[info/news] Super Junior continues to hold sway over Thai teens

article courtesy of: bangkokpost.com

Thai
teens were screaming, some even crying, as their Korean heartthrobs
finally appeared on stage at Siam Paragon for the Super Junior Super
Show press conference. The frenzied fans were in tears either because
of a fit of hysteria, or perhaps because of the chaos caused by the
crazy crowd pushing themselves to get closer to the stage.

Watching
from one of the overlooking platforms at Siam Square BTS station, Rung,
15, and Ray, 12, only saw their idols from a distance. But they didn't
mind because for the concert at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani on July
12, the two sisters have secured 4,500 baht standing tickets that will
give them a close-up view of Super Junior's performance.

"We
spent our savings to buy the tickets over the Internet," Rung, the
bigger sister says. "It will be worth it. Last year, the TVXQ (Dong
Bang Shin Gi) concert was absolutely fabulous and I expect the Super
Junior Super Show to be just as spectacular."

While she often
listens to Thai pop music, she has no particular favourite acts and
thinks that Korean artists are more impressive with their singing,
dancing and even sense of humour. The Mathayom 4 student is also
teaching herself the Korean language and can fluently sing along to
Super Junior hits like Miracle, Full of Happiness, and U.

A
group of 13 young talents, Super Junior is just one of the hot South
Korean acts that Thai teenagers idolise. Others that have made recent
visits to the Kingdom include Ajoo, FT Island, Wonder Girls, Big Bang,
SS501 and Paran. Kitikorn Penrote of True Music, promoter of the
upcoming Super Junior concert, was naturally very happy with the
phenomenal press conference, but deep inside he would love to see Thai
teenagers as crazy about Thai artists as Korean idols.

"It's not
that Thai artists don't have quality but as we can see from the Korean
music industry, continuous development is crucial. K-pop mania in
Thailand is a by-product, after a decade of product development
supported by the South Korean government, whose strategy is to
strengthen every industry in terms of export potential," says Kitikorn.

"Counting entertainment as an important medium with which to
promote the country, South Korea fully supports it music, film and TV
industries. And just like Hollywood influences the world by promoting
American lifestyles and American brands, Korean entertainment is a
powerful medium to promote tourism and culture as well as other
products. The objective is to develop entertainment products, not only
for the domestic market, but first for Asia, then the world."

To
serve the international market, South Korea invests in product
development, resulting in the quality of today's Korean music and
artists. The product development process, according to Kitikorn, starts
after Korean talents sign a 10-year contract that will put them into
training for stardom for the first three years before releasing an
album. The first five years is about investment and the last five
years, harvesting.

"Koreans appreciate music and don't buy
pirate copies, which encourages music producers and artists to maintain
quality work," observes the True Music director. "It's a different
situation in Thailand with the daunting level of piracy. Moreover, with
the aim to serve small market segments within the country, the
relatively low levels of investment don't allow quality. Therefore,
we're at the point where Korean music triumphs over Thai music."

Kitikorn
adds that with the tremendous demand, it won't only be True Music that
brings K-pop acts to Thailand. He maintains that this will be a good
thing for the local music industry, as it can learn from the Korean
productions, like this month's Super Junior Super Show, which will
involve a team of 100 people putting together an impressive world-class
concert.

Sudhipong Vatanajang, RS executive vice president of
music content production, totally agrees that Thais should use these
shows to evaluate how advanced the Koreans are, how far we have to go
and what we have to do to catch up with them.

"The invasion of
K-pop artists doesn't mean that Thai artists are finished," Sudhipong
says. "However, a concern is that it may make Thai teens look up to
only Korean idols instead of supporting Thai artists. I firmly believe
that Thai singers and bands, whether from Lat Phrao (RS) or Asoke (GMM
Grammy) are as good as Koreans, but more support is needed to realise
their full potential. What's important now is not to compete with each
other but to defend our music industry against Korean music."

Two
years ago, with Korean fever intensifying, Sudhipong thought of
establishing a new label to battle K-pop. Kamikaze was launched last
year to target teen music lovers.

