What We Can Learn About Ourselves from ‘Worldwide Handsome’
Referring to himself as Worldwide Handsome isn’t about Jin’s ego. It’s the affirmation that we all need.
Category: Musings
Substack: K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim
SUBSTACK is the space where I curate my reviews and views about Korean-centric things happening in the pop culture realm (and beyond) that pique my interest…and I hope yours, too.
Behind the Scenes of K-pop
I was one of the speakers at the University of Southern California’s “Behind the Scenes of K-pop” — an all-day symposium featuring insiders and experts who fostered conversations about the art, culture, business, and the future of K-pop.
Tzuyu Is Ready for Her Solo Moment
Tzuyu — the youngest member of the successful K-pop group TWICE — talks about her first mini-album, “abouTZU.” My exclusive interview for Rolling Stone magazine.
Has the Korean Press Learned Nothing After Lee Sun-kyun?
Suga isn’t stupid. He knows he’s one of the most famous men in South Korea, and that the news media and the public would literally love to catch him in a scandal. And since he hasn’t been caught in a dating scandal or a bankruptcy scandal or a family scandal, the news is making do with what they have: scooter-gate.
K-pop Members Shouldn’t Be Forced to Participate in Every Interview
By Jae-Ha Kim Substack August 9, 2024 A few days ago, journalist Lily Dabbs shared on Twitter that she had interviewed the K-pop group ZEROBASEONE and included a link to her article. Before I go […]
Does Racist Vintage Art Get a Pass?
This is how stereotypes work. Westerners have depicted Asian men as being effeminate since forever.
When I Visited South Korea Last Year, My Blended Identity Complicated Everything
I was quoted in today’s Huffington Post about how Korean diaspora are treated differently than other tourists in South Korea. I shared my story about visiting the DMZ.
Peak Performative Activism: K-pop Edition
It’s my contention that the majority of online antagonists are adults. Why? Children simply do not care about old people’s opinions about anything.
Why Are Korean Celebs Still Apologizing?
One of the strangest things about Korean celebrity culture is the number of famous people who are essentially forced to issue apologies for doing normal, everyday things (that their detractors themselves are probably doing).