Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TheUrbanMyth]

[byrddogs]

[Smithington]

There is nothing Korean about K-pop. It's just the worst of Western boy bands and girl bands. Since the West no longer has these, Koreans have appropriated the genre, sang the songs in Korean, and got the boys to dress up like girls. This makes it a 100 percent Korean product, completely independent of Western pop and uniquely Korean.

Truth be told, when they express such pride in K-pop they are, in effect, expressing pride in a Western cultural form. In the past when I have pointed this out to adult students I get, "No, K-pop is different. It's not like Western pop. It's very different." And you can't argue with them or they get angry and accuse you of not respecting "Korean culture". I begin to restate that it's not Korean culture, that it's a foreign product with a slice of kimchi added, and that it is also a very recent importation...hence it's absurd to insist it's a 'Korean' product, and insane to take so much pride in it as a Korean product, ........but I realize where I am and decide it's not worth the effort.

I just keep telling myself that this is a country that insists the Christmas Tree originated in Korea.

[EZE]

Pop tends to be an amalgamation of music from various cultures, and sometimes regional differences or styles can be pronounced or subtle. I think K-pop is a legitimately distinct product, similar to how Southern rock has a distinct flavor.

[Ginormousaurus]

[young_clinton]

[optik404]

[World Traveler]

[Captain Corea]