Hello Hallyu Hello Hallyu

In this episode we talk about what we've been listening to, weigh in on the BTS in Saudi Arabia controversy and discuss SuperM's debut. We end the episode with sharing what we're looking forward to the most over the coming month.



00:00 Introduction 



1:05 What we’ve been listening to

Sadhana talks about her obsession with Day6 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnS_jn2uibs) and Rimi weighs in with why she hasn’t been able to get into them as much 

Rimi talks about rookie group Oneus’ latest single Lit (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggPF6Wb8A50)and how enthused she is about it and also shares her thoughts on ATEEZ's latest comeback title Wonderland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_BhMhZpAug).



6:16 BTS in Saudi Arabia

As BTS fans’ ourselves, we discuss why this has prompted so much backlash. We talk about taking the “Speak Yourself” message at face value and the intersection of trade relations and politics and K-pop. We also talk about how BTS being an ambassador for tourism in Seoul, and closely linked to the boom in recent Hallyu (which is used as a part of Soft Power by the South Korean government) may have put them in a position where they couldn’t refuse this invitation. We touch upon how we’ve seen geopolitics affect K-pop in the last few years, and that you can’t happily divorce K-pop from the structure it operates within and say it’s “apolitical.” 

Finally, we remind listeners and ourselves that it’s OK to be critical of, and sometimes disappointed in your favourite groups. 

Link to articles referred to :

Seoulbeats, https://seoulbeats.com/2019/07/k-pop-and-saudi-arabia-what-lies-beneath/

The Hollywood Reporter, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/bts-is-back-musics-billion-dollar-boy-band-takes-next-step-1244580



17:23 SuperM

We discuss Jopping (we like it!) and what SuperM’s debut could mean for K-pop going forward. Rimi talks about how SM generally sets the trends for K-pop, and if this means we’re going to see a mushrooming of cross-group collaborations in K-pop. We also talk about whether SuperM is competing with BTS. 

We lament the downside about promoting in the US (no fun variety :[ and language barrier in interviews) and how SM’s strategic promotions and ticket prices may open up a wave of audience for SuperM. 



27:35 What we’re looking forward to

Rimi talks about why she’s excited for TXT’s comeback (21 Oct) and Sadhana gushes about Day6 (again) and their upcoming comeback (22 Oct).



Music Credits.

Lioness (Instrumental) by DayFox https://soundcloud.com/dayfox

Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lioness-instrumental

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/ZATMh49j49M