#hallyu

[aesthetic-otd]

Today's aesthetic is hallyu

#aesthetic #aesthetic blog #aesthetics #aesthetic otd #aesthetics blog #aesthetic community #aesthetic blogs #hallyu #hallyu fashion #korean fashion

[somanykdramas]

MARRY MY HUSBAND

GENRES: Supernatural, Romance, Mystery

SUMMARY: Did some mystery power give you a second chance at life? Of course you’re going to get revenge!

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Cats high on nip, Busan stew, clandestine love affairs, murder, adultery, high heels, gourmet food, glow-ups, lake sleepovers, workplace fashion, cancer, candies, glass coffee tables, and mysterious tattoos.

HOT TAKE: I made the mistake of watching this AFTER it ended, which meant having most of the plot twists spoiled for me.

This show could have ended after ep 12, but for some reason it insisted on introducing a whole new 4 episode plot arc at the end. I suppose it did tie up some loose ends, but it also forced watchers to endure more of the main character's ex boyfriend being a bastard abuser to literally every woman he meets.

Song Ha Yoon deserves an award for her portrayal of one of the most mentally disturbed villains I've seen in a ROMANCE in a very long time. A+ performance.

#marry my husband #park min young #na in woo #lee yi kyung #song ha yoon #lee gi kwang #gong min jung #choi gyu ri #ha do gwon #kdrama #koreandrama #kdramadaily #korean drama #hot take #hallyu #kdrama review #korean series #kdramareview #kdrama series

[absolutebl]

I loved your beautiful ode to A Beautiful Man. (Even as someone pretty new to BL and unfamiliar with Yaoi I felt the power of that show.)

In it you wrote in passing, "Semantic Error is about perfection and ignoring all ugliness." If you have further thoughts on that I'm curious to hear them.

Thanks!

Semantic Error vs Utsukushii Kare how two BL’s tell us A LOT about Korean vs Japanese approaches to cinema 

"Semantic Error is about perfection and ignoring all ugliness." (from this post) 

Ah I was referring to the KBL inclination to create a perfect bubble in which being queer is not just irrelevant and unspoken, but ironically untouchable.

As characters, JaeYoung and SangWoo can only exist within this bubble. 

It renders their perfection unmoored and somewhat etherial feeling to viewers. As if they are the gods on pedestals that Hira is trying to turn Kiyoi into. There is no attempt to address the impossible nature of their existence. JaeYoung and SangWoo aren’t meant to be REAL in any way, they are meant to be fantastical - almost like mythical caricatures. 

I say this not as criticism, Semantic Error is one of my favorite BLs of all time. But it is almost too perfect, as if we are watching the fae perform for us - ageless and immortal. It has no real grounding, no tether at all to reality. It is the ultimate escapism.

This is fine, I watch BL for the escapism. It’s why it got a 10/10 from me. But it’s also why it’s never whipped me into a verbal frenzy. It’s exactly as perfect as I always expected Korean BL to get to. It is the pinnacle of the mountain they have been climbing - but they never faltered on that path to perfection. They were always gonna make it. It’s what Hallyu does. They did it with music (Kpop). They did it with horror (Parasite, Squid Games). They’re doing it with romance.

But Semantic Error’s innately KBL nature renders it, in a strange way, almost the polar opposite to something like My Beautiful Man, for all they share some really stunning visual similarities in filming techniques, manga framing and staging, uses of color and light, etc... 

The very perfect beauty of Semantic Error (both in visuals, execution, production, script, story arc, tropes and archetypes) is like the BL on the pedestal that A Beautiful Man is challenging within itself. 

Ironically of course, My Beautiful Man, is about the harsh honest ugliness of really loving someone, Semantic Error not only has no thought to address this, by it’s very nature it could never do so, since it sits on that pedestal with nothing to tip it off (yet) and nothing to pull it down to ground (yet) because KBL is still (mostly) at the pedestal state of it’s BL journey. 

Korea is focused on producing perfect BL. Which I might argue they did with Semantic Error. But as nothing more than a perfect BL. Classic. Typical. The opposite of challenging. Easy. Easily enthralling and riveting.

Utsukushii Kare is work. Work to watch. Work to tolerate. Work to understand. But it’s work I enjoy. 

