K-Pop Diaspora and the Paradox of Transnational K-Pop Foreigner K-Pop Idols and the Exploitation of Race and Gender by the Korean Media

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper aims to reveal the paradox of K-pop by looking at foreigner ( This paper aims to reveal the paradox of K-pop by looking at foreigner (oe-gug- oe-gug- inin) K-pop idols. The paradox is that although K-pop strives to reach the global, ) K-pop idols. The paradox is that although K-pop strives to reach the global, some elements remain strictly national, one of which is the expectations toward some elements remain strictly national, one of which is the expectations toward the ethnicity of the K-pop idols. This paper argues that the experiences of the ethnicity of the K-pop idols. This paper argues that the experiences of oe-gug- oe-gug- inin K-pop idols, and especially female idols, are colonizing because the Korean K-pop idols, and especially female idols, are colonizing because the Korean media exploit their foreignness and manufactures it into a spectacle. This is part media exploit their foreignness and manufactures it into a spectacle. This is part of the long tradition of Korean media reinforcing Korea’s national project that of the long tradition of Korean media reinforcing Korea’s national project that strengthens the cultural and ethnic superiority of Koreanness. Thus, this paper strengthens the cultural and ethnic superiority of Koreanness. Thus, this paper argues that argues that oe-gug-in oe-gug-in K-pop idols are not simply immigrants but subjects of a K-pop idols are not simply immigrants but subjects of a K-pop diaspora. With an emphasis on race and gender, this paper conducted K-pop diaspora. With an emphasis on race and gender, this paper conducted textual analysis on a compilation video of female textual analysis on a compilation video of female oe-gug-in oe-gug-in K-pop idols that K-pop idols that appeared in the famous Korean television program appeared in the famous Korean television program Knowing Brothers Knowing Brothers. This paper . This paper analyzed that female analyzed that female oe-gug-in oe-gug-in idols are infantilized, silenced, exoticized, and idols are infantilized, silenced, exoticized, and fetishized by the Korean media, and ultimately othered as foreigners. This paper fetishized by the Korean media, and ultimately othered as foreigners. This paper concludes that acknowledging concludes that acknowledging oe-gug-in oe-gug-in K-pop idols as subjects of diaspora K-pop idols as subjects of diaspora will help understand the dark sides of K-pop that try to hide under glamor and will help understand the dark sides of K-pop that try to hide under glamor and entertainment.

참고문헌 (Reference)

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