"KOREAN WAVE" (HALLYU) OF "KOREAN POP" (K-POP)

"KOREAN WAVE" (HALLYU) 

 OF "KOREAN POP" (K-POP)

(All the images are subject to IPR)

A term now widely used to refer to the popularity of Korean entertainment and culture not only across Asia but even other parts of the world is Hallyu or the "Korean Wave".

Korean pop music, specially dance music, began to gain popularity among the Chinese teenagers. The 'Korean Wave' craze has expanded to Korean traditional culture, food, literature and language, creating more and more enthusiasts.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

One area that is growing more rapidly  is 21st century K-Pop or Korean pop music. K-Pop spans dance-pop, pop ballads, techno, rock, hip-hop, R&B  and so on. K-Pop has grown from a musical genre into a subculture among teenagers and young adults. The spread of K-Pop to other parts of the world is through the Korean Wave.

Image (C) Korean Culture Centre, Lajpat Nagar Delhi

The meteoric rise of K-Pop on the global stage is  best represented by Psy's Gangnam Style.  Gangnam Style has swept the world as soon as it was released in 2012.The YouTube video of the song has been watched by more people than any other.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The popularity of K-Pop singers is largely based on their excellent vocal abilities, dazzling stage presence and well-choreographed, impeccable dance performances among other things.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Korean Pop Concert  is being organized in India also for the last four years. This year it is being held on 29th and 30th August. Incidentally 29th August is the birthday of "the King of Pop" Michael Jackson. Under "Feel Korea 2015" there will be K-Pop concert alongwith K-Pop Contest in which many groups of India will take part and these groups coming from different corners of the country will sing Korean Pop only.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

 Mr Kim Kum-pyoung, Director/Counsellor of Korean Cultural Centre India  is very enthusiastic after observing massive response of  last year's K-Pop in India and that is why he is organizing this event on a larger scale this year.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The worldwide popularity of K-Pop culture has also resulted in the re-emergence of Hallyu (Korean Wave) movie stars.

It would not be out of place to mention looking at the growing Indo-Korean cultural interaction & interest that Busan International Film Festival, one of the most significant Film Festivals in Asia will open with an Indian Film this year. This time this festival will begin from 1st October in Busan Korea with the screening of the Musical Drama Film "Zubaan". This will be the second time that the festival will open with an Indian film. For the first time in 2000, the festival began with the screening of Bangla Film "Wrestler" of Buddhadeb Dasgupta.

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Quickly becoming a top Asian film festival after its launch in 1996, the Busan International Film Festival provides the Asian movie community to present, watch, discuss and trade new films, documentaries, commercials, and independent films, both digital and analogue.