The Korean Wave (or Hallyu), which refers to the global circulationof Korean media and popular culture, seems more visible than ever,despite almost two decades of doubt, skepticism, and disapproval aboutits continuation. In particular, the rapid surge of K-pop (Korean idolpop music) in the global mediascape, led by several idol groups andtheir dedicated overseas fans since the mid-2010s, reveal…
Most Korean1 televi sion dramas end with a still screen image, designed to act as a cliff-hanger to each episode. The tension is left to linger for a while; then the credits start to run, accompanied by background music against the still screen frame, revealing the names of the drama series sponsors one by one. Since the mid-2000s, the names of Korean municipalities have started appearing in…
The aim of this book is to explore the role of music with regard to social dynamics and processes of cultural inclusion and exclusion through the concept of musical gentrification. Our investigation of these phenomena pays special attention to the expanding role that popular music plays, and has played, in the listening habits of people of all kinds as well as in a variety of edu…