Mental Health in the K-Pop Industry

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The importance of mental health is very gradually being embraced by the West, and while we still have a long way to go, one hopes that it will continue to grow in importance within our minds and societies. No longer should it be considered weak to suffer with ill mental health, just as it is not weak to suffer with ill physical health.

[UPCOMING EVENTS] 01/10/18 - 07/10/18

Read on UnitedKpop.
Here's a look at a few of the Korean culture and K-Pop events going on this week!

[OP-ED] Military Service - Should people like BTS be exempt?

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You probably heard that, a little while ago, South Korean congressman Ha Tae Kyung proposed that people should be exempt from military service if they have outstanding achievements. He suggested that groups like BTS should be exempt because they have gained many great accolades - such as a number 1 on the Billboard 200 with their album Love Yourself: Tear.

[TRAVEL] Abu Dhabi, Dubai and South Korea (15-25/06/2018)

Here is a travel diary of sorts – documenting my experiences in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and South Korea!

Obviously, I couldn't include everything we did - this is more of a highlight reel.

If you have a read, I hope you enjoy it!

[UPCOMING EVENTS] 21st May - 27th May 2018

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Here are some of the Korean events due to take place over this week:

[OP-ED] Could K-Pop be the key to peace in Korea?

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You have probably heard about the special K-Pop concert that was held in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang at the start of this month. The line-up included artists such as Red Velvet, Seohyun of Girls’ Generation and Baek Ji Young. The concert was even attended by the supreme leader himself – Kim Jong Un – and his wife Ri Sol Ju. Jong Un was said to have been “deeply moved” by the event.

But what does this all mean for the North and South Korean relationship? Will it make a difference at all? Perhaps this is the dawn of a newly unified Korea?

[TOP 10] South Korean celebrities and their pets!

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Pets are our lovely companions that can offer us beautiful, unconditional love and affection, someone to care for and love. Many consider a pet to be a fully-fledged member of their family, and South Korean celebrities are no different! 

Here, in no particular order (how could we even consider ranking this?!), are a selection of Korean celebs and their pets.

[EDITORIAL] The dangers of a skin-whitening culture

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Growing up in England, in the UK, I notice that there is a fairly commonplace desire for tanned skin here. Sunbeds and fake-tanning are big business in Britain, with many people wanting that sun-kissed, just-got-back-from-the-beach look.

[REVIEW] Tony Moly 'Egg Pore Nose Pack'

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This week, we are looking at Tony Moly's 'Egg Pore Nose Pack' which is designed to get rid of those pesky blackheads and impurities the can build up in the pores of your nose.

[MAKE UP REVIEW] ETUDE HOUSE 'Missing U' Hand Cream

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First of all, I know what you might be thinking: “Hand cream isn’t classed as make-up!” You are correct, but of course, it can arguably still be included in the very largest of umbrellas that is cosmetics and beauty. So, we can get away with it, right?!

A beginner's guide to South Korean Variety Shows!

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Experiencing foreign television programmes for the first time can be a very overwhelming and confusing experience. Each country has its own ways of editing, its own humour and its own ideas of what is and what isn’t entertaining. Place on top of this the need to read subtitles (if you are not fluent in the programme’s language) and you have quite a tough task on your hands.

Speaking personally and from an English background, I can certainly say that my first forays into this world were not completely smooth. So today, we have decided to gather some identifiable tropes of South Korean variety programmes specifically and provide something in the way of an  explanation. Hopefully this article will serve as a preparation guide of sorts for newcomers, but also serve to amuse even the most seasoned SK variety fan!

[RESOURCE REVIEW] blippo.com

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Blippo.com is a website that sells all manner of ‘kawaii’ products. As you can imagine, most of these items have Japanese origin, though many also derive from South Korea and other East Asian countries. The selection includes sweets, pencil cases, plushies, fashion and accessories, magazines, DIY decoration kits and more. All items have free worldwide shipping and you are able to pay for them through secure payment providers like PayPal, Visa and WorldPay.

Behind the Controversy: Why the Rising Sun Symbol can be offensive.

