“Hallyu,” Korean wave, will not last 5 years

[unreal.livejournal.com]

60 percent of foreigners say Korean craze will cool down

“’Hallyu’ will cool down in four years.”

Six out of 10 foreigners believe the recent fad for Korean culture ― K-pop, movies and TV dramas and soap operas ― will decline over the next few years.

Sixty percent of 3,600 people in nine countries, including China, Japan, Thailand, the United States and France, are doubtful that hallyu, the Korean wave, will see lasting international success, according to a survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE).


Hallyu, which started with the popular Korean drama “Winter Sonata” in 2002 and continued with K-pop’s Girls’ Generation, is still hot all over the world. Therefore, Koreans, currently drunk on the international Korean culture craze, are shocked at the survey’s results.

The main reason foreigners doubted hallyu’s continued success is because they are “tired of standardized content,” as 20.5 percent of respondents said.

Hypersexual dancing, lyrics and clothing are common among K-pop “idols,” and teen singers. Korean drama series repeatedly revisit topics such as adulterous affairs, revenge and secrets surrounding the birth or identity of characters, making it difficult to move increasingly desensitized audiences.

Experts believe it is time hallyu had a makeover.

Korea needs to sell its unique story to win over other countries, integrating the nation’s traditions into Korean pop culture, said experts.

“Content that isn’t original and diverse will not survive in the market. It is essential to diversify the stories in the media,” said an official from the culture ministry. “We also need to encourage financial investment in media, because you can’t create a masterpiece with just a great story and an idea.”

In today’s society, stories equal money. A unique story will help make a drama, movie, game or animation a success.

The worldwide bestselling, “Harry Potter” series, shows how powerful new stories can be. The brand value of JK Rowling’s seven-volume series rose to $15 billion over a decade, landing the author $1 billion in profits. The series about the apprentice wizard comprised of seven books, eight films, various games and a theme park, that opened in Florida in 2010, and has contributed an estimated $6 trillion to the British economy annually. This is equivalent to profits that Samsung Electronics, the largest Korean business, made in the first quarter of last year.

There are a few successful media stories for hallyu as well.

The number of tourists visiting Namiseom, a small island on the Han River in Chuncheon, hit a record 2.3 million last year. Eighteen percent, or 400,000, were foreigners.

This is the result of “Winter Sonata’s” success. The popular Korean drama, starring Choi Ji-woo and Bae Yong-joon, aired from January to March 2002, using Namiseom as its backdrop.

It became the first hallyu hit as middle-aged Japanese women flocked to see the setting for the show after it aired. Namiseom uses a method of storytelling, in its tours, recreating the narrative at every corner of the island for tourists.

It calls itself the “Republic of Nami,” and makes visitors pass through an “immigration bureau.” Many believe that unique programs like this and celebrations like “National Day” for foreigners also contribute to attracting tourists.

“Seoul Forum 2012” released plans to help globalize hallyu in the Dynasty Hall of the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on May 16 and 17.

Source: koreatimes

Comments

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say the current hallyu we see now started with Winter Sonata; that was the older wave that tapered off around 2006, and was centered on drama instead of music. K-pop wise back then, most people only knew Baby VOX, Rain, Hyori, BoA, Se7en, Cool, Kiss, OST singers, 1TYM, and underground rappers and all the fandoms were segregated, not like now. The current hallyu re-started in 2007/2008 and REALLY hit it big in 2009 imo.

The mainstream J-pop wave (that is, for all artists old and new, phenomena like AKB and Perfume aside) lasted a good 8 years (2001-2009) so I think K-pop still has some steam left to it. I predict 2014 for when it'll plateau. Sharp dropoff by 2015.

[miki-831.livejournal.com]

You thoughts are the same as mine, but in a more eloquent form lol

[pure08starlight.livejournal.com]

Jin?

Okay, I must get back and hide~!

[gashinenai.livejournal.com]

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Considering that kpop (and kdramas) are currently pretty much unknown for majority of people outside Asia, I doubt people there will be bored with those in five years. However, in some Asian countries it might be so.

