Number of posts : 1752 Age : 36 Location : Vero Beach, Florida Registration date : 2008-08-02
Subject: The Popularity of having International Members Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:06 pm
The Popularity of having International Members in Idol Groups
Idol groups share many things in common, they can sing, rap, dance, and they usually have a lot of members. But one other thing they share in common these days is having one or more international group member/s in their respective groups.
In After School, you have Beka (Korean American). In Super Junior, you have HanGeng (Chinese). In 2pm, you have TaecYeon, JaeBeom (Korean American), and NichKhun (Thai / Chinese). In SNSD, you have Tiffany, Jessica (Korean American), SooYoung (Korean lived in Japan), and HyoYeon (Korean lived in China). In Wonder Girls, you have Yubin (Korean lived in San Jose, California). In 2AM, you have ChangMin (Korean lived in Canada). In 2NE1, you have Sandara Park (Korean lived in Philippines), and Park Bom (Korean studied in Boston, Massachusetts). In Epik High you have Tablo (Korean and lived all over the world, famous for graduating from Stanford with a degree in English Literature and a Masters). There are more including Victoria (Chinese) and Amber (Chinese grew up in Orange County, California) from new SM group, f(x).
There are so many to name, I can't even name them all here. I still haven't mentioned Nicole (Korean American) of Kara, MickyYooChun (Korean lived in America) of TVXQ, and the list will still go on and on. There's only a few groups I know of that doesn't have international members off the top of my head: SHINee, 4minute, and Big Bang.
From the above list, you might have read some names that may have surprised you. That is because people think America when you think of international idol group members. But there's a wide variety now; China, Japan, Canada, USA, the Philippines, and Thailand. People may think of the big and populated places such as the USA and Japan but now they come from everywhere. For example, Sandara Park comes from having a career in the Philippines. This shows the K-Pop industry expanding its horizons in terms of accepting new people into the music scene landscape.
Now you might wonder why there are so many of them. Entertainment companies want international members because they have international knowledge and if they come to Korea, they will also carry a Korean feeling which will appeal to the audience. Another reason is language. Language is a huge barrier for Asians trying to make it in another country. Boa, Se7en, and the Wonder Girls all had to study English very hard and though they have improved, they're still not perfectly fluent. TVXQ had to learn Japanese to make it in the J-Pop industry. By having someone who is already fluent in the language, you know they will lead the group if the group ever decides to debut / crossover over to other countries. Not only regarding traveling to a different country but just connecting with fans in general is easier when you know more language(s). SooYoung of SNSD knows Japanese where as HyoYeon and HanGeng know Chinese. Nichkhun represent 2PM whenever they visit Thailand. This all helps the groups get more known in Asia and the rest of the world.
These international members help bring KPOP music to the rest of the world. International fans will find it easier to accept once they find something in common with the group, once they know they share a hometown, or speak the same language. So all this is only a good thing.
Check out some idol stars speak their second language: SNSD's Tiffany
2PM
Dara
SNSD Jessica
This just makes me wonder, where will CL's French take her?
Credit(s): Allkpop + galio9071988, kp0pping, soshisooyoung, and arirangworld for the videos
vanchgeline18 Forum Moderator
Number of posts : 2141 Age : 48 Registration date : 2009-05-16
Subject: Re: The Popularity of having International Members Sun Sep 06, 2009 2:38 pm
It's good to have a multi-lingual group. It's good that they know how to speak English in general (aside from other languages) because it's one way of how they can communicate with their other fans outside their own country. Aside from that who knows they might be able to show their talents to the rest of the world too. It's also a plus factor to attract the fans but of course what really counts is their talent... their singing ability and venture to other world of media entertainment.
Sheng07 Forum Admin
Number of posts : 1752 Age : 36 Location : Vero Beach, Florida Registration date : 2008-08-02
Subject: Re: The Popularity of having International Members Sun Sep 06, 2009 7:42 pm
im glad that diversity is present... with that we all recognize them and their country.
vanchgeline18 Forum Moderator
Number of posts : 2141 Age : 48 Registration date : 2009-05-16
Subject: Re: The Popularity of having International Members Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:02 am
You're right with that Sheng.
Sheng07 Forum Admin
Number of posts : 1752 Age : 36 Location : Vero Beach, Florida Registration date : 2008-08-02
Subject: Re: The Popularity of having International Members Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:52 pm
im embracing diversity because i can also learn alot from them... realized their hardships and also their talent.
Neko13Momoiro Forum Moderator
Number of posts : 996 Age : 31 Location : Philippines Registration date : 2009-05-19
Subject: Re: The Popularity of having International Members Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:24 am
I agreed, having artists who have live from other country is a great choice especially those who are fluent in English.. Also, when BigBang sang Japanese quickly they become top 3 and now they are popular in Japan too~ And because Sandara is popular here, it made 2NE1 be popular here too~
And I noticed here that some people want Korean more than Japan (T^T) because somehow there's an english part in their lyrics while in Japan... Only few use English~
Sheng07 Forum Admin
Number of posts : 1752 Age : 36 Location : Vero Beach, Florida Registration date : 2008-08-02
Subject: Re: The Popularity of having International Members Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:01 am
Hook songs are probably the reason as well.... but now its Korea's turn to evolve and be known all-over the world.
vanchgeline18 Forum Moderator
Number of posts : 2141 Age : 48 Registration date : 2009-05-16
Subject: Re: The Popularity of having International Members Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:43 am
Koreans are being noticed right now. It's their time.
Sheng07 Forum Admin
Number of posts : 1752 Age : 36 Location : Vero Beach, Florida Registration date : 2008-08-02
Subject: Re: The Popularity of having International Members Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:36 pm
yes, remember we all started liking these telenovelas from Thalia (Marimar)... then it went to Taiwan/China era, next was Japanese(we loved japanese animes more at that time)....
now its Korea's turn!!
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Subject: Re: The Popularity of having International Members