K-Columnist Speaks Out On Saving K-Culture In Crisis | KWriter

With BTS’s Jungkook setting the very best Ok-pop solo file each day together with his first solo album, GOLDEN, the media and followers haven’t stopped raving about him. Particularly, a Ok-columnist, Yang Sung Hee from JoongAng Ilbo, posted an article about his solo accomplishments.

The columnist felt that Jungkook was capable of rework into Western mainstream music, succeeding as a pop star.

By proving that particular person members can obtain as a lot efficiency as a workforce, issues about BTS’s enlistment had been alleviated. This album additionally has the which means of Jungkook’s ‘coming-of-age ceremony.’ He tried to rework from a innocent Ok-pop idol to a sex-symbol pop star.

All of the songs had been in English, and lots of had 19+ lyrics, breaking away from the typicality of Ok-pop and presenting a good mainstream pop. It confirmed that Asian males can even have sufficient intercourse attraction. Western media additionally praised him because the ‘King of Pop’, following Justin Timberlake and Justin Bieber. As HYBE’s Chairman Bang Si-hyuk mentioned, they succeeded in ‘eradicating the Ok from Ok-pop.’

— Columnist Yang Sung Hee

Ok-pop is already a world enterprise that makes extra money abroad than domestically. A Ok-pop group with out Korean members is rising, and the Ok-pop coaching system is being exported abroad. 120,000 folks utilized for the lady group audition held in the US by HYBE in partnership with Common Music Group, and 6 debut members from 4 nationalities had been confirmed final weekend. Musically, the simple listening development that breaks the Ok-pop formulation has taken root.

Regardless of this exterior enlargement, there are inner disaster theories. It is because there are various adverse indicators, such because the slowing development in Southeast Asia, the principle axis of Ok-pop. Chairman Bang Si Hyuk mentioned, “If we’ve got to look 10 years from now, then now’s a disaster. Now could be the time to take away the Ok from Ok-pop in an effort to go extra mainstream.” With this, the columnist questioned what sort of music Ok-Pop followers ought to hearken to if the “Ok” is eliminated.

It was a sort of Asian music, then it was Ok-pop, and now it’s simply turning into pop. Whereas I agree that enlargement and recognition are mandatory for the expansion of the business, I additionally surprise what sort of music Korean Ok-pop followers ought to hearken to if the Ok is eliminated.

— Columnist Yang Sung Hee

In actual fact, the idea of the Ok-pop disaster is much less atrocious in comparison with the idea of the Korean movie disaster. The glory of Parasite and Squid Sport has not been lengthy, however this one is in a severe disaster. The consumption setting has modified quickly on account of COVID-19 and OTT platforms, and the rise in theater charges has added gas to the fireplace.

Amongst Korean movies this yr, solely 4 have surpassed the break-even level as of early this month. The scenario for Ok-drama just isn’t simple. As manufacturing prices soar and broadcasting firms scale back programming, it’s identified that about 80 works are piled up in warehouses. Though Netflix is a chance, there’s a widespread sense of disaster that it could be lowered to a subcontractor base for Netflix because of the construction of shedding IP.

Lately, the Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism introduced the “Video Business Leap Ahead Technique” to foster Ok-content. That is Minister Yoo In Chon’s first coverage announcement since taking workplace. The secret’s to extend the dimensions of the video content material business by 2027, and to create a brand new Ok Content material Technique Fund by 2028. In contrast to current fund-of-funds that make investments primarily in small and medium-sized companies, the aim is to offer monetary sources to put money into large-scale initiatives. Additionally they introduced a objective of making 5 high-quality contents that may win awards such because the Emmy Award and Academy Award inside the subsequent 5 years.

It’s a part of a help plan to alleviate the cash drought within the movie business and revitalize manufacturing, however it’s nonsense in that it appears like a five-year financial improvement plan or a mission to win a couple of Olympic medals. If the federal government units a objective and releases cash, killer content material is not going to simply robotically seem. Till now, the Hallyu Wave has been an achievement achieved by free creators on their very own.

Furthermore, the federal government has lately confronted backlash for squeezing cash from the movie business by decreasing the funds for artistic help initiatives and movie festivals. Ultimately, there are more likely to be complaints that the federal government is making an attempt to funnel cash into films that go well with its tastes. Is that this how we will save Ok-culture from disaster? There may be already a variety of disparagement abroad concerning the Korean Wave, equivalent to Ok-pop and Ok-drama, claiming that it’s a nationwide business created by the federal government, however this has solely furthered such misunderstandings.