SUMMER 2019
CONTENTS NEWS 04 NEWS 06 UPCOMING EVENTS 10 RECENT RELEASES
MUSIC 12 SF9 COVERAGE 18 OH MY GIRL SPOTLIGHT 20 HEIZE SPOTLIGHT 22 GUEST ARTICLE Bareerah Sayed 24 PRISTIN: WHAT WHEN WRONG? 26 THE ORIGINAL KPOP: TROT MUSIC 28 MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S PLAYLIST
TV & FILM 30 MY FIRST LOVE
12
32 BURNING SF9 COVERAGE SF9 wowed London in May
34 ACTOR SPOTLIGHT Park Min Young
WELCOME CULTURE 36 SUMMER VOCABULARY 38 RECIPE Strawberry Patbingsu 40 LGBTQ+ IN KOREA AND KPOP 42 THE ESPORTS MOVEMENT IN THE UK 44 DRAG IN SOUTH KOREA
Welcome to the Summer 2019 issue of UKP Magazine, complete with a little injection of Pride. June 24th marked the beginning of the 9th year of UnitedKpop. Since our inception our team has been formed of straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and asexual team members of varying nationalities, skin colours and religions. We have pride in our team, and pride in our readers! Lore Walsh Creative Director l.walsh@unitedkpop.com
STYLE 46 MAKE UP Pretty in Pink
26
THE ORIGINAL KPOP Trot Music
CREDITS Writers
Designers
Lore Walsh
Lore Walsh
Emma Alford Lerah Barcenilla Keeley Burridge Amy Furney Helen Rodgers Tania Tavares-Pinto
Emily Stuart Chelsea Visda Janine Kaye
Special Thanks MyMusic Taste Bareerah Sayed
BLACKPINK HEARD ON ITV2’S LOVE ISLAND BLACKPINK’s ‘Kill This Love’ played over a VT piece on ITV2’s Love Island. A summer sensation for ITV, Love Island sees a number of young singles enter a Majorca villa looking for ‘love’ and the chance to win £50,000 for their ‘couple’ at the end of what is, essentially, a summer holiday for the twenty-somethings – who go on to enjoy Towie-esque levels of fame. ‘Kill This Love’ played as TV host Caroline Flack entered the villa to introduce the existing group of ladies to a brand new set of men in ‘Casa Amor’, a second villa with the sole purpose of causing drama, as the show seemingly attempts to ‘turn the heads’ of ‘coupled up’ housemates. ‘Kill This Love’ seemed a fitting soundbite as the premise of Casa Amor could well kill some of the ‘love’ that has developed in the main villa since the start of the show.
Regardless of your thoughts on the show itself, it is impressive to hear Kpop on the soundtrack of a show that clocks around five million UK viewers per episode.
WINNER’S MINO IN PARIS FOR LOUIS VUITTON Virgil Abloh made waves during his debut Louis Vuitton menswear debut last year and has expanded on his success this year with a pastel collection on the Paris runway. As is the current trend, Abloh sent fashion-forward celebrities down the runway and Winner’s Mino stole the show! His first time walking for such a huge, international name, Mino impressed with how well he fit the lineup and his ‘ touch of cool’. It is not known whether Mino will be a regular model for Abloh’s Louis Vuitton, but he’s certainly made an impact on the Spring 2020 season’s casting.
U P C 2O0 1 M I N G E V E N T S 9 J U LY - S E P T E M B E R ChangWon Kpop World Festival Bürgerhaus Stoll Works, Cologne
DREAM RITUAL 3 July - 6 July PRINT ROOM at THE CORONET, 103 Notting Hill Gate, Kensington, London DREAM RITUAL is a stage-based performance inspired by Korean culture of exchanging dreams, with the aim of bringing this phenomena to a wider audience and transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. Jinyeob Cha will perform as a soloist with projected text of audience contributed dreams.
HYUKOH Sun 14 July, Citadel, Switzerland Thu 18 July, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds Hyukoh is a South Korean indie band who formed in May 2014 and consists of leader, singer, and guitarist Oh Hyuk, bassist Im Donggeon, guitarist Lim Hyun-jae, and drummer Lee In-woo.
MONSTA X “We Are Here” Tour: Wed 3 Jul, AFA Live, Amsterdam Sat 6 July, La Seine Musicale, Paris Tue 9 July, Wembley Arena, London Sat 13 Jul, Mercedes Benz Arena, Berlin The seven-member boy group returns this summer with their third world tour, the 2019
BURSTERS 15 July, Waterfront, Norwich 16 July, The Mill, Birmingham 17 July, The Concorde 2, Brighton 18 July, UKU, London 20 July, Club Academy, Manchester
KCC House Concert Korean Cultural Centre UK, London - 31 July Sooyeon Lee (Cello), HyunJeong Hwang (Piano), Minhee Cho (Flute) Korean Cellist Sooyeon Lee was a student of the Preliminary School of the Korean National University of Arts (KNUA) in 2004 after that she was educated at the Sunhwa Arts School and Seoul Arts High School (Korea) with Hee-Song Song until her family moved to Japan. HyunJeong Hwang is a keen pianist with a passion for her classical and romantic repertoire, she enjoys an active and multi faceted musical life, performing as a soloist and chamber musician. South Korea-born flutist Minhee Cho completed her masters’ course in flute under the guidance of William Bennett at the Royal Academy of Music in 2017.
KCC House Concert Korean Cultural Centre UK, London - 23 September So Yeon Shim (Soprano), Henry Ross (Tenor), Yoorim Kang (Piano) So Yeon Shim is a third-year undergraduate at the Royal Academy of Music, where she studies with Raymond Connell and Matthew Fletcher. Korean Literature Night Korean Cultural Centre, London 31 July 28 August 25 September
Harry Ross was born into a large musical family and as a young boy proved himself to be a skilled, natural treble. Yoorim was born in Korea in 1997 and grew up in a musical environment under the influence of her musician parents. Since 2017, Yoorim has been studying at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Emeritus Professor Christopher Elton and is kindly supported by the Michael Gilsenan Scholarship.
KCC House Concert Korean Cultural Centre UK, London Jaeyong Nam (Clarinet) & Harry Rylance (Piano) 27 August Jaeyong Nam is a clarinetist at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studies with Chris Richards and Timothy Lines. Korean born Nam has studied in Shanghai, China, Manchester and now London. Harry Rylance is a pianist studying at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded the Pisani Piano Award and K M Bayfield Scholarship. He studies with the Academy’s Head of Piano, Joanna MacGregor.
NCT 127 World Tour NEO CITY: LONDON - The Origin Sunday 7th July NCT, an acronym for‘Neo Culture Technology’, Chart-topping K-pop boy band NCT 127 is one of the offshoots of the Seoul-based NCT. Created by S.M. Entertainment. The number 127 refers to the longitude of Seoul, NCT 127 is one of three groups currently active as part of the K-pop label’s larger NCT boy band project, with the concept of having an unlimited number of members divided into multiple subunits based in various cities around the world. The group gained worldwide attention with its second EP, “Limitless,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s World Albums Chart upon its release in 2017.