Hypersexual dancing, lyrics and clothing are common among K-pop “idols,” and teen singers.
Korea needs more solo singers and bands, and to produce wider variety of music instead of everyone putting out similar songs, however, desexing is just gonna hurt business 'cause frankly sex sells. I mean Korean acts are pretty tame compared to majority of western pop artists who are famous worldwide or even when compared to many Japanese acts.

[sayufied.livejournal.com]

Korea needs more solo singers and bands, and to produce wider variety of music
(http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/26/thisa.gif/)

It's ALL THE SAME!!!

[lee-chikin.livejournal.com]

Hypersexual dancing, lyrics and clothing are common among K-pop “idols,” and teen singers. Korean drama series repeatedly revisit topics such as adulterous affairs, revenge and secrets surrounding the birth or identity of characters, making it difficult to move increasingly desensitized audiences.

All of it true and it needs to change.
Korea, can we have that make over now?

[cc9095.livejournal.com]

Korea, can we have that make over now?
I don't think it will happen in near future. Plots in Korean dramas will always be the same. The same things with song lyrics. The only thing that will probably change is an image.

[hitsujiga.livejournal.com]

but the west is not bored of their ever unchanging popmusic/hiphop/r'n'b? lol gimme a break and kpop a chance.

[4minutesluts.livejournal.com]

lol if you actually think that western (or any) pop music is static

just lol

i mean compare any decade to another, there's obvious differences. Of course it's similar in broad swathes because it's all pop music, but it definitely does change a lot

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Korean dramas became really stale post 07 tbh, and they still are. Obviously there are decent dramas but plot wise it's a case of been there, done that x10.

As for Kpop, it's too saturated, and right now I'm listening to less and less Kpop but then I've been in to it since 07. Imo my biggest issue with kpop is simply that there's a lack of interactions between the big groups. It's what I used to live for kpop wise, but now you barely see the big groups in Korean media anymore and when they are it's kinda lame or just treading the same ground. Maybe I'm just too old for this shit.

[amenooto.livejournal.com]

i'm more worried about the state of jpop tbh
i've been listening/watching kdramas/pop since 2000, i don't think its going anywhere

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

[tippani.livejournal.com]

i love how these articles are made almost every month lmao

[erbalurbal.livejournal.com]

Kpop won't grow until entertainment agencies stop being so self contained and restrictive. They need to let their artists work with producers and writers outside of their company to create more diverse sounds. Korea also needs to start promoting other genres of music as much as they promote idols.

[cc9095.livejournal.com]

I agree, new producers, new song writers might bring something new.

But I don't know about promoting other genres. Pop music is light, it's easy to get hooked by catchy music and simple lyrics. So in a way it's much easier to promote it, meaning you will have more chances to gain more money. I came to kpop through jrock, although it is popular in Japan, jpop is much more popular.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I've been hearing that for a long time now and hallyu is still around...
Every trend has to end eventually, the real question is to know whether hallyu will adapt or die

[aquariia.livejournal.com]

I don't think Hallyu Wave die (especially in Japan) since Korean agencies are determined to earn money but Hallyu Wave as a trend probably get less and less coverage in media. How long they can write/talk about the same.
About Hallyu wave in US/Europe. I will believe in Hallyu Wave in Europe when after saying to random person 'I listen to Kpop' the response will be diffrent than 'WTF is this'.

[asth77.livejournal.com]

I doubt kdramas will see their popularity cool down. First it is so unknown of the mass public out there and second, if it lasted in Japan, I don't see why it wouldn't last in other Asian countries and finally, Korean dramas don't need a makeover in my opinion. Nowadays, although the traditional plots are still going strong , the industry is extremely healthy and with the growth of câble Dramas, no one is afraid to offer alternatives to traditional plots. The success is still around, the industry permits ppl to discover rookie screenwriters, actors and directors that offer interesting works.
As for the music, no doubt about that as long as the market will suffer from lack of variety.

