Things that are specific to K-pop that doesn’t apply to the rest of the world
Korean pop has taken the world by storm. From their peppy music to perfectly choreographed dance to vibrant fashion, and of course, the charming people, all of these have taken over the youth. Bringing a non-dominating culture to the mainstream industry is very difficult, where some people think it’s just their sheer luck that has brought them into the limelight, the reality is far away from it. K-pop has earned this fame and has worked hard towards it. Not many people know, but unlike any other music industry, the Korean music industry is very strict and professional and it has rigorous training. Here are some of the interesting facts that you probably don’t know about K-pop.
The Training is a long term investment
In K-pop artists don't become successful overnight, they have to go through a rigorous process, where they enrol in an entertainment agency like Big Hit Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, etc where they were nurtured and groomed. But the trainees don't have to pay any fees during the enrollment; rather the money is shared when the artist first debuts, after their debuts they have to distribute their earnings with the company. And if anyone decides to quit, he/she will then have to pay back a sum of money to the company. It is quite an effective way but also creates a huge pressure on the artist.
Scouting is a thing
In K-pop, many idols/ artists are sometimes scouted by agency people. Many times it has happened that an agency member has offered to become a trainee in random places like on the road, shopping malls, etc. For example, EXO-K‘s Sehun was approached by a casting member while he was eating ddukbokki at a street food stand. He thought the person was weird and ran away. After half an hour of chasing, he finally agreed.
Comebacks are a big deal
Comebacks are one of the most anticipated things in K-pop. Unlike the universal meaning of comeback, which is coming back from a sabbatical, in K-pop, it is used when a singer/idol group releases a new album/single. The promotions related to the release are known to be part of the “comeback”.
K-pop Fan base is huge
K-pop fans are very serious investments from about their idols/groups. Unlike other fans, they are a significant part of the K-pop industry as they support their idols with everything. There are dedicated sites or as they call ‘ Fansites’ (social media accounts set up to support idols) where they usually raise money when an idol/group announces their comeback date. Not only that, some of the bands even have their official membership as fans where they contribute and enjoy certain privileges, like ARMY for BTS.
Fandom
K-pop fans are so significant that they even have their specific names. Every fanbase of a band/ artist has given a name, this is given by their idols. For example, BTS’s fans are called ARMY (Adorable Representative MC for Youth) and signify the strength of the military. Along with that there is also a specific colour for all fandoms, and the official lightstick for the idol/group will be in that colour like SNSD-SONE has pastel rose, BTS- ARMY has purple. The fans even have their own chants, a phrase that they shout to cheer during their idol’s performances. Usually, the chants are the name of the band members.
