Finally, the World Has Recognized K-pop

 
“Oppan Gangnam Style”
Finally, the World Has Recognized K-pop
 
By Lee Ji-song, Overseas Correspondent
 
“Oh, are you from Korea? Then do you know Gangnam Style?” When I answered the question of my origin in San Francisco in the U. S., the person who asked the question added other questions ‘Do you know Psy?’’ or ‘Do you know where Gangnam is?’. Even when I went to several shops in downtown, the shops played Gangnam Style. Online sites sell Psy-inspired costumes for Halloween, which is October 31, one of the biggest celebrations in the U.S. Not only USA but also the whole world is listening to the song Gangnam Style from Korea.
Before the song, Gangnam Style, Asian people in the USA already knew and were excited about K-pop and Korean singers. Kiet Quoc Huynh (University of San Francisco, Vietnam) said “I always listen to K-pop, every day! My favorite singers are BigBang, TVXQ and 2NE1. I know my Korean is not good, that is why I tried to learn Korean because I want to sing K-pop. I love K-pop!” People say music has the ability to transcend barriers. The Korean wave is a big hit in Asia not only for K-pop but also for drama, movies and celebrities. But there is not an Asian singer who has ever broken the western worldwide market in music. There were many Korean singers, such as Wonder Girls who tried to penetrate the market but it was not easy.
In the western market, Korean culture has one advantage and one disadvantage. The disadvantage is that rarely people can understand specific Korean culture. On the other side, it means that, they can draw any picture or idea about Korean culture that they want. Rebecca Aires (City College of San Francisco, USA) said “I do not have any knowledge of the Korean culture. I just heard some news about North Korea. Now, everybody knows the Gangnam Style dance, including me.  I listen to some K-pop these days. I can even say ‘hello’ in Korean!”
The Korean wave has flowed across Asia, and finally it has arrived in the USA and western countries. Now, Koreans can be proud of their Korean culture and they should support and sustain the Korean wave to go in the right direction. From now on, Koreans are pushing for “Oppan Gangnam style” to finally bring up “Oppan Korean style!”
저작권자 © Chonnam Tribune 무단전재 및 재배포 금지