Young stars on the new label
include cute duos Four-Mod and Neko-Jump and the unique boy band K-OTIC
comprising of two Thais, two Thai-Japanese boys and one Korean.

Sudhipong
describes K-OTIC, with its multi-national members, as an innovative
take on Asian pop. Moreover, the band sings their latest release,
Freestyle, in four languages, Thai, English, Japanese and Korean. He
completely understands why so many people think K-OTIC is just a copy
of K-pop bands, but affirms that it's an application rather than an
emulation.

"K-pop itself is an application of Western music
and the Koreans are good at adapting songs to suit Asians. We can learn
the art of application from them," Sudhipong says.

"When you
listen to hip-hop songs, the structure of the melody is pretty much the
same, but what's different in a Korean or Thai hip-hop number is the
idea, the content, the vocal style, which is all about application and
modification to make it more appealing to Asian listeners."

Because
of South Korea's vision and commitment to develop its products, he
points out that it is 10 years ahead of Thailand in every sector - from
music and automobiles to electronics and football.

"A friend
of mine worked with Korean music producers and quite some time ago I
asked him when we would equal or beat Korea in music-making," says
Sudhipong. "He replied, 'When Thailand's football team makes it to the
World Cup final.' At first I thought that he was joking. But thinking
about what he said, this may be true unless more and continued support
is given to the Thai music industry."

Super Junior is really popular in Thailand..
heheh and Thai fans are so cute..
They always welcome oppas nicely at the airport..
I'm also Thai ELF..Thai ELF,hwaiting..
~Rak phi Super Junior thi soot~

WOW...they are so lucky even...dongbang oppas..
held a concert in their country...
i hope someday suju or dbsk...oppas..
will also held a concert here in Philippines...
i always dream that!!!
^^

oooohhh thailand is really lucky.. cause they have seen suju oppas, tvxq oppas... and etc... already~

how i hope suju oppas wud notice us soon.. so good!

well, same here.. for me what i feel for korean music is much greater, than loving our own country's music.. cause i think korean music is some way different from the others~

yaah... thai ELF soo lucky~~~ and all thai can see a lot of korean performers....

when will you come to Indonesia??~~~~

same here too, sangwook unnie... i have a liking of Kpop better than Indonesian music.... it's not because it's bad music... truly i love it.... but some artist like to copy others... and they won't admit it.....
i hate that kind of artist...
but that's only some, not all....

and don't get me started with Indonesian drama :duh:
copy here and there~~

but the movies are okay....
and Indonesian novel is really great!!

(hehe mianhaeyo i sond like promoting Indonesia.... well i'm still jealous of thai fans :hurtblue: )

waaaaaa their so lucky..
they're really nice..
im a teenager fans and still crazy to our oppas..
our oppas have invaded the industry..
hahaha....
so popular..
waaa hope they can have a concert in
phils as well or here so i dnt have to go to phils..
ahhhaha

super junior oppa..
when will you come to indonesia??
:╥o╥

really wanna watch you live..

wow suju is very popular in thai..
not like indonesia
coz indonesia always like to get local artist..
and just like to broadcast korean drama..
not the singer
:duh:

they are so famous!!!!!!!!!!!!:╥o╥

i hope they will go here in the Philippines!!!!!!

who won't be swayed by suju oppas??? eheheheheh
oppas..stop being so cute....you are making girls faint!!! :giggle:
korean music is extremely addictive!! so good!

hehehe

i hope they won't forget PHILIPPINES.. emoting

..
i really wanna see them....
i hope they would be shown here...
Phils. just promote korean dramas...why not the singers too,...??? crying

Wow... how lucky they are...... bravery

I know Super Junior ws really popular....

Super Junior HWAITING!!.... :saranghaeyo:

Wahhh they are really popular in Thailand..
I hope they will visit the Philippines too..
They will see that they are also popular here..

I hope soon our dreams will come true..
I hope to see them in the PhiliipinesTo have concerts here..
and promote their albums..
I want to see them..

[info/news] Super Junior continues to hold sway over Thai teens

[info/news] Super Junior continues to hold sway over Thai teens

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