2월 19일 Topic - In the bubble of K-pop, bigger is not always better

[Isabel(이지연)]

In the bubble of K-pop, bigger is not always better

	The trio Rainbow Pixie, from left, Kim Ji-sook, Oh Seung-a and Cho Hyun-young, is one of the newest sub-groups to emerge.

To keep up with the fast moving world of K-pop, it’s no longer enough to follow your favorite boy or girl band. These days, fans have to keep track of an ever-changing array of smaller groups that come together almost as fast as they break apart.

These smaller groups are often formed from an already proven success, with bands like Super Junior and After School giving rise to newer and sometimes better versions of themselves before they are absorbed back into the original band or spun off again into another duo or trio.

Orchestrating this wave of constant combinations are the entertainment agencies who train and finance the bands until they turn out a profit.

By breaking down groups and repackaging them, the companies can spotlight individual members of K-pop super groups, which can consist of as many as 10 members or more. Members of the smaller groups are featured for more than just a few seconds each per song and the companies build a stronger fan base for the original group.

According to pop music critic Kim Jag-ga, pop groups need to constantly evolve in order to make a profit for the huge companies that train and finance the bands.
   
SM Entertainment was the first to try this strategy when it broke the 13-member boy band Super Junior into four smaller groups each with its own style and concept. Two years after the group’s debut in 2005, the company introduced fans to Super Junior T, a six-member group known for trot music hits, Super Junior M, a seven-member group with two Chinese nationals and a hit album released in China and Japan, and Super Junior Happy, a sextet known for its jubilant tunes and the 2008 EP “Cooking?Cooking!” But the most successful group by far has been Super Junior-K.R.Y., a trio of balladeers comprising the three best vocalists in the group. Their album “Fly” from last year has topped charts and the group has toured Japan three times.

The success of these sub-groups has led other major bands to follow their lead, with some of the smaller groups attracting even more attention then the originals.

That was the case with Orange Caramel, a quartet featuring the four youngest members of the girl group After School. The group was formed in 2010 and got their first taste of fame with an EP they released that June. They won fans over with their doll-like appearance and cute performances and they’ve topped online music charts with songs such as “A-ing,” and “Shanghai Romance.”

One of the newest groups to emerge is Rainbow Pixie, which debuted with the song “Hoi Hoi” and consists of three members of the girl group Rainbow.

It’s gimmick is colorful costuming and choreography with lots of waving magic wands.

In other cases, the sub-group directs fans back to the original group.

The duo that is Sistar 19 won fame for its fast songs and short skirts, quickly surpassing the popularity of the four-member group that gave it its name. In its original incarnation, Sistar was known for light and cheerful songs.

Sometimes, the new groups are formed with members from other bands from the same entertainment agency.

Cube Entertainment used this tactic to form Trouble Maker. The popular group was a duo consisting of Hyun-A from 4Minute and Jang Hyun-seung from Beast and its self-titled EP went to No. 1 on various music charts.

But in a reflection of how quickly these groups come together and fade away, Trouble Maker is already part of K-pop history.

Questions

1. What do you think about the Korean wave?

2. What do you think the advantage and disadvantage are of breaking down groups and repacking them?

3. If one group's member that you like and the other group's member that you hate make a team,

    will you remain a fan or not?

4. What do you think about groups with members of defferent nationalities?

   Do you have any favorite groups with members of defferent nationalities? if you do, why do you like?

5. Do you have any good ideas to keep up the Korean wave?  

아..... 시키셔서 한다고 하긴 했는데 정말 어려운 일이군요

후회 막심입니다..!!

사실 전 연예인에는 별 관심이 없지만 뭔가 재밌는게 없을까 뒤적거리다 결정했는데

문제를 만들다 보니 재미가 있지도 않고... 문제 만들기도 어렵고....

내가 만든 문제를 과연 난 답을 제대로 할 수 있을지 걱정도 되네요

제가 중요한 시험을 앞두고 있어서 평일에는 많은시간 내기 어려울것 같아 오늘 바로 준비했습니다.

나름 많은 시간들여 준비했는데 많이 많이 미흡합니다^^;;

질문에서 문법에 어긋난점 있으면 바로 지적해주세요~^^

[Harrison Kai(김진호)]

다하고 보니 벌써 올라와있네요 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 수고하셨어요^^

[ann (장경미)]

시험있나요?? 언제 개강인가요- !! 어제 얘기 좀 하려 했는데 - 저녁 안먹고 가더군요^^ 병원에서 봅시다!!^^* 수고했어요~~!

[scott(박범석)]

수고하였습니다~!! 토픽 좋은데요?^^ㅋ

[Olivia(김연희)]

2. 장단점이 뭐라고 생각하세요? 라는 질문을 하시려는 의도라면, What do you think the advantages and disadvantages are of breaking down...
3. If 다음에 콤마 필요 없고, do you remain -> will you remain
4. different national members -> members of different nationalities, 더 간단하게는 foreign members
5. ideas to make the Korea wave last longer 의 뜻으로 쓰신 것 같은데, ideas to keep up the Korean wave, support the Korean wave 등도 괜찮을 것 같습니다.
처음 뵙는 분인 것 같은데, 지적을 원하신다고 하셔서 적어봤습니다. 토픽 감사하고 일요일에 뵐게요. ^^

[Isabel(이지연)]

알려주신데로 수정했습니다. 정말 감사해요!^^

[grace(이고은)]

토픽 감사해요~~ 올리비아 언니 문법 선생님같음~짱 ㅋㅋ 저도 문법좀 갈켜주세요 ~~

[Christine(연희)]

재미있을 것 같은데요? 수고하셨습니다~~^^

[Christopher(강경헌)]

수고하셧습니다.ㅋ