Kpop
Kpop
Abstract
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As a third-world country, the Philippines finds itself not
far above the modified poverty-line called the wash-line.
Despite this, however, they manage to innovate and find
creative ways to participate—become active receivers—of
the process that continuously connects the technological
world.
Technology-driven Globalization
The concept of globalization is known to almost everyone by
now, it having been explained in various forms of informal and
academic media. Still, here is a definition from aptly-named
website globalization101.org: “Globalization is a process of
interaction and integration among the people, companies, and
governments of different nations, a process driven by
international trade and investment and aided by information
technology” (Levin Institute, n.d.) The root of the term is the
word “globe,” and interaction and integration in this regard is
indeed on a global level. One finds further in the definition:
“This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on
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political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and
on human physical well-being in societies around the world.”
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waves and wires in waves (since kilometers of communication
lines are usually installed under bodies of water).
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The latest on the popular culture trade, of which K-pop
would be a very good example, is readily available with just a
few clicks. Be it news articles, lyrics, or concert updates, all that
needs to be done is to “search” and the internet will provide in
seconds. Pop stars can be brought down the same way they shot
to fame; performing groups get even more and more popular
with every single view of their video. Through cursors and a
song, people can interact with societies around the globe.
The world is like a washing machine: after warming up, it
turns really, really fast.
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as the then-popular Friendster, and the more recent Facebook
and Twitter) are obvious manifestations of modern ICT.
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With our current technologies, integration among nations in
terms of tradable popular culture can occur faster than a
washing cycle.
The world is like a washing machine: in it is a bit of
everything.
In general, the clothes that we wear and the look we get from
it resemble, no matter how vaguely, a popular “pop culture”
character or idea. The colored pants, the skirts, the neon shirt:
these are parcels of globalization that come in our personal
colors and sizes.
Aside from the look, we see this modern river barter in the
brands of the clothes themselves. Cotton On, Uniqlo, Giordano:
these global brands will go round and round in the machine side
by side with our favorite regional and indigenous brands,
advertised by or with our favored popular culture personalities.
We see manifestations of culture bridges in the H&M that
tumbles with the Zara, in the Samsung phone being rinsed in
the pockets of a 501.
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product” merchandise in closets, for the Korean-style shirts silk-
screened with a photo of K-pop superstars.
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for the concretization of globalization that is visible even in the
soapiest parts of the house.
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In addition to the above, globalization can also be seen—and
arguably better seen—in the buffering symbol that turns round
and round.
Korean popular culture—which thrived and has conquered
the world through ICT—is concretized by the same technological
media. Online shopping has been a thing of the global age, and
Filipino boats have some of the most avid rowers in this digital
floating market. An article by David Dizon (2015) of abs-
cbnnews.com shares a WeAreSocial report stating that “Pinoys
are top in Internet, social media use.” From these, one would
not be surprised to find out that the Filipinos‟ passion for
shopping translated to a love of its online counterpart.
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The popularity of K-pop and Korean fashion is more
apparent in Zalora Philippines. One finds in its home page a
section dedicated for “K-Fashion.” It has become a stand-alone
category, side by side with “Clothing,” “Shoes,” and “Beauty.”
Clicking the “K-Fashion” tab will show two categories:
“Women‟s Korean Fashion” and “Top Brands.”
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In a TED conference presentation, Hans Rosling (2010)
presents in his talk “The Magic Washing Machine” the
differences in costs of living per day of people. It is no new
knowledge that there are groups of people living above, way-
above, and below the poverty line. What is notable from his talk,
however, is his new take on the topic.
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fandom of Filipinos is comparable to that of highly-
industrialized countries. A few taps in ticket-selling websites will
show that concert prices of international acts—including K-pop
groups—are usually a lot higher in the Philippines than in the
rest of Asia.
The Philippines is not far above the wash line, yet it can
afford the generally pricey K-fashion goods. This could signify
two things: that Filipinos allot most of their usually limited
resources for popular culture products, or they make the most
out of what they have.
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Globalization is driven by international trade and
investment. Through the kind of information and
communication technology that we have, it has been rendering
generally positive effects on culture, on economic development
and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in a number
of societies. The Philippines, though not “yet” a highly-
industrialized country, has been highly efficient in harnessing
the benefits of ICT.
Technology-driven globalization—of which popular culture is
a very powerful manifestation—would ever-continuously turn
and bridge and integrate nations, and would eventually fully
integrate the world into the world. Today, communication
media are aplenty: people have boats, people have the internet,
people have powerful ideas and trends. In a globalized world,
nations continuously interact in a give-and-take fashion that
goes round and round.
K-fashion is a manifestation of technology-driven
globalization. This process of interaction and integration has
brought forth a positive and felt effect on human well-being
around the world. The technology that drove it to its current
speed, and that continuously powers it, allowed Filipinos to
consume K-pop and patronize K-fashion within their own ways
and means. Technology has allowed Filipinos to dominantly
“receive” popular culture of the globalizing world. It also shows
promise to allow the Philippines—and its technologically
articulate people—to be, eventually, on the dominantly “giving”
end of globalization.
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References
Dana. (2012, June 6). Idol history: K-pop by the numbers. Soulbeats.
Retrieved from http://seoulbeats.com/2012/06/idol-history-k-pop-
by-the-numbers/
Dizon, D. (2015, January 22). Pinoys are top in Internet, social media
use: Report. Retrieved from http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/01/
22/15/pinoys-are-top-internet-social-media-use-report
Korean fashion brand opens second store in Megamall. (2013, May 31).
Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/
105949/korean-fashion-brand-opens-second-store-in-megamall/
#ixzz4vkawe048
Lapeña, J. (2013, February 6). Why foreign clothing giants are coming
to Manila. Retrieved from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/
story/292455/lifestyle/why-foreign-clothing-giants-are-coming-to-
manila#sthash.XyTOGM1n.dpuf
Louren. (2016, July 4). Top 5 online shopping sites in Philippines with
cash-on-delivery. Retrieved from http://powerpinoys.com/best-
online-shopping-sites-philippines-cash-delivery/
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