Page 77 – KultScene

South Korea’s Portrayal of North Korea Isn’t A Comedy So Stop Laughing at ‘The Interview’

December 23, 2014/in Entertainment, Movies, Television /by Tamar Herman

James Franco and Seth Rogen think that North Korea is a joke, based on the trailers for The Interview. But South Korea doesn’t really think the same way.

North Korea may be a crazy country that allegedly hacked Sony because of a single movie, but South Korea thinks of North Korea less as the deranged cousin that it doesn’t want to see as much as a long-lost sibling. Sometimes North and South Korea are portrayed as lovers, sometimes as mortal enemies; it just depends on what movie or show you’re watching.

Hot on the heels of one of the biggest entertainment industry hacks in history, the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy The Interview is all people seem to be able to talk about. And the fact that it is a comedy movie about assassinating the dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, emphasizes how Hollywood thinks that North Korea is a big joke.

“The Interview” via Tumblr

But to South Korea, North Korea is anything but a joke and this can be seen in the variety of ways that North Korea is portrayed in a variety of South Korean films and television shows.

[Spoilers ahead.]

Shiri (1998)

The first film Korean blockbuster, Shiri (also known as Swiri) had it all; explosives, spies, romance, North Korean-South Korean reunification… Yes, Shiri was the first Korean film to really address the fact that North Korea, while depicted as a military state with countless deadly spies, is South Korea’s twin state. The two countries have been divided since the 1940’s and the politicians in the film were meeting to figure out a potential path to reuniting the two halves of the whole. Shiri humanized North Korea in a way that had never been seen in South Korean film.

Also on KultScene: 8 Words You Began Using as a K-Pop Fan

The movie ends with many deaths and a tragic love story between North and South Korean operatives. But the main point of the movie is that they are simply Korean, it doesn’t matter what side of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone that separates the Koreas) someone lives on. So too, does the shiri fish swims in both North Korean and South Korean waters, but doesn’t know where one country’s waters begin and the others ends.

King 2 Hearts (2012)

A drama in a what-if world where South Korea retained its monarchy after the Korean War, but the countries are still divided. So many different impossible things were going on during this television show that it seems unlikely that anything real was truly represented. But the tensions between North and South Korea, where sometimes the two countries are on the brink of war and other times working together to help the people of both nations, were accurately portrayed.

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The idea of North Korea and South Korea being lovers who are separated by outside factors has become a sort of anthropological narrative in South Korea. King 2 Hearts is just one example of a situation where the two lovers, Lee Seung Gi and Ha Ji Won, are stand in for the tempestuous relationship of the country. Unlike Shiri where the lovers were unable to be together due to the differences, King 2 Hearts represents a more hopeful view for the future of the two Koreas.

Secretly, Greatly (2013)

This film takes a different take on the story and instead of showing the relationship between the two countries and the politicians who trying to bring about reunification like the previous examples, Secretly, Greatly shows North Korean spies falling in love with South Korea. The sleeper agents spend several years integrating into South Korean life in order to save their families from torture in North Korea, and after going to South Korea they see what it’s like to be average parts of society. Secretly, Greatly depicts North Korea as a ruthless country that is willing to kill its own elite operatives rather than risk losing those very same spies, and demands everything from its people without giving much back.

The film shows the idea that many South Koreans have of North Korea: it is an evil place that doesn’t care about its people. Secretly, Greatly is itself a comedy, but a dark comedy that is tragic. The leaders of the country are not people to mock, but instead people to be afraid of. It’s a very different take on North Korea than Shiri and King 2 Hearts, but that is because North Korea takes on so many roles as the rival nation to South Korea.

There are countless other Korean portrayals of North Korea: Iris, Doctor Stranger, Joint Security Area, and Taegukgi are just some of the more popular portrayals of North Korea by South Koreans. Many of these, the ones listed and the ones discussed in this article in depth are dramatic, some are comedic, and many are both. But none have evoked the wrath of North Korea by minimizing and mocking the threat that is very real to South Korea.

North Korea is portrayed many ways: lover, potential ally, enemy, etc. But South Korean filmmakers do not mock North Korea as openly as Hollywood’s The Interview, because such a complicated matter does not warrant complete disregard.

What do you think about South Korea’s portrayal of its relationship with North Korea in film and dramaS? Share your comments in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Brave Brothers and the Culture Industry

December 22, 2014/in Features, OPINION /by Joe Palmer

K-pop exists in a strange musical universe in which the biggest labels can afford to take creative risks and produce the most diverse range of music while the smaller labels have to play it safe and bet on already successful names. While the big three companies (SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment) often buy songs from foreign songwriters (SHINee’s Lucifer, Girls’ Generation’s Run Devil Run) or use in-house producers, all the smaller labels rely on outside Korean hitmakers to write and produce potential chart toppers. While there are benefits to both methods, the reliance on using the same third party producers is having a negative effect on the creativity of the industry.