MUSIC RELEASES APRIL - JUNE APRIL Chen (EXO) April, and a flower #GUN AQUARIUM IZ*ONE HEART*IZ BOL4 (Bolbbalgan4) Youth Diary 1: Flower Energy Henry Prince Mak Go Away Lee Seokhoon What If ASTRO VENUS EXID TROUBLE Maddox But Maybe Minhyun (NU’EST) Universe Kang Xiwon Click Click BLACKPINK KILL THIS LOVE Ellie Goulding X Diplo X Red Velvet Close To Me BTOB’s Eunkwang X Minhyuk X Changsub Sorry Jung Daehyun Chapter2 “27” MC Sniper -1 UV Fine Dust 1THE9 Domino Camila Take Me Home OOHYO Far From the Maddening City GIRL CRUSH Memories Kim Jaejoong Flawless Love BVNDIT Bvndit, Be Ambitious! Woo Wonjae SS Sim Yejun (F.CUZ) TagMusic Artist: Logout BTS Map Of The Soul: PERSONA
GreatGuys TRIGGER MAP6 Follow Me Jackson Wang (GOT7) Oxygen Midnight Single project Part 2 Super Junior D&E DANGER Seongri (RAINZ) First Love HASHTAG #Aeji #paSsion KEVIN FREEDOM NCT 127 Awaken Jung Seunghwan Dear, My Universe Lee Gikwang (Highlight) Nothing Stephanie Man on the Dance Floor I.M (MONSTA X) Horizon Youngjae (B.A.P) Fancy Apink Everybody Ready? ENOi Bloom Target M the M Eyedi & New Son Dongwoon (Highlight) Act 1: The Orchestra TWICE Fancy You BabySoul (Lovelyz) A Piece of the Moon LABOUM Love Pop Wow!! GROW.B Let It Babylon Shadows from the Moon SOYA Fade Away DONGKIZ DONGKIZ on the Block Kim Heechul (Super Junior) Old Movie N.Flying Spring Memories VERIVERY VERI-ABLE Chanyeol (EXO) SSFW Yoon Jisung Dear Diary
Newkidd NEWKIDD Bae Jinyoung Hard to Say Goodbye GeeGu Moonlight A Train to Autumn Spring Rain NU’EST Happily Ever After SPECTRUM Refreshing Time The Boyz Bloom Bloom GRAY TMI Jeong Eunji (Apink) X 10cm Be with Me High School Baby You’re Mine
MAY Chancellor Angel Kim Donghan D-HOURS AM 7:03 I LUV Got It Golden Child Spring Again GROW.B Let It My Darling Kung Chi Dda Park Bom re:Blue Rose Yongseok (Cross Gene) Karma 2019 Cheetah Flight Moon Myung Jin Spring Darling Jenyer (Jeon Jiyoon) The moment I loved BIGONE blossom Kim Bum Soo re.MAKE20 #6 Park Hyo Shin Goodbye MOMOLAND X Erik Love Is Only You Nam Woohyun (INFINITE) A New Journey MOMOLAND I’m So Hot Eric Nam Runaway Oh My Girl The Fifth Season
Yu Seungwoo Yu Seung Woo 2 WayV Take Off Henry Untitled Love Song Xiumin (EXO) You Seyong (MYNAME) Connection NC.A some- Hyuk (VIXX) If Only Lim Jimin MINI Maywish Srr Taeyeon (SNSD) VOICE Mail DM Walwari Oppa Is Cheating On Me ONEWE 1/4 Peniel (BTOB) B.O.D Kyuhyun (Super Junior) Time With You Weki Meki Lock End LOL Supernova Bang Bibi Binu BVNDIT Dramatic EXID WE WINNER WE Yoon Jong Shin New York Soyou X OVAN Rain Drop Ladies’ Code Feedback A.C.E Under Cover: Because I Want You, Be Mine Ted Park They Don’t Know Davichi Unspoken Words TRCNG Paradise CHEEZE Plate Yoon Jisung Winter Flower
5tion Wanna Know You GOT7 Spinning Top: Between Security & Insecurity Kim Jaehwan Another Kyuhyun (Super Junior) The Day We Meet Again Lovelyz Once Upon a Time 3YE DMT Yoon Jong Shin X Taeyeon Train to Chuncheon N.Flying BROTHERHOOD AB6IX B:COMPLETE Cherry Bullet Love Adventure Hyolyn youknowbetter Katie LOG Hitchhiker NADA IZ RE:IZ Kim Hyun Chul 10th Park Kyung (Block B) Gwichanist Roh Jihoon Finger Heart Lim Kim SAL- KI NCT 127 NCT #127 WE ARE SUPERHUMAN Stella Jang Fine Dust DEAN Howlin’ 404 Berry Good Fantastic BeatBurger Ribbon to Re:born MASC Maschera D-CRUNCH M0527 Rothy Color of Rothy WE IN THE ZONE WE IN THE ZONE OnlyOneOf dot point jump Red Velvet SAPPY
SEVENTEEN Happy Ending GIANTPINK Tuesday Over Monday CLC ME ONEUS RAISE US Kanto X Wonderframe Dejavu Lee Hi 24C Rockit Girl Little Cat Sunwoo JungA Stand YoonA (SNSD) A Walk to Remember Ted Park They Don’t Know Colde I fxxking love you EDEN X Blah Painful Jooyoung Lost Lee Changmin (2AM) Easy to Say TXT Our Summer (Acoustic Mix)
JUNE Sik-K WHY YOU? Hot Teen Hot Teenager Ji Jinseok Good Night JUNE Today’s Sandeul (B1A4) One Fine Day BoA Feedback fromis_9 Fun Factory Teen Top DEAR.N9NE WJSN For the Summer PKCZ feat. CL & Afrojack CUT IT UP BOL4 RED PLANET Ha Sungwoon (HOTSHOT) Riding Jang Jane Cactus LEO (VIXX) the flower
NCT DREAM X HRVY Don’t Need Your Love ONEWE Reminisce About All Heo Youngsaeng (SS501) MOMENT Jay Park The Road Less Traveled THE8 (SEVENTEEN) Dreams Come True ATEEZ Treasure Ep. 3: One To All EZUZ Latte Is Horse Ong Seongwu The Love of Summer : The Story Eunjung (T-ara) DESIRE NOIR ABYSS BIBI The manual for people who want to love Yunho (TVXQ) True Colors Seongri Starlight Love Song Somi Birthday Urban Zakapa Seoul Night LAY (EXO) Honey JAMES Anxiety Jiselle Better This Way ASTRO ASTROAD to Seoul [STAR LIGHT] MONSTA X Who Do U Love? White Day Shine On Light Cleaun (former VAV) Take You There KittiB 1718 [SALEM] Blue Zone Boys Question John Park X Lim Chae Eon Hold Me LEO (VIXX) MUSE SF9 RPM Yesung (Super Junior) Pink Magic
Bubble X x Hyejin (HINT) Daily CHAI Give And Take Jeongmin (Boyfriend) Small But Certain Happiness (Nearby) Red Velvet ‘The ReVe Festival’ Day 1 Stray Kids Clé 2 : Yellow Wood JeA (Brown Eyed Girls) Newself N.Tic Fiction Zelo (BAP) Distance Paloalto Love, Money & Dreams Chungha Flourishing Purplebeck Crystal Ball IZ*ONE Buenos Aires GMOST GMOST IN SUMMER Euijin (BIGFLO / UNB) e:motion (G)I-DLE Uh-Oh Lusty Thirsty Sole How We Live LANA Take The Wheel C!Ci CC Eun Jiwon (Sechskies) G1 Sik-K Is It Love? VROMANCE You Can Rely on Me Yellow Bee DVD (Difference Versus Difference) Minhyuk (MONSTA X) mixtape Sulli Goblin Stella Jang YOLO Jooyoung Samcheong View Punch Love Me
LIVE IN LONDON
Words by Mickey Ralph Photography by Chiara Fulgoni
SF9 hit the stage at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Sunday 12th May to much elation and rejoicing from the fans. The vibe from the crowd was electric. A queue had been forming outside the venue from the early hours of the morning to finally see the first SF9 performance on UK soil. Fans had been working hard for months with My Music Taste to get the 9 member boy group over here and they finally did it. When the lights dimmed and just before SF9 took their places on the stage, there was a collective intake of breath felt by the room that seemed to say, “This is it, this is what we’ve been waiting for.”
As the group pounded their way through the first three songs it became clear that the SF9 members were not entirely up to the task of matching the enthusiasm and energy of their fans. It’s hard to say exactly what it was that made them seem distant. I could have been because the London date was the last stop of their Unlimited Tour and they were tired. Or, it could have just as easily been that the show didn’t sell out the venue. Whatever the reason, the crowd didn’t get to see real excitement or enthusiasm from SF9 until the first ‘talking break’ after three songs back to back. It was
disappointing to watch each member dance their way through three whole routines seemingly on autopilot and barely acknowledging the audience. They had waited so long and worked so hard to get them here. However, once the music stopped, the lights came back up, Inseong took the mic. He hilariously recalled memories of his childhood local Tesco supermarket and the room filled with laughter. From there, everyone (especially SF9) seemed to relax into the night. After the first break the show became more playful, the members split off into subunits and solo stages showing off their undeniable vocal and rap talents. Taeyang and Jaeyoon performed an especially magical duet rendition of ‘Nothing Like Us’ by Justin Beiber that truly showed off their incredible voices.
Taking it one step further, during a costume change at the halfway point, an adorable video was played of the SF9 members. They competed in small challenges (in classic variety show style) that completely delighted the audience of fans. At the halfway point of the show, it was beginning to feel a lot more like the concert that the crowd had expected and hoped for. Yet, after taking so long to work up their energy, it still stung a little that we didn’t see the spark that SF9 is known for from the beginning of the performance. The show ended with their most popular hits, the real crowd pleasers, even performing ‘Enough’ for a second time that evening (the first time in Korean and the last time in English) to very satisfied fans. The crowd filtered out of the venue and collected on the curb to recount their favourite moments of the night. It was clear, then, that despite the rocky start to the evening, we got exactly what we’d hoped for in the end. At a time for K-music in the UK that has begun to feel saturated by concerts, showcases and events, it’s hard for groups like SF9 to stand out from the crowd of bigger names. When fans are saving for tickets that keep climbing in price, bigger groups are being favoured over the smaller. Despite the enthusiasm of the fans, there were times that the room just felt too big.
