Fans of Korea pop music, or K-pop, are perhaps the most distinguished of all music followers around the world, says Dr Roald Maliyankay, author of a new book The International Rise of the Korean Music Industry.
The book explores the K-pop phenomenon and considers the national and transnational conditions that have played a role in its rise and how that relates to the Korean diaspora.
"A lot attention is given to the various aspects that are typical of K-pop and how a particular aspect of K-pop plays a key role," Dr Maliyanky told SBS.
The book analyses fan practices, discourses and underlying psychologies within their local environment and questions of how far "Asian culture" can become global.
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Dr Maliyankay said SBS‘s PopAsia radio and TV programs are an example of how the K-pop fan base has the power and ability to drive the content it wants to consume.
“They [SBS PopAsia] had to make adjustments here and there, they had to move time slot here and there, it’s a really interesting study of how you can associate you program with particular groups in your society especially if you’re interested in kind of people with an Asian background… and see how pop culture can try and address particular issues,” he said.
Dr Maliyankay said the key to understanding why K-pop has been so successful is to look at what fans do in their spare time.
“I can teach a course on today’s politics in Australia but I think that very few of my students understand the significance of it. When I ask them to talk about the way they in which they spend their free time, what I’m doing is asking them what is really significant to them,” he said.
Despite its current popularity, it's yet to be seen whether K-pop will become a lasting industry or a passing fad, he said.
