K-POP - The Odyssey: Your Gateway to the Global K-Pop Phenomenon

by Wooseok Ki

K-Pop is bigger than it has ever been. Many new artists debut each year and the industry is at an all-time international high. But how did we get here? Is it something more complex and important than mere media headlines?

K-POP: The Odyssey - Your Gateway to the Global K-Pop Phenomenon takes you on a journey to explore one of the biggest pop cultural phenomenona in recent history, drawing from stories and interviews from some of the biggest names in the K-Pop industry including:

Henry Lau, international popstar, actor and K-Pop veteran

Hyuk Shin, multi-platinum record producer behind the hits of stars like EXO, DEAN, and Girls’ Generation

Peter Chun, former YG Entertainment Director who spearheaded US collaborations for BIGBANG, 2NE1, and Epik High


Plus a BTS co-songwriter, academic scholars and more. K-POP: The Odyssey is split into eight parts, with each exploring a facet of the K-Pop phenomenon. Whether you are interested in the idol system, music, business, technology, or fandom, this book will serve as your guide. Are you in?

368 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2020

About the author

Growing up in both South Korea and the U.S., Wooseok Ki is always seeking to bridge the gap between the East and the West. With a love for dance and music, as well as a future in a legal career through University of Pennsylvania Law School, Wooseok takes pride in his ability to balance his creative side with a professional outlook. His passion for researching and writing about his interests pushes him to strive to not only inform, but also to entertain.

When Wooseok isn’t poring over a legal thesis or going in depth on the newest K-Pop trend, he can be found freestyle dancing to random songs or singing along to the newest hits at karaoke bars.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something I have been looking for since re-entering the world of K-Pop is a book that tackles and analyzes how much it has changed and become bigger since I was first introduced circa 2010. The author does a great job of providing perspective, but without too much bias, on how the industry has grown, achieved new heights, and looks towards what it may become. There was a plethora of interesting and insightful information, including fun facts and interviews with people inside the K-Pop industry. This is a great starter for someone who wants to learn more, but also provides enough for someone already familiar to give them something to think about.

[Bungluna · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's no startling new information in this book, but it is well researched and offers a broad look at an industry that's often over-simplified in the west. I'm going to browse through the appendix and look up some of the resources used to get a more in-depth look at the subject.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed in every page of this book. Author explained facts about past and present of K-pop, without being boring. He added fun facts and interviews as well. As someone who is big lover of Korean music and culture it was really fascinating to read about Korean music from Korean guy who lives in America. His feelings for every accomplishment that South Korea made in entertainment industry was really nice explained and I could feel in his words how proud he was of his country. If you are looking for book about K-pop stars, I am not recommending this book. But if you are looking into more knowledge about K-pop and Korean entertainment industry, with interesting in-depth look at the subject, this book is perfect for you!

[Crystal Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book bring readers a fun, comprehensive, and nuanced perspective to understanding the world of K-Pop. It presents K-pop from three approaches: as a music genre, an industry, and a culture. In this collection of well-researched essays, the author explores wide-ranging aspects of K-pop. The ones that stood out for me include: the fandom culture, social media's relationship to the genre, the idol system and its social issues, the reflection of the 2010s as a decade of milestones for K-pop, and how hit albums are made!
Highly recommend

[Sara]

I am not rating this book as it wouldn’t be fair to the author’s work. I did not enjoy it, but I do not have any interest in k-pop. I appreciated the academic inclusions and the overview of the k-pop phenomenon, but since I have no interest if felt like a bad school assignment for me to get through it.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, and there's not much else to read on the topic. However, it's a fan-written book and a lot of the tone is, "Wow, isn't it crazy that k-pop is big internationally?! Blows my mind!" Would have liked more on the business and production sides.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads more like a collection of blog posts than a literary or scholarly overview of K-pop, but it's still a fun read that gives you a taste of the genre.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subverting stereotypes and sensationalism, Wooseok writes an intelligent yet beginner friendly book about K-pop. With the growing popularity of BTS and other groups, more and more articles are being written about the topic. However, many are told from a Western lens that overlooks actual Asian voices. As a self-proclaimed ARMY, I’m happy to say that K-Pop: The Odyssey is different. The author, Wooseok, is Korean himself and has experience with the subject as a media & entertainment enthusiast. In his book, he provides a comprehensive but fun overview of K-pop’s music, industry, and culture. He also includes stories and insights from top experts and real fans. K-Pop: The Odyssey is a must read for anyone interested in music, Korean pop culture, or Asian representation at large. Informative, well written, and enjoyable, it helps bridge the East and West to the average person.