"Hip Korea," a show about Korean pop culture with a focus on singer Rain, will air on Discovery Channel Korea for the first time on the 23rd at 9 PM, Korea time. The show followed around the singer for six months.
The Hip Korea crew filmed the star for six months, and the documentary reveals his down-to-earth lifestyle, including clips of Rain casually conversing with his close friend, entertainer Kim Jae-dong about his innermost feelings over a drink and reminiscing his departed mother at her crypt.
Here's what Korea's official website Korea.net has to say about it:
But there seems to be a Korean star who looks like he will stay with us for a very long time, if not forever. It is Korea's hot singer and actor Rain.
Thanks to his well-toned body and dynamic dance moves exuding masculine charm, the 26-year-old has ridden the crest of the Hallyu (explosive popularity of Korean pop culture abroad) or “Korean wave.”
Yeah, I'm going to stop right there.
12 comments:
Make me vomit. The reason I came to Korea was to expose myself to pop culture, because there is such a lack of it back home. Who cares about Buddhist temples, monks, or ancient fortresses--what I want is pop culture!!!
Seriously, someone needs to sit Korea down and have a frank discussion regarding Hallyu. It has been dead for the past five years. Give up and move on.
My experiences in Japan, Hawaii, and Hong Kong tell me the exact opposite. It's maybe not growing exponentially, but it clearly has staying power.
Especially when people who aren't Korean or have never lived in Korea can tell me all about the latest dramas, movies, or singers.
That said, I have no interest in seeing any Discovery Channel program on Rain, unless it's the meteorological stuff. Are you sure you didn't misunderstand what the Korea Times was saying. ;)
Mark Russell (Korea Pop Wars) has a bit in that documentary.
What i dont understand is why people outside of Korea likes a music genre made on a language that they dont understand??? Maybe its a case of poor taste.
As far as i know, this Hallyu popularity extends only from the DMZ to the north up to the shoreline of Jeju in the South.
arvisign wrote:
What i dont understand is why people outside of Korea likes a music genre made on a language that they dont understand??? Maybe its a case of poor taste.
Huh? That sounds a little harsh. People listen to music in a foreign language they don't understand all the time. Even nowadays, Spanish, Italian, Japanese... Koreans listen to Chinese-language music. When I was young, Nena's "99 Luftbalons" (sp?) was popular, and when they came out with an English-language version, a lot of people preferred the original German. German!
For centuries people listened to operas they didn't understand. I don't know why this would be a sign of poor taste.
As far as i know, this Hallyu popularity extends only from the DMZ to the north up to the shoreline of Jeju in the South.
I've seen Korean pop culture all over publications in Hong Kong and Japan, while here in Hawaii I cannot even begin to count how many people who, when I first met them, told me all about their favorite singer, movie, drama, etc., when I told them I was from Seoul. Not just local Hawaiians, but the international students here: Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Filipinos, Indonesians, Malaysians. And even some American Mainlanders.
Back in 2002 or 2003, I was skeptical that this was a lot of hype by the Korean media, until I went to Japan and saw Korean stars on a lot of Japanese magazines. Then I started noticing it more and more. It really is there.
I made fun of the phenomenon back in 2006, but even then it was Asians outside of Korea that were pushing Rain to those high numbers (especially Indonesia).
"People listen to music in a foreign language they don't understand all the time. Even nowadays, Spanish, Italian, Japanese... Koreans listen to Chinese-language music. "
How about the proportions? You cant just say "People"
"For centuries people listened to operas they didn't understand. I don't know why this would be a sign of poor taste"
Operas as well as classical music are way different than POP music. Besides not all people will love operas or listen to it if made on the original language. Ive seen many operas and i only watch those translated in English. Of course we cant include classical piano or violin pieces here since they are basically symphonies and does not include language.
"I've seen Korean pop culture all over publications in Hong Kong and Japan, ...."
i know. My statement was intended not to be taken as literal. What i mean is that korean pop culture is over exaggerated and over rated.
And you nailed it. Probably 2002-2003 its true. But like what the other poster mentioned, its now dead.
Partly its true that these Korean pop stars and actors reached a level of superstardom at some point. Im a filipino, and ive seen that. Some even went to my country for a concert or a visit. AFIK, i know most people are just curious how they look since they offer an alternate and different breed of faces as compared to local ones. Its just a fad. And nobody really cares about their music anyway.
Movies are different though. I have a great respect for their movies.
How about the proportions? You cant just say "People"
A few people, some people, many people, most people... it really doesn't matter. I was just trying to counter with an example your statement that liking music in a language you don't understand is "a case of poor taste."
My statement was intended not to be taken as literal.
So saying that Hallyu's popularity is only within Korea's borders, you didn't really mean that it's only within Korea's borders. Sorry I mistook the obvious irony and exaggeration for plain old snarkiness.
What i mean is that korean pop culture is over exaggerated and over rated.
It might be over-rated, although I think there are enough good movies (and enough dramas I suppose) to counter that claim.
But I'm not so sure it's over-exaggerated. Here in Hawaii, it's very popular, maybe more so than Japanese pop culture now. It's big in Japan, too.
So maybe it isn't as popular in the Philippines. Or maybe you're, like 185 years old and have no idea what young people are thinking about. Either one's a possibility, but the Philippines being an exception does not mean Hallyu is dead or diminished everywhere else.
You know I hate having to defend Hallyu, but its popularity does extend beyond its own borders. I can't speak for many countries, but certainly in Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam. We snicker at "world star" Rain and other designations like that---and Xenu knows I can't stand most K-pop stars---but there's more to being a "world star" than just being popular in the US.
But you do have to put me in the camp of people who don't get the obsession with music and other media whose language you don't understand. arvinsign is talking about Korean-language stuff, but we see it here a lot with English. For the life of me I don't get the need to decorate shirts, signs, notebooks, pop songs, and everything else in meaningless English. And before you start in, yes, I know the sympathetic excuses for using "English," that it's fun, that it's a status symbol, that it represents a break from the constraints of honorofic Korean, blah blah blah. I just think it's lame and kind of ridiculous.
I can enjoy pop music in languages I don't understand, and can listen to some Korean music even though I don't understand the lyrics. But you won't catch me rapping the lyrics, or busting out with random words and random times, or peppering my own language with attempts at Chinese or Russian or whatever. When people do that, and when they become obsessed with a language they don't understand, I think you really have to look harder at what's really going on.
"It might be over-rated, although I think there are enough good movies (and enough dramas I suppose) to counter that claim. "
I agree. I love korean movies too (of course with english subtitles) :)
"So maybe it isn't as popular in the Philippines. Or maybe you're, like 185 years old and have no idea what young people are thinking about. Either one's a possibility, but the Philippines being an exception does not mean Hallyu is dead or diminished everywhere else."
Ok for arguments sake. Its popular (in the Philippines or elsewhere). Maybe my idea of popular is "worldwide" and not region wide. Thats the reason of our disagreement.
Korean Movies as well as dramas are actually popular in my country . But pop music? I dont think so. Im sure im young enough to know that.
Hey Brian - still reading from time to time - as I'm still interested in what's going on back in Korea.
The Rain special is going to be on Discovery here as well, and we've quite enjoyed moments when Rain, or Big Bang, or the Wonder Girls show up on the Mid East/Asian MTV here -- along with stars from Hong Kong, Singapore, India, etc...
Cheers.
Thanks for checking in!
You know, there are times when I think I like Korea a lot more when I'm not in it. When I'm out of the country I turn into an insecure middle school kid too high on his urinara pills. "Oooh! A Korean church!" "Oooh! A bulgogi restaurant!" "Oooh! A BoA song!"
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