Tag Archives: Hallyu wave

[TRANS] 130817 [Reporter’s Notebook] The Task TVXQ’s Nissan Stadium Concert Has Given K-pop’s Hallyu Wave

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hominnissanstadiumtaskTVXQ (U-Know Yunho, Max Changmin) have reached the pinnacle of the Hallyu Wave’s popularity. They will be holding a concert at Japan’s Nissan Stadium (seats 72,000) for two days.

On the 17th and 18th of August, TVXQ will be holding the finale of their ‘TVXQ LIVE TOUR 2013 ~TIME~’ Five Dome tour at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Japan.

A Five Dome tour is a tour that is held in Japan’s five major dome stadiums (Tokyo Dome, Osaka Dome, Nagoya Dome, Fukuoka Dome, Sapporo Dome). Each performance attracts at least 30,000 people and Tokyo Dome can hold the largest capacity of 50,000 people per performance. If two concerts are held in each dome, a Five Dome tour can attract a total of 300,000 people.

Only a handful of singers have held such a tour. Singers who have held such Five Dome tours leave their mark in the music industry as ‘legendary singers’.

What is more impressive than a dome concert is a concert at the Nissan Stadium. With approximately 70,000 audience members per performance, many call it ‘the concert of dreams’.

The Nissan Stadium (formerly known as the Yokohama International Stadium) was built in 1998 and boasts the largest seating capacity of 72,327. It is the place where the finals of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup was held. There have only been nine singers who have held concerts in the stadium, and they are the Southern All Stars (2004, 2008), Mister Children (2007), B’z (2008), Glay (2009), X-JAPAN (2010), L’Arc En Ciel (2012), Eikichi Yazawa (2012), AKB48 (2013) and Momoiro Clover Z (2013).

Singers who have held concerts at the venue are called ‘the legend of all legends’, ‘the nation’s singer’ or ‘the rookies who have taken the nation by storm’. What must it feel like to hold a concert for 72,000 at once? Singers who have stood on the stage of Nissan Stadium say, ‘It feels like you’re God, looking down at the people of the world.’

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TVXQ are now set to be the first non-Japanese singers to hold a concert at the Nissan Stadium.

It could be said that this will be the pinnacle of K-pop’s Hallyu Wave. A Five Dome tour followed by a concert at the Nissan Stadium. Such a task is not an easy feat that any popular singer can accomplish. When looking at accomplishments in Japanese concerts, TVXQ have climbed as high as they possibly can.

However, TVXQ’s Nissan Stadium concert does not guarantee the longevity of the Hallyu Wave’s popularity in Japan.

TVXQ are basically considered the founders of Japan’s Hallyu boom of K-pop boy bands. It’s already been more than eight years since they made their Japanese debut. Therefore, their Nissan Stadium concert should be seen as the rewards that come from eight years of hard work and experience that TVXQ have put into their Japanese activities.

For K-pop’s Hallyu Wave to continue in Japan, TVXQ’s juniors have a big task ahead of them. The domestic music market should focus more on helping talented rookies with new contents grow and develop rather than being swept up in the euphoria that TVXQ’s Nissan Stadium concert signifies the power of K-pop’s Hallyu Wave.

Source: [xportsnews]

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[TRANS] 130807 JYJ’s Agency States, “We’ve Submitted A Formal Objection Regarding The Hallyu Concert Controversy”

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Regarding the ’2014 Incheon Asian Games Commemorative Hallyu Concert’ controversy, JYJ’s agency C-JeS Entertainment stated, “We’re waiting for the final statement of the committee.”

Since February, JYJ have been acting as the honorary ambassadors of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games’. However, when it was discovered that their names were not included in the guest list of the September 1st ‘commemorative concert’, a controversy arose on whether JYJ are being blocked from appearing on a broadcasted program yet again.

C-JeS stated, “Rather than coming to a hasty decision, we will wait for the final statement of the committee.” The representative stated, “We have submitted a formal objection regarding this issue. A misunderstanding arose when the Incheon Development and Tourism Corporation, who are in charge of inviting singers to perform at the concert, notified the committee that, ‘JYJ declined their invitation’. We set the record straight that we have never received an actual invitation to perform at the concert. We have been told that the committee will verify the truth of the situation by tomorrow.”

They continued to add, “The committee is of the official stance that JYJ’s domestic and overseas promotions for next year’s sporting event will begin in September. We will await the committee’s final decision.”

The current guest list of the Hallyu concert features a total of 20 teams including Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, KARA, SISTAR and miss A.

Source: [ilgan sports]

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[TRANS] 130405 In Response To SBS’ ‘JYJ Concert Report’, Netizens Say, “Don’t Generalize Them As A Part Of Hallyu”

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[TRANS] 130405 In Response To SBS’ ‘JYJ Concert Report’, Netizens Say, “Don’t Generalize Them As A Part Of Hallyu”

On the 4th, SBS reported that JYJ sold out all 150,000 seats of their Tokyo Dome performances. In response to this, netizens criticized, “Those aren’t Hallyu fans, those are JYJ fans,” and “Stop generalizing JYJ’s achievements as those of the Hallyu Wave.”

JYJ held their ‘The Return of the JYJ in Tokyo’ concert from the 2nd till the 4th at Tokyo Dome. Reporting their concert, SBS stated, “With the relationship between Korea and Japan freezing up and the Hallyu Wave’s popularity dwindling in Japan, it seems as though things are getting better.” Visiting a Korea Town in Japan, the SBS reporter stated, “With a continuous string of large-scale concerts by Hallyu stars in Japan, many are curious to see if the dying popularity of the Hallyu Wave will be revived this year.”