In recent times, Brave Brothers (Kang Dong Chul) has been one of the most successful of third party Korean producers. Ever since Sistar’s Alone in 2012, he has been the most prolific and profitable. This song, which promoted Sistar from a lower tier girl group to the top tier of Korean girl groups, gave him a template to work off in order to continue creating commercially and critically successful music. That template is one of a simple verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus structure with similar melodies and usually some sort of hook with “oooohs.” With this template Brave Brothers has led K-Pop into a conveyor belt system.

This may not seem strange to any regular viewer of pop culture as all other pop music markets are the same, but the timing of this for K-Pop makes it even more disheartening. The music landscape of South Korea had been going in an interesting direction with the trend of songs that played with the structure and average traits of a pop song instead of simple “template” songs.

SM were the leaders of this direction with EXO’s Mama, Wolf and Girls’ Generation’s I Got A Boy amongst others. These were songs that required and rewarded repeat listens. They played with the idea of what a pop song could strive to be and saw something so much more than just another cookie cutter production. When they were jarring, they were meant to be so in order to make the listeners actually think about what they were hearing. Even when they weren’t jarring, it was because the songs were produced so masterfully that it was not as noticeable but still always there. They were songs with no obvious chorus or hook, the exact opposite of what Brave Brothers produces.

This style of pop song is not one that is ever consistently popular, however. The fact that this trend lasted over a year in Korea was really exciting. One could see a possible changing of the industry with songs that did not conform to a factory accepted product, somewhere where creativity was put ahead of economy. This was all wishful thinking however, as the paying public did not agree and the companies reverted back to tried and tested ways. Focusing just on SM Entertainment we can see where this failure came from. I Got A Boy was a small seller in terms of the Girls’ Generation giant and received a lot of backlash from fans while EXO experienced their biggest hit with Growl, which was a more standard kind of song compared to Wolf and MAMA.

Also on KultScene: Artist Spotlight: Sistar

At the same time as this progression, Brave Brothers’ regression was also happening. After the success of Sistar, songs like Gone Not Around Any Longer by Sistar19, Love Options by BESTie and 4minute’s two singles, What’s Your Name? and Is It Poppin? (which sound somewhat different but are in fact structurally the same with a few new bells and whistles) were the biggest hits for these groups’ careers. The simple structure and catchiness of these songs were the final forewarnings before his total takeover in 2014.

AOA’s Miniskirt and Short Hair, BTOB’s Beep Beep, Hyorin’s One Way Love, and Hyomin’s Nice Body were all big hits for these singers. Even JYP Entertainment succumbed to the trend, with Sunmi’s Full Moon bringing rave reviews. SM’s most trendy group, EXO, released another simple song Overdose and was again hugely successful at the same time as F(x)’s more ambitious Red Light faltered in terms of sales in comparison.

You might think this is not so bad. These are mostly great songs but there is something deeper going on here and this can be explained with help from German philosopher and critic Theodore Adorno. A little bit of history first. Adorno was part of the Frankfurt School, which was a Marxist school of theorists who wrote about many ideas regarding society but mostly centred on media and communications, which was active from around the 1920s to 1950s. Adorno was a major figure in the school and wrote extensively about popular culture and its effect on society at large. He wrote about pop culture as a culture industry, in that it had ceased to be an artistic endeavour and became a purely money making business.

This is where Adorno connects for us. We have seen that this is where K-Pop has reached finally but that is still not the most troubling thing. Adorno’s theory continues to say that this culture industry eventually does more than just make money but also serves the state in keeping the masses in line with their views. In musical terms this means that these songs are being created in an identical way in order to stop us from critically thinking about them and in turn nullifying our ability to critically think about any aspect of our lives.

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For me the work of Brave Brothers falls directly into this category. His recent work has had a profound influence on the rest of the industry and continues to be some of the most recognized. This is a direct problem for the state of music in South Korea and indicative of the conservatism of the country itself.

Considering pop music’s effect on society and how it reflects society is crucial for understanding and helping it grow. Right now, K-Pop is in a precarious position of completely yielding to the Brave Brothers template and being forever stuck with it. If the answer is not in I Got A Boy or Red Light then there is another way out there which we have probably seen before. It could be the melding of western and eastern styles we see so often or in the trot tradition of South Korea itself. Ultimately though, I don’t think there is an answer that can truly change the status quo.

Do you think Brave Brothers’ music is bad for the industry or do you love his music? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Christmas Edition

December 21, 2014/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

We’ve made it a tradition to come up with playlists for Sunday Playlist holiday themed when they’re approaching, and of course one of the major ones couldn’t be bypassed: Christmas. For this edition, we’ve come up with a few songs that set the perfect mood for Christmas parties or the actual 25^th. Our picks are songs that get us in the Christmas spirit while still having fun.

There are many western Christmas classics open for K-Pop groups to cover around the festive time to show their spirit. These songs are such a big part of Christmas in the west that it’s fun to hear the odd Korean version. SHINee chose the ever popular Last Christmas by British duo Wham. Although as you start listening you might be mistaken that it actually is a cover since the production has been nearly completely changed to a strange twirling electronic sound. The pronunciation is all ok but helps the endearing charm of it all. I say let’s have some more weird covers of classics, that’s the true spirit of Christmas.

