KPOP - Birth of a cultural empire

K-POP - Birth of a cultural empire

More than just a passing fad, the "Korean wave" has been firmly rooted in Asian lands for thirty years; it first captivated China, then conquered Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

In the West, for the past ten years or so, it has been subtly penetrating the terrain already prepared and sensitized by "Cool Japan", characterized by its manga, sushi, and video games.

In the mid-2000s, Korean pop took off in Asia. Previously called "gayo" in its country, or "idol pop", it gradually transformed into "K-pop", like "aidoru" ("idol") in Japan, which evolved into J-pop when it ventured outside Japan's borders.

How was K-pop born? How did this progression happen? How were its visual codes constructed? How was it exported? Who are its leading artists? This book will attempt to provide these answers...