At first, SF9 appeared defeated and tired but as the show carried on they drew energy from the crowd (despite its size) and truly put on the performance we’d been waiting for. SF9 is not short on talent, by any means, but what they lacked on Sunday was enthusiasm when compared to many of the other groups we’ve seen perform in the UK over the last few months. If they come back to the UK it would be interesting to see what they do with a sold-out venue, whether that helps them bring the enthusiasm and performance the crowd deserves. We’d like to thank the staff working on Sunday for both My Music Taste and the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire who were organised, friendly and very helpful for the whole evening – despite the issues and complications caused by the artist management. Both teams really worked with us and the fans to make sure everyone had the best time.
OH MY GIRL Oh My Girl captured their sound and aesthetic early on. They’re a group whose style is distinctive despite not being ground-breaking. That’s a hard feat to achieve, especially in an industry that’s slowly but surely turning towards the merits of reflexive-production. Particularly that which is grounded in real-life experiences, that which serves a deeper, more connected purpose. In spite of this turn away from bubblegum artifice, Oh My Girl has carved a niche of recognition for successfully toeing the line between artistic expression and the joy of colourful pretence. Under WM Entertainment, Oh My Girl is the sister group of B1A4. The strand of Kpop runs very differently between the two groups. It’s a difference not only marked by the gender split - that comes with its own rules, limitations and fan types - but also Kpop generation.
IDOL SPOTLIGHT by TANIA TAVARES-PINTO
Oh My Girl is unashamedly feminine. Bar some very conscious stylistic choices, their single discography is a bubble of colour and brightness. It’s anchored by strong choreography and distinctive harmonies, yet it captures what most of us consider the canon tropes of a Kpop girl group. Their debut single, Cupid, is an example of this. It’s both infectious and simple. The pull of it comes from their performance. It splashed on to the scene on Inkigayo, complete with oversized bow-laden presents, a giant 3D teddy bear, a cast of kilted brass and drum players, and a working lift to carry the members from one plane of the stage to the other. It’s a theatre in the most Kpop way possible. Thematically, they carry this through in their sound.
Liar Liar, their 2016 comeback, featured colour coded corduroy skirts and boots decorated to look like 4-wheel skates that became a recognisably Oh My Girl move. At the same time, their discography is balanced through unexpectedly robust songs. Closer - a cult favourite amongst girl group enthusiasts - is a softer take on femininity and their first foray into their signature dreamy sequences. Intricate choreography manifests in zodiac-inspired formations when viewed from above. Sound and style reaches a universal resplendence, here. It’s a song that could have been released today as equally as it was in 2015 and it would still be completely different to the sound that’s being pumped out by the industry heavyweights. It’s the curious thing about Oh My Girl. They don’t set out to break the boundaries of what it means to be a girl group in Kpop. Instead, they manage to play into the femininity of girl groups without being branded on the overarching labels of cute, girl-crush, or sexy. Oh My Girl has been drawing closer to creating a new sub-genre in itself. They join WJSN (Cosmic Girls), April, Lovelyz, as well as GFriend in infusing fantasy into their signature sound. Both Remember Me and Secret Garden are examples of this dreamlike quality. It carries significance too, in being a style cultivated almost exclusively by mid-tier third generation girl groups. The “big three” girl group sounds are much stronger in vocal tone. Whereas, the lower tier girl groups tend to fall in line with expendable trends that don’t help them stand out. Whether as a statement or coincidence, midtier groups are bringing something new to the table. Perhaps, nothing more exemplifies this than Windy Day. The folk-pop song, led by sharp high-toned harmonies, is so different that you can’t help but pay attention. Everything from the outfits - full-layered tulle skirts, lace detailing, flowers delicately strewn through locks of hair - and the pointed vocals, signified cool chill of the wind. As Oh My Girl performs through sound, their music becomes almost secondary to the performance it brings forward. Visually, this is communicated through their sheer vibrancy. From debut through to 2019’s The Fifth Season (SSFWL), from the eponymous album, their use of colour has remained constant. Colours, in Oh My Girl’s style book, are densely saturated and vivid. There’s refined production value, there, a certain quality to the tone on video that makes
it so distinctive. In 2017, their Colouring Book comeback made the most of this. It’s an explosion of colour over pristine white outfits and set. It’s both an acknowledgement of their play on freshness, colour and brightness. Equally, it’s a take-it or leave-it approach. Oh My Girl mixes their characteristic feminity with distinctive harmonies, stand-out choreography and sharp, well-developed instrumentals. They are hovering on the edge of widespread acknowledgement within the general public and yet there’s still so much space for them to grow and expand. Within a restrictive category of music, they’ve combed through the best bits of what makes Kpop stand-out and built their sound on that. Through covers of fellow girl group songs, and dance performances of darker, more mature songs (like Muse) fans could be seeing glimpses of future styles from the group. Lead rapper, Mimi, is already dabbling in song production of their most distinctive tracks. Oh My Girl hasn’t been backed into a corner, just because they embrace femininity. Rather, they are testing the limitations without letting go of the joy of costume and playful artifice. They mean to say: the girl group Kpop sound isn’t an either/or, it’s what is, and what could be. And they’re determined to find out.
By Amy Furney
HEIZE
Although Heize has been gaining traction since her 2014 debut EP (simply titled Heize), it is only really in 2019 where she is beginning to take off. Playing both the Seoul National University and Dongguk University festivals this summer, it is clear that young Koreans have taken an interest in her work. The singer took part in the Mnet reality series “Unpretty Rapstar” shortly after releasing her debut effort. It’s an interesting choice of TV show, considering that the artist is not known for her harsh raps, but more for her balladesque songs. Although eliminated in the semi-finals, it did open the door for her to release her second EP And July in 2016, which peaked at 34 in the Gain Music Chart. But it was her collaborative efforts with R&B artist Dean on the EP which really offered her some success; the songs “Shut Up” and “And July”peaked at numbers 27 and 8 respectively on the Korean national chart, with the former also making an appearance on the Billboard US World chart. Whilst it is easy to assume that Dean’s popularity is what brought the now-27 year-old success, the fact that her digital single “Star”achieved an All-Kill indicates that while fans may have been introduced to her by Dean, they stayed for her talent. Both her successive third
and fourth extended plays (You, Clouds, Rain) and (Wind) were able to top the Korean charts, suggesting that Heize’s career is yet to peak. However, as neither of these made a dent in the Billboard US World chart, there is a suggestion that she failed to gain an international holding. Heize is also seemingly open about the hardships she faxed in trying to become a performer in Korea. Her father would only accept her dream to sing if she achieved the best grades in school, she had to move away from her family in Daegu to the capital city Seoul, and when she was there, she lived in poverty. In interviews, she has stated that she even worked three different jobs at the same time in order to pay for food. There is even a story where she explains that she would eat lemon vitamin tablets instead of food, to the point of hospitalization. In this light, the lyrics to her latest release “She’s Fine” really strike a biographical note. She speaks of doing her parents proud and living a comfortable life. It is an assurance that the hard times are behind her, but not forgotten. In fact, this honestly is what makes Heize’s music so comforting to listen to. It offers a sense of reality and normality in a music industry that is otherwise increasingly fixated on extreme sounds, aesthetics and images. With Heize’s music, you feel like you’re going home.