Japan has always farted around with that kind of thing. Japan doesn't have anything to prove. But Japan has also always been one to use film to examine itself, it’s that uncompromising point of view thing I talk about and the reason people get frustrated with Japanese cinema. It’s not about anyone but Japan. 

Korea is a the opposite, it’s producing its pop culture these days explicitly with an expansion agenda. It’s all about how perfectly can they hit it so they can GET us. Like, capture us. Make us watch. Make us happy. Dazzle us with their brilliance and beauty. Lure us into the fae realm, under the green hill where time passes differently. 

Often I think Japan wants us to be uncomfortable. Ironically, that’s why I have such faith and confidence in them. 

But that’s also how they can surprise so beautifully. (Old Fashion Cupcake. Minato’s Laundromat. Gah.) They stay BL without shying away from difficult content, sometimes I think they stay BL so they can directly tackle it. 

Korea is doing everything they can to keep themselves safe and idealized, or to keep up the appearance of that. It comes off as disingenuous at worse, unfixed and fantastical at best. Semantic Error was all this, but correct, almost mathematical. I admire the precision art of it and the targeted intent. 

They are both master manipulators and I like watching manipulators at work. 

But with Korea there’s always a part of me that’s like, “I see you doing it. I see what you did there. Very good.” I’m noticing how good they are.

And with Japan, occasionally, I forget to notice. I’m still surprised. Even knowing what they are capable of. Even living in the shadow of 15 years of BLs. They can still surprise. 

(source)

#korean film industry #hallyu #hallyu wave #japanese fil industry #Kdrama #Jdrama #Japanese BL #Korean BL #live action yaoi #adapted from a manga #adapted from a manwha #film critique #Semantic Error #Old Fashion Cupcake #Minato’s Laundromat #Utsukushii Kare #My Beautiful Man #rakutan viki #gagaoolala

[orangesinwinter]

Jun Ji-Hyun for Olympus “My Digital Story”

#jun ji hyun #전지현 #olympus camera #cf #editorial #photo #magazine #2000s nostalgia #film camera #hallyu #korean actress #kdrama #korea aesthetic

[chicademartinica]

The Eighth Sense is going rough and tough on The draft, binge drinking, fat phobia, homophobia, sexism, beauty culture, mental illness and class differences. And Jae Won is not light-skinned. Y’all need a RAINBOW RICE CAKE CLUB !Is it still Hallyu if it’s emptying the clip like that ?!!

#the eighth sense #hallyu #Korean BL #Free Bird ain’t no RAINBOW RICE CAKE #the new employee

[constellationss]

i’m currently watching this kdrama and omg i’m so excited!!! it came out two years ago but i was swamped with uni work that i postponed watching it and just never got around to it! but that’s changed now.

title is under the queen’s umbrella btw🤭

#kdrama #korean #korean drama #hallyu #under the queen's umbrella #netflix korean drama #netflix drama

[bookworms-pov]

Bro stop asking people if they believe in magic!

Bro YOU ARE MAGIC!

Ji Chang Wook IS MAGIC 😭😍💞

#you are magic #ji chang wook #wookie #the sound of magic #do you believe in magic #hwang in yeop #kdramaedit #korean drama #books & libraries #magic #fantasy #hallyu #the k2 #healer #suspicious partner #netflix #netflix series #korean series

[dayeongi]

2016 Memories!

Was looking into my memory box and found some cool stuff I can share!

Back in 2016 Seoul had a bunch of Hallyu programs and I was able to get on one of them!

We got to have a vocal lesson at SMTown and try out one of the recording rooms in groups of 4!

We also got to see signed CDs, (im unfortunately in all the reflections of the cases) and cool stage costumes like the below (red velvet dumb dumb, and the super junior ones below that)

We also got to see (what i think is most definitely a recreation) of the EXO Growl graffiti and the SNSD Gee set

Also went on a trip to Busan but fortunately there were no zombies

All in all SK's tourism program was really great! And I'm glad I took so many leaflets with me

#dayeongi life #south korea #hallyu #sm entertainment

[seoulful-spotlight]

Hallyu: Unveiling the Wave of Korean Culture

In recent years, the term "Hallyu" has become a global buzzword, representing the sweeping wave of Korean culture that has captivated audiences worldwide. This cultural phenomenon transcends borders, leaving an indelible mark on various industries. Let's dive into the meaning and history of the word 'Hallyu' to unravel the essence of this captivating wave.