–Joe

White Confession (Lately) is an original song by INFINITE to express the warm spirit of the holiday season. White Confession is a song about remembering old relationships around the holidays and the desire, but also embodies the feeling many people have around this time of year. The song uses INFINITE’s typical retro style with bells that are reminiscent of holiday tunes, creating a sweet song for the winter months.The video music shows the seven members of the idol group shopping for one another and enjoying time together in the winter, when people come together to spend time with their loved ones.

–Tamar

Also on KultScene: 5 Standout K-Pop Underdog Rookies Of 2014

Super Junior’s White Christmas talks about the important stuff to worry about during Christmas: presents and snow. Or at least that’s half of what I think about during these holidays (no snow in SoCal *sigh*). The song is upbeat and fun, a now staple concept for this group of derps, and is refreshing because it’s not a dull ballad. I picture this song in a playlist along with Jingle Bell Rock and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. It’s the perfect song to get everyone in a cheery mood.

–Alexis

What’s your favorite K-Pop Christmas song? Share your pick in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Why Are K-Pop Year-End Comebacks Scarce & Disappointing?

December 19, 2014/in Features, OPINION /by Tara

Year-end comebacks are, by nature, tricky things in the K-Pop world. A comeback is usually teased at least a week before the release and it involves numerous amounts of promotions, not to mention singing and dancing to the same song over and over again. But in K-Pop, there are multiple events to close out another year. With that, it is difficult to calculate when to schedule a year-end comeback in order to get the most recognition. Alas, it would be nice to have a few comebacks that are memorable around this time of year. Here are a few reasons why this year’s end of the year comebacks were disappointing.

When end of the year comeback is mentioned, the thoughts of a new song, a new dance, and a new video are all related to the phrase. Instead of an actual single, relatable all year round, the fans get season-appropriate songs and music videos. Don’t get me wrong, at times these are just what we need during the holiday season, but we don’t always need them. We also don’t need a slew of them. Because after a while, things just get recycled and are not special or different or interesting anymore.

There were a few holiday releases that were used to help further promote a group or capitalize on their popularity, as seen last year. One of those was EXO’s 2013 release Miracles in December, which showcased the four guys’ spectacular vocals, but nothing else. It was a nice treat for fans, but an actual comeback with all of the members would, obviously, be more enticing.

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Park Bom and Lee Hi got together and did their rendition of All I Want For Christmas last year as well. In my opinion, that cover should have never happened or should have been done differently. Taking such an iconic Christmas song and completely altering it is extremely bold, but hard for fans like myself to appreciate.

via Tumblr

And then there was Crayon Pop’s Lonely Christmas, which capitalized on their rise to popularity after Bar Bar Bar. In these instances, the songs seemed like an afterthought; just there to release to the public to get a little more attention and intrigue before the year ends.

via fanpop

It would definitely alter the dynamic if K-Pop groups released a Christmas and/or holiday album once in their career. A full-album with appropriate songs that highlight the season would be a nice treat. Aside from one holiday/season-related single that didn’t receive the same amount of attention (behind the scenes) as a normal single, a whole album that is produced well and thought out, yet still season-specific, could make a nice year-end treat for fans.

But aside from holiday-related comebacks, there are also the comebacks that just seem to show up without any notice. Granted, a lot of that has to do with the entertainment company and their PR approach. There is also the fact, at least in my case, I am at work for the majority of the day, I am in a different timezone than Korea, and I don’t spend all of my free time hounding the internet for K-Pop/Korean- related stuff, that I do not hear about these comebacks or see much promotions for them. Thinking about this year in K-Pop, I only really remember songs and mini and full albums that came out early in the year and during the summer. They were teased well and promoted well and therefore stick out in my mind.

In general, there aren’t many year-end comebacks that aren’t holiday related. And to me, this is unfortunate. I would love to round the year with a few bad-ass, amazing songs, dances, and music videos. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few good ones that have been released recently, such as Yoon Mirae Angel, Hi Suhyun I’m Different among others, but I would like to have a single from some veterans who then release their second single in the new year.

Also on KultScene: K-Pop Idols Who Need To Release Holiday Songs

Aside from these examples, there have not been very many noteworthy K-Pop releases. Is everyone taking a break until the new year (doubtful)? Obviously there are certain groups and solo artists who are preparing for the year-end events, whether they are actually performing, presenting or just attending. But the end of the year always just seems a little bit empty and forgotten. What if Big Bang released a new single and music video the first week of December, or SHINee, or any other well-known K-Pop group? People would go crazy and they would go unbeaten on the charts! I mean, end the year on a high note and make this time of year memorable for more than the MAMA awards and Gayo Daejun.

Until my wishes come true, the end of the year specials will definitely keep my thirst at bay. Do you wish there were more year-end comebacks? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

8 Words You Began Using as a K-Pop Fan

December 17, 2014/in Fans /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

Do you remember the first time you delved into K-Pop only to quickly discover the pandora box of confusion you had just encountered? Everything from the language to the music to the clothes were a new experience, but it mostly had to do with the fact of it being foreign and you not being a native speaker. That’s why you were super happy to find a community online of English speaking fans who shared your interests. But this also had it’s setbacks.