Netizens threw sharp criticisms at SBS’ report of the concert.

One netizen (soce****) stated, “There exist Hallyu singers who can’t appear on Korean TV? And they have the nerve to slide in news about SM Town, which is part of the entertainment agency that’s stopping JYJ from performing in Korea, into news about JYJ’s concert? How underhanded. Those people aren’t Hallyu fans, they’re people who have waited for JYJ for three years. Korean broadcasting companies do all they can to stop JYJ from appearing on Korean television but once they do something amazing, they make it sound like their achievements were because of Hallyu. How disgusting.”

Other comments included, “I know for a fact that large-scale entertainment agencies have held concerts across the world using our tax money and exaggerated their successes to fill their pockets with even more money. It’s great that Hallyu is improving Korea’s image in the world, but it sickens me to see such acts by broadcasting companies who seal dirty deals with an entertainment agency that’s tying JYJ down and blocking their names from getting out… This isn’t the first time that JYJ’s achievements have been over generalized to that of K-pop as a whole.” (Daechae****)

More criticisms followed stating, “Though I can understand the broadcasting company’s desire to revive the dying popularity of the Hallyu Wave, shouldn’t it also focus on relaying news accurately? They should be focusing on how JYJ have survived and are still so popular when they haven’t been able to sing a single note on TV in many years whereas the Hallyu Wave, which was backed heavily by the government, is slowly fading away.” (soce****)

Since they beginning of their conflicts with former agency SM Entertainment, and their unilateral contract suspension by AVEX in 2010, JYJ have not been able to appear on TV or release albums through regular procedures. In November of 2012, JYJ ended their legal battle with SM Entertainment with a settlement, and won their lawsuit against AVEX in January of this year.

During a press conference on the 4th, JYJ stated, “The meaning of the first time we stood on this stage (Tokyo Dome) was ‘a new beginning’. We could have never guessed that it would be our last Japanese performance,” and “We were frustrated about not being able to perform or appear on TV, both our Korean and Japanese activities were completely blocked off.”

However, they added, “But, it was a time for us to grow and mature as people and artistes. We’re grateful for every little thing that has happened,” and “Now, even just having our voices on the radio makes us happy. We would like for this concert to be a new beginning, rather than an end.”

They continued to state, “Just because our legal issues have been resolved, doesn’t mean that the obstacles around us will go away,” and “We know that the external pressure around us might intensify. Nothing is going as we had planned. But we will do our best, however small the tasks that we’re given are.”

Meanwhile, domestic fans cheered JYJ on as they successfully completed all three of their Tokyo Dome concerts. Netizens left comments such as, “The three of you really are the representatives of Hallyu! You’re amazing! I can’t wait to see what you do next! Keep going!” (spdd****), “Please perform in Korea~~” (bear****) and “I was sad to see the Hallyu Wave faltering because of the Dokdo issue, but the explosive response JYJ received in Japan shows how strong Hallyu still is. I’m proud to be Korean. Great job, JYJ~” (ldwc****)

Source: [gobalnews]

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[NEWS] 121116 Fans React Differently Toward JYJ Receiving A Commendation

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[NEWS] 121116 Fans React Differently Toward JYJ Receiving A Commendation

People give heated reaction toward JYJ receiving a minister citation.

On November 15, JYJ received a commendation from the Ministry of Knowledge Economy at the opening ceremony for the Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo 2012. Their comprehensive activities in cultural industry were highly recognized.

JYJ said, “We were very glad to see many people loving our music and Korea through our concerts and expos. We humbly and gladly take the award and will try to pay you back with better performances.”

The group’s agency said, “The award can be viewed as the result of successfully advertising Hallyu culture through the world tour that visited 15 different cities around the world involving 210,000 fans and helping Japanese fans find a means to visit Korea by giving domestic performances and holding fan meetings and expos though we were given limited activities in Japan.”

Netizens gave various reactions at the news: “JYJ is awesome.” “The award practically proves JYJ’s popularity around the world.” However, some gave critical feedback: “There are other singer who contributed far more than JYJ. It’s kind of weird.” “Award other Hallyu stars with the commendation.”

Source: TV Report
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[Pic] JYJ Was Mentioned in Asia Pacific Defense FORUM (a professional military magazine)

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[Pic] JYJ was mentioned in Asia Pacific Defense FORUM (a professional military magazine)

Asia Pacific Defense FORUM is a professional military magazine published quarterly by the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command to provide an international forum for military personnel of the Asian and Pacific areas.

English

 Thai
นิตยสารเอเชีย แปซิฟิก ดีเฟนส์ ฟอรัม เป็นนิตยสารทางการทหารที่จัดทำขึ้นทุกๆสามเดือน โดยกองบัญชาการทหารสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำภาคพื้นแปซิฟิก เพื่ออเป็นพื้นที่แสดงความคิดเห็นในระดับนานาชาตสำหรับเจ้าหน้าที่ทางทหารของ ภูมิภาคเอเชียและแปซิฟิก

 

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[INFO] University of Michigan Symposium on Hallyu 2.0: “OF THE FANS, BY THE FANS, FOR THE FANS – THE REPUBLIC OF JYJ”

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[INFO] University of Michigan Symposium on Hallyu 2.0: “OF THE FANS, BY THE FANS, FOR THE FANS – THE REPUBLIC OF JYJ”

The University of Michigan will be holding a Symposium on the Hallyu Wave on April 6. One of the seminars offered during the 2nd panel is entitled: “Of the fans, by the fans, for the fans: The Republic of JYJ.”

