ALI ZANE WRITES – With K-pop now a global presence, more and more luxury fashion brands have been collaborating with its idols. A pivotal moment: Chanel’s 2015 Paris fashion show, where K-pop idol and fashion trailblazer G-Dragon sat front row. He was the first Asian star to be invited. A…
Full Article SOUTH KOREA: K-POP TAKES CENTER STAGE IN FASHION
LILLY WEBBER WRITES — In a tweet posted recently on his official Twitter, Floridan politician KW Miller asked the following question: “Why was AOC conspiring with Koreans such as Junkook and BTS (Big Time Socialists) to undermine our President?”. Miller’s tweet was in response to the low audience turnout at President Donald…
Full Article K-POP CULTURE V. US IGNORANCE: THE BTS ‘CONSPIRACY’
DANIELA GUEVARA WRITES — Known as an ultra-competitive and highly technologically advanced society, South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in developed nations. And this month the even higher stresses in the country’s profitable K-pop industry took their toll on a K-pop star. After hearing the tragic news that Sulli,…
Full Article South Korea: REMEMBERING SULLI AND WHAT SHE STOOD FOR
JOANNE PANG WRITES — It used to be the case that becoming a singer or an actress was a chance of a lifetime: you either got it or you didn’t, and then you moved on; but with K-pop on the rise, every boy and girl in South Korea wants to become an…
Full Article K-POP INSIDER: HOW STALKER SASAENGS MAKE LIFE MISERABLE
TABITHA THEARD WRITES — Instagram and twitter have helped artists connect to fans around the world. This is one way that Rina Sawayama (pictured) and K-pop band BTS—aka Beyond the Scene, Bangtan Sonyeondan (Bulletproof Boy Scouts)—have gained popularity worldwide. As John Paul Titlo wrote in his article How Instagram Became…
Full Article JAPAN: WITH RINA AND HER ARMY, ALMOST NOTHING IS LOST IN TRANSLATION
EPIPHANY HULBURD WRITES – “Produce 48,” the highly anticipated third reincarnation of the hugely popular “Produce” series, recently dropped some tantalizing tidbits about its upcoming season premiere, now said to be delayed to June. Announced loudly via mike at last year’s Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), the show will be…
Full Article K-POP WATCH: WHEN KOREA AND JAPAN GET IT TOGETHER, GREAT TELEVISION IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN