TheKPopScholar

This episode focuses on the current state of Parasocial(ism) relationships within Kpop. Idol Spotlight and Rookie Review on Japanese boy groups &TEAM and One or Eight.  Works Cited Jeong, Areum. “The Digital Deokhu: Online Labor, Parasocial Relations, and the Bonds Between Fans.” K-Pop Fandom: Performing Deokhu from the 1990s to Today, University of Michigan Press, 2026, pp. 30–53. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3998/mpub.12903806.6. Accessed 1 May 2026. 

In this episode, I talk about the differences between 4th and 5th generation idols. I also spotlight idols BTS, P1Harmony, and AHOF.

New Format What Happened Idol Spotlight Rookie Review Upcoming episode 1 Idol Spotlight: Stray Kids

In this episode, I continue reviewing the 2nd Generation Idols and their new music released. Idols mentioned are Sunmi, Taemin, Rain & Chungha, Super Junior, and Highlight (B2ST/Beast). Music Videos: Sunmi "Tail": https://youtu.be/Aui0ZKIaXVc Taemin "Advice": https://youtu.be/sQg4VCB3bYw Super Junior "House Party": https://youtu.be/BtJMOVKjhUo Rain Feat. Chungha "Why Don't We": https://youtu.be/srWfDwiRVgQ Highlight "Not The End": https://youtu.be/5Kdl9uOmj34 tissfqiw

In this episode, I discuss fanchants in the kpop industry, the origins, and compare it to concerts in the US and Japan. Below are my sources and examples. Resources: https://cheerpattern.wordpress.com/about/ https://www.sbs.com.au/popasia/blog/2017/11/20/what-are-some-best-fan-chants-k-pop Nu'est Bet Bet Fanchant: https://youtu.be/cY15z4BoY44 Shinee Name fanchant: https://youtu.be/hspGHImXv2o TVXQ/DBSK/Tohoshinki Mirotic fanchant: https://youtu.be/dWVd84BpaUk

In today's episode, I review the rookie boy and girl groups that debuted from January until April. Which one is your favorite? Groups featured today are Tri.be, Ciipher, Pixy, Mirae, Hot Issue, Hot Issue, NTX, T1419, and Kingdom. Resources: https://dbkpop.com/tag/comebacks https://kprofiles.com/kingdom-profile-facts/ https://kprofiles.com/ntx-members-profile/

In today's episode, I discuss the latest scandals and issues dealing with the kpop community. We touch on BTS and the German radio DJ, Some kpop being taken down from Spotify, and Idols bullying middle school classmates. Sources: https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/02/german-radio-dj-under-fire-after-alleged-racist-remarks-comparing-bts-to-covid-19 https://www.nme.com/news/music/halsey-horrified-by-disgusting-comments-about-bts-from-german-dj-2891401 https://www.nme.com/news/music/german-dj-criticised-racist-comments-bts-2889971 https://www.nme.com/news/music/kakao-m-claims-spotify-policy-forced-removal-of-k-pop-songs-2891058 https://www.koreaboo.com/news/bullying-scandals-rundown/ https://www.nme.com/news/music/k-pop-star-hyunjin-suspended-by-management-over-school-bullying-accusations-2891510

In today's episode we study briefly the history idol group Got7's in the kpop industry. Sources: https://www.soompi.com/article/1448107wpp/jyp-entertainment-announces-got7s-departure-from-agency https://www.teenvogue.com/story/got7-will-leave-jyp-entertainment-after-7-years http://www.thekrazemagazine.com/latest-updates/2020/5/24/history-of-k-pop-got7 https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/heres-every-got7-member-discovered-signed-jyp/

I review rookie kpop groups that came out in later 2020. Source:https://time.com/5932509/k-pop-groups-to-listen-to-in-2021/

In this episode Nene and I review more 2nd wave idols and their new music. Idols discussed are BoA, Taemin from Shinee and Super M, Super Junior, and Hyoyeon from Girl's Generation.

In this episode, we dive into reported earnings of idols and employees at idol companies such as the Big 3. What do you think about these reported earnings? Articles Used: https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/heres-much-money-youd-make-worked-sm-jyp-yg/ https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3042568/how-much-money-bts-make-and-how-they-spend-it-fashion-flats https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6443687/k-pop-star-earning-average-salary https://www.sbs.com.au/popasia/blog/2018/01/29/how-much-money-k-pop-idol-makes-according-former-k-pop-idol