GUEST ARTICLE BY BAREERAH SAYED
ON LOYALTY, LOVE & LOSS Being a fan of Kpop isn’t always easy. On the surface, you are tackling time zone differences, cultural differences and trying to learn lyrics in a foreign language, but the reality is that it goes far deeper. There is always an inherent fear to being a fan or having a bias, the fear that they may be swept up in a scandal and ripped from your grasp, or the agonising two years of waiting if they enter the military. Recently, I experienced both. The Burning Sun scandal rocked not only the Korean entertainment industry, but the world at large. Even people who had no interest in Korean culture prior to this were suddenly invested in the scandal, who it involved and what it meant. The scope was shockingly farreaching, sweeping up both civilians and wellknown celebrities from some of the biggest groups and entertainment companies in Korea, and revealing police corruption. As more and more information came out about the people involved, there was a growing fear in the Kpop community that any one of their favourite idols could be next. I did not have this fear, because it had already come true. Jung Joonyoung was one of the first names to be put forward following the initial allegations against Big Bang’s Seungri. As a fan, especially a long-time fan, there’s a mix of feelings – hurt, shock, but most overwhelmingly, betrayal. Fans do not own their idols and idols are not, and have never been, infallible, and yet one can’t help but feel personally slighted when their bias is involved in something so horrific. It is a humiliating experience, because a fan looks
back on every memory they have ever made as a result of this idol, and now it all feels tainted. Just a few days prior to this information being released, I had been talking to people about Jung Joonyoung and his music. I had been to the Drug Restaurant concert in London in 2017, and it had been incredible, and then the allegations came forward and I was left feeling like a fool. As a fan, there is going to be a part of you that insists that you should have known, that there were warning signs, and as these thoughts came to mind I began to wonder if I had deluded myself – I began to feel responsible for something I had no control over. The loyalty of a fan is a dangerous thing; the more of yourself you attach to an idol, the more it can be thrown back in your face if something goes wrong. It also raises the question of when a fan draws the line – when do you ‘unstan’? As soon as I saw the accusations, I knew I could no longer support Jung Joonyoung, it would go against every single one of my moral fibres to do so. Yet, there are people still supporting Seungri despite him being one of the biggest perpetrators of the scandal and having accusations levelled against him that are far worse than anyone else’s, and it raises the question of just how far loyalty can go and how blinding it can be. The other side of loyalty is the question of how long it will last. Time is a tricky thing to contend with, after all, and tastes and interests can change over the course of two years. In the past year, well-known idols from super-groups
AS A KPOP FAN including SHINee, 2PM, and recently EXO have started to enter the military, but on May 7th, Super Junior’s Kyuhyun was released. To say that it had been a long two years was an understatement. Kyuhyun had been performing his mandatory military service as a public officer, and while I had made it through the enlistments of the other Super Junior members, both members of TVXQ and a whole host of other idols, this was entirely different because Kyuhyun is the idol who I have liked for the longest time, my first real bias. When Eunhyuk, Donghae and Siwon were released, it felt surprisingly quick, but Kyuhyun’s enlistment was agonisingly slow in comparison. When he finally returned, videos circulated immediately and the elation of the gathered fans was palpable. I hadn’t interacted with Super Junior fandom for some time, but when Kyuhyun was released there were people swarming my notifications and a breathtaking sense of communal joy. There is a fear that over two years, the nature of your affinity for an idol will change – perhaps their music no longer appeals to you, perhaps you’ve shifted to another group or singer – but the nature of loyalty is that once it exists, however small, a part of it will always linger. In cases like the accused of the Burning Sun scandal, that seed of loyalty will morph into something a little melancholic, and while you may no longer support the idol themselves, keep in mind that the memories you made as a result of this idol are no less real. The friends you made, the good times you had, the afterparty where you danced wildly into the night
are no less powerful than they were; even if the idol is no longer someone you wish to support. That loyalty that you had is now a bundle of experiences that you had in relation to the idol in question. Do not let their mistakes taint your valuable memories, only acknowledge that the circumstance has changed. A fan is never going to know which idol is right and which is wrong – the nature of scandal is like a wildfire, it is unpredictable and sudden and sweeps up and consumes everything indiscriminately. There is nothing wrong with loyalty, and it can bring people together in ways that few other things can, but the danger comes from the possibility of your feelings and support being twisted and taken advantage of. This does not mean that you should not invest yourself in an idol in the assumption that they will inevitably be tugged down into a scandal, only remind yourself that if this does happen, you were not to know better and you are not to blame. Idols are humans, they too make mistakes, and it is the duty of a fan to know when to say goodbye, and when to say welcome back.
PR I STIN: W H AT W E NT W R O NG? Pristin, a 10 member group under Pledis, could’ve been one of the biggest Korean girl groups of this generation. Winning numerous awards and the title of ‘monster rookies’, Pristin were rising to the top. Yet they recently announced their disbandment, with 7 members choosing to leave Pledis altogether. To many, this didn’t come as a surprise – after months of no activity and Pledis’ track record with girl groups, some would say Pristin was doomed from the beginning. They lasted a measly 2 years and in that time they released only 11 songs; by Korean standards, it wasn’t enough for a group with such huge potential.
SO, WHAT WENT WRONG? Pledis initially had high hopes for Pristin. Riding on the coat-tails of members Nayoung and Kyulkyung’s success in IOI, Pledis wanted to capitalise on their popularity. After all, they had the leader of one of the most popular groups in Korea and one of the visuals, whose Chinese heritage opened the possibility of overseas promotions. They debuted Pristin quickly after IOI’s disbandment in order to keep the momentum with a bright concept and catchy title song, ‘Wee Woo.’ Pledis had been promoting the other 5 members who had also appeared on Produce 101 as ‘Pledis Girlz’ alongside 3 new members; Kyla, Sungyeon and Yehana. This combined exposure was sure to be a hit domestically with seven out of ten members with their own fanbases – at least, Pledis assumed so. ‘Wee Woo’ received mixed reviews upon its release. Pledis’ decision to make ‘Wee Woo’ the title song was their first mistake. Whilst it is
an admittedly catchy song, it didn’t showcase the girls’ talent the way it should have. The choreography was frustratingly simple when they were all capable of so much more, the lyrics held little substance and the rappers of the group got hardly any screen time or lines. Pledis could have struck gold if they decided to debut Pristin with an edgier concept, seen in ‘Black Widow.’ The dark and confident theme of ‘Black Widow’ is relatively unexplored in Kpop amongst girl groups, with cute concepts favoured domestically. But with the massive exposure they had, Pristin could have broken the mould and carved their name into Kpop history. ‘Black Widow’s choreography is more impressive when compared to ‘Wee Woo’s and it shows the versatility of the group. ‘We Like’, their second lead single from ‘Schxxl Out’ was marginally better as it was now clear who the main vocal was. But it faced many of the same issues that ‘Wee Woo’ did and earned them a reputation for using sounds as their chorus (Wee Woo and Du-du.) Pledis’ direction for the group was too safe but Pristin could and should have broken so many barriers.
But arguably the biggest reason for Pristin’s demise? Pledis. From their mismanagement of the group to their failure to protect them from scandal, the group’s future was always precarious. Their previous girl group, ‘After School’, hasn’t had a comeback in 5 years, yet they haven’t officially disbanded. Several members have since re-debuted in subunits (Orange Caramel and A.S. Red & Blue) and on survival shows – even Produce 101 which Pristin members starred on. Pristin’s activity flatlined after their two comebacks in their debut year with no explanation from Pledis or the members themselves. All the fans got was Pristin V – it seemed as if history was repeating itself. ‘Get it’ was true to Pristin’s sound, but by this point public interest in them was fading. Their fanbase dwindling, they were no longer viable to Pledis, who saw this as a failure and simply gave up on them.
Pledis’ negligence reared its head when members were wrapped up in scandal. They failed to speak up when they should have – Kyla was mercilessly fat-shamed by neitzens from the moment she debuted. Memes mocking her weight circulated, critics demanded she diet and she was ignored at fan meetings. Pledis’ response was to place her on an indefinite hiatus instead of addressing the situation. It was Pledis’ duty to shield her from the abuse she was receiving both online and offline. She was only 15 and her company enabled the bullying of a child. They could have easily issued a public statement threatening those who made malicious comments with lawsuits. Instead, they chose to sweep it under the carpet in the hopes that the issue would disappear. It didn’t and still hasn’t – Kyla is still being blamed by some for their disbandment. Other members were embroiled in controversy too. Roa was blasted by neitzens when pictures of her ‘underage drinking’ surfaced. She
was picked apart by both fans and neitzens for ‘acting inappropriately’ with older men, even though the pictures clearly showed her sitting on a chair rather than their laps. Kyulkyung was criticised for her Chinese promotions, but this time by Pristin fans. It was seen as her ‘choosing’ China over Korea and as a result she was shunned at fan meetings and live performances. Again, Pledis did nothing and the members were left to deal with the fallout. It’s hard to justify Pledis’ complacency – Xiyeon had been in Pledis for 11 years just to debut and disband in 2 years. All of the girls had sacrificed years and precious time with their families in pursuit of the false dream Pledis sold them. At least now most of the members are free from Pledis and can choose their own paths. Fans will never forget Pristin and wish them the best of luck in whatever they choose to do.
BY DAVINA DANG
THE ORIGINAL KPOP:
TROT MUSIC BY HELEN RODGERS
There’s no doubt that Kpop is a raging force in the music industry currently. Artists from South Korea have found their music in the spotlight and are breaking records left, right and centre. The world is becoming increasingly hypnotised by the genre’s bright colours, artistic dance moves and catchy music. But, before Kpop, there was the original Korean pop music: Trot. Trot music, also known as ‘Pponjjak’, first appeared on the Korean music scene in the early 20th Century, when Korea was under Japanese rule. The genre is said to be derived from Japanese ‘Enka’ and traditional Korean folk music.