 The Meaning of Hallyu:

"Hallyu," translated as the "Korean Wave," refers to the global popularity and influence of South Korean culture, encompassing various forms of entertainment, including music, television dramas, films, fashion, and cuisine. The term captures the surge of interest and appreciation for Korean cultural exports beyond the nation's borders.

Origins and Early Influences:

The roots of Hallyu can be traced back to the late 20th century when South Korea began exporting its television dramas and pop music to neighboring Asian countries. The early 2000s saw a significant expansion of this cultural influence, with the emergence of iconic K-dramas like "Winter Sonata" and the rise of K-pop groups such as BoA and TVXQ.

Hallyu 2.0: Global Expansion:

As technology advanced and digital platforms proliferated, Hallyu experienced a second wave of expansion in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Social media, streaming services, and online communities played a pivotal role in connecting fans worldwide, fostering a global community united by a shared love for Korean culture.

K-Drama Fever and Beyond:

Korean dramas, with their compelling storytelling, charismatic actors, and unique cultural elements, became a driving force behind Hallyu's global reach. Shows like "Descendants of the Sun" and "Crash Landing on You" captured the hearts of audiences far beyond Asia, contributing to the mainstream acceptance of Korean entertainment.

K-Pop's Meteoric Rise:

Perhaps the most prominent aspect of Hallyu is the global phenomenon of K-pop. Groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, and EXO have transcended language barriers, achieving unprecedented success on a global scale. Their music, dynamic performances, and engagement with fans through social media have solidified K-pop's position as a musical force to be reckoned with.

Beyond Entertainment: The Cultural Ripple Effect:

Hallyu extends beyond entertainment, influencing fashion trends, and beauty standards, and even sparking interest in the Korean language and cuisine. The global popularity of Korean skincare products, fashion brands, and traditional dishes reflects the widespread impact of Hallyu on diverse aspects of lifestyle and culture.

The Future of Hallyu:

As we look to the future, Hallyu shows no signs of slowing down. With new generations of talented artists emerging, innovative storytelling in dramas and films, and the continuous evolution of K-pop, the Korean Wave is poised to reach even greater heights. Hallyu has become a cultural bridge connecting people from different backgrounds, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and celebrating the richness of Korean creativity.

Hallyu is not merely a trend; it's a cultural phenomenon that has woven the threads of Korean creativity into the global fabric. As the wave continues to surge, captivating audiences and breaking barriers, Hallyu stands as a testament to the power of culture to transcend boundaries and unite people in the shared joy of artistic expression.

#bts #kpop #squid games #kdrama #netflix kdrama #boa kwon #bts army #hallyu #korean skincare #kbeauty

[downton-dany]

Random queenly photos

#song hye kyo #chaumet #fendi #kdrama #korean drama #romance #queen #hallyu

[somanykdramas]

WELCOME TO SAMDAL-RI

GENRES: Drama, Romance

SUMMARY: When life gets too tough, its important to have a place you can go where people believe in you for who you always were.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Convenience store hideouts, corporate abuse, haenyeos, amusement park failures, dog mascots, weather forecasting, old flames, flashy sports cars, loss and forgiveness, crooners, drunken kisses, and dolphins.

HOT TAKE: I'm always hesitant to watch these small town slice-of-life dramas since I know they're going to be slow and drawn out, but you know what? I've never regretted sitting through one yet. There's something just very soulfully soothing about casual strolls, nosy-yet-supportive neighbors, and honest dialogue and communication, and this show is no exception.

Nevermind best kdrama kissers: I want a list of best kdrama huggers, starting with the King, Ji Chang Wook.

#welcome to samdalri #welcome to samdal-ri #ji chang wook #shin hye sun #baek hyun joo #shin dong mi #kim mi kyung #kang young seok #lee jae won #kang gil woo #mim hyun mok #sazal kim #kdrama #koreandrama #kdramadaily #korean drama #hot take #hallyu #kdrama review #kdramareview #korean series #kdrama series #netfilx kdrama

[absolutebl]

Hello,

I follow your posts for a while now. They really making my day! Want to thank you for that first.

So I just wanted to add some thoughts to the subbing discussion here. Thanks to you I just started another Love by Change re-watch. As you mentioned in another post the Youtube and Viki subs in Englisch are quite good here. (For YT JayBL‘s english subs are just amazing just adoring the subber until now.)

