EXO's Suho speaks about 'mind-blowing' effects of Hallyu in speech at Stanford University
Kpop idols aren't just performers with exquisite talents, they're also intellectuals, too. And EXO's Suho proved this as he spoke about the impact of Hallyu around the globe during a Korean studies conference at Stanford University.
Hallyu or the “Korean Wave” is a coined term referring to the global craze for Korean culture brought about by Kdramas, Kpop, and Korean variety shows.
As a panel discussion member, the Guadian of EXO and Kpop, as he introduced himself, prepared a special presentation that covered his 10-year experience as a Kpop artist and encounters with the Hallyu wave, as well as his opinion on its influence.
Source: @SMTOWNGLOBAL
As a Kpop artist performing in different cities all over the world, Suho experienced the impact of Hallyu firsthand. He shared, “At the concerts, fans sing along throughout the entire concert in the Korean language in countries like Mexico, Chile, places far from Korea, so difficult to visit often. They would hold their banners in the Korean language and sing along in Korean. It's just mind-blowing.”
Source: Hellokpop
That's when the Kpop idol felt that Hallyu “has no borders.” And he expressed that he didn't just feel the impact whenever he was on stage, he felt it in his daily life.
“We feel the power of the Hallyu wave not only on stage, but in our everyday lives. Dance cover videos on social media are evidence that Hallyu and Kpop are not one-sidedly visible contents. As producer Lee Soo Man always says, Hallyu has become a recreatable content that everyone can enjoy and participate in together,” Suho expounds.
As a Kpop artist, Suho felt that the bond between the fans and artists is what strengthened the impact of the Korean wave and made it flourish. The effort to communicate with each other (fans and artists) and share stories have grown into more than love and appreciation for Kpop idols. The bond has led fans to delve deep into Korean culture.
Suho shared, “I will stress that Hallyu no longer stops at one specific art form. We are witnessing its expansion into our society from every angle: music, dramas, movies, food, education, and more. K-culture is more than a passing trend. It's a global phenomenon that will continue to grow and evolve.”
It is really powerful how the impact of Kpop has blossomed the Korean Wave and paved the way for people to build an understanding of the Korean culture.
Meanwhile, check out Suho's portraits in his album Self-Portrait.
