A reporter of the AP seems to resent the Asian singer PSY’s success
Han Koo-hyun, President of Korean Wave Research institute
Han Koo-hyun, President of Korean Wave Research institute
PSY is likely to win the grand slam by succeeding on iTunes, YouTube, and the Hot 100 of Billboard which are the 3 charts that exert the biggest influence in the world music market.
PSY left a strong impression on Americans with the quote ‘Dress Classy, Dance Cheesy’.
This writer found an article and could not believe the news sent from Seoul by the Associated Press (AP) while searching English articles related to the Korean Wave on Google on the 20th of this month.
The title of the English article is ‘Gangnam Style’ has sharp social riff, 220M views’, and it is an unfair article which seems to deride PSY grossly as well as disparaging the global success of PSY’s Gangnam Style and criticizing Gangnam.
The article sent to Seoul by the AP with headquarters in the U.S. also documents an error when it states ‘About 1 percent of Seoul's population lives there’ (Actually, it is 5%), but this factual error can be regarded as one joke rather than the rest. The article shows that the name PSY is derived from ‘psycho’ and he is a quirky and goofy outsider. It made this writer nervous, but to an understandable level. But, the unnecessary part which described marijuana or crime histories made me frown and wonder about the intentions of the reporter who wrote this article.
At first, this article added the analysis of his less-than-polished image as one of PSY’s success secrets quoted by a Korean columnist in Chicago. Thus, the article mentioned ridiculous assertions such as singers like Super Junior and Boyfriend with handsome, stylish, and makeup-wearing young men “make some Americans nervous”.
Then, the article displays absurd racist content by the columnist reporting that “People in America are comfortable with Asian guys who look like Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who are good-looking, but they're not the equivalent of Brad Pitt or Keanu Reeves.”
What does that thoughtless remark mean? Why do Americans feel uncomfortable about smart Asian actors? On the contrast, should Asians only like American actors like Brad Pitt or Keanu Reeves? I don’t believe that the article was written by a reporter from the world’s biggest press agency. The article feels like it was a series of rough words thrown together at a drinking party and sent from Seoul to the whole world.
It is nonsense to suggest that Americans don’t like smart Asian actors. If this is reported from a perspective similar to racists, it is appropriate that he or she has to prove the basis of these unbelievable assertions directly or, at least, express the own thoughts of American critics.
If the reporter tries to relive the color of racists behind the walls of race through Korean critics and thinks that a passing attack and criticism of readers is acceptable, he or she is mistaken.
I cannot endure the unacceptable assertions of the report about PSY and Gangnam Style’s success secrets, and want to suggest proper and exact answers for them.
The sources of PSY and Gangnam Style’s success are an outstanding competitiveness, modesty, and the Korean Wave & power of a Korean agency.
Genius and Cheesy
Park Jae-sang (his real name) is born to a high class family in Gangnam and has lived according to his intention while enjoying the pursuit of all-around entertainment. That it is, he has lived for over 30 years to be loved by women for his all life. Generally, if one pours one’s efforts into one thing for 10 years, he or she becomes an expert. So, he can be regarded as one who has invested his efforts into entertainment over 30 years. Also, he had studied only for 1 month to enter into the prestigious Boston University in U.S, and proceeded to live idly in the U.S. for 4 years according to his appearance. But he has a smart brain and can speak English better than the fair-to-middling Koreans staying over 10 years in U.S. including the period of middle & high schools and university. Also, PSY is a word magician that has long been displayed by the ‘Quotations from PSY’.
Intense modesty
Only 48 hours are the period of Gangnam Style’s music video, and it was controlled from the beginning to the end by PSY. As a result, he made significant scenes which lead to a universal bond of sympathy from people all around the world. The nicer elements are removed thoroughly and he broke it up himself which cannot be seen by other famous Korean singers. Also, he has 2 military serial numbers. In short, it means that his life hasn’t been easy. But, he often uses this as material for humor. It seems he has been an entertainer from birth. When he appears to teach the horse-riding dance to the world famous pop singer Britney Spears in U.S broadcasting, I think that he appeared on air because he had already reached a world star’s level. But, he tried to make a cheesy pose, and many people as well as I shuddered, right?
Strong background of Korean Wave
K-pop has knocked down the doors of the world and Korean Wave can be compared to U.S. popular culture mentioned as Hollywood. The current situation makes it difficult to enter into the U.S market as the popularity for K-pop comes after U.S.-pop. But, if we look at the second level for K-pop then PSY has spread through U.S market with one shot and one kill. This is no accident in the world. PSY is going the same way of the success of Korean Wave decorated with roses made by agencies and the juniors of PSY for a long time.
‘Gangnam Style’ made by 99% in Korean which have built the best and most popular record everyday in the U.S. has been called to the same grave of foreign movies with English subtitles and pop songs in foreign languages. If the reporter of AP thinks that it’s completely coincidental in the U.S, then what accounts for ‘PSY fandom’ from the 220 countries all around the world other than Korea? Now, we have to cut out the thinking that the U.S music market is the best or that English popular culture is the only thing that becomes popular.
- Han Koo-hyun, President of Korean Wave Research institute
Website: http://www.haanryu.com
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This news is a press release provided by KWRI-Korean Wave Research Institute.
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2013년 8월 1일 17:14
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2013년 5월 30일 11:13