As it turned out, even within the English speaking fans, there was a collections of slang, words, and phrases you didn’t know or didn’t use prior to entering the fandom. However, once you began using them, you can’t really part with them. That’s why we came up with a list of words you began using once you became a K-Pop fan.

1. “Bias”

Before K-Pop, your favorite band member was simply your favorite member. But at some point when you were looking up pictures of your beau on Tumblr, you stumbled upon the word “bias.” Etymologically, this term refers to an outlook or temperament with a one-sided inclination. To a person outside the fandom, it would make little sense. But with a super big open mind, “bias” makes some sense when referring to your favorite member in a group. Or at least now it does.

via fanpop

2. “Comeback”

This word is common in music, alright. But when someone announces its “comeback,” you imagine the Madonna albums after years of hiatus, or Britney Spears’ Circus following her meltdown. Comebacks are long awaited returns to music by artists who have been gone for a while. However, in K-Pop, this merely means another release by a given act. Sure, BIGBANG’s comeback will, indeed, be a comeback. On the other hand, GOT7’s debut and following two comebacks this year hardly constitute as such.

by lemonvip

Also on KultScene: 5 Standout K-Pop Underdog Rookies Of 2014

3. “Visual”

Girl and boy bands throughout history haven’t always been fully comprised of equally talented members, but K-Pop has been keeping it real with telling people that a member in their group’s sole purpose is to be good-looking (nevermind they’re not as gifted in dancing or singing). But can we all just agree that using “visual” as an adjective to describe a person is weird? “Visual,” of course, has to do with the eyes, so maybe something that already exists like “looker” would make more sense than something you bring to show and tell in school.

by danyislas

4. “Virus” Or “Vitamin”

EXO’s Chanyeol is widely known as the “happy virus,” with him introducing himself as such in T.V. shows. Fans, particularly on Tumblr, for their part, rapidly embraced the tag. “Vitamin” is also a term used to describe a person who energizes you (another weird description). Both now make lots of sense. However, outside of the fandom, someone would be confused if you were to use these types of descriptions. I’m sure these sound far better and make more sense in Korean, and yet, we’ve adopted the awkward and cheesy English translations into our everyday speech. English is not that metaphorical…

via Tumblr

5. “Showcase”

Have you ever noticed how every other article on American K-Pop sites (even this one!) use the word “showcase” a lot. Outside of K-Pop, more common synonyms like “performs,” “features,” or “displays” are the norm. However, someone somewhere began using “showcase” as the verb to use when describing what K-Pop idols are showing or doing that it’s become second nature. This might be the case of a direct translation from a Korean word that got popular really quick, but we could be wrong…

via kpopselca

6. “Refreshing”

Pre K-Pop, a cold shower on a hot day was refreshing. But now, a group’s new sound or image that is different from what they did before or to anyone else is “refreshing.” Again, it’s one of those things you never thought about before K-Pop, but once you became a fan, you started using the word as an adjective and even employ it for Western artists now. While the word is overused in K-Pop, it makes for a very metaphorical adjective to use for other things as well.

via Tumblr

Also on KultScene: Best BTS SoundCloud Songs

7. “My Style”

To say that someone fits the features and characteristics you look for in a crush, we usually use “my type.” However, in K-Pop, people tend to say that a person is their “style.” “Tall, dark, and handsome guys are my type” became “tall, dark, and handsome guys are my style.” Even miss A has a song titled Ma Style. However, this word is something we normally associate with material things like clothing, or use to describe other actions (writing, painting, designing, you name it!) Either way, “style” sounds way more chic and sassier that “type.”

by mmminhyuk

8. “Burdened”

To feel burdened by something or someone is a thing, we know. However, the expression seems to be part of Koreans’ everyday speech. Artists are always talking about feeling burdened or not wanting to burden someone else. Maybe it’s because we normally don’t think we’re imposing on someone else, but this expression and its derivatives are definitely uncommon outside of K-Pop.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lQdgPsDVhJFY-hlS6u6IeoCQAvOj6a3O0phE2seC6q0/edit

via Tumblr

What words, phrases, or slang did you began using once you got into the K-Pop fandom? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

5 Standout K-Pop Underdog Rookies of 2014

December 16, 2014/in Entertainment /by Joe Palmer

‘Tis the season to be jolly, which means we are coming towards the end of the year, which also means it is the season of end of year lists. We are starting off the look back at this year with a consideration of the new. We’re highlight the K-pop rookie groups that have stood out without the backing of one of the big three companies in 2014.

It is becoming more and more difficult for a group to stand out from the crowd since the number of debuts is rising all the time. Without the backing of one of the big three, it is even more difficult to get any sort of publicity. What marks my picks is their lack of gimmick in that it is unusual for a group to debut without one now but these groups have their mark with quality alone. There are some absolute gems to be found and there is lots of potential for the future here.