YJ3 Note: Prof. Seung-ah Lee has presented the same topic at UC Irvine.  Event description is below:

The nationalist celebrations behind K-pop hide uncomfortable and troubled reality of the Korean entertainment industry. Far from being a paradise for aspiring young artists, SM Entertainment is a powerful industrial machinery that maintains complete control over the products it manufactures—the dancing and singing teenage boys and girls who are carefully marketed as “idol groups.” Prof. Lee’s lecture examines the JYJ fandom as an emerging social movement and analyzes both the mechanisms and logics internal to this movement.

Source: University of Michigan + University of California – Irvine
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[GENERAL] 120315 Musical Powers ‘Hallyu’ In New Direction

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[GENERAL] 120315 Musical Powers ‘Hallyu’ In New Direction

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Ichikawa Rie came from Japan to see the musical “Elisabeth.” She is a fan of JYJ’s Jun-su, who is starring in the show. “I was thrilled to see him performing the role of Tod, or Death, live,” Ichikawa said.

Rows of wreaths stand at the lobby of Blue Square Music Hall, a new theater in Hannam-dong, Seoul, where the musical is being staged. They are from fans of the actors and the language on the ribbons varies from Korean and Japanese to Chinese and Taiwanese, showing the diversity of support. The recipients are not only K-pop star Jun-su and television actor Song Chang-eui, but musical actors Ryu Jung-han and Park Eun-tae.

Ichikawa first visited Korea to see Jun-su in “Mozart” in 2010 and soon fell in love with Korean musicals. “There are many musicals in Japan too but I feel something special about Korean actors. They sing really well and convey their emotions in the songs,” she said. “I have seen other Korean musicals and hope to see more of them.”

The Korean musical industry is busy attracting foreigners to local theaters, while making forays into overseas markets at the same time.

-From K-pop to K-musical

The Korean musical industry has been steadily building up for years, growing bigger as big shows cast K-pop singers.

According to Interpark, the nation’s largest online ticket seller, the size of the market was around 250 billion won in 2011. It has grown for the past decade.

Interpark Ticket Global, an English reservation service, opened in August 2009 and tickets sold jumped over 167 percent in 2011, compared to the previous year.

“We can estimate the number of foreigners buying tickets by combining those sold at the global site and those who have an alien registration number,” Kim Sun-kyung of Interpark said. “Currently, the most popular shows among foreigners are ‘Elisabeth’ and ‘Catch Me If You Can,’ both starring K-pop singers such as Jun-su and Key of SHINee.”

“Hallyu,” or the Korean wave, for musicals began around 2009 when Ahn Jae-wook was cast in “Jack the Ripper.” His appearance drew fans from overseas, signaling the possibility of a Korean wave in plays and musicals. M Musical Company, the producer of “Jack the Ripper,” said more than 10 percent of the audiences were foreigners, mostly Chinese or Japanese.

Musicals based on hit movies and television dramas have been staged overseas, bringing existing fans of Korean pop culture to theaters. “Two hundred-Pound Beauty,” another movie-turned-musical starring KARA’s Park Gyu-ri, sold tickets worth some 400 million yen during its run in Kyoto last October, thanks to the popularity of the girl band in Japan.

Some productions target hallyu fans from the beginning. PMC Production, famed for the success of the non-verbal performance “Nanta,” staged the musical “Romance of Their Own,” based on the 2004 movie of same name, in 2011.

It is a jukebox musical featuring various K-pop hits from 2PM’s “Heartbeat” to KARA’s “Mister.”

“About 35 percent of the audience were foreigners from Japan, China, Thailand, Taiwan and even from the United States and France,” Shin Ji-youn of PMC said. “They first come to see their favorite singers such as Ryeowook of Super Junior, but later they watch the show again with a different cast. We plan to take the show overseas but the details have yet to be decided.”

Musical critic Cho Yong-shin said considering overseas markets from the planning stage has become a trend for shows in Korea.

“Previously, theatrical works were produced only for the home market, but the domestic market is saturated. Instead of accepting such limitations, producers are now making inroads into international markets,” Cho said.

He said there are so many musicals created in Korea and some of them are suitable for overseas. According to Interpark, 2,140 musicals were staged in Korea last year alone, a 14 percent jump from 1,880 in 2010.

“K-pop is now on the forefront of hallyu and more producers are eager to cast K-pop stars in their shows. Jukebox musicals featuring K-pop are also being experimented with. These can be seen as an aspect of the diversity,” the critic said.

-Aiming at Asian market

Neighboring countries, China and Japan, are prime targets for Korean musicals heading abroad.

CJ E&M, a giant investor and producer in the musical industry, made a successful entrance into China by establishing joint venture United Asia Live Entertainment with China Arts and Entertainment Group and Shanghai Media Group.

It co-produced a Chinese version of “Mamma Mia!” in six cities from Shanghai to Beijing and Guangzhou last year. The six-month tour drew 250,000 people and recorded 20 billion won in sales. CJ E&M mediated between the original creators from the United Kingdom and the local Chinese production based on its rich experience in staging licensed musicals.

“Mamma Mia!” will tour 10 more cities in Greater China including Hong Kong and Macau and “Cats” is in preparation for its Chinese opening in September. Since China is an enormous, emerging market, CJ E&M ultimately seeks to introduce homegrown musicals.

“I think Korea has the most developed system in the musical industry among Asian countries and we should take pride in it,” said Kim Byeong-seok, senior vice president of CJ E&M Performing Arts Business Unit. “The successful joint production of Mamma Mia! in China could be a good example of an exchange in the cultural industry celebrating the 20th anniversary of Korea-China diplomatic relations.”

CJ E&M takes a different approach to Japan. The firm took part in staging “200-Pound Beauty” there with original Korean production company Shownote and the Shochiku Company in Japan.

