К-поп и кейпопъри: модели и рефлексии в България
K-pop and K-poppers in Bulgaria: Models and Reflections

Summary/Abstract: South Korean pop music (k-pop) has been recognized as a phenomenon with huge popularity which has become increasingly important in the world markets. It has also won its loyal audience in Bulgaria. The result of these processes is the creation of a new community – the Bulgarian fans of k-pop (kpoppers) united by the passion for Korean culture and pop music. This study presents the peculiarities of k-pop related to its development and promotion beyond its place of origin (as part of the Korean wave / hallyu), and the increased interest of Bulgarian consumers and fans in this phenomenon. The dynamics in establishing k-pop as a cultural and musical phenomenon and commodity as well as the areas of dissemination and adoption of its products have been shown. The topics of how random or purposeful its creation is and its successful popularization around the world have been discussed. K-pop distribution strategies related to pop stars and markets have been delineated. In the study I seek out the new and typical in the profile of k-pop artists, their stylistic preferences and different generations. I present my own thesis according to which k-pop groups are becoming more and more an equivalent of musicalchoreographic troupes – they create music dance models realized as products of the music dance theater. The role of k-pop lovers has been outlined. The contexts in which Bulgarian followers of hallyu and k-pop are formed as well as the creation of its community in Bulgaria have been analyzed. The study continues my many years of research into various aspects of the musical culture of the Republic of Korea and their correlations with cultural politics, strategies and cultural industries. In this study, my focus is on a new phenomenon in Bulgarian culture, the articulation of the models being followed, plus the multifarious reflections of k-pop in Bulgarian circumstances. I have also summarized the results of k-poppers’ involvement in accepting Korean cultural phenomena.

• Details
• Contents