2017 found that she’s the third most popular singer in Korea. Yeon Jeong has been releasing music since her debuted and her most recent album came out in March. It’s clear that Trot has made its mark on Korean society and the music industry. As a kpop fan, you probably will have heard Trot music without even knowing it. Many current idols cover Trot songs on variety shows such as ‘Immortal Songs 2’. EXO jazzed up Trot legend Nam Jin’s ‘With You’ with some amusing dance moves and their smooth vocals on the show back in 2013. BTS have even created a parody of their song ‘N.O.’ with Trot singing.
Trot music is characterised by its two-beat rhythm and its vocal inflections. Trot vocalists are trained use a strong vibrato when holding low notes and employ a technique called ‘keongneun sori’ or ‘breaking throat’ when they reach high notes. These characteristics make the genre stand out and, once you’ve heard it, you’ll be unable to dispute the music’s uniquely charming quality. Throughout the 20th Century, trot music dominated the Korean music industry. Artists like Bae Ho, Joo Hyun Mi and Lee Mija created iconic trot songs that are still loved today. These artists were very prolific with their music; Bae Ho released around 300 songs during his career and even has a statue in Seoul commemorating his most popular song ‘Return to Samgakji’. When listening to Trot music, you feel an inexplicable combination of relaxation and excitement. The duplemetre gives the music a steady rhythm and makes it very easy to listen to. However, the intricate vocal quality of the singer makes the listener curious and intrigued. It is, perhaps, this unusual combination that has captured the hearts of the Korean public. In the 1990s, Kpop as we know it today began to develop so the music industry saw a decline in Trot music and singers. The music still stayed relevant as people reminisced with the classics. Artists like Epaksa tried to keep it relevant by adapting the music to fit with the influx of pop music. Epaksa remixed the typical Trot elements with dance music and rap, creating TechnoTrot.
Idols have even tried out the genre for themselves. SM formed subgroup Super Junior – T in 2007 and they were the first idol group to sing Trot. Their debut ‘Rokuko’ sold 46,000 copies and became the number one bestselling single of the year according The Music Industry Association of Korea.
In 1999, Trot singer Jang Yeon Jeong debuted. She had a huge hit with ‘Eomeona!’ in 2005 and a Gallup poll in
In 2008, BIGBANG’s Daesung also released his solo debut Trot song ‘Look at me, Gwisun’ under the stage name D-LITE. The style of the song shocked the fanbase as it was so far from BIGBANG’s usual music. Daesung justified his choice, saying that he wanted to try something completely different. More recently, in 2015, Lizzy debuted as a solo singer with Trot song ‘Not An Easy Girl’. The singer also shocked audiences as the song was so different to the music she performed in her idol groups After School and Orange Caramel. Trot is becoming more fashionable again as more modern Trot artists are stepping onto the scene. The most famous of these being Hong Jin Young. Jin Young originally started her career in a girl group called SWAN but returned to become a Trot singer in 2009. She has had hits with songs such as ‘Cheer Up’, she’s produced OST’s for some notable dramas and she even released a collaboration with Kim Yon Ja and DIA. It’s comforting to know that musical traditions such as Trot have continued to be popular in Korea and to see where Kpop’s roots are. Here’s to many more years of this unusual genre – and to many more amusing covers!
T
hese days of summer are often filled with laughter, the warmer temperatures freeing everyone from their cozy indoor havens. Every high energy day has a quiet night to follow. And there’s perfect songs for both. For slow, summer nights in the hazy air, watching the stars come out as the bright light of the day fades away, this is a playlist that matches the slow warmth of the end of the day. Listen in and tune out with the perfect way to relax after those long, hot summer days.
GROOVYROOM SUNDAY Sunday. Sunny days. And cooler nights. That’s exactly what this song captures and it’s a great way to start off your playlist. The tempo remains steady throughout, mellow vocals of Heize and Jay Park wrapping around a laid back beat. There’s almost a hint of jazziness to the overall sound, whilst sticking to a mostly RnB feel, layered by light drum beats and some funky rhythm guitar.
TAEYEON WHY The music video practically radiates summer vibes with blue skies and sandy deserts, but the song perfectly captures that lazy summer feeling too. The tropical house tones of the chorus are what really helps to transport you here, but the relatively laidback tempo makes it perfect for the night as well as sun filled days.
MONSTA X FROM ZERO What starts of as a slow, relatively sparse song in the verses builds to tropical house high by the chorus. For Monsta X, this song is quite tame, it’s energy restrained but still present. The boys easy breezy vo-
cals give it the summery feel we’re looking for. Plus, the synths during the chorus callback to an era of kpop that placed itself firmly in the the warm months of past years.
MAMAMOO STARRY NIGHT An obvious choice? We love this song for it’s totally chill guitar riff and breezy vocals. Capturing the feeling of the cool night air after a scorcher of a day, it really captures the essence of looking up at the stars in a clear sky. Lay back and let Mamamoo’s voices dazzle in the starlight.
EXID DAY RATHER THAN NIGHT Or night rather than day for the perfect time to play. This is one of EXID’s slower songs, but that doesn’t mean it’s overshadowed by their bigger hits. What it lacks in force it makes up for in it’s melody. Irristably catchy and replayable, this song suits carefree nights almost too well.
HEIZE NO REASON Beginning with only the sound of a piano tricks you into thinking that this song will be a ballad. But as soon as the pace picks up, it’s obvious this isn’t the case. Heize’s high, soft vocals and lower rap contrast in a great way and with the piano continuing throughout the rest of the song, the instrumentation feels very relaxed.
ASTRO CRAZY SEXY COOL Astro bring a signature happy-golucky suaveness to a summer bop of a song. It’s lighthearted enough to fit a summery mood, but chill
enough to fit right in amongst the atmosphere of a calm night - or else the last moments of the sunny. The guitar and bass carry an infectious rhythm, and though the vocals soar during the chorus, the whole vibe of the song is very calm. We guarantee you’ll get that refrain of “So easy to love you” stuck in your head at least once. And it’s so easy to love this song.
BLACKPINK HOPE NOT The sound of the guitar on this track is filtered and rich, oozing a warmth that is backed up by Blackpink’s stellar vocals. It keeps to this throughout, relying only on the fullness of this guitar and bass and the harmonies layered on top. It feels almost wistful, and can easily carry away your worries at the end of a day.
TIFFANY TALK The slight echo on Tiffany’s lilting voice and the emptiness of the verses really set this song up as as song for the night. Hardly quiet, nor restrained, it settles into a style defined by low bass and slow tempo. This picks up a little at the chorus but still keeps the vibe of the versus. An intense yet chill song, the energy is just right for a warm night.
GUGUDAN BE MYSELF With a chilled out beat and some great background synths, this track is one to keep your interest without too much hype. It’s rich sound will have you hooked until the chorus, where some lighter trills really make it feel breezy and confident. Listen to gugudan’s advice, lie back and just be yourself as you listen away.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S PLAYLIST BY KEELEY BURRIDGE
A
re you looking for a cute and funny romance to binge watch this summer? Well, no need to look any further. Netflix’s ‘My First First Love’ is exactly that! The drama follows Yoon Tae-Oh (Ji Soo)who lives alone in a home his father gifts him. Yoon Tae-Oh imagines his new house becoming the perfect bachelor pad. However, he all of a sudden his friends move into his house for various reasons. The friends include his old crush and best friend Han Song-I (Jung Chae Yeon), a family friend who ran away from home Oh GaRin (Choi Ri) and aspiring actor Choi Hoon (Kang Tae-Oh). The only friend that doesn’t end up living in the house is Tae-Oh’s best friend Seo Do-Hyun (Jung Jin Young). The story unfolds as the group navigate the world as 20-somethings and their lives become intertwined. The drama boasts an incredible cast who bring so much life to each episode. In his first lead role, Ji Soo portrays a cute and charming main character who is reminiscent of Yoon Shi Yoon in ‘Flower Boy Next Door’. The idol actors, Jung Jin Young of B1A4 and Jung Chae Yeon of DIA show their talent and create believable friends for Tae-Oh. Their relationship and interactions are sure to make your heart burst. Choi Ri and Kang Tae-Oh (from 5urprise)
My First Love By: Helen Rodgers
(from 5urprise) both flutter your heart with their sweet relationship and bring lots of humour to the show. From start to finish, the show creates a light and colourful atmosphere with its beautiful scenery. Many of the outside scenes occur in Seoul’s Ihwa Mural Village, which is an exquisite backdrop for the story and fits the feel of the drama with its brightly coloured buildings. My First First Love’ isn’t all fun and laughter, however. Like many dramas, the show also intertwines serious storylines into the narrative. The writing perfectly balances the darker plot points with
the light atmosphere, making the show both entertaining and deep. It’s important to explore more serious moments into dramas about young people in order to make it realistic, which this drama IMAGE SPECIFICATIONS does superbly. The depth also allows viewers dive All supplied images to must into the characters and be RGB and 150ppi at to fall love with them. thein very minimum when placed in the layout. Though at ‘My First First is 300ppi a minimum Love’ isn’t anything preferred. drastically different on the kdrama is both You canscene. check It this classic and entertaining information in the Links with visuals panelstunning by selecting anand interesting image and characters. reading LinkThe show is able to stream info. Check the Colour on Netflix and it’s 8 episodes Space and Effective PPI. make it the perfect drama to binge watch on a lazy day.
