The risky plan to take the “K” out of K-pop

K-pop 正在去韩国化

Economist

2026-01-15

5 分钟
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  • For a cool S$6,500 ($5,050), you can attend a professional course at SM Universe,

  • a new k-pop training academy, opened in Singapore last year.

  • SM Universe is the first facility in South-East Asia with backing from a major music label (Sm Entertainment).

  • Its goal is to train the next generation of hitmakers

  • to follow in the choreographed footsteps of some of K-pop's biggest stars.

  • Students include aspiring performers from France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

  • The academy points to a change in the popular music genre: South Korean pop is becoming less Korean.

  • With demand for K-pop more muted at home, labels are eyeing markets abroad.

  • The musical acts need to reflect their adoring audiences.

  • HYBE, another label, now runs training programmes in Los Angeles and Mumbai.

  • (HYBE is behind BTS, one of the world's biggest bands, which is reuniting in 2026 for a world tour.

  • BTS's seven male members had to trade their mics for fatigues

  • and spent nearly four years completing South Korea's required military service.)

  • Going abroad "is a natural progression" for the K-pop industry, says Andy Lim of SM Universe.

  • Artists hoping to widen their appeal already collaborate with American stars.

  • For example, Blackpink, a girl group, has collaborated with artists such as Cardi B, Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez.

  • Many now sing in English rather than Korean.

  • (One of the biggest hits of the past year was "Golden" by Huntrix,

  • the fictional group in "KPop Demon Hunters", the most popular film to ever stream on Netflix.)

  • HYBE's founder, Bang Si-hyuk, has said the company wants to "get the K out of K-pop".