Psy and Park Jin-young 'Archive K': What is the definition of K-pop? Idols say Korean standards 'are very high'
To say that South Korean music is taking the world by storm, the expression should be seen as an understatement. Becoming a genre titan in its own right, K-pop has swiftly become successful with loyal fans across the globe and it's hard not to notice. It's certainly a hot topic right now and the past few years have seen a number of hit collaborations with some of the biggest names in western music, such as with Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Jason Derulo and many more.
But what do some Korean VIPs have to say about their nation's music in regards to its impact on the world?
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In the latest episode of 'Archive K' an SBS docu-series, various K-pop idols and artists spoke of their experiences of working in the industry and the challenge of becoming an international success. During the episode, Park Jin-young and PSY dropped in for a candid conversation about the meaning of K-pop. PSY and Park Jin-young, both singers and producers, are renowned entertainers and have often been praised for breaking mindsets that Korean music is only for local fans. Both musicians had some profound statements to make in the episode. "I think the time has come for the definition of K-Pop to change," said Park Jin-young, according to Allkpop. "It’s not a matter of what country the singer comes from or what language they are singing the song anymore." He also posed the question of how does one exactly define K-pop, "Say there is a foreign company that produces a Korean artist and a Korean company that produces a foreign artist. Which one is K-pop?"
PSY shared, "The standards of the Korean public are very high. Although K-pop has received tons of praise from a global viewpoint, our first gateway is always ‘can we receive praise from Korea?’ And if you want to be recognized in Korea, you really have to do well."
PSY noted that a lot of the reason why K-pop artists are popular is because of their hard work and dedication. "There isn’t a team that does poorly in K-pop. If K-pop was an entrance exam, these artists are like a series of perfect scorers. All the hard work and effort they put in to show their best image is the reason they receive the applause when they go out into the world."
What do you think about PSY and Park Jin Young's comments on K-pop?