K-Pop as a Means to an End among Thai Youth: Korean Wave as Costume, Food, and Image

Abstract

Assessments of the impact of K-pop beyond Korea, and of other aspects within the broader Korean Wave, often focus on groups of fans. The research reported here began from an intention to move beyond fandom, encouraged by a challenge to demonstrate that members of the British Thai community, aware of their heritage in Southeast Asia but growing up in the eclectic cultural mix of contemporary Britain, were interested in K-pop. We respond to academic literature on popular culture, on specialized music and dance training, and on the musical tastes of diasporic groups, by working with teenagers and students who study and perform Thai classical music and dance in two organizations, the Thai Music Circle in the UK and the Thai Dance Academy. We present the results of a survey, and contextualize our findings by exploring recent Thai literature and television programs about Korean Wave and K-pop. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 10 August 2018 Revised 24 September 2018 Accepted 30 September 2018