K-Pop: Korea’s Musical Explosion

K-Pop: Korea’s Musical Explosion

By Stuart A. Kallen

Twenty-First Century Books, 2014. 64 pages. Nonfiction.

ISBN: 9781467720427

Reading/Interest Level: Ages 10+

Curriculum ties: Music, culture

Booktalk Ideas: Hallyu back: Refer to Gangnam Style, and if possible show the first part of one of TheFineBros YouTubers React to K-pop videos. Then introduce the book and explain how it documents the evolution of K-pop and the culture it created.

Challenge Issues: N/A

Challenge Response: First Defense File

Reader’s Annotation:

If Gangnam Style caught your attention, discover an entire industry that has been developing since the 1950s. The flow of Korean culture into the rest of the world, often referred to as the Hallyu Wave, is driven in large part by the phenomenon surrounding Korean pop music.

Book Summary:

Starting with the origins of K-pop, readers are taken through a time line of major events, artists, and companies that has made k-pop what it is today. K-pop actually had its origins in the 1950s when American troops assisting with the Korean War brought their music with them, such as Elvis. Later, future entertainment company founders such as Lee Soo-man (S.M. Entertainment) were drawn to the music coming out of America and decided to produce their own music with the same catchy beats that would later create the Hallyu wave.

This book then touches on how entertainment companies such as S.M., YG, and JYP (often referred to as the “big three”) focused on creating and training potential idols, and then debuting idol groups that flood the market. The book then goes on to describe how and why K-pop has taken off around the world and the unique culture it has spawned.

Critical Evaluation:

This is a fun, short book that concisely covers the major events and players in the K-pop industry that is ideal for readers just discovering the genre, but less so for the avid K-popper who will probably already know the vast majority of the material covered in this book. The organization of the book is very clear and makes sense, from starting with the origins and development of K-pop to then discussing current trends and effects and happenings of the music industry. There are many colored pictures which really adds to the enjoyment of the book. Image is a huge part of the K-pop industry, and this book works just as hard to look good as it does to provide quality content.

One of the major downsides of this book, and probably the hardest part for any book that takes on this topic, is how quickly things change in the industry. Idol groups come and go fairly quickly and it’s nearly impossible to tell which debuting groups will make it big and become worthy of attention. After just a year since its publication, this book is already due for an updated edition because of the developments in the K-pop industry in 2014. For anyone who has followed K-pop news recently it’s clear that 2014 was unique in that many idols left their groups, filed lawsuits against their companies, and preventable accidents lead to idol deaths. 2014 was one of the most devastating years in K-pop scene for a long time, for a lot of reasons and a new edition would need to at least mention the controversies that surround K-pop.

About the Author:

Kallen is the author of more than 150 nonfiction books for children and young adults. He has written extensively about Native Americans and American history. In addition, he has written award-winning children's videos and television scripts. In his spare time, Kallen is a singer/songwriter/guitarist.

-from Scholastic.com author page-

Stuart A. Kallen has written more than two hundred fifty nonfiction books for children and young adults over the past twenty years. His books have covered countless aspects of human history, culture, and science from the building of the pyramids to the music of the twenty-first century. Kallen is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and guitarist in San Diego, California.

As much as he loves music, Kallen realized at 30 that he would never become a rock star and decided to focus on writing instead.

-from Lerner.com author page-

Justification of Selection:

I love K-pop music and all things Korean. I think the Korean trend is growing and the library should be prepared with materials to meet the increasing demand for information about the Korean entertainment industry, particularly K-pop music.