Also on Kultscene: K-Pop Idols Who Need To Release Holiday Songs

5. High4

High4 are best known right now for their collaborations with IU and Lim Kim. Even if it was IU who seemed to gain most from these team ups and given how hard it is to outshine Lim Kim’s unique voice, it still gave High4 an interesting way of entering the K-Pop market and brought them a fan base. They have also shown great range through these two songs and their first solo song Headache. Not Spring, Love, or Cherry Blossoms with IU is a sweet song perfect for its spring release. A Little Close with Lim Kim is a smooth R&B track where their vocals are pushed, and Headache is a high energy funky song that was a big departure from their collaborations. While there is no obvious standout track here, there is a lot of potential to go forward and create interesting songs in a diverse range of genres.

4. Purfles

There always seems to be rookie groups popping up with the strangest names. Purfles were right up there in terms of weirdness, and their lack of teasers meant no one was expecting anything from them. The release of 1,2,3 in October completely smashed expectations as it was one of the most polished productions of all the debuts. Starting off as sexy means this trio of girls are clearly looking at sexiness as their main focus and as something they can add to rather than switching to it to sell records. So far, they are certainly making a mark with this concept. 1,2,3 is an exciting song with sharply executed choreography and ‘na na nas’ that do not leave your head. Expect Purfles to comeback soon to capitalize on their surprise release.

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3. MAMAMOO

Standing out from the crowd is what all rookie groups want to do. Usually using strange gimmicks like a group of girls with bob haircuts (Bob Girls) or a boy group with seventeen members (Seventeen, note the original names too). A truly great group, however, stands out with their sound, and this is what MAMAMOO has done. They focused on a small group of all talented girls and paired with a jazzy pop sound, slightly reminiscent of Brown Eyed Girls’ sound on Sixth Sense. Both their singles, Mr. Ambiguous and Piano Man, were strong and showed incredible vocals. MAMAMOO can fill the gap left by the Wonder Girls.

2. LABOUM

Of their two songs released this year, the most recent is a knock out, but Pit a Pat follows at a close second making this a great first year for LABOUM. Their look and sound resembles a mix of the simple cuteness of A Pink and the edgier Ladies’ Code. Pit A Pat is so much fun and interesting enough to catch your interest, which is worthwhile since they released the even better What About You? soon after. Hopefully they’ll follow A Pink into great success without giving up on their original style.

1. Lovelyz

This may be cheating since Woolim Entertainment is now part of SM, they still compete for fans with that one other rookie group not listed, Red Velvet. While more than a few people looked forward to a possible girl version of Infinite, Lovelyz turned out to be nearly the complete opposite of that. In fact, they have the a J-Pop inspired sound on their album Girls’ Invasion and on their lead single Candy Jelly Love which is a delightful slice of bubblegum pop that is sweet and satisfying like its title. Getaway is a strange little song reminiscent of early f(x). They even have an interesting ballad, which is rare for a rookie group. Needless to say, Lovelyz are going to go far with the backing of great company and a fresh style on their side.

Do you think we missed out on any great rookies from this year? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

K-Pop Inspired Gift-Giving Guide

December 15, 2014/in Fans /by Tamar Herman

Fans of K-Pop and other aspects of the Korean entertainment industry don’t just listen and watch K-pop products, they live it. In case you’re having a hard time finding some gifts for the K-pop lover in your life, KultScene’s compiled a quick list just in time for the holidays. The gifts are from easily accessible stores, many of which ship worldwide but are based in the United States, but you can also find many of the ideas in other stores. Some items are Korean, while others are merely inspired by Korean trends that fans of K-pop are likely familiar with.

Under $25 USD Gifts

Premium Korean Sauce Mini Starter Kit -$5

For the foodie who wants to take a shot at making their own Korean meals and doesn’t know where to start.

Sephora Face Mask – $6

They’re a constant on Korean dramas and variety shows, and now many international beauty stores are finally getting on the mask sheet trend.

Nongshim Shin Noodle Cup (Pack of 12)-$11.77

It’s really not a question of who to give it to, but how many to give.

One of a Kind Beanie – $11.94

A fan of YG Entertainment will recognize the logo almost immediately. This is just one beanie that a K-pop fan will die of happiness to receive.

Peripera Peri’s Tint Water -$12

And here starts the Korean make-up that everybody wants to try once in their life.

Ciate Caviar Manicure – $12.50

Nail art is big among K-pop stars and actors in South Korea. Professional nail art can cost hundreds of dollars, but Ciate’s manicure sets will turn anybody into a pro.

K-pop CDs – $14-$35

Self-explanatory.

Also on KultScene: K-Pop Idols Who Need To Release Holiday Songs

Holika Holika Egg Soap Special Set – $14

Not only is soup extremely useful, it’s shaped like eggs and comes in a carton. What’s not to love?

TONYMOLY Egg Pore Blackhead Out Oil Gel – $16

More eggs! This may be the best thing for blackheads ever invented, and it comes in fun packaging.

Skinfood Rice Mask – $18

Any Skinfood product is really great, but their rice mask is really amazing.

Shocking Liar Lie Detector Game – $19.99

Does someone you know confuse reality and variety shows regularly? They may want this.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask -$23.00

More Korean face creams that people will swear by.

