By Korea.net Honorary Reporter John Paul Vergonia from the Philippines
Photos = John Paul Vergonia

K-pop music is beyond popular in the Philippines. It pervades the country's mainstream media to the point that even domestic radio stations have been caught up in the K-pop wave. Korean music of every genre can be heard everywhere from pop and upbeat tunes to ballads. So how did K-pop achieve such high popularity in the Philippines? What factors have made K-pop so appealing to Filipinos? This look at the state of K-pop in the Philippines is based on the writer’s observations, personal experiences and the views of K-pop fans in the Philippines.

K-pop began to flourish on the Philippine entertainment scene in the early years of the last decade, which saw the rise of a new generation of Korean groups and the Korean Wave, better known as Hallyu, in the Asian market. Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, 2NE1, BIGBANG, 2PM, 4MINUTE, BEAST and ZE:A were just few K-pop idol groups who greatly contributed to K-pop’s eventual dominance. The advent of social media also propelled K-pop to a higher level and served as a key engine of K-pop’s global boom. From the Wonder Girls’ hit “Nobody” to PSY’s smash “Gangnam Style,” which made history in 2012 as the first video to receive a billion views on YouTube, K-pop is arguably experiencing its golden era.

K-pop’s appeal has snared not only Filipinos but many fans all over the globe. Why are so many people getting hooked on K-pop? One reason is catchy lyrics against the backdrop of a memorable musical sequence repeated throughout the song with energetic dance choreography. Though K-pop songs are generally in Korean with a few English words here and there, many Filipinos can sing such tunes despite not understanding the lyrics. This passion for Korean pop has encouraged many Pinoys to learn the Korean language.

Riding the wave of Hallyu’s global popularity, K-pop has captivated the Philippines thanks to the charisma and attractive visuals of K-pop artists with extremely unique and recognizable styles as well as the “swag” factor. All of these traits combine with precision singing and dancing to make K-pop visually as well as audibly engaging. Jill Santos, 20, a university student, said, “I like K-pop because of its diversity and ability to offer different flavors to the table, and this is the main reason I think K-pop is influential and appealing to the younger generation.” In addition to its diversity, K-pop allows Filipinos to easily relate to the emotions the music often expresses like love, friendship, hope and even pain.

Thanks to its growing success abroad, K-pop continues to build a loyal fan base in the Philippines. Most Filipino fans of K-pop are students in their teens to mid-20s as well as young professionals, all of whom seem dedicated to their K-pop idols. This is apparent with the presence of numerous K-pop fan clubs. Filipinos are also active when it comes to supporting their favorite K-pop acts through organizing fan activities such as annual get-togethers, concert projects and even charity work.





The Philippines is also a haven for several K-pop events, with the biggest being the annual Philippine K-pop Convention. The gala is the first of its kind in the world and also raises funds to unite Filipino fans and affiliated K-pop fan clubs on one stage. In addition to this convention, dance festivals also celebrate everything K-pop through friendly competitions for Filipinos. For example, the Pinoy K-pop Star and K-pop Cover Dance Festival showcase exceptional talent and send the winners to Korea to represent the Philippines in a global competition. At such events, the dedication of such Filipino fans can be seen through their fashion, especially for young teens who imitate the way their K-pop idols are dressed.

K-pop’s influence is not limited to entertainment and fashion; it can inspire one’s life. Dawn Patrice Jamila Naval, a young professional who is a huge fan of EXO, said, “I’ve been a fan of EXO since their debut years ago. I follow the group not just because of their music but also their positive attitude toward other people and their EXO-L fans. EXO appreciates the love they receive and always promotes K-pop wherever they are. EXO has inspired me in a variety of ways and their songs just shed light on everything I face in life,” she said, adding, “As EXO’s famous motto goes, ’We are one.’ I believe I was never alone during trying times, and through K-pop, EXO’s music and my EXO-L friends, we are one no matter where we are in this world, what race you are and what religion you practice.”

The K-pop concert scene in the Philippines is lively, exciting and vibrant as numerous K-pop artists and groups often hold shows and fan meetings there. EXO, Super Junior, G-Friend, Wanna One, Seventeen, DAY6, Winner and iKon are a sampling of K-pop acts to hold sold-out concerts. More performances are scheduled next year by groups such as Momoland and BLACKPINK. K-pop is thus raising the Philippine concert scene to a whole new level.

Out of curiosity, I decided last year to experience my first K-pop concert. Though not really into K-pop and being rather a passive listener to Korean pop songs, I was blown away while attending BTS’s “The Wings Tour” in Manila; indeed, the vibrant world of K-pop far exceeded my expectations.

BTS is the biggest name in K-pop now and its global popularity has exploded. In my observation, Filipinos are perhaps the most hardcore fans of this group as getting tickets for a BTS concert takes blood, sweat and tears. The first few minutes after ticket sales began saw all available seats -- including the most expensive – sold out within hours. Waiting in a long line for about two hours just to buy a pair of concert tickets was the craziest thing I’d done, as getting them online was next to impossible. Some fans cried and said they’d even saved their school allowance and salaries just to buy a ticket. “I’ve always looked up to BTS and iKON as my K-pop idols. Their visit to the country is what I always hope for and to attend their concerts, I’m saving about half of my salary for that one ticket. I really want to see them perform live as the concert scene here in the Philippines is as hyped as Filipino fans,” said Hanna Grace Gomez, 24, a health management officer.

Showing no signs of abating, the popularity of K-pop in the Philippines is far from ordinary given Korean pop’s dynamic appeal. Given recent trends, K-pop could reach even bigger heights in the Philippines.



wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.