[annhh.livejournal.com]

hallyu boom might be huge now and there will be big slice of people who will eventually grow out of it. But I don't see it disappearing any time soon, maybe forgotten unless hallyu evolves. I think it is evolving though, concerts abroad is a step that aided hallyu or vice versa

it's never going to be ~mainstream~, stop trying to make it happen. there's always big talk and wrong marketing

[x-doctess.livejournal.com]

I think there are two possibilities:

1. If the industry stays the same, Hallyu will be nothing but a trend and the audience will eventually become bored and look for other sources of entertainment,
2. If the industry evolves and Korea's entertainment industry moves beyond just idols, Hallyu will become a sustainable movement. It'll lose popularity at some point, sure, but it won't die down. Sort of like the Japanese music industry.

[k0dama.livejournal.com]

hmm this is what people said about anime.

[atelierlune.livejournal.com]

True... but depending on who you ask, anime is indeed dying, with fewer and more niche series coming out, little innovation and dwindling budgets.

[a-perfect-shade.livejournal.com]

as the k-industry evolves, so does hallyu. it will probably die in its present form, but we'll get a different version.

[sirhin.livejournal.com]

Content that isn’t original and diverse will not survive in the market.
I agree.

Honestly, kpop and dramas only seem to interest a very small number of my friends (usually the Asian ones who weren't born here or still feel strong ties) and the rest know of it, know that I follow it, but don't have an interest in starting it. I don't see kpop becoming more popular with the way it is now, though I admit it's catchy. The problem is that I feel it all starts feeling the same - there definitely needs to be some work done to call out to a wider audience.

[2ne3rd.livejournal.com]

Hallyu will always be popular within Asia, but as far as world wide appeal goes ...
I give it another decade max (being generous) before the massive decline hits.

Either Hallyu will do itself in or there will be a rise from another market (probably the US) that will eventually overshadow it.

[sweet16een.livejournal.com]

I don't think kdramas will die out. (Even if they are all most the same)
I've been kpop fan since 2002 and I see myself pulling away from kpop more and more every day.
To me all kpop music sounds the same and that’s getting boring.

The things I think they should try to fix.

Why do the throw money away on useless groups with people that can’t sing or dance?
They could use that same money on making groups with talented people.

My friends told me that Koreans only care about pretty faces and don’t matter if they can sing.
They can always make pretty people but they gave them talent and talent is what they need If they want to keep and make new international fan entrust (or not)

Put out some soloist, if they could sing and dance without Lip sync that would be nice too. But not need
(Anyone can be back up dancer.)

[4minutesluts.livejournal.com]

Hypersexual dancing

lol as if being too sexual is the problem (its the omnipresent boring rehashed aegyo shit that sucks and is just a novelty factor for heaps of people)


well actually I only pay attention to female kpop so w/e

[hpn88.livejournal.com]

ehh I don't see drama's dying out. They're getting more globally aware and seem to hit that soccer mom demographic in america quite well.
the music scene needs a bit of an overhaul

[yingmoon26.livejournal.com]

kdramas wont die. they still somehow have an appeal to them, even though there are cliches and plots that have been done death. there are always kdramas that stand out from others.

i dont feel hallyu will last too long either, especially at its current state. i love kpop and all, been an avid listener 07 and first touched upon it in like 05, but there aren't that many groups out there that actually make me excited. there aren't enough solo singers either...
i've become a casual listener toward a lot of kpop, minus a few groups and solo singers.i've been moving toward k-indie, which is fantastic by the way!

[samunin.livejournal.com]

totally random
but my fancam :D

[martha-sal.livejournal.com]

what's a knotts berry farm?

[my-faux-pas.livejournal.com]

Meh, I thought I was done with kpop when TVXQ separated, but then SMe released EXO in their jails and that locks me up for another good 5 years or so.

Seriously though, k-entertainment just need to keep things interesting. Drama usually ensues "interesting" but I've had enough of those with TVXQ tbh.