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An analysis shows variety TV is key to an idol group’s popularity, after which many move to live theater and film.
Love them or hate them, idols today are the kings and queens of Korean entertainment, dominating not just the music world but, increasingly, television and film as well.
According to an analysis by the JoongAng Ilbo and Mnet Media, an entertainment company based in Seoul, these cutesy bubblegum divas exert an enormous influence on Korea’s entertainment industry.
The analysis followed the daily schedules of 11 major idol groups and concluded that variety TV programs (called yeneung in Korean) function as incubators, cueing the Korean public to the next big thing. On yeneung programs, idols show off their non-musical charms, dancing or doing impressions.
Kim Eun-a, head of the public relations team at SM Entertainment, which manages the idol group f(X), explained, “Since each member has many different schedule obligations, it is hard to gather them together in one spot.” Like other idol groups, the five members of f(X) often host music shows or appear on reality programs.
The 11 idol groups tracked included Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, Big Bang, 2PM and 2AM, which were the most popular on Mnet’s charts between February and May.
Among them, nine groups appeared on yeneung programs at least once before they topped the charts. Many are also regulars on prime time programs. For example, singer Jo Kwon is currently a regular guest on four TV programs as of this month, but his group 2AM was not very successful when it debuted in July 2008. As Jo started to appear on TV, however, doing flamboyant dance moves and offering exaggerated reactions, 2AM’s popularity began to flare.
After debuting on television on Nov. 9 last year, Jo appeared on “We Got Married,” which pairs up celebrities and provides a glimpse into what their lives might be like if they were married. When Jo joined the cast, 2AM sales sharply rose, and the group finally reached the top of the charts for the first time earlier this year with a song titled, “Can’t Let You Go Even If I Die.”
“Doing these TV shows is one way to promote our songs,” said Jeong Jin-woon, another member of 2AM. Jeong also regularly appears on television as a guest.
Once idol groups reach No. 1 on the charts, the next step is to cash in by appearing in TV commercials. Then many idols expand their careers to fictional dramas, films and musicals.
Theatrical producers are happy to have the idols, because they guarantee high ticket sales. When idols are cast in musicals, an average of 96 percent of seats are filled, compared to 70 percent or lower for typical Seoul productions.
Tickets for the musical “Mozart,” which stars Xiah Jun-soo, a member of the disbanded idol group TVXQ, sold out in just two minutes after they went on sale earlier last month.
Jessica, a member of Girls’ Generation, took part in the musical version of “Legally Blonde” in March, and Tae-yeon, another member of the group, featured in the musical “Midnight Sun” in May. Onew, a member of SHINee, did the musical “Brothers Were Brave” in April. All the musicals turned handsome profits.
Dramas and films are idols’ favorite side jobs. T.O.P., a member of Big Bang, appeared in the TV drama “Iris” last year and also landed a role in the film “71: Into the Fire.”
In fact, it would be inaccurate to call most of these idols “singers.” Instead, they are all-around entertainers. It’s become the norm for idols to look forward to success in show business, whether they keep pursuing their singing careers or not. “I think I will start acting in 10 years,” said Sulli, a member of f(X).
Pop music critic Im Zin-mo said, “One thing I can say for sure is that idols are the ones who sustain the nation’s K-pop scene, and they go even beyond that.
“They truly rule the whole entertainment industry,” Im said.
Source: JoongAng Daily
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Date: 2010-08-20 09:43 am (UTC)I am shock.
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Date: 2010-08-20 09:44 am (UTC)/adds to collection.
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Date: 2010-08-20 09:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 09:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 09:49 am (UTC)I don't want Idols to dominate the K-films/dramas. I want true actors, the young ones that need to get recognition, because I'm sure there are plenty of them. Get out of there idols!!!!
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Date: 2010-08-20 10:01 am (UTC)i hate it when they add in an idol doing well in a drama as the second lead or a side character just so it'll boost the ratings up
... and when it's a lead. well.
i mean i'm not generalising them, but in most cases, i'm sure they could've found a better actor in the thousands waiting to get cast.
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Date: 2010-08-20 10:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 10:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 04:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 01:10 pm (UTC)on the other hand, this is the idol life, as sad as it is. These days they have to be all round entertainers to be remembered and I'm sure that money is also an important factor when doing all these various activities.
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Date: 2010-08-20 09:58 am (UTC)oh really.. O__O.. WHERE? WHERE?.. you fucker.. I haven't see anything official yet..
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Date: 2010-08-20 10:07 am (UTC)*and prepare for some ~realist~ to tell us that we are delusional fans
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Date: 2010-08-20 03:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 09:58 am (UTC)but wow that's an average of 4 CFs a year for those 11 idol groups
but it's so true - these idols. they do ... a lot. no wonder they're always so tired :/ (just came from watching onew basically fall asleep on stage) maybe there has been a decrease in actual singing talent, but where are you going to find people that are amazing singers/dancers/rappers/charismatic on shows/great public speakers/ridiculously attractive etcetc all in one?
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Date: 2010-08-20 10:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 10:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 10:08 am (UTC)- This makes me irritated and disappointed at the same time. It's bad that the Korean music scene has been this way. I feel bad for the well-known and talented singers,mcs, djs, and even actors being left behind and push around the corner. Even the Hallyu wave is sooner being replace by idol wave . Well, k- entertainment used to be all fun and all but now I stop caring about it and I don't even know the majority of idol groups popping out every seconds.
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Date: 2010-08-20 11:09 pm (UTC)where is it from? would you happen to have the original image??
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Date: 2010-08-20 10:45 am (UTC)the more you know lol.
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Date: 2010-08-20 11:52 am (UTC)Don't act like you don't know Korea, If they don't dominate these areas, they are forgotten.
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:36 pm (UTC)The irony though is that it seems that they get paid to appear on variety shows..
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 05:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 05:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-21 03:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 12:00 pm (UTC)this is sad.
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Date: 2010-08-20 12:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 03:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 11:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 01:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 04:31 pm (UTC)no offense bigbang stans but top should stick to rapping
seulong is painful to watch
yunho is a joke
yonghwa is the worst
etcetcetcetc
D:
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:50 pm (UTC)i do wish krock got more recognition and got to go on more music shows.
and i do wish there were more artists like supreme team.
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Date: 2010-08-20 04:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 06:08 pm (UTC)GTFO AND STFD
I lost interest after reading such a false quote lol
nothing's official calm down.
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Date: 2010-08-20 11:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-21 05:24 am (UTC)