“It created a synergy of good content with K-pop singers such as Gyu-ri of KARA. We see more possibilities for musicals with the existing popularity of hallyu, especially K-pop there,” Kim said.

CJ also said two more musicals are sounding out possibilities in Japan this year — “Street Life,” a DJ DOC jukebox musical, and “Lovers of Paris,” based on the 2004 drama.

“We could create a ’one Asia market’ covering China, Japan and Korea, and Korea will lead the musical industry,” Kim said.

Small productions are also making their way abroad. “Laundry,“ a homegrown musical that enjoyed success in the Korean theater district Daehangno drawing some 280,000 people since its premiere in 2005, was performed in Japan in February. Japanese production company Pure Marry bought the license for the show and Japanese actors performed the roles. Chu Min-joo, playwright and director of the musical, went to Japan to head the show.

Lee Ji-ho, producer of “Laundry,” said a Japanese promoter saw the musical in Korea and contacted him about the license. “I think we concluded a favorable contract,” he said. “February performances were more like presentations introducing the show to Japan and we signed for additional nights in Tokyo in May. We see the show touring more Japanese cities later.”

“Laundry” portrays the everyday life of ordinary Seoulites. “I worried that Laundry might only draw sympathy from Korean audiences, but it resonated with those from different cultures as well. This is a meaningful step for a Korean musical,” Lee said.

Source: The Korea Times
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[TRANS] 120207 Kim Jaejoong Invited To The Turkish Presidential Residence, VIP-Level World Star?

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[TRANS] 120207 Kim Jaejoong Invited To The Turkish Presidential Residence, VIP-Level World Star?

JYJ’s Kim Jaejoong has become a topic of discussion for being invited to a reception at the Turkish presidential residence. Kim Jaejoong ‘s invitation to the presidential residence of Turkey shows how he was being given the treatment equivalent to that of a state guest.

Kim Jaejoong attended the reception at the Turkish presidential residence together with President Lee Myung Bak, who was on an official visit to Turkey. According to reports from the JoongAng Daily, while President Lee was planning the visits to 4 countries in the Middle East, he had already intended to speak with the younger generation about Hallyu, and the opinion of the Turkish government was that, “It would be great if (the talks) could be done together with the most popular Korean singer(s).” As such, it was decided for Kim Jaejoong to be invited to the presidential residence of Turkey.

With regards to the matter of Kim Jaejoong being invited to the presidential residence of Turkey, the Korea Culture Centre expressed, “We hope to contribute to the cultural exchange between the two countries, Korea and Turkey, by inviting Kim Jaejoong of group JYJ, who are the Korean singers with the most number of fans in Turkey, to promote Hallyu through a fanmeeting.”

With regards to the background of Kim Jaejoong being invited to the presidential residence of Turkey, a representative of his management company stated, “The three members of JYJ, Kim Jaejoong, Kim Junsu and Park Yoochun all have high popularity overseas. In particular, Kim Jaejoong is very popular here (in Turkey).”

Kim Jaejoong entered the Turkish presidential residence following his independent fanmeeting on the 5th, which was held at Ankara University in Turkey. Although there were only 600 seats for the fanmeeting this time, more than 2,000 people applied. Kim Jaejoong’s independent fanmeeting this time marks the first for a Korean singer in Turkey. The auditorium was packed with over 600 fans, who also sang Kim Jaejoong a birthday song in Korean.

President Lee visited Turkey as the first among a four country tour, and arrived on 4 February. Kim Jaejoong attended a seminar with President Lee and the students of Ankara University on the afternoon of 6 Feb. He then attended the state dinner with President Lee at the Turkish presidential residence on the same day.

Source : [BaiduTVXQ + vop.co.kr]

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120109 [News} The Cute Quotient

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[News] The Cute Quotient

By Primastuti Handayani
The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network
Saturday, Jan 07, 2012

South Korea’s best-known export today is not pickled cabbage.

Instead, it comes in a sleek, pretty package and suits the tastes of people across Asia – especially young women – and increasingly the world.

Move over, kimchi. Come on down, K-pop male idols.

In the past few years, Indonesian teenage girls, like their peers across Asia and increasingly in Europe, have become devoted fans of Hallyu (Korean wave) entertainers such as Choi Si-won of Super Junior, Kim Jaejoong of JYJ (formerly a member of DBSK/TVXQ), SS501′s Kim Hyun-joong and many more.

Back in 2009, the era of Bae Yong-joon with his famous Winter Sonata TV series gave way to protégé Hyun-joong in the role of Yoon Ji-hoo in Boys Before Flowers.

Jaejoong’s Protect the Boss and Si-won’s Poseidon, produced in 2011, have captured the hearts of fans who watch the series however they can – cable TV, video streaming, pirated DVDs or on YouTube.

Asian countries, especially Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan, have turned out plenty of attractive young entertainers in the past, but these Korean men – stylish, well groomed and well built – fulfill a fantasy for young women of the very handsome boy next door.

According to psychologist Dewi Dewo, moviegoers want to see men who are good-looking but not intimidating.

“Why do sweet-looking boys sell? Because the trend today is for them. Even young stars from the West are cute guys,” she says.

Tati Winarsih, the author of Seoulvivor, a book on K-pop hot spots in Seoul released late November, believes that it’s only natural for everybody to want to see “beautiful creatures”.

“These girls really love those pretty boys because despite their beautiful look, they are still able to show their macho side, their manly character. They aren’t effeminate despite their beauty,” she says, adding that reality shows have helped the stars to reveal their true selves to their fans.

The dramas also sell Korea.