Drama Review
It’s reported that more episodes have already been filmed. So once you’ve devoured season 1, you can sit back and eagerly await season 2.
15PT INSIDEMARGIN
10PT MARGIN
10PT MARGIN
BURNING FILM REVIEW
BY HELEN RODGERS
Flames lick the screen as they consume as they devour the skeleton of the green house. Silence fills the cinema as the audience are assaulted by the bright, orange light. The black silhouette of a small boy partially obscures the flames, the burning tendrils seemingly emanating from his juvenile body. The shot lingers. The audience captivated by its artistic beauty. This sequence is the embodiment of the film Burning. Lee Chang Dong’s Burning premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival before being released in Korea in May 2018. The film has been making the rounds in selected UK cinemas over the past few months. The film was adapted from Haruki Murakami’s short story ‘Barn Burning’ which appears in the collection The Elephant Vanishes. Burning follows the source material remarkably closely, however it is far more intense and darker (especially towards the end) Readers of ‘Barn Burning’ are left with an unresolved ending; Burning does not give its viewers the same. The film follows Lee Jong Su (Yoo Ah In), a young man with few prospects, who bumps into his childhood friend Shin Hae Mi (Jeon Jong Seo). The two rekindle their friendship and Jong Su begins to develop feelings for Hae Mi. Hae Mi tells Jong Su that she is taking a trip to Africa and asks Jong Su to feed her cat while she is away. When Hae Mi returns from her trip, she brings with her Ben (Steven Yeun). Jong Su soon realises that Ben isn’t quite what he seems.
The film is a thriller but not in the traditional sense: it is a rich, character study as opposed to a nail biter. It’s “a gripping nightmare” in the words of The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw. Burning is set in Seoul and Paju, and it showcases some of the stunning scenery in those areas. From shots of Seoul’s Namsan Tower to the rural landscapes of Paju near the North Korean Border, Lee Chang Dong uses the aesthetic of each location to enhance the story. The film is a piece of art as well as a narrative, Lee Chang Dong uses his directing skills to mesmerise audiences. The film is a tad too long at two and a half hours, but it burns just like a match thrown into a pile of wood; it devours its characters, and their hope, until all that’s left are ashes.
ACTOR SPOTLIGHT
PARK MIN YOUNG BY KEELEY BURRIDGE
Since 2010, Park Min Young has been a recognisable face to many k-drama fans. Making her breakthrough with Sungkyunkwan Scandal, a coming of age drama with a historical twist, she’s gone on to star in some of the most popular dramas of recent years. Not only is she a versatile actress, she has also proven herself to be one with an ability to connect strongly with viewers, be it through her impressive display of raw emotions, balanced with her light hearted knack for comedy. But like any actress, her popularity has been a steady climb. Slowly building up her acting credits with appearances in dramas such as I am Sam in 2007 and a few television adverts, it wasn’t until she landed roles in two successful dramas that her name became known. Sungkyunkwan Scandal was a moderately popular drama, boosted by a strong core fanbase that championed the show online. However, it was 2011’s City Hunter that carved out a place for Park Min Young in the k-drama landscape. This was, in part, due to her co-star Lee Minho’s increasing popularity, but to say that his presence alone was the reason for the drama’s success would be a huge discredit to Min Young. The two were praised for their chemistry, and many people still associate Min Young with the role of Kim Na Na to this day. For others, her most iconic role might be that of Chae Young Shin in mystery drama Healer. Sporting a cute, short hairstyle that is so easily associated with her character, she struck a balance between bubbly, headstrong, and caring, yet still conveying how deeply affected the character was by her past. This proved to be a winning success with viewers and the chemistry she had with lead actor Ji Chang Wook didn’t hurt either. A running trend with most of her dramas, it’s rare that Min Young has little chemistry with her co-stars. Her performance in the drama scooped up two awards for her at KBS’s Drama Awards in 2014, one for Excellent Actress and the Best Couple Award. Fast forward four years and, after signing with a new agency and appearing as a fixed guest in the Netflix variety show Busted!, Park Min Young took on another drama role, one that would prove to be
as popular as her previous big successes. Whilst she had starred in four other dramas following Healer, two of which were Chinese, none quite had the impact that What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? did. Playing the titular role of Secretary Kim Mi So opposite Park Seo Joon’s seeming cold Lee Young Joon, the show was praised for its adaptation of the webtoon of the same name. The two leads were also praised for - yes, you guessed it - their fantastic chemistry, to the point that some serious dating rumours buzzed around them for weeks whilst the drama aired. It’s ratings were high, and all the talk surrounding the possible couple earned the actress yet more recognition. It’s just as well that she’s appeared in her next drama soon soon after the triumph that was Secretary Kim. First airing in April, Her Private Life is another adaptation of a webtoon entitled Noona Fan Dot Com. It tells the story of an art curator who lives a secret life as a fansite master for a popular male idol. There’s certainly some elements in the show that might be relatable to those of us who call ourselves fans. Park Min Young has said on the subject that she wants to accurately portray a fan in a good light, showing their immense passion for what they love rather than focusing on the often negative views that some have. As someone with fans herself, this will be an interesting dynamic to see, and is already proving popular midway through the drama’s run. Prior to the airing of the drama, Min Young held her first fanmeeting, and we can’t help but wonder what experience she might draw from her interactions with fans when the roles are reversed. But as her drama’s become ever more popular, her acting talent being praised, one thing is for sure: she’ll have many more fans to meet in the future.
S UMME R VO C A BU LA RY
BY AMY FURNEY
So, with summer officially here, it is time to put on your 색안경 (sek-an-ygeon), or sunglasses, and take to the beach! Or, if you’d rather stay inside, you can also catch some summer vibes from some Korean vocabulary. We’re sure you have heard these words in some of your favourite summer anthems!
뜨거운 (tteu-geon) This is the adjective “hot”!
태양 (tae-yang)
This is the word for sun. Although it’s a rare site in the UK, Korean summers are very sunny and incredibly hot. You can also precede the word for sun with 뜨거운 to say “hot sun”, like NCT 127 do in “Summer127”.
바다 (ba-da)
Sea. How many songs can you list that feature this word?
밤하늘 (bam-haneul)
In English, this phrase means “night sky”. With summer days being warm and pleasant, it is definitely the time of year where people spend more time outside. SISTAR make this clear in their summer comeback “I Swear”.
색안경 (sek-an-ygeon)
Kpop veterans f(x) mentioned this word in their song “Hot Summer” in 2011! Here at UKP, we also support protecting your eyes from UV rays with a pair of sunglasses.
시원한 바람 (si-won-ham pa-lam)
A “cool breeze” is something many people long for in the blistering heat, and Infinte capture that perfectly in “That Summer”.
바닷가 (ba-das-ga) The beach!
아이스크림 (aisu-kureem)
This one is relatively simple to guess; a simple cool treat that is often on a cone and enjoyed in the hot weather. (Hint: It’s ice cream).
방학 (ban-hak) Holiday, or vacation.
여름 (yeo-leum)
Last but not least, here is the word for “summer” itself! Go out and enjoy the season whilst it lasts!
Satisfy your SEOUL Cravings with this Recipe
Strawberry Patbingsu
by Keeley Burridge
W
hen you think of Korean desserts, there’s nothing more iconic than patbingsu. A veritable mountain of shaved ice, fruit, condensed milk, ice cream and those sweet red beans, it’s exactly the kind of thing you can’t wait to dive into on a hot summer’s day. Whilst the traditional type sticks soleyl to the red bean flavour, there’s been an explosion in creative new ingredient combinations to jazz up old ideas. You’ll find many cafe’s across Korea dedicated just to different types of bingsu - from oreo and coffee, to passionfruit and mango. There’s even alcoholic versions made with makgeolli. It’s completely customisable, each component so simple that it’s easy to put together yourself at home with whatever flavours take your fancy.
All the ingredients are very easy to get hold of save for the red beans. Sweet beans aren’t as common a sight in the UK as they are in Asian countries, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be found at all. Check out some of the Asian supermarkets near you and you’ll be able to find some red bean paste. If not, a quick search online will show you many different sites to get it delivered right to your door. For the ice, it’s not essential to have an ice shaver at home either! If you have a food processor, you can blitz it up just enough to get a similar texture. Our recipe puts the focus on strawberries. After all, what better time of year for sweetest strawberries than summer? That being said, you can easily swap out the ice cream and fruit to put your own spin on this chillingly tasty desert. Get experimental or stick to the simple. You can even try making your own ice cream if you want that extra little homemade touch. Whatever you choose, we think you’ll love it!