EXO Sweater -$12.88-$33.29

Everybody reading this list probably has one- an EXO fan who will actually cry when they open the gift box and find this sweater.

Under $100 Gifts

Selfie Stick-$29.95

To take pictures just as perfectly as everybody in Korea seems to.

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur – 52: Rosy Coral -$35
Jun Ji Hyun in My Love From The Star wore a similar shade, leading to Yves Saint Laurent stores around the world running out of this color.

Pancoat Bigeyes Cap -$54.90

Idols have worn this hat on countless occasions. Now it’s the K-pop fans’ turn.

Talk To Me In Korean Beginner Package -$75

For anybody who is sick and tired of waiting for subtitles to be released.

Also on KultScene: Sunny Hill’s ‘Here I Am’ Music Video & Song Review

Streaming One Year Gift Subscription – $95.88
Why: While DramaFever and Viki are first choice, for someone who you love but is only slowly starting to fall for K-Dramas, Netflix is the winner thanks to the thousands other shows and movies that they can watch if they want to take a break from subtitles for a few minutes. (Not that they will want to once they have dramas without ads!)

High End Gifts

10-Step Korean Skincare Routine Set -$185

Korea has perfected the art of skincare, and this box set breaks everything down perfectly for anyone to try out Korea’s most popular skincare routine.

MCM Backpack –$510-$2,500
EXO, Jay Park, 2PM, 2NE1, SHINee, and countless other idols have worn this backpack. It is the holy grail of K-pop fans.

KultScene received no compensation for this list.

What is your dream K-pop related present? Did we forget your favorite items from the list? Let us know in the comments and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Wedding Edition

December 14, 2014/in Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

In honor of the recent K-Pop wedding of Super Junior’s Sungmin and actress Kim Sa Eun, this week’s Playlist Sunday is all wedding themed. While some of the songs on this list are bright, happy songs, we’ve also included some wedding-themed ballad songs that make us think twice about everybody attending weddings. Included on the list are songs by Super Junior, F.T Island, BIGBANG’s Taeyang, K.Will, and B1A4. You could even use this playlist at your own wedding. Lots of people forget that organising a playlist should be at the top of your list of priorities when it comes to wedding planning, as it really helps set the tone for the day, along with booking in your photographer because the best (visit olgatopchii.com for an example) are never available if you wait too long.

Even though the music video is several years old and outdated, Super Junior’s Marry U is a timeless song that asks the eternal question: “Will you marry me?” The thirteen members of Super Junior try to woo Girls’ Generation’s YoonA in the music video throughout the mid-tempo R&B song. The harmonies as well as the individual voices of the members really stand out in Marry U. Fittingly, now-married Sungmin is the first vocalist to sing following a rap intro.

–Tamar

What’s more appropriate for a wedding-themed playlist than a proposal song? F.T. Island’s Marry Me expresses the man’s point of view when he realizes that he wants to be with his love forever. The song talks about how they can do more things openly when they are married and how they will never have to leave each other once they vow to stay with each other forever. The lyrics are sweet, but the rock instrumental and Lee Hongki’s raspy vocals give Marry Me an attractive aura. If F.T. Island is proposing, especially in song form, I don’t know who would be able to resist that.

— Tara

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K Will is the master of the K-Pop ballad. Where most are dull and completely indistinguishable from each other, K Will offers something else. His always perfect voice, interesting instrumentation, and forward thinking ideas are what set him apart and would make him perfect as your wedding singer. Please Don’t is the highlight of his career for me due to its immediate easy listening and amazing music video. In it, Seo In Guk plays the conflicted best friend of a man who is about to be married. The video makes it seem like he is in love with the bride to be, Sistar’s Dasom, but in the final shot we see he is actually in love with his best friend. Not the bro kind of love either, real love.

–Joe

Weddings can sometimes be the end for some people. In Taeyang’s Wedding Dress he tells the story of a man who knows that his loved one is getting married. The thought of letting her go has him thinking about all the times they had together and how he could have been the one she married. This song showcases Taeyang’s style and amazing dancing abilities, and it’s one of his staple songs. The R&B ballad may not be the conventional wedding song, but whenever I think of a wedding song, this comes to mind.

–Alejandro

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Even though this song is not about marriage per se, the lyrics are hardcore romantic, so it would be weird for it to be for a regular girlfriend. Plus, and most importantly, it’s the OST for the show We Got Married global edition, where K-Pop celebrities are paired with foreign ones for a virtual marriage. Sunshine by B1A4 is so cheesy, with its lyrics and sound, that you can’t help and smile a little bit (or a lot) when you listen to it. The song, as the chorus says, basically says the girl is his everything and he loves her.

–Alexis

Best BTS SoundCloud Songs

December 12, 2014/in Entertainment, MUSIC /by Tara

[Disclaimer: Some of the content below contains profanity.]