[omitted]

The comprehensive training system, according to SM Entertainment CEO Kim Young-min, is the secret behind the success of K-pop.

SM is currently the biggest entertainment agency in South Korea, with its stable of stars including DBSK, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee and f(x).

“If a group concept is chosen, then the members start training their foreign languages, dancing and singing,” he was quoted as saying by Soompi.com. “I think the most important aspect of training is training a celebrity’s personality.”

“Creating” a superstar is not a cheap enterprise.

SM founder, Lee So-man, revealed how his agency spent 4 billion won (S$5.1 million) grooming the original five members of DBSK, according to Chosun.

The amount doubled as the group – named the best second-generation K-pop band from their 2004 debut until they splintered into DBSK and JYJ in 2009 following a legal dispute – started producing their album and doing promotions.

The enormous investment pays off: The artists, once successful and popular, are veritable money machines.

According to one estimate, the Hallyu may have generated as much as US$4 billion in sales in 2011, a 14 per cent increase from the previous year. The number is likely to grow given the high demand for more concerts and fan meetings overseas.

[omitted]

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[Trans] 120102 [Special Power Interview 1] TVXQ, “In Order To Guide A Positive Hallyu Wave

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[Trans] 120102 [Special Power Interview 1] TVXQ, “In Order To Guide A Positive Hallyu Wave

Hot! When I look at these two guys, I get the feeling that I’m capable of doing anything. The men who shone brighter because they were together, who stand in the spotlight of the world, they are TVXQ. U-Know Yunho and Choikang Changmin, who have already reached the eighth anniversary since their debut, are ready to command the world yet again this year.

We met with these two hot/passionate (T/N: The term 뜨겁다 is nowadays used to describe someone who is passionate about their work rather than literally ‘hot’) guys to celebrate the new year. I feel as though this year is going to be a good one.

Last year was quite meaningful for TVXQ in a number of ways. It was the year that they stood on stage as TVXQ once more after a long period of heartache. It’s clear that 2011 was an unforgettable year for both them and their fans.

Yunho: Our comeback performance of ‘Why?’ is the most memorable moment for me. I was even more nervous than usual because it was a stage that allowed us to approach you all for the first time in a while, and I was deeply moved by all our fans who supported us. It made me think about a lot of things. I pledged to work hard, improve as an artiste, and never forget the emotions I felt at that moment.

Changmin: What was most memorable for me was when we stood on stage as TVXQ once more this January. I really wanted to get back on stage and I wanted to give a great performance to the fans who had unchangingly waited for us. I’m happy to have gotten a comeback stage and a chance to meet with our fans again.

TVXQ celebrated their eighth anniversary last year. I’m sure when they look back on their memories, there will be moments that make them want to compliment themselves on surviving so well and  there will be areas in their lives that have changed drastically.

Yunho: It’s a little ambiguous to be saying this about myself, but I think I’ve matured a little more. (laughter) And when I heard that it was our eighth anniversary, I found myself thinking ‘Has it already been eight years?’ We’ve been so busy since our debut that I hadn’t noticed that eight years had passed. I feel as those all those years have made TVXQ the group it is now, and it reminded me of all our past memories.

Changmin: Something that has changed is our appearances…. (laughter) When I see that my looks have matured(?) has I get older year by year, I can feel the passing of time. And I think that my attitude towards work is changing as time continues to pass. Should I say that I approach my work with a more professional attitude? Also, as time passes, my greed for the work I do continues to grow.

It must feel quite unusual for them when they see rookies. Especially since SM Entertainment will be debuted rookie groups EXO-K and EXO-M this year.

Yunho: I saw the teaser video that was recently released and I’ve been watching those guys rehearse. I’ve also given them advice as their senior. Whenever I see rookie groups, I’m reminded of my days as a rookie. Because they’re such talented and hardworking guys, I know they’ll do well and I expect them to keep that attitude with them and improve.

Changmin: I find myself sincerely supporting them as more than just a senior singer from the same agency, not only the new guys who will be debuting soon, but also when SHINee first debuted a few years ago. I hope they receive a lot of love. And I hope they become reliable seniors, more SM senior singers, who can help the juniors who come after them.

But there may be some who are surprised that it has already been eight years since TVXQ made their debut. That reason being that the members good looks and fit bodies haven’t changed since their debut days. If there are people out there who are distressed that they feel as though they look so old though all they’ve done is become a year older, then I’m sure they are curious of TVXQ’s methods of staying young.

Yunho: I don’t really have any special remedies, I just rest properly when I can. It’s important to eat well and enjoy life. Stress makes you depressed and worn out, so I think your mindset is what’s important.

Changmin: I don’t think I’m in the position to say I have any special remedies or secrets. I just try to drink a lot of water. And I try to laugh a lot.

TVXQ are the forerunners of the Hallyu Wave. As the forerunners, I’m sure they’ve felt a difference between what it was like when they first began their overseas activities and what it’s like now. What do they feel has changed over the years as people who have experienced the entire process?

Yunho: It feels great to know that there’s a K-POP boom going on these days and that the artistes as showcasing their individual colors/styles. I think everyone’s working hard with the mindset that they’re representing their country. I’d like to carefully make the prediction that next year will become a time for us all to reap bigger fruits from all our labor. We’ll have to work harder from now on. In our case, when we first made our debut in Japan, we started everything from scratch and thought of ourselves as rookies. I think what’s changed because of the K-POP boom is that other markets have become more friendly and approachable. If we are to continue such positive changes, we’ll all have to make the effort to understand that country’s culture and approach them with more sincerity.

