1. Most Asian countries have their own music and album markets but haven’t established their markets. Only K-Pop has a global fandom.
2. So elite trainees from Asian countries are entering Korean entertainment companies and as a result, K-Pop is having idols from various Asian countries.
3. Most are from Japan, China, and Thailand. Kids from wealthy families who wouldn't run out of money even if they spend it in their own countries, in order to debut as idols in South Korea, drop out of school, live apart from their parents, endure 16 hour of practice everyday, crying and struggling as trainees in South Korea.
4. In Southeast Asia, there is considerably jealousy, envy, an admiration toward thaailand because K-Pop legend, BLACKPINK Lisa, is from Thailand. Lisa, who now have become a world-class star, has reached a level where even Thai conglomerates have difficulty inviting her.
5. Top 4 major entertainment companies in K-Pop: HYBE, SM, JYP, YG
Mid-sized companies: Starship, Cube, WAKEONE.
Small companies: Mystic, HIGH UP, etc.
6. When one of the TOP 4 major entertainment companies launches a new idol group and a trainee from a particular country is included, fans from that country go wild.
7. When a Filipino trainee appeared in HYBE's global audition, Filipino, which envied Thailand, gave an overwhelming support which resulted in her debuting at #1.
8. That group the Filipino member was in only released one debut single in South Korea, but swept major events in the Philippines. Even before gaining popularity or recognition in South Korea, they were treated like top stars and invited to events in the Philippines.
9. Recently, SM debuted a new girl group with an Indonesian member named ‘Carmen.’
10. In Indonesia, people are celebrating, saying they have finally achieved their long-awaited wish of debuting a trainee from their country in one of the TOP 4 major entertainment companies.
11. Even though she hasn't debuted yet, they already speculated that she would be discriminated. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese fans are feeling envious.
12. Trainees from Asian countries who could debut in their own countries are entering the K-POP market, and each Asian country is reacting as if they are cheering for their own national players transferring to the EPL.
The ‘EPL-ification’ of K-POP.
-Oh, I get it now, I understand right away.
-Comparing it to the EPL makes it so much easier to understandㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Well, it's not just Asia; if you want to be an idol, Korea is the only option. Didn’t they even gather people from the U.S. or somewhere else to launch a group?
-I have a Vietnamese friend I met through K-Pop, but they don’t see Hanni as Vietnamese at all. To them, Hanni is clearly an Australian.
-Cringe.
-From the perspective of China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, K-Pop is definitely like the EPL.
-I mean, it sounds mostly accurate. What’s the issue? When there’s a Southeast Asian member, their YouTube views are really good.
-What the hell, you have to let her debut first in order to know if she's being discriminated or notㅋㅋ
-I met a Vietnamese fan at a concert who said they like Hanni, but they said that Hanni is a different Viatnemese from them, so it was. bit awkward. I think they see her as Australian. This time, Indonesian fans are going crazy over SMNGG debutㅎㅎ
-Who’s the Filipino member who ranked first??
ㄴHYBE KATSEYE Sophia.
-Going abroad to become an idol in another country… It only happens with K-Pop.
-Isn’t there a Vietnamese member in HYBE’s boy group?
-I really hope it stays that way. K-Pop forever.
-How popular is Nichkhun in Thailand? Wasn’t he the first Thai idol to debut in South Korea? It feels like there are a lot of Thai debuting as idols in South Korea after Nichkhun~