SoundCloud is a music platform that allows anyone to upload their music and share it with others. It’s a great platform to discover new artists and you can record music with your computer and upload it for all to hear. It’s also good for listening to well established artists too. BTS is, without a doubt, a very talented group. The majority, if not all, of the members have a hand in the writing of their songs, and some of them have even ventured into producing music. But before these seven talented guys became a huge success, they were writing and recording demos. Luckily for us, some of those have made it onto their SoundCloud. With a total of 21 tracks on the site, BTS gives fans a little bit of everything. Singing, rapping, singing and rapping, great beats, and catchy tunes. The following highlights a few tracks from BTS’ SoundCloud that you should listen to. If you’ve got a SoundCloud of your own that you’d like to improve awareness of, you can use a service such as upyourplays to do this and bring some more ears to your music.

1. Beautiful

Beautiful displays the rapping and singing skills that BTS as a group holds. The sound and music is light and enticing. The boys’ younger, more raw vocals truly showcase the base for their talent. The rapping isn’t too harsh, which parallels the soft vocals throughout the song.

2. Born Singer

Born Singer is another of the singing/rapping tracks on BTS’ SoundCloud. Similar to Beautiful, Born Singer, again, highlights the groups’ individual skills and skills as a cohesive group. The rapping is much more intense and hard hitting, whereas the singing is softer and more delicate.

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3. Monterlude

The next song only showcases Rap Monster’s skills. But instead of highlighting his impressive rapping, Monterlude introduces fans to Rap Monster the vocalist. Now, he does not have the strongest vocals in the group, but the way he delivers the lyrics to Monterlude perfectly embodies the emotion of the song.

4. All I Do Is Win

We have to give Suga some love, his solo rap track All I Do Is Win displays his quick rap with an attractive beat. The song may be short but it perfectly embodies Suga as a rapper. He is hard hitting, fierce, and confident in his delivery.

5. Rap Monster

Similar to Suga’s solo is one of Rap Monster’s many solos on their SoundCloud, Rap Monster. The song personifies the young rapper. The beat is the first thing we hear and it immediately grabs you for the entirety of the song. Rap Monster’s delivery, at first, is steady and crisp. As the short solo continues, he quickly increases his words per beat for a portion of the song, which perfectly shows off his impressive rap skills.

6. ????

Rap Monster, Suga, and Jin are the perfect combo to pull off this style of song. Jin’s soft vocals perfectly match the high pitched piano, while Rap Monster and Suga’s deep and raspy voices beautifully create contrast and add another layer to the already good song.

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7. Too Much

The beginning of Too Much is something completely different than what you might expect from someone who calls himself ‘Rap Monster.’ Sampling Drake’s song by the same name, the introduction immediately grabs you with the hollow piano and Rap Monster’s raw vocals at the chorus. He goes between his impressive singing and flawless rapping throughout the song. Too Much is a beautiful song that impressively showcases the leader’s multiple talents.

What are your favorite tracks from BTS’ SoundCloud? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

What Will SM Entertainment Look Like In 2015?

December 11, 2014/in Features /by Tamar Herman

A lot happened at SM Entertainment in 2014 and very few of those things were good. Multiple artists leaving the company in very public scandals reflected badly on SM, as opposed to its main rival YG Entertainment that has kept stock prices high despite a few scandals of its own. That’s why in order to maintain its place as one of the top entertainment companies in K-Pop, SM Entertainment needs to have an extremely solid year in 2015.

In case you missed what happened during the tumultuous year, here are a few things that happened to the company itself and its artists that you should know before reading KultScene’s analysis of what 2015 will potentially bring.

2014:

January
-Sooyoung of Girls’ Generation confirms relationship days after YoonA confirmed to be dating Lee Seung Gi
February
-Baljunso, an indie music label, acquired by SM Entertainment
April
-Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany confirms relationship with 2PM’s Nichkhun
-Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon reported for assault on ex-boyfriend
May
-Kris (Wu Yifan) leaves EXO
-SM Entertainment stock falls 10 points
June
-Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon and EXO’s Baekhyun’s relationship confirmed
July
-Sulli goes on hiatus from f(x)
-Super Junior’s Leeteuk discharged from army
August
-Red Velvet Debut and Music Video Controversy
-Sulli confirmed to be in relationship with Dynamic Duo’s Choiza
September
-Girls’ Generation renews contracts with SM
-Jessica removed from Girls’ Generation
October
-Luhan leaves EXO
-SM stock falls 10 points
-SM Entertainment releases statement implying outside forces are affecting EXO
-Zhoumi debuts as solo artist
-SM Entertainment surpassed in market value by YG Entertainment
November
-Kyuhyun debuts as solo artist
December
-Super Junior’s Sungmin gets married
-SM Rookiez Taeyong’s cyberbully past exposed, SM Entertainment releases apology

Separate entertainment agencies’ (Woollim, Baljunso) artists under SM not included in this list.

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Until April, everything was developing fairly well for SM Entertainment. Artists were releasing music, appearing in dramas, variety shows and films, and holding concerts. The dating scandals, once devastating to idols’ careers, were accepted with grace by fans. Even Hyoyeon’s potentially devastating assault case was relatively quiet.

