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Inventing A New Social Apparatus : Idol Stars and Entertainment Agencies

Yong-jin WON 1,  kim Ji Man 1

1서강대학교

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ABSTRACT

Korean Idol stars, commonly known professional singers, are products of entertainment agencies (hereafter, EA). The EA are responsible for the whole process of the idol-centered phenomenon. A television show that most Korean viewers call audition program shows how much the EA have strong impact on the idol-boom. All judge of the competition program come from big EA, two are CEO, one a representative celebrity. While giving some comments on the contestants' performances, they emphasize the importance of controlling emotions. They suggest that idol stars should make themselves beings without ego, self-esteem throughout training. In fact, through discipling the pre-idols, the EA give emphasis on "emotional labor'. Most idols stars' revenue depend on their showing on talk show, advertisements, and fan-meeting. They are always to be ready for the occasions to give big smiles and to deliver sweet talks. Idol stars and EA in Korea articulate their endeavors with national success. They are busy to mention their success referring to dilligency and patience that are important virtue in Korea. They are trying to be a part of national pride and to relate themselves with recovery in national economy. They tend to play a role of social apparatus through which people are encouraged and again disciplined to be industrious beings. They try to take advantage of popularity of K-Pop around the world and to enhance it soft-nationalism.

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* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

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