Changmin: “I’m certain that K-pop is being recognized and paid more attention to by more people. Only if we provide music and contents of a higher quality will we be able to live up to the expectations of these people who have taken an interest in us.Therefore, I think all the people who are receiving a lot of love need to work that much harder. I too will also work harder. I’ve said this before, but I think K-POP is receiving much more love and attention than before.”

Currently, their senior BoA is working as a judge for  SBS’ ‘K-Pop Star’. I feel as though TVXQ would be able to make sharp commentary due to their years of experience. I’m curious to know what they would be looking for the most if they were the judges. I don’t even think the applicants would be able to survive the audition if they had such magnificent judges sitting in front of them.

Yunho: I enjoy watching ‘K-Pop Star’, that features our senior, BoA. If I was a judge, I would place my main focus on potential and individuality. Though talent is important, I believe that anyone can improve and get better if they work hard. I believe that as long as someone has potential and individuality, the rest is up to them and how hard they work.

Changmin: I would have to make my judgement based on a collection of areas, but I would focus on talent, star quality and their hard-working attitude.

Source: [SBS Entertainment News via Nate]
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Trans] 111107 JYJ Ends 13 Country Tour Voyage In Germany..”They Can Do It, Because They’re JYJ”

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Trans] 111107 JYJ Ends 13 Country Tour Voyage In Germany..”They Can Do It, Because They’re JYJ”

 

Group JYJ (Jaejoong, Yoochun, Junsu) have moved on from Spain to take over Germany.

On the night of 6 November, in the Tempodrom, over 3,000 fans were gathered and cheering loudly for an encore.

The Europeans, who had gathered from Northern European countries such as the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden, from Eastern European countries such as Poland and Russia, as well as from other regions such as France and Greece, sang along with JYJ for two hours with perfect Korean pronunciation and waited for an encore stage while shouting “We love you JYJ!”

JYJ performed a total of 15 songs for the two-hour concert and ended their European tour in success with their concert in Berlin, Germany after becoming the first Korean singers to hold a solo concert in Spain.

The reception they received in Berlin was through the roof. The ticket reservation site’s server crashed as soon as it opened in October and the tickets sold out on the same day. To match this excitement, fans were seen gathering four hours before the concert to stand in line and wait to enter the concert venue.

The concert organizers said, “Before the concert, there were already fans pitching tents and queuing up like they had for the Spain concert. This is a rare sight for a pop singer’s concert in Germany, and there were many rare sights to be seen at this JYJ concert.”

 Amidst the passionate cheers, JYJ gave an amazing performance. Showcasing their slick dance moves for ‘Empty’ and ‘Ayyy Girl’, JYJ showed off their powerful vocals with ‘In Heaven’ and ‘Get Out’, leaving their European fans deeply moved by their talent.

Before the concert, JYJ said, “We really wanted to come, and finally we have made it to Germany to meet with everyone, we’re really fortunate. The food in Germany is really good, and we like the parks as well.”

Member Kim Junsu also made a special mention, saying, “I’m very happy to be in Germany, the country of Sylvester Levay, the composer of ‘Mozart’ and ‘Elisabeth’ who has always been like a father to me. We are thankful to have received great strength from everybody, and next year, we want to present an even more active JYJ.”

After the concert, a portion of the fans could not help but cry, and even stood in front of the concert hall, singing JYJ’s hit songs, showing their unwillingness to leave.

17-year-old Isabelle from Germany said, “Because of JYJ’s music, I’ve grown to like Korea a lot, and am currently studying Korean. I’m really touched that I was able to hear the three of them live.”

Yagoda from Poland said, “I’m really thankful that JYJ could come, and I really want them to know this, and this was an unexpectedly fantastic experience, they must come again!” Ana from Sweden said, “The three members are really cute when they speak German, and I can feel their love for Europe, so I’m really happy. They dance well, sing well, and are too cool! I loved everything (about them)”

JYJ’s European concerts started after their 10 country tour that kicked off in 2011. JYJ’s decision to hold concerts in slightly foreign cities is meaningful, and shows their courage to take up the challenge of getting more people to know about their music.

CEO Baek Chang Joo of C-JeS said, “The Kpop fever has just started to take shape in Europe, but since it’s JYJ, we felt that we could hold a solo concert, albeit a small-scale one. We are really thankful for the unexpected passion and support given by the European fans, and we will definitely want to come back again for the world tour next year.”

With the end of this concert, JYJ have completed their long voyage of 13 cities in 2011. JYJ expressed, “To be able to hold concerts in North America, Asia and Europe is a very meaningful result.  The start of December will be our time to rest, and aside from taking a good break, we plan to focus on writing music, and will continue working hard in preparation for future world tours!”

Source : [BaiduTVXQ + Osen via Nate]
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[News] 111104 JYJ Targeting Europe – Why it is Praiseworthy?

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[News] 111104 JYJ Targeting Europe – Why it is Praiseworthy?

“We’re hungry to show you what a real World Tour is!”

Group JYJ is the first singer of Republic of Korea who succeeded a solo concert in Spain. On the 29th Oct (local time) JYJ had a brilliant concert at Poble Espanyol, Barcelona, in front of 3000 people which didn’t include only Spanish fans but also other European fans from France, Netherlands, Switzerland, etc.

This concert was indeed a challenge. Although among domestic netizens, there were different opinions regarding the number of audience, the meaning and value of JYJ’s challenge are not going to fade. It was hard to find a reputable promoter for a concert of Korean artist. This is reality. For this concert, JYJ’s agency C-Jes Entertainment has directly worked on it from A to Z and has had to overcome several obstacles.