Ingredients (Serves 2 people) • 400g of ice cubes • 2 tbsp of condensed milk • 2 tbsp of sweet red bean paste • 120g of fresh strawberries, chopped • 1 tbsp of strawberry sauce • 1 scoop of strawberry ice cream each • As many mini sweet rice cakes as you’d like! For a homemade strawberry sauce: • 175g of strawberries, chopped • 30g of caster sugar • 1 tsp of vanilla extract • 1 tsp of lemon juice 1. Put the ice cubes into a food processor and blend until the consistency resembles fine snow. This should take about 20-30 seconds, but go quickly so that as little melts as possible. 2. Seperate the ice evenly into 2 serving bowls. Alternatively, place a layer of red bean on the bottom of the bowl first before adding the ice. 3. Chop the strawberries and rice cakes into bite size pieces and add to the top of the ice. 4. Place a scoop of the ice cream next to the fruit. 5. Drizzle with the condensed milk, making sure it coats all the ingredients in the bowl. 6. To make your own strawberry sauce topping, put 175g of chopped strawberries into a large saucepan, followed by the sugar, vanilla and lemon juice. 7. Mix these all together over a medium to high heat until on the sugar has melted and the sauce starts to thicken. 8. Remove the sauce from the heat and leave to cool completely before using. The leftover sauce can be kept in jars and used with many other desserts. 9. Pour your strawberry sauce over the top of the patbingsu already assembled. 10. And you’re ready to serve! Mix it all up if you want, or dig through each layer to get the perfect combination of flavours. Image Source: Facebook, Cheotnun Korean Dessert Cafe
OPINION EDITORIAL BY HELEN RODGERS
LGBTQ+ IN KOREA AND KPOP: WHEN DOES FUNNY BECOME HARMFUL?
“In my view, same-sex love is fantasized in the Kpop industry but when it comes to addressing the actual issues, like coming out, it can be very sensitive and conservative, which is very ‘ironic’”. – Holland LGBTQ+ imagery is rife in Kpop and Korean popular culture. From idols notoriously androgynous fashion to shipping and skinship. You’d struggle to find a group where fans don’t ship the members or obsess over the members cross-dressing for fun. This behaviour isn’t inherently evil or wrong, but the way its treated can appear problematic. The reality of the LGBTQ+ citizens of Korea does not match the playfulness with which its portrayed in popular culture. It is still illegal for any same-sex couples to get married or have a legal partnership in Korea. The current Korean president Moon Jae In publicly expressed his opposition to legalising same-sex marriage during his presidential campaign. According to a Gallup poll, 58% of the country are also against same-sex marriage. Another poll conducted by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea showed that 92.6% of LGBT citizens in South Korea said they were worried about becoming targets of hate crimes. In September 2018, Incheon held its first-ever gay pride. The parade was interrupted when about 1000 people began violently protesting. If anyone is found having same-sex relations while in the military (regardless of consent), then it is deemed harassment and can be punishable by up to a year in prison and dishonourable discharge. There have also been repeated incidents of gay servicemen being beaten and bullied. Due to the treatment of LGBTQ+ people in South Korea, its not surprising that there are very few openly LGBTQ+ Korean celebrities. But that doesn’t stop popular culture from using LGBTQ+ imagery and behaviours for entertainment value. Cross-dressing has been a popular form of humour in Korea for a long time. Popular groups like GOT7 and Monsta X, along with many others, have used crossdressing as entertainment during their concerts. Mamamoo used the concept of cross-dressing as a joke for their ‘Um Oh Ah Yeah’ comeback. This trivialises trans rights when it’s constantly used as punchline for a
joke. The more people in the spotlight cross-dress the less serious topic becomes. Shipping culture dominates fandoms across the globe, and is very prominent in the Kpop fandom. Every groups have ships that are used by fans to create their own content and commentary. Shipping is not the fault of the idols or their companies, but it can be perpetuated by skinship and suggestive dance choreographies. This issue can not only be damaging to the LGBTQ+ community but also to the idols themselves. It’s not unusual to see members of groups distancing themselves from each other due to the fans excessive shipping. Despite the stigma surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, there are still some incredible LGBTQ+ celebrities in Korea. Hong Seok Cheon is an openly gay actor and television personality in South Korea. He came out as gay on a variety show. This section was edited out of the show but was revealed by a journalist who had hear about it. After Hong came out, he was fired from TV programs and was unable to land major acting roles. The actor was verbally abused, discriminated against and was essentially forced out of the industry. Despite this, Hong has since hosted his own talk show ‘Coming Out’ to discuss these issues. The public have begun to accept Hong now and he has even become involved in politics. In 2002, singer and entertainer HaRiSu was the second person in Korea to change her legal gender. HaRiSu has used her fame to further discussions about transgender and transsexual people by speaking up about it on TV as well as releasing both a documentary and book about her story. Most recently, Holland has broken onto the scene as Kpop’s first openly gay idol. I can only hope that as more celebrities come out, there will be more discussion about these topics in South Korea and the country will become more accepting, for both celebrities and the general public.
Video Gaming is a humongous influence in South Korean pop culture, becoming more prominent in the recent decades. The country was slightly ahead of the game when establishing the KeSPA (Korea e-Sports Association) in 2000 but with the rising popularity of MMOs including Starcraft, DOTA2 and League of Legends, it has become more prominent with its Olympic introduction during the Pyeongchang Winter Games. Despite a frosty reception from competing athletes, that certainly did not stop fans and competitors alike gathering in a little event hall in Gangneung to compete for a prize pot bigger than any Olympian’s paycheck from their home nations. Since then, South Korea has focused hard on e-Sports and gaming as a manner of tourism. It is clear to see that the console generation we may know and love in western culture is another world as the Korean audience tend to lean towards PC gaming. Certain popular games still include Xbox or Playstation ports, such as Overwatch or Monster Hunter, but the main games of choice are often played on a classic computer set up which gives the optimal layout for many multiplayer experiences; a layout more known for the avid MMO gamer. This preference brings the perfect marketing ploy as Video gaming is now almost seen as playing a sport. It has become both a social and competitive landscape for many to cash in on. On the social side,businesses alike have capitalised and transformed simple internet cafes to “PC Bangs”; a one stop centre to book in time to play with friends near and far. Playing without any delay, gamers can also order food or refreshment from their seat to collect during the occasional wait in the online lobby or to deliver if you locked in action. The United Kingdom has slowly took hold of this
trend as the gaming movement transitions further with specialised bars popping up throughout the country and major retail chain, GAME opening the Belong Gaming Arenas along with their own seasonal tournament known as the Arena Clash. However, what brings e-Sports its main impact is the influence and popularity that many high level players get. They are not seen as geeks but almost as idols. Ranging from streamers to pro-players, there is a public figure for everyone in the competitive landscape. Major companies want their split in this new sport and will pay out large sponsorships to players who are promising talent or competing in tournaments. From the continuing “Let’s Play” era, we have seen faces such as Ninja emerge from the digital world to become near household names. The same could be said in South Korea and game developers certainly know about the cultural impact of celebrity in the country. One perfect example of this is Song Hana, also known as D.VA from the game, Overwatch. Blizzard Entertainment planned her character to be specifically an Idol figure; a young girl who is well known in the Starcraft community. Despite fighting an robotic crisis in a Mecha robot developed by the Korean army, she is sponsored by multiple companies and acts as a celebrity in the public eye; almost similar to the pop idols many know and adore. Many gamers may think of D.VA’s portrayal as slightly over the top for a competitive gamer but in the Idol Culture, it could not be any further from the truth. In fact, South Korean artists have been known to be avid gamers themselves and often get into the spirit of the game. From protecting the payload in Overwatch to winning their chicken dinners in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, popular celebrities have been dabbling into the virtual world and
are often known to be playing alongside fans in certain events. Most recently, female artists have been getting their chance to shine. Game developer Actoz Soft teamed up with alumni from rookie groups, MIXNINE and Produce 101 & Produce 48 to form the group AQUA who perform as idols and as players in large gaming events. Marvel also developed KPop into their own game universe by introducing Luna Snow, an Idol with the power of ice & snow who was only available through the mobile game, Future Fight. However, the biggest team up came from (G) I-DLE and their team up with League of Legends. Forming the group K/ DA with singers Madison Beer & Jaira Burns, the group performed in front of millions of viewers around the world and premiered the track; “POP/STARS” which would soon be one of the top KPop collaborations of the year. Despite the huge media following, it is the gaming talent that forms the interest as many sportsmen at the top of their virtual game line up to get their shot and some often represent close to home. In the last year, e-Sports has been turned on its head and blasted into the British attention. It was almost inevitable that the world would find more beloved gamers to support and they certainly found it in many huge names in the UK. London based team, Fnatic made their mark in League of Legends history by lifting the first ever World Championship trophy in 2011 and have seen been a continuous force in Europe and the world. Other teams have soon followed in multiple games including Rocket League and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive but in the more recent years; Britain has reigned over the world of Overwatch with Cloud 9 sponsored team: London Spitfire. The group is formed of South
The eSports Movement in the UK
LOGGED ON Korean talent both in the game and also in coaching the roster to perform to a high standard against a wide range of International teams in the Overwatch League. Spitfire are now one of two major teams in the League that are based in Europe with the latter being Paris Eternal who made their debut in the 2019 Season. However, the British team did more than existing to create history within
the game’s timeline. London Spitfire battled for continuous weeks during the Inaugural Season in 2018 and fans were able to follow their story with their entourage through Social Media and Youtube personalities that acted as a spokesperson for their promotions on home soil. Management took full advantage of the social presence the group had and brought a high following through light-hearted collaborations and interactions between the squad
By Emma Alford
and their following which made their battle for victory all the more gripping.