But I just realised again how great the german ones are! The subbing group not only explained the usage of P‘, khrab and sawadee . They also managed to convey the more informal/partly rude way of talking by Ae and the more formal way by Pete. That‘s so astonishing! That‘s also why LBC is one of the rare cases of BL I watch with german subs. (Well besides there aren‘t so many BL‘s with Ger sub for now. But Viki is on it.)

Actually the ger and eng LBC subs on YT inspired me to provide ger subs myself for Gameboys and partly UWMA. It wasn‘t an easy task, but so fulfilling. It made me quite sensible for subs now. The ones on Netflix for example are my personal nightmare. It seems to me the translators there are generalising a lot.

I was thinking, if with the existence of fan-made subs, so people who care to explain linguistics (like honorific’s, idioms, pronouns, etc.) in that specific cultural background and even keep them in the translation, a new group of bl consumers are growing up now, accepting the mixture of language or even create in the bl-fandom bubble a new transnational language? (Sorry the german in me got the better part of me here on sentence length‘s…)

OMG thank you for this. That is so cool to know about the German subs!!!

BL: Subs, Captions, Niche Fandom Languages, Jargon, Linguistics, Epistemology, Global Shared passions and so forth.... 

well sheeet, that title almost turned into a JSTOR article title.. 

a new group of bl consumers are growing up now, accepting the mixture of language or even create in the bl-fandom bubble a new transnational language

I love this! And yes it does feel like it’s happening. 

I makes me think about adoption of the term tsundere into the lexicon around anime in the 80s and 90s and now geeky fandom, or kishotenketsu among the literary sets. 

There’s a lot of niche fandoms that adopt terms, and those terms become global lexicon. 

It happens in academia and in concentrated work environments as well. You get to the point of specialization where you can have whole conversations with someone, using entirely technical terminology (think about programming languages, for example) as a lingo localized to a subject matter (rather than region). I’ve had these conversations with colleagues who don’t speak English. Like the verbs are different, but the terms are global. This can happen at conference or a convention or amongst staff on a movie set, or in a post production room. The way sound tech people talk to each other is like... whoah, what did you just say?!? 

I can get this way around BL tropes where I just throw a term out there (like pratfall kiss, or there’s only one bed) and I just assume everyone here knows what the hell I’m talking about. 

I’m sure the linguists have a technical term for this kind of language, like a combination of auxlang + jargon, but I don’t know it. 

It makes me think a lot about the IRL evolution of Wittgenstein's private language, and how his (argued) innate unintelligible nature is counteracted by the moment of adoption into a small group. But that an outsider unfamiliar with the source subject matter would still hear it as primarily gobbledygook. (One of my minors is in epistemology.) 

I think an even bigger version of the specific aspect you’re zeroing in on, is already happening around Korean via Hallyu (especially Kpop & Kdramas). And not just phrases like “stan” and “bias” and “bias wrecker” or sasaeng, hyung, and maknae, but whole linguistic concepts that run adjacent to these ideas around social structure and fandom.  

I'm finding, just in normal every day conversation with native English speakers (yes, this is the kind of thing I talk about regularly in my workspace) that I have to explain what a "linguistic register" means less and less these days, particularly to those younger than me. 

It's kinda awesome. 

I suspect Hallyu is partly behind this, but also the general nature of growing up with globalization and the internet age. (Not to mention my own propensity to gravitate towards geeky types who are fans of more niche aspects of a greater fandom, and thus are, by their nature, increasingly global in an effort to connect with those few others who share their obsession.)  

Here’s an example of a jargon rich sentence:

I don’t really stan a tsundere uke who's the maknae of the found family group, I like it when they flip the power play of the age dynamics or make him more of a sunshine cinnamon roll, although I forgive everything for Taiwanese chemistry and an “only one bed” trope. 

Now you can tell me whether you understood it or if I cross hatched too many of my fandom jargons at once. 

On a completely different note:

Here's a really interesting podcast ep from 99% Invisible on captions and captioning.

(source) 

#asian bl #korean bl #kdrama #linguaistic transference #linguistic understanding #global languages #linguistic jargon #auxlang #academic specialization #linguistic register #Cherry Blossoms After Winter #thai bl #our days the series #Hallyu #korean wave

[orangesinwinter]

Jun Ji-Hyun for Olympus “My Digital Story”

#jun ji hyun #전지현 #olympus camera #cf #editorial #photo #magazine #2000s nostalgia #summer aesthetic #film camera #korean actress #kdrama #hallyu #korea aesthetic #it's already july...