Europe is like a wasteland. For a Korean artist to hold a solo concert in Spain, it was full of burdens and problems that general public couldn’t imagine of. Moreover, it wasn’t a concert planned with participation of various artists from a large company but a fruit achieved by just one team. Therefore, the challenge is praiseworthy enough itself and we can’t help praising its meaning.

If we must compare numerically, the number of attendees was of course humble. They are JYJ who could mobilize tens of thousands of audience if the concert was held in Korea or Japan. Just look at the concert in Japan which was held before European tour, they sang in front of 40,000 spectators per day, so 80,000 in total. But in the strange land of Spain, they stood in front of thousands of spectators. Even so, JYJ has brought off a more elated stage than ever. The press that has directly attended the concert and the officials agreed that “Although they have stood in front of tens of thousands of fans just a few days ago… they really tried their best, without low-spiritedness or fear.”

The more praiseworthy thing is their ultimate goal to break through into Europe.

Representative of C-Jes Entertainment, Mr. Baek Changjoo had a meet up with Osen in Spain. He described JYJ’s ultimate goal to become World Star, “Our final goal is to achieve a real world tour. Even in Europe, large companies have brought large-scale concerts to Paris (France), London (UK), etc. But JYJ is facing a new challenge by starting a solo concert in Spain and Germany, countries where the embers of K-pop were just about to fire. Our dream is to eventually hold a real meaningful world tour encompassing all Asia, America and Europe. Through this European tour, we want to verify our potential and to make this an opportunity to introduce K-pop more to Europeans. I think a real world tour is clearly possible if we can make it in South America too after this.”

He also added with firm determination, “If a foreign artist can mobilize 10,000 spectators for a solo concert, it could be called great success. We aim to hold a world tour including Europe once a year, every time we release an album and to do a showcase in Europe in the future.”

issue@osen.co.kr
[Photos provided by C-Jes Entertainment

Source: Nate
Translation Credit: The_little_pear of JYJ3
Please do not add, alter, or remove the credits

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NEWS Is There A Japanese Backlash Against the Hallyu Wave

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[News] Is there a Japanese Backlash Against the Hallyu wave?

It’s no secret that as of late, Korean entertainment companies have been setting their sites on the greater pool of fame and fortune laying a short plane ride away, in the island nation of Japan. Idol group after idol group has either debuted or been slated for a Japanese release. The dramas and the television programs follow. The reasons behind it are not difficult to see. Japan has a far larger music industry than Korea. Being a small fry in the Japanese industry will still rake in far more profit than being a small fry in the Korean industry. However, as of late, it’s becoming quite evident that not all Japanese are welcoming of the “Hallyu Wave”. Protests have jumped from the bowels of the internet to fronts of television network buildings.

According to Japanese Internet news outlets such as J-CAST, roughly 6,000 people gathered outside Fuji Television Network to protest what they believed was too much time allotted to “Korean Wave” content on TV.

“We do not want to watch Korean TV dramas,” protesters chanted, adding that Fuji TV should not force people to watch programs they did not want to see.

They added that the Japanese people desired more homegrown programs on TV.

These protests come on the heels of the controversy surrounding the firing of Japanese actor Sousuke Takaoka from his agency, after he made some negative remarks concerning the recent flood of Korean entertainment into Japan. This kind of conflict is not surprising, given the history between Korea and Japan. But it leaves the question: are Japanese netizens being irrational in their negative reaction to the Hallyu Wave? And what can be done to minimize backlash?

The first, rather obvious point that people will make is that despite all the negative attention, Korean music seems to be selling quite well anyway, with recent acts such as SNSD and Kara topping Japanese pop charts. Kara has been gathering a significant fan base inJapan, and does seem to be growing genuinely popular, but this does not hold true for the vast majority of other K-pop groups. The majority of the imported groups sell very well, but hold little consequence in the mainstream because they have an extremely small, loyal niche of K-pop fans that buy up physical albums. These fans are not reflective of the average casual listener; they are like other overseas Korean idol fans. They are devoted, but exist outside of the mainstream trend.

Once the fact that Korean groups are, on average, not enjoying runaway success is established, it leaves the question: why does the Japanese public tend not to like K-entertainment? It’s tempting to say that it boils down to a matter of historical tension and nothing more, but that fails to dig deep enough. There is a pervasive assumption that Korean groups are only gaining airtime because powerful Korean zainichi executives are cutting deals within the Japanese industry to give them the spotlight, thereby shutting out native music groups. Given the number of zainichi executives giving rookie K-groups ample, easy opportunity to promote in the industry, it is a hard accusation to refute. Add this to the recent economic crisis caused by the earthquake and tsunami and a stew of general bitter feelings is created. It may be that if K-pop idols gave the impression of working hard to achieve their fame, then some of these problems might have been overlooked by the public. However, when very few groups even bother to learn Japanese, let alone record original songs or promote properly, it makes the fact that the attempts to break through are nothing more than a grab for money even more obvious.

There is no easy fix for this situation. There are extremely racist Japanese netizens, determined to never give a Korean group the time of day, as there are xenophobic Korean entertainment executives who want the money but cannot quite conceal their distaste regarding Japan. However, if more groups took the route that DBSK took, and worked from the bottom up rather than taking advantage of cheap media grabs, then it would go a long way towards improving things. Do you think that the system for debuting groups in Japan should be changed? Do you think that any groups will achieve a greater level of success within the current system?

Source: (The Korea Herald)
Credit: Seoulbeats
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Trans 110726 New Topic In Kpop Overcome Three…

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[Trans] 110726 New Topic In Kpop : Overcome Three Main Barriers

Currently, K-pop has broken past the first barrier. That is to say, they have already established the value of their existence. However, this is just the beginning. To globalize K-pop, there are three main issues they need to overcome.