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Risqué K-Pop duo Troublemaker recently came under a little fire for the ‘couple hoodies’ they were photographed wearing. The image on the front included what looks like the rising sun symbol, and many commentators cited how offensive this symbol is in Korean culture. Apparently, it was all a misunderstanding and the symbol in question is actually a flower. Nevertheless the tension surrounding the rising sun symbol is almost palpable, so we thought it would be good to post a short piece that gives a little background explanation to any K-Pop fans that might be curious.

[PRODUCT REVIEW] Elstinko Long Sleeve T-Shirt 309

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‘elstinko‘ is a South Korean fashion brand that is characterised by its very bright colours and ‘beast/monster-like’ themes. The brand has many interesting products comprising of a variety of hats, backpacks and clothing.

This particular product is actually a jumper, despite its deceptive title (though elstinko also has some t-shirts in its range). The jumper features some funny features in the multiple orange ‘horns’ protruding from both shoulders and a zip mouth which, when the interior lining is pulled inside out, looks like a big tongue!

[EDITORIAL] 'The Greatest Shows on Earth': A Fair Representation?

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Channel 4 recently broadcast a series entitled ‘The Greatest Shows on Earth’. The programme was headed by British TV presenter Daisy Donovan, who is a self-confessed television addict that set out to test a theory that a nation’s television can serve as a window into its soul.
Each hour-long programme focused on one area of the globe: Brazil, India, Egypt and Abu Dhabi and lastly, South Korea. Donovan sets out to see how exactly each area’s wider culture links to their most popular programmes, often getting actively involved in productions.

It is typical of Channel 4 documentaries to tackle subjects that have not yet been covered, often because these topics are very niche or even controversial. Personally, I feel this makes for a more intriguing watch, it taps into a part of viewers curious about the taboo or simply quite strange and unusual. However, I am sure that I was not the only British K-Pop fan that was particularly excited to watch the episode that covered contemporary South Korean entertainment.

[EDITORIAL] SBS Running Man's 'Dong Fury': A racial issue or just comedy?

Episode 150 of SBS’ incredibly popular ‘urban’ variety show ‘Running Man’ was a Marvel Avengers special. Each of the members and guests assumed their own superhero characters, many of which were based on the original Avengers team. This episode was very much anticipated, probably in part due to the huge success of the recent Hollywood film Avengers Assemble (2012) and perhaps also because adventurous themes such as this give the programme producers the chance to go all out with the costumes and special effects.

[KOREAN DRAMA REVIEW] 'Flower Boy Next Door' (2013)

 

 

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‘Flower Boy Next Door’ is a 2013 drama based on Yoon Hyuk Suk’s webcomic ‘I Peek at Him Everyday’. It is the third instalment of the tvN ‘Flower Boy Series’ after ‘Flower Boy Ramen Shop’ (2011) and ‘Shut Up Flower Boy Band’ (2012).

All of these dramas do not have a connected narrative, but as you may have guessed, all share a Flower Boy theme in one way or another.

[FILM REVIEW] Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005)

‘Sympathy for Lady Vengeance’ is a 2005 film directed by Park Chan Wook. It is the third instalment in the director’s “Vengeance Trilogy”, following ‘Sympathy for Mr Vengeance’ and ‘Old Boy’. As you may have guessed, all three share the theme of gaining revenge on others, but they are not otherwise linked.

Japan and South Korea: The Strained Relationship.

[Read on UnitedKpop or UnitedJpop].

It was recently reported by AllKpop that a Japanese magazine targeted at an adult demographic published a cartoon portraying PSY very ‘negatively’.

The cartoon features a character that possesses a striking likeness to the South Korean rapper beating someone whilst shouting out: “Gangnam Style!” He then proceeds to tie up two young girls and force-feed them Kimchi – a well-known traditional Korean dish.

The South Korean Entertainment Industry and the LGBT Identity

[Also read this on UnitedKpop - here].

My mother has become quite the K-Pop fan, probably partly due to my almost daily chattering about the genre to anyone in my family who is kind enough to open their ears to the noise.