Starting in May, SM saw multiple members leaving from some of the top groups; Girls’ Generation, EXO, and f(x) all lost members. But the company has seen mass exoduses before. In 2009 three members of TVXQ (who are now known as JYJ) and a Super Junior member (Hangeng) left their groups while two others went inactive (although Kangin has returned to the group).

How did SM get over the changes that time? It promoted different groups like Super Junior and SHINee to fill the void when TVXQ’s two members were almost entirely inactive. Super Junior, despite members leaving, is a large enough group that it was able to make up for the losses. EXO may very well do the same this time around, but with further rumors that members will be leaving, SM Entertainment may change its entire format for the upcoming year. Furthermore, Sulli’s hiatus from f(x) and Jessica’s departure from Girls’ Generation are also troublesome for the company, which has lost serious face.

The ongoing struggles between artists and the company have led stocks to drop extremely low, and both shareholders and fans have little faith in it. SM Entertainment needs to make 2015 one of its best years ever, otherwise face the signs that it may not be the top entertainment company in South Korea anymore.

What SM Is Likely To Do:

-Release a new SHINee album in the first quarter of 2015. SHINee is SM Entertainment’s only group, other than Red Velvet, that hasn’t seen any lineup changes since it debuted in 2008. The group’s stalwart songs will likely be well received and raise faith in SM. A SHINee member is likely to debut as a solo artist, joining the youngest member of the group.

– Debut more solo artists. SM Entertainment has confirmed that f(x) rapper Amber and at least one male artist will promote as soloists in 2015. EXO and SHINee members are likely options due to popularity.

–TVXQ: Yunho will likely join the army in 2015, which means that TVXQ will probably release at least one song, possibly an album, before his enlistment. There are some rumors that Changmin will be attending the army at the same time, but it is possible that he will join the list of SM artists who have been going solo.

-Girls’ Generation:Two options-

1. Nothing will change. Despite Jessica’s departure, Girls’ Generation has been doing well, holding concerts in Asia. More members will likely have acting roles in dramas, films, and musicals. Girls’ Generation’s nine members, including Jessica, renewed contracts with SM in September.

2. Girls’ Generation will disband. The girl group’s members will stay under SM and subgroup Girls’ Generation TTS may stay active. Many of the members have their own lucrative specialties that they may take as their sole career as they get older.

–TRAX: Both members of SM Entertainment’s only band group are out of the army. Jungmo has been visibly active at the company, and will likely release a song on his own if not with fellow member Jay. TRAX has a small but strong fanbase, and SM needs to remind older fans why they like the label.

–Super Junior: Super Junior will be holding Super Show 6 around the world. Members will continue to appear on variety shows, dramas, and radio shows. The group will likely release a new album at the end of the year. Leeteuk will appear on more and more variety shows to return to the role he held before the army, possibly gaining a MC spot. Siwon, for his part, will appear in a drama or film, and Kyuhyun will release a follow up to At Gwanghwamun probably at the start of the year. At least one member, if not more, will head to the army.

Sungmin’s marriage is problematic, but he had few solo activities that will be affected. If he leaves the group, it will be traumatic for fans. But Super Junior will likely continue on as it has, unless other members decide that the group is too old to promote.

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– SHINee: See above. Barring any scandals where a member leaves, the group will likely become SM’s headline group in 2015.

–f(x): Amber will release a solo album in the first half of 2015. With or without Sulli, f(x) will continue on and most likely promote Krystal even further into the spotlight. Luna will possibly appear on variety shows and Victoria will continue on with her activities in China. The group will make a comeback in the summer.

–EXO: The group is once again in the midst of rumors, hinting to further member’s suing SM Entertainment, and rumors are already flying about their disbandment.

EXO should be another Super Junior-esque situation, but it’s turning more and more into a TVXQ-like one, where fans have lost faith in SM Entertainment’s management. TVXQ took nearly a two-year hiatus when three of its members left. The group is planning a 2015 comeback, but things in EXO can change at a minute’s notice. If the rumors prove true once again, SM Entertainment may very well move the group to a backburner and have individual members promote without forcing the whole group together.

–Red Velvet: With Girls’ Generation and f(x) in trouble, Red Velvet will likely start appearing in dramas and variety shows. They will probably make a comeback in the second quarter.

–SM Rookies: Due to EXO’s issues, SM Entertainment may release a new boy group sometime in 2015.

Woollim Entertainment: Also under SM are INFINITE, Nell, Tasty, and Lovelyz. INFINITE and Lovelyz are technically rivals of Red Velvet, SHINee, and EXO, so they’ll likely not promote at the same time. INFINITE will probably make a comeback shortly after EXO does, and the same with Lovelyz following a Red Velvet comeback. Tasty will probably release Chinese music, but the duo hasn’t been overly popular in Korea so its unclear whether there will be a comeback. Nell needs to become SM’s rival to YG’s Epik High, as a group that attracts more mature listeners.

Everything, essentially, is up in the air. Some groups are more stable than others, but many of SM Entertainment’s groups have a lot of question marks.

What do you think SM Entertainment needs to do to make 2015 the reverse of 2014? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.