to work, because when I got into K-pop you know what I wanted to see?...Asians! because honestly, Asians are gorgeous, I love Asian cultures and that’s what I wanted to see…if I wanted to watch Europeans, Americans, Canadians, South Americans whatever yourselves maybe I would watch your genre of music, But I’m watching K-pop because I like Asians and everything about it.” (Kpopwrapup) To her K-pop wouldn’t feel the same it would’ve lost all its meaningfulness and essence of what makes it so unique. To some others it may not be the fact that they are Non-Asian but the fact that they don’t look Asian. “Personally, I'm not against it. As long he/she looks Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, etc. it would be fine. Not being racist but, imagine a black dude in a K-Pop group and singing in Korean. Would it look right?” ( Soompi) Therefore, since they aren’t Asian and don’t look Asian why should they be considered to be part of something that is a part of Asian culture? Why should they be able to become K-pop idols before an actual Asian? Why should Asians accept them into their culture? But, what about the amount of foreigner bands/artist that come to break into the American music industry. Look at all of the greats like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, AC DC, Daft Punk, U2 and the list goes on and on. None of these bands hail from America; for some of them English is not their first language but, because they embraced the American culture and made good music America accepted them with open arms. They were something different and refreshing to see. If America can do this than why not Korea? People say that Korea is not ready for a Non-Asian in the K-pop music industry but, there are people who actually want more Non-Asians in the K-pop industry and think that Korea would accept them as K-pop idols.
Some people think that more Non-Asians should be accepted as K-pop idols because with K-pop constantly spreading throughout the world Korean entertainment companies have been and are still trying to expand into the American market but have not been successful. People think that if a Non-Asian is added into a K-pop group that it might give the companies the edge. They think that adding a Non-Asian would be the key to their success in the American market. In an article it states that Korean entertainment companies are looking for and willing to accept Non-Asians in their companies. “If there are talented applicants, we are going to train them no matter if they are white or black,” Jeong Wook, CEO of JYP, was quoted as saying by Chosun Ilbo…Yang said. “We are going to produce new stars by signing up talents regardless of their nationality or ethnicity.” (Limb) In the article it also stated how in 2012 the numbers of Non-Asians that participated in global auditions hold by the Korean entertainment companies were more than half of total amount of participates. Reasons for this are probably because Non-Asians feel like they have a chance now because entertainment companies have been reaching out to more Non-Asians in multiple ways like hosting global auditions and stating on their websites that they accept anyone regardless of age, gender, race, nationally or ethnicity. With the mere fact that companies are willing to accept Non-Asians into their companies why shouldn't Non-Asians be accepted into K-pop?
Also another reason is because there is always that slim chance that a Non-Asian can succeed in the K-pop industry. There is this blogger and her blog is called, Ask A Korean, the author from the blog was born and raised in Korea and still resides in Korea. Every week the author has people ask them questions about Korea or Korean life and how society is like in Korea. One person asked the question, “how ready do you think Korea is for a foreigner in the K-pop scene? My definition of a foreigner in Korean market would be someone who isn't Korean and does not look visibly Asian.” The Korean responded with the fact that a Non-Asian is already successful in Korea. “The number one band of K-pop in 2012 has three members, all of who [are] young men. Two of this band's members are Korean, but one is not. One of them is a white man from America, named Brad Moore. Mr. Moore has been quite visible in all of the band's activities (including music videos and show programs,) and his whiteness or non-Korean-ness has never been a subject of discussion in Korean people's appreciation of the band.” (AskAKorean). The band’s name is, Busker Busker, and According to the blog post they were the number one K-pop band in 2012, “Busker Busker sold the most number of albums in 2012 in Korea, and their songs were the most downloaded. (They sold significantly more songs online than PSY in 2012 Korea, even with PSY's Gangnam Style.) The band also placed six different songs in the top 10 of Gaon Chart (the most authoritative chart for K-pop) through 2012, and five songs in the top 10 of Billboard's K-pop chart. Busker Busker also took home three Korean Music Awards for 2013, including Best Pop Album and Best Pop Song.” (AskAKorean)  With the success of Busker Busker and maybe the future success of The Gloss this is the little ray of light that Non-Asians need that they may also have a chance to be K-pop idols as well. This gives Non-Asians hope that they could possibly be accepted in the K-pop music industry as well.
Another reason why they would be accepted is also a reason why they would not be accepted, the fact of whether Korea is ready for a Non-Asian to be accepted in the K-pop scene. Some people say the Korea isn’t ready for a Non-Asian to be in the K-pop scene right now. But when the first Non-Korean was added into the picture people would have probably said the same thing. In fact when Hangeng, the first Chinese K-pop idol, debuted with Super Junior in Korea he wore a mask in all the live performances so Koreans wouldn’t know that he was Chinese descent. Once Korea found out they had to do some warming up to the idea but after a while it wasn’t much of an issue anymore and now they have Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Malaysian members and Korea has accepted the idea of them so why wouldn’t they be ready for the idea of a Non-Asian? Some people would say the reason why is because Korea is a very homogeneous society. Most of time (especially with the older generation in the countryside) they would live their entire lives and would have never seen anyone outside their ethnicity. With the younger generation that is not the case because more students are exposed to different ethnicities in their schools because their English teachers are, most of the time, Non-Asians all together. Most of the hate would come from the older generation who don’t know a lot about other cultures and have never had the chance to experience them because of Korea’s lack of diversity in their society. I have a Korean friend and she is from Korea but she came to America with her husband because of his occupation, they will be going back in the summer. She is an older lady with children of her own and I use to help her with her English. One day I was singing and dancing for her and she asked me if I knew what K-pop was and I told her I did. She said I should audition for one of companies in Korea because I could become an idol if I was talented enough. When I heard this it surprised me because I didn't expect to hear that especially from someone of her generation.
That gave me hope that Non-Asians could possibly have a chance to become K-pop idols; and that Koreans aren't so appalled by the idea either. In fact In a YouTube video I watched a man living in Korea stated that he would like to see more Non-Asians in the K-pop music industry. He stated that “I really enjoy seeing…Non-Koreans/Asian people getting into K-pop songs and mixing them. And I would like to see more you know not just Asian but from like…Western countries as well like Non –Asians I would like to see Blacks, Whites, Hispanic and you know all the other ethnicities.” (Uncle JJ) He is a YouTuber and he was born and raised in Korea as well and this is his opinion about Non-Asians becoming K-pop idols. This source shows that there Koreans out there who would like to see Non-Asians in K-pop as well. It is encouraging because it goes against the racist stereotype of Korea and their ideas and feelings of other races embracing their culture and wanting to be a part of it.  
He’s is not the only one that supports the movement many people would like to see more Non-Asians in the K-pop scene. In a discussion forum someone stated “I have thought a lot about this also everyone’s first thought is to say that since you are not Asian you won’t make it but i think times are changing. I helped out the WonderGirls when they opened a concert in Kentucky. NOBODY knew who they were but some gave them a chance. JYP is trying to get his artists to the states. It is only a matter of time before a Non-Asian is in a group. Even Asians in the groups get put down by their community so not everyone will like you (or this mysterious Non-Asian person…” (Yahoo Answers)  This person claims that when people think about a Non-Asian making it into a K-pop peoples first thought would be, no. I think that’s how a lot people think at first. Others comment state “Music has no language or face, it only has two common things: enjoyment & feeling. I'm Asian-American, definitely not Korean, but I've been in love with K-pop for over 10 years. However, I've never minded whether the person who sang my favorite K-pop songs were Korean or not. As long as I like the song then that's all that mattered” (KpopSecrets).  To this person music is still regardless of who’s singing it. If you like it…then you like it.  To another commentator she states that if people always thought that something was impossible to do than there would be little progress in the world.
“So many people say "Don't bother, it has never happened before" But I say, that if everyone always thought like that there would be little development at all in the world. Someone is always the first to do something new, and the kpop industry had already begun to peer overseas wanting to spread to more places than just Asia. But to reach a break-through there they will have to at some point break the racial barrier, or the majority of the American industry won't accept them as too few would find the music and the stars relatable….So if caucasians/afro/african-americans/latinos and all other ethnicities to speak of keep on auditioning and push for this transition, I believe we will see a change in this” ( Non-Asians In Kpop).

