TheHallyuGeek

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Laboum Reaches Crowdfunding Goal In Less Than 4 Hours!

Laboum reached their crowdfunding goal of $8,261 in less than 4 hours! Their Makestar page opened on February 15th at 7pm (KST). They are now 163.6% past their goal ($13, 514). The crowdfunding is for their music video production that will take place some time around early April and Laboum just finished their "Aalow Aalow" tour in time to start their new music video. Pledgers who donated will receive gifts as follow:

$0.90 = Thank you email
$8.30 = Thank you email, certificate of sponsorship, music file
$24.80 = Thank you email, certificate of sponsorship, music file, new track signed CD
$41.40 = Thank you email, certificate of sponsorship, music file, new track signed CD, 6 signed photo cards (all members)
$82.70 = Thank you email, certificate of sponsorship, music file, new track signed CD, 6 signed photo cards (all members), unreleased M/V photobook, listed as honorary producer on photobook, listed as honorary producer on the M/V credit (this reward is subject to closing according to M/V production schedule)
$165.30 = Thank you email, certificate of sponsorship, music file, new track signed CD, 6 signed photo cards (all members), unreleased M/V photobook, listed as honorary producer on photobook, listed as honorary producer on the M/V credit (this reward is subject to closing according to M/V production schedule), LABOUM mini display figure (all members)
$247.90 = Thank you email, certificate of sponsorship, music file, new track signed CD, 6 signed photo cards (all members), unreleased M/V photobook, listed as honorary producer on photobook, listed as honorary producer on the M/V credit (this reward is subject to close according to M/V production schedule), LABOUM mini display figure (all members), invitation to M/V filming set, photo session at M/V filming
$826.20 = Thank you email, certificate of sponsorship, music file, new track signed CD, 6 signed photo cards (all members), unreleased M/V photobook, listed as honorary producer on photobook, listed as honorary producer on the M/V credit (this reward is subject to close according to M/V production schedule), LABOUM mini display figure (all members), invitation to M/V filming set, photo session at M/V filming, fan-meeting with LABOUM over a meal, video of fan-meeting *SOLD OUT*

More on THG: What are SMEntertainment and JYPEntertainment up to?

Laboum's crowdfunding strategy on Makestar shadows Stellar's who reached 400% past their goal earlier this year.

Daebak, Laboum!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

SM and JYP Have Been Buddy-Buddy Lately...

-It has recently been announced that EXO and GOT7 will be touring together.

| INFO | The joint concert of EXO and GOT7 will be organised as planned on 26th March in Shanghai 🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/YC6OBTHlQk
— Jackson Wang Vietnam (@JacksonWGOT7VN) February 16, 2016

-There was the Suzy x Baekhyun collab:

-It was rumored that Yubin will feature on Tiffiany's solo album.

-And don't forget, Suho starred in Jokwon's "Crosswalk."

Update: Now GSoul collabed with Taemin for his new album?

Taemin's CB stage, 2/25 on Mcount. SHINee's Jonghyun, Kenzie and GSoul etc participated in producing the album 🙌🏼 https://t.co/UDtCvxKdAx
— ㅋㅋㅋ (@_takoyakey) February 18, 2016

My question: is SM going to buy JYP? Besides the whole Tzuyu scandal with China that somewhat threatened JYPE's stock, they don't seem to be doing that bad. However, after viewing the "NCT" presentation by Lee Soo Man, that man is ready to take over the world. On the other hand, JYP can become a useful ally for SM. They can become a joint company and monopolize the whole kpop industry, which can be bad for hallyu as a whole. Something's fishy going down between these two music companies who used to compete against each other. We will see in time. Stay tuned!

More on THG: Colorism in Kpop

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Colorism In KPOP

Lately, there have been a couple of minor incidents of colorism among two kpop groups that some kpop fans have brought to light. Before I begin, here's a copy-and-pasted definition of colorism from the Oxford dictionary just in case you don't know it:
"Prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group."

Now that you know what colorism is, you will be able to understand everything I'm about to talk about.

The most recent colorist situations are of Sooyoung of SNSD and Seungyoon and Taehyun of Winner. Now, since I am mostly an unbiased person, I am gifted with the ability to see situations from both sides. Therefore, I'm not going to be extremely one sided on these situations.