In today's episode with Nene, we talk about 4 idols from the 2nd wave that have new music out now. We grade the music videos, lyrics, and music based off our opinions of past music and research. Of course, we mention scandals too scholars. Articles: https://www.soompi.com/article/1450035wpp/tvxqs-yunho-talks-about-his-collaborators-on-comeback-why-he-likes-his-passionate-character-and-more https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/epik-high-cl-and-zico-rosario-song-review-1116351/ https://www.soompi.com/article/1444115wpp/rain-and-park-jin-young-talk-about-their-upcoming-collaboration-the-importance-of-values-and-more http://tokkistar.com/did-rain-and-jyp-plagiarize-bobby-browns-every-little-step/ https://www.allkpop.com/article/2020/12/album-mv-review-taeyeon-what-do-i-call-you https://seoulbeats.com/2020/12/taeyeon-keeps-things-simple-in-what-do-i-call-you/

In today's episode I continue our discussion with cultural appropriation, dive into Blackface in Korea, GD saying the N-word, and CA being brushed off by fandom. Articles used: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2158244017710294 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279274576_Performing_Post-Racial_Asianness_K-Pop's_Appropriation_of_Hip-Hop_Culture https://www.reddit.com/r/kpopnoir/comments/k9k0b7/2nd_gen_idols_and_their_blatant_racism/ https://www.reddit.com/r/kpopnoir/comments/kcfi89/apparently_you_cant_call_out_ca_for_another_group/

In today's episode, I discuss the definition of cultural appropriation, what it could mean for different people across countries, what it could mean to different generations, CA idol scandals, and fans educating/informing idols on CA seen as offensive.

In today's episode, I discuss Black artists in Kpop, not just artists who are half Korean. I cover some artists struggles with being bi-racial in south korea and racism with being a non-Asian artist singing in Korean. I briefly question Kpop's history of cultural appropriation, acceptance of Asian decent idols vs western ethnicities, and what does the K mean in Kpop today. Article: http://kissmykimchi.com/2016/09/kmk-black-artists-k-pop.html/

In today's episode, I explore the definition of "foreigner," list popular foreign idols in Kpop, and talk about some trainee horror stories. Articles: https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/16-korean-idols-werent-born-raised-south-korea/ https://www.hellokpop.com/featured/foreign-idols-who-have-taken-the-k-pop-industry-by-storm/ https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-51476159 https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/8-disturbing-stories-trainees-kpops-dark-side/

In today's episode, I speak about collabs you may have heard about or never knew.

In today's episode I invite Nene and Brit to examine some of the current hits in Kpop and give their opinion. I tried to select from different genres to get a feel of the variety out there. I did not ask the two's preference beforehand. All of this is uncut reactions to the five videos: Day6 "Zombie," Jessi "NuNu NaNa," SuperM "100," Dawn "dawndididawn" feat. Jessi, and Blackpink "Lovesick Girls." Disclaimer: The clips of music in this podcast is not owned by me and all rights belong to the respective artists and music companies.

In today's episode, Nene and I examine kpop idol diets in depth. While not every reported idol diet is listed in the articles examined, we do discuss the effects of the diets on the kpop idols physical and mental health. Listed below are articles we used: https://www.allkpop.com/article/2018/09/8-k-pop-idol-diets-that-will-shock-you https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/9-kpop-idols-done-extremely-unsafe-diets-in-past/ https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/10-idols-reveal-personal-tricks-lose-weight/ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8030059/kpop-body-image-diets-eating-disorders-essay https://www.hellokpop.com/list/kpop-idols-unbelievable-diet-regimen/ https://channel-korea.com/kpop-idol-diet-plan-and-workout/ https://www.kpopmap.com/the-extreme-kpop-idol-diet-meal-plan-compilation/ https://kfanatics.com/kpop-idols-diet-secrets-learn-korean-idols-eat-lose-weight/ https://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/292455/20200412/look-here-are-some-of-the-extreme-diets-of-k-pop-idols-that-you-shouldn-t-try-at-all.htm https://www.insider.com/kpop-dark-side-gym-diet-dating-great-guys-crayon-pop-2019-10

Today's episode, featuring Nene, explores KPOP slang terms, industry marketing strategies, some idol scandals, and much more. Articles used: Refinery29- https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/k-pop-music-fans-terms-meaning Koreaboo- https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/kpop-slang-terms-true-fan-know/

I talk about the experiences of Black kpop fans from different sources and give my insight.

Tokyo_Seoul and I talk about her history of kpop fandom and why she left. We mention kpop diets, scandals, former groups, and much more. Diet article used: https://www.allkpop.com/article/2018/09/8-k-pop-idol-diets-that-will-shock-you

In today's episode we will be using 3 scholarly sources that offer additional reasons for the globalization of KPOP. I cover the topics of western vs eastern marketing, more English versions and subtitles of KPOP songs, and much more.

Nene and I spoke about our perspectives from the 2nd Hallyu (wave) to the current 4th wave. We bring up what we like about kpop, the different groups we remember, idol scandals, and much more.

My small introduction about myself and K-Pop.