Break away from “Idol Stars”

The first generation of Hallyu was led by actors. Korean dramas were pushed forward in large numbers, with Bae Yong Jun, Lee Byung Hyun, Song Seung Hun, Kwong Sang-Woo and other actors becoming popular as Hallyu idols. However, due to extensive “blank periods” and poor management, the hallyu wave that was led by actors became stagnant.

During this time, the idol stars seized the opportunity and took over this space. Led by TVXQ, and now SNSD, Kara etc, a large volume of girl groups have been gaining the attention of overseas markets. They spearhead the Korean Idol culture, and have broken the geographic barriers between countries.

However, this trend is starting to be a little overdone, and has established the stereotype that “Hallyu = Idol stars.” Aside from music, even dramas such as “Playful Kiss” and “You’re Beautiful” star members from idol groups. To ensure that Hallyu wave can make better progress, aside from appealing to the younger age groups with idol groups, we urgently need to grasp and establish ourselves in a broader age categories and a variety of Hallyu elements. A person related to one of the idol groups said, “We need to discover new hallyu stars, to appeal to the overseas fans who do not like idol groups. If we can give them a stage (opportunity,) then the hallyu wave will be able to progress further.

Break Away From The Japanese Market

Japan, which is located next to Korea is one of the biggest appreciators of the Hallyu culture. From another angle, you can say that it was the Japanese fans’ support that have helped the hallyu stars to grow. Aside from Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and various Asian regions have seen a rise in popularity for Hallyu stars. However the truth is, a majority of the hallyu stars are over-reliant on the Japanese market’s support.

With TVXQ, Big Bang, SNSD, Kara and others, recently everyone is trying to break into the Japanese market. They are very sensitive towards the Oricon rankings. The strange thing is that, compared to the current lack of emphasis on song ranking programs in the Korean market, Korean singers are more sensitive to the ranking charts in Japan. This shows that they are using this (Oricon rankings) as a measure of their popularity in Japan.

Aside from Japan, starting from the time of H.O.T., Hallyu stars have been enjoying great popularity in China. However, the issue is that the public is only focused on a specific few stars. Although Super Junior, Rain, SNSD and other are very popular, but China, unlike Japan, is still unable to allow more groups and singers to actively promote there.

And under such circumstances, the group JYJ released their first English album “The Beginning” in October last year, and was judged as “daring to try something new.” JYJ joined hands with famous American producers Kanye West and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, and using the new group name “JYJ” released their first album produced in English. This album bears the significance of “starting their journey towards the world stage.” The three members, who have dominated the Japanese and Asian markets, have set their sights on the global market, and can be regarded as leaders in “breaking away from Japan.”

Someone in the music industry said, “When you analyze the structure of the Chinese market, it’s not hard to know that they are more appealing than the Japanese market. But so far, the progress of singers has not been as smooth as in Japan. Aside from that, they should also be looking at Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan etc, and create more roadways for the Hallyu wave.”

Break Away from Stereotypes!

The first pioneers of the hallyu wave were dramas. “Jewel in the Palace,” “Winter Sonata” made it big, and big stars like Bae Young Jun and Lee Young-Ae were born. Recently, due to “You’re Beautiful,” Jang Geun Suk has become the new hallyu star, but compared to the time of “Winter Sonata,” the power of dramas in the hallyu wave has been considerably diminished.

And the space left by the dramas was filled by K-pop. The hallyu market which was dominated by male idols has now hit a turning point led by SNSD and Kara. K-pop can be considered as the successor to J-pop, which has captured the Asian music market.

On the other hand, the power of the hallyu wave at Chungmuro (T/N: refers to the film industry – Chungmuro is the street in Korea that is famous for culture & film) has become plain. Actors who have become hallyu stars through their dramas also boosts the popularity of the movies they are featured in, but using popularity to break into the Japanese film industry is not enough, a situation where “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Someone related to sales in the hallyu market said, “Korean movies have been promoted in various overseas markets, but the effect is not strong enough to be considered part of the hallyu wave. Unlike television dramas which can be watched on public broadcast, movies require an entrance fee, so the visibility among the masses is lower.”

If we want to the multi-faceted Korean culture to be embraced in all fields, not just for dramas and music, we need to promote our movies, games and food as well as other areas, and introduce more variety.

Source : [Jrw8008 + Hankooki]
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Trans 110622 ‘StarQ10′ What Are The Unusual Records…

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[Trans] 110622 ‘StarQ10′ What Are The Unusual Records That TVXQ Have Set?

Professional Record Breakers 🙂

What records have Hallyu stars TVXQ set that have surprised the world?

On the 25th, SBS’ E!TV ‘StarQ10′ made an investigation into TVXQ’s unusual Guinness World records as well as their overseas activities.

In 2008, TVXQ won the Guinness World Record for the biggest fanclub in the world and in 2009, they won the record for being the most photographed celebrities in the world with over 500 million photos taken of them.

During their Japanese tour, they set a record by selling out their tickets in a mere second. They surprised everyone when it was found that they were so active overseas in 2004 that they traveled the equivalent of 80 trips around the world.

TVXQ even proved their popularity in China when they received 136,031,908 votes in a popularity vote on a Chinese site. A Russian figure skater (Ilia Kulik) even used one of TVXQ’s songs for his gala show.

‘StarQ10′ staff plan to call overseas Korean residents to listen to the extent of K-POP’s popularity and the Hallyu Wave.

In this episode, questions for ‘SM idol groups who are redrawing the Hallyu map with K-POP’ will be revealed in six keywords.

The episode of SBS’ E!TV ‘StarQ10′ will air on the 25th at 2:30.

Source: [tv daily]

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