Let's start off with Sooyoung's banner about Yuri below.

A photo posted by Sooyoung Choi (@hotsootuff) on Feb 11, 2016 at 11:13pm PST

Members of Girls' Generation sent a coffee truck to Yuri's shoot of "Neighborhood Hero" with a banner on it. The banner is translated as "Thank you for filming our Yuri so that she looks white <3. From. SNSD." It is well known that Yuri has the darkest skin Girls' Generation. To me, I see this as not a big deal while also seeing this as offensive at the same time. It does not seem like a big deal because this may just be light teasing that the girls do towards Yuri. They may have done so ever since they first debuted or even during training. It's like how some friends tease one another on their height, either for being so tall or so short. She's probably used to it and doesn't see it as offensive, like harmless fun.

On the other hand, does Yuri feel embarrassed inside? Sooyoung posting this picture on Instagram for the world to see could make Yuri feel humiliated inside. Yuri's skin color is something she cannot change and being teased about it every now and then (if you remember Tiffany's Instagram post from a couple of months ago) can cause some damage to her internally over time.

And for Seungyoon's and Taehyun's drawings of Mino. Before I go any further: I am an AVID fan of Winner. I would stan everyday, all day if I had the time. On top of that, Taehyun is my bias. Anyways, 1theK recently uploaded an "Ask In A Box" segment of Winner on YouTube. When asked to draw their members, Seungyoon and Taehyun drew the pictures below.

Seungyoon's drawing

Taehyun's drawing

Similar to what I said about Yuri's situation: this could JUST be a joke among the members and Mino even laughed out loud at Seungyoon's drawing. However, this was on camera for the world to see, which could probably make Mino feel a little humiliated inside. His skin color is something he cannot change.

More on THG: Kim Jaejoong's "Memories of 100 Days" Photos

Colorism in South Korea may not be as big of a deal as some international kpop fans make it out to be. It can just be a simple norm, just like how other countries may have norms that others may consider rude or abnormal. I understand colorism derives from an old concept in South Korean history on how lighter skin means that you are wealthy, but I'm not going to get into that. However, if it is a real issue that resides within those targeted, then it should be called out. Only those affected by colorism can step up and advocate against it in order to end it in South Korea. It's a shame, but, it may take a couple of more generations for colorism to end, even though we are now in 2016.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

"Memories of 100 Days" Photos of Kim Jaejoong

Jaejoong Oppa has come back to us. See photos below from his "Memories of 100 Days" shoot!
More on THG: Kpop Fans Discover Illuminati Symbols In Kpop

Photos credit: KISSJYJ

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

KPoppers Show "Proof" That The Illuminati Is Real In KPOP

Guys, guys, guys!!! I was looking through the Internet and found proof from various netizens online that the Illuminati is REAL in KPOP! Check out the evidence below!

More on THG: WasTaeyang Being Racist???

Out of all of them, the Vernon clip had me laughing so hard, my whole body was hurting all over ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Monday, February 8, 2016

Was Taeyang Being Racist???

Earlier today, Taeyang greeted his fans a "Happy Monkey New Year." However, he was wearing "black face" while doing so. He was using an app (maybe Snapchat) that allows him to "wear" different faces. Taeyang was "wearing" Kanye West's face when he greeted his fans "Happy Monkey New Year." He then screamed out, probably trying to sound like a monkey. Ok, so, let's try and see this from a non-racist prospective: the screaming almost sounded similar to Kanye West's when he raps on a track. If you are familiar with Kanye West tracks, every now and then, he yells out "haaah," almost like a car horn. Also, maybe Taeyang likes Kanye West and wanted to have some fun impersonating him.

More on THG: Popular Idols Donned In Hanboks!

And from a racist prospective: why, out of all the celebrities in the world, would Taeyang pick KANYE WEST for the MONKEY new year??? He could have picked Leonardo DiCaprio or George Lopez, etc. Also, why else would he take down the clip so fast if he was only having honest fun? On top of that, he posted two other clips of him "wearing" Seungri's and T.O.P's faces. While "wearing" T.O.P's face he says "Happy New Year" instead of "Happy Monkey New Year." I don't know, maybe me and others are looking into it too much. Or maybe not. Who knows?.....Ok, bye.

Taeyang's "Seungri" and "T.O.P" clips here!