After months of valiant fights, the team took flight in New York to become the champions of Overwatch League‘s inaugural season and now have a huge following of fans supporting them as they plan to defend their crown in the new 2019 season which will continue into the Playoffs in August.
DR AG I N SOUTH KOR E A
Over the past ten years VH1’s ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race‘ has brought worthy attention to the spectacular art form of drag. Kim Chi, top three on Season 8) is, without doubt, the most known name in drag with any connection to Korea (Sang-Young Shin is Korean American) but there is a flourishing drag scene in Itaewon, Seoul, full of Queens whose artistry will leave you gagging. Last year i-D teamed up with photographer Snakepool (Kanghyuk Lee) to capture seven of the most sensational Korea Queens, and spoke to them about their experiences, and the message they wish to portray with their drag. Featured in the article are: NANA: (Left) Yongrong Kim, a Busan native, who has been a drag queen for eleven years. She is a good friend of openly gay kpop idol, Holland, and recently featured in his music video for I Am Not Afraid. “The first time I found out about drag was when I watched the movie Hedwig …To me, drag seemed like a medium that allowed the expression of another version of myself that’s kept inside, which appealed to me and pushed me forward with participating in drag.” Kuciia Diamant: Kuciia is a full-time drag queen who has been a part of the scene for five years. She is a vocal human rights activist. “As a child, I was timid and a loner. I was bullied in school, and didn’t have many friends. But considering how much confidence and courage I gained after beginning drag, and thinking about all the people I met along the way, I could say that drag
was a huge challenge for me, and also an invaluable treasure that changed my life.” More: Mojimin is a drag veteran in Korea, having begun her career eighteen years ago. More is primarily a dancer, and a spectacular performance artist.
“We were seen as just men dressed as women, or, as the term transgender caught up with the public, they regarded us as transgender women in dresses. Every time I went on stage, it was painful and humiliating to disguise my feelings behind fancy outfits and entertain the audience. Now, however, the sheer beauty of drag helped liberate myself from many things.” Erica Balenciaga: Ji Hwan Shin cites strong Kpop women such as BoA and Lee Hyori as inspirations for Erica’s drag character. Discrimination from her own family saw her learn the strength of the drag family in Seoul. “Imagine how frustrated I felt when I realised that Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls, Violet Chachki, and Detox all had performed in my own country. I knew I had to go back and be a part of the community myself. This was also the time when my drag was starting to take up a big portion of my life. I couldn’t bear living a double life anymore and decided to be honest with everyone. As soon as I told my parents about me being a drag queen, they cut off all contact with me emotionally and
financially.” Vita Mikju: Much like RPDR S10 winner Aquaria, Mikju’s drag questions gender constantly, often bringing an androgynous, high fashion angle to her drag. “I was asked a lot to act like a man in my whole life. But I always think, “Hey I am being myself, and I’m a man! I AM ACTING LIKE A MAN! What kind of man do you want me to be?” Drag was a perfect form for me to break the rules and prove there’s no such a limit of what and how to act/wear/do/talk for being who you are. You do you.” Bori: Bori is still relatively new to drag, having almost fallen into the scene while employed as a dancer in a club. “In the beginning, I had no idea whatsoever, and didn’t know how to put on makeup. But soon after, I started to do my makeup on my own. And from then on, drag became more and more appealing to me, and as I discovered other sides of me, I continued with drag.” KYAM: Garam Kim has been a drag queen since 2010, while taking time off from acting college to perform with trans people. “Depending on how you use it, it could be protest or resistance. Personally I would like drag to be more of a performance that would reach the audience in a friendly manner.”
Beauty Breakdown:
Pretty In Pink Emma Alford
With the Summer season creeping in, it is time to bring
some colour back into the world and what better way to do so than through the power of make-up. Idols tend to opt into neutral or shimmering tones for enhance natural beauty but recently, there has been a surge of bright pink tones that pop and tie the look together for the warmer season.
BLACKPINK’s Lisa & Jennie ”Kill This Love” BLACKPINK brought a large number of looks in their latest comeback, “Kill This Love” which has brought attention on their style and detail. Hailing to their namesake, both Jennie & Lisa play with pink shades which counter the fierce black & white outfits during their individual segments. Both show different ways to rock the hot pink trend. Jennie opts for a elegant look by smoking out a hot pink shade in both matte and shimmering tones. For a festival twist, add some golden liner for a subtle hint of glam. However, if you want to go big and bold this season, try a monochrome look similar to Lisa. Dip into some colour with a pink winged eyeliner and matching looks for a simple graphic look guaranteed to turn heads. Products: Colourpop Creme Gel Colour in Boots Dose of Colors Matte Liquid Lipstick in Pinky Promise Sugarpill Pressed Eyeshadow in Hotsy Totsy E.l.f. Stardust Glitter Eyeliner in Shimmering Gold M.A.C Powder Kiss Lipstick in A Little Tamed
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed non elit erat. Sed arcu magna, ultrices in nulla sit amet, tincidunt scelerisque justo. Pellentesque tempus ornare sem, eget ultricies sem Chaeyoung suscipit eu. Cras tempus enim a TWICE’s - “Fancy” neque vestibulum accumsan at in quam. Etiam mollis id orci at tincidunt. Curabitur vel. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed non elit erat. Sed arcu magna, ultrices nulla sit amet, are tincidunt scelerisque Bright pinksinand magentas not just for partiesjusto. or big Pellentesque tempus ornare sem, eget ultricies sem suscipitevents. eu. Cras tempusmake-up enim a neque vestibulum accumsan Everyday can include a “Fancy” twist at in quam. Etiam mollis id orci at tincidunt. Curabitur vel. thanks to the ladies of Twice. Fans have already turned heads over Chaeyoung’s vivid look that teams perfectly with her short blonde hairstyle. Powder matte lips can be transformed with a sheer pink shimmer to brighten the eyes for a simple Idol look to wear during the KARD’s Somin - “Bomb Bomb” day. Similar to Chaeyoung, a rose toned eyeliner can Lorem ipsum dolor The ladies of KARD became sultry queens with the smudged into the lower lash line to transform the look sit amet, consectetur release of “Bomb Bomb”, wearing smokey eye makefor an evening event. adipiscing elit. Sed non up to combo the sexy festival inspired outfits. However, elit erat. Sed arcu magna, Somin’s floral look brings the bronze shimmers to (Products: ultrices in nulla sit amet, the next level. Adding rosy tones of pink to a neutral Revlon Kiss Cushion Lip in Berry Lit tincidunt scelerisque justo. smokey eye adds an ethereal geisha style to your look peripera Sugar Twinkle Liquid Shadow in Pink Melody Pellentesque tempus which is perfect for the summertime. In the music video, Eylure Accent Lashes in No. 003 ornare sem, eget ultricies Somin opts for a flush of pink to the lips to tie in with NYX Professional Makeup Metallic Eyeliner in Rose sem suscipit eu. Cras the overall look. For an easy gradient lip trick, use a pH Gold tempus enim a neque lipstick that changes colour for a flattering tint of pink vestibulum accumsan at in that makes a trademark beauty trick accessible to all. quam. Etiam mollis id orci at tincidunt. Curabitur vel. (Products: ACE Beaute Blossom Passion Eyeshadow Palette. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha Lipstick Queen Lipstick in Morning Sunshine Kat Von D “Dagger Tattoo Liner” in Trooper Black
10PT MARGIN
10PT MARGIN
15PT INSIDEMARGIN
10PT MARGIN
UnitedKpop is a community of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies Every month is Pride Month at UKP!