In conclusion, to some people Non-Asians shouldn't be accepted as K-pop idols for multiple reasons. One reason is because they aren't Asian and this is the only platform where Asians get to shine and that shouldn't be taken away. Another is because the reason some people got into K-pop is because it was strictly only for Asians to do and they liked that about it and they feel like putting an Non-Asian in it would just take away the reason why they fell in love with it in the first place and it would take away the unique characteristics and essence of K-pop and it would no longer be K-pop. However, I want to make the point that K-pop IS just a music genre just like country, reggae, classical, Hip-pop/R&B and it should be treated as such. It's a music genre and anyone regardless of their race, gender, nationality and age should be able to do it if they want to. I believe that the reason why this is such a huge issue to some people is because they look to K-pop not for the music but the physical aspects of it. Some people watch it and listen to it simply just to look at Asians; it’s like a fetish for them. So I can see why they have a problem with it because if you add a Non-Asian in the mix than you take away the reason they fell in love with K-pop in the first place and they don't want to have their wonderland taken away. But, if that were the case than people would just listen to country when they want to see white people, Hip-pop/R&B when they want to see black people, rock when they want to see Emo and Goth kids, and classical when they want to see old people. But they forget the fact that there is a black guy who is a country singer, there are white rappers and R&B singers, Preppy kids like to bang their heads to Nirvana and Linkin Park just as much as Emo and Goth kids do; and there are young people every day being recognized for their talent in classical music. You can't just hold certain people to a certain genre because in the end people are people the only thing that differentiates us is our appearance, genes and our race but none of that has anything to do with our different personalities. If a Non-Asian wants to be a K-pop idol why not let them, would it really be that hard to accept them?



WORKS CITED
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"BoA." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 4 May 2014. Web. 4 May 2014.             <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BoA>.

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"The Great Soompi Debate: Are you in favor of non-Koreans joining K-pop groups?."Soompi.      Soompi , 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.      <http://forums.soompi.com/discussion/373736/the-great-soompi-debate-are-you-in-favor-  of-non-koreans-joining-k-pop-groups>.

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