[itsjadacusbruhh]

I gave up on K-Pop back in 2018 and came back in 2023.

I was introduced to K-Pop back in 2009 by a family friend of mine who has seen me grow up. At that time, I was a young middle schooler who was curious about a plethora of things, especially music. I started learning to play the guitar but gave up after three lessons.

In 2009, I was learning the basics and what is now considered the fundamentals of the K-Pop world/industry. I was surprised to see that pop girl and boy groups were the majority of the K-Pop scene. The late 2000s was a time when boy groups were the face of the major labels, i.e., 2PM was the face of JYP; Super Junior was the face of SM, Big Bang of YG Entertainment, and BEAST of Cube Entertainment (wow, I'm dating myself here hahaha). Girls Generation had shaken the Hallyu wave, rising in popularity with their iconic songs Gee, Genie, Run Devil Run, and Mr. Taxi; all songs are super catchy with cute choreography that led many to learn and recognize. This was the beginning.

I've learned that idols would participate in variety shows and would sometimes collaborate with other idols from the same generation. It was through these shows that I would learn about their personalities and see another side to these people who have devoted so much of their time, effort, cultivated work ethics, and dedication to their craft. I didn't know I would feel so close to these people who would have no idea who I am. I didn't have my heart set on stanning one group. These second-generation idols were a bunch of Unnies and Oppas that I admired and wished they were legit my own.

As time progressed, more girl and boy groups would debut, and a new generation of K-pop groups would emerge. New trends would begin. New perspectives on the Idol industry would arise.

With these new groups emerging, it was becoming difficult to follow groups. I was into Running Man, and that was when I started liking an individual from a group. I realized how difficult it was for me to keep up with all these groups while most second-gen groups were on a hiatus or were bound to disband due to other activities the Unnies or Oppas started to participate in, such as acting.

In August 2016, Blackpink debuted and was known for their two songs, 휘팡람 WHISTLE, and BOOMBAYAH. They were one of the first K-pop groups to contribute to the trend of double title comebacks or promoting with two songs from their EP or full-length album. From there, groups started to hop on the trend. BTS's popularity was on the verge of slowly rising to where it would be today. I became overwhelmed trying to keep up with groups, and I became annoyed with fans who hopped on the ARMY fandom train. Fandom wars were starting, and I decided to give up on following the newest and latest albums that groups were releasing. I longed for the consistency that the second-gen groups were providing. I didn't realize how simpler things were during the height of second-gen groups.

The busyness of life started to catch onto me. I realized that I had better things to put my focus and attention towards. I ended up not actively listening to K-Pop from 2018 until January 2023. Since then, my life has changed, and I have found myself stanning a girl group with so much in store for them. I rediscovered all the K-pop songs that I hadn't listened to in a long time. I had a different perspective on my approach to K-pop and the Hallyu wave. I learned that as a fan or an active listener, I have a choice (song pops into my head, and I start humming and dancing); I can either make the most out of this or go back to how I viewed all of this before I left.

So here I am now, writing to whoever is reading this post. I'm a Unni or Nuna fan of these fourth-generation groups, a member of the Sunshine Protectors Club, and vested in one specific group that has changed my life.

#k pop #hallyu #tumblr fyp #girls generation #le sserafim #sunshine protector

[hyekyoverse]

Adorable Song Hye Kyo for Michaa pre-spring collection 🖤

#song hye kyo #korean actress #hallyu #hallyuqueen #korean culture #hallyu star

[mytravelpov]

Another amazing year filled with adventure.

I've gained so much confidence throughout the year, I've planned a whole 2 day trip to Paris, I went on my first solo trip to Birmingham and managed to get lost and unlost in London.

I've been to London for 4 special occasions

× 10 years of learning Korean

× Hallyu Festival

× Disney Exhibition

× comic-con

I even got to stroke some Rhinos and fed Leopards

I've learnt that if nobody wants to do something then I can do it alone, but I've yet to gain the confidence to travel to Europe (Eurostar) alone but I can kinda feel myself getting there...slowly.

Let's see what 2024 has to offer me!

#travel #travel journal #day out #travel diary #kent #uk #london #folkestone #afternoon out #paris #birmingham #Hallyu #year in review #travel notebook #travelling #traveling