Boy from Oz is big ... in Korea

Meet rising K-Pop star Hanbyul and his band Ledapple... how did a boy from Brisbane make it big in South Korea's music industry? Courtesy: SBS/Dateline

Led Apple are the latest band to hit the K-Pop scene in Korea. Source: SBS

HE IS the Aussie superstar with fame, a gruelling schedule and an adoring fanbase under his belt.

But Jason Jang lacks one thing — the rock star pay packet that comes with being a superstar.

Brisbane-born Jang, or Hanbyul, as his fans refer to him, is the little-known Australian singer causing massive waves in his parents' native country.

The 23-year-old, who moved to Korea to pursue his singing career more than two years ago, is now firmly entrenched in the lucrative industry that's turned Korea into the pop capital of Asia as the lead singer of Led Apple.

It's ironic that the K-pop world that has made him a star also determines the size of his pay packet.

While Led Apple may be wowing the crowds, until they are considered beyond massive, they aren't paid very much, especially compared to their counterparts in the west.

Despite being the hottest boy band on the market at the moment, Led Apple are only on the cusp of superstardom and that big payday still eludes them.

Jason Jang is the Aussie artist making huge waves in Korea. Source: SBS

But while he may not be making the fortune that superstar bands make, the Aussie-raised star said the move has been worth it because it was difficult for Asian artists to make it big in the west.

"The reason why I looked into the K-pop industry instead of a singing career back in Australia was because of the perspective that Aussies have for Asian artists, and how difficult it is for an Asian artists to be successful in a western country," he said.

"That's the only reason I came back to my parents' home country."

But his story, which features on Dateline , SBS, tonight, will reveal how growing up in Australia is actually a massive advantage to him and his band mates.

Jang, or Hanbyul, as his fans refer to him, in action with his band Led Apple. Source: SBS

As the only fluent English speaker in the hit boy band, he is able to speak with international media and help build Led Apple's base outside Korea.

The five-piece regularly perform to sell-out audiences in Korea and have gruelling schedules, but wouldn't have it any other way.

Date line journalist Jeannette Francis travelled to the country to meet the singing sensation and immerse herself in the K-Pop culture, which she described as like "Backstreet Boys on crack".

The Sydney-based SBS video journalist told news.com.au that K-Pop culture was bigger than we think and has been around for years.

She said Hanbyul seemed to have adjusted to the big move overseas fairly well because a career in K-pop was something he really wanted.

The band has even notched up some Australian fans thanks to its lead singer's link to the country. Source: SBS

"The hardest thing was being away from his parents," she said, revealing they had followed his son back to Korea around eight months ago in a massive show of support.

Ms Francis said having travelled around Korea she could see the massive appeal the genre had as the stars had a coveted look and a huge following.

"Looks play a huge part in K-pop culture," she said.

"K-pop stars are held in high regard with their porcelain skin and chiselled features — people in Asia covet that look."

In K-pop culture, young men and women are scouted from all over Korea and transformed into pop stars by record labels.

Ms Francis said the music was also catchy, always about love, and the videos were full of dance moves and colour.

"You're drawn in whether you love it or hate it," she said.

And while it may be "a little cheesy and catchy" Ms Francis isn't sure K-pop, or even Hanbyul's local link will be enough to catch on and stay here in Australia.

"There's a lot of intrigue around it but I'm not sure there's enough interest to sustain it in Australia," she said.

"I think a lot of Australians see it as a novelty, but it's generally those with an Asian background who really engage with it the most."

To see more of Jason Jang's story tune into Dateline tonight at 9.30pm on SBS ONE.

The boy band may have fame but lack the rock star pay packet. Source: SBS

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Boy from Oz is big ... in Korea

Dengan url

http://kelapapantai.blogspot.com/2014/04/boy-from-oz-is-big-in-korea.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Boy from Oz is big ... in Korea

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Boy from Oz is big ... in Korea

sebagai sumbernya