ABOUT
FEATURED POSTS
WHY K-POP?
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That’s the question we wanted to answer.
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WAE KPOP is an independent site that offers a unique, creative perspective on Korean culture and entertainment to our distinctly inquisitive audience. Our team has nearly 20 years of experience in the K-pop scene, combined. Members of our team also have backgrounds in journalism, graphic design, dance, and more.
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There’s no shortage of K-pop news… But we’re not here to follow the same old 24-hour news cycle. We’re not fans for the gossip and the drama.
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Our goal is to bring K-pop to an even wider audience and write informative, thought-provoking pieces on the side of Hallyu others aren’t talking about.
OUR TEAM
Julie T. – Co-founder, Managing Editor
I’ve been a long-time K-pop lover since 2002, being first introduced to this genre through BoA (think a pre-teen Julie meticulously learning choreo to “Listen to My Heart” and “No.1”). This was my gateway to the legendary world of 1st generation groups such as FIN.K.L and 1TYM. I took a decade-long hiatus from K-pop until I started noticing some very talented new groups take center stage on my YouTube feed. After a few months of catching up on what’s hot in Korean pop culture, I finally admitted that it was time to have my own comeback to all things K-pop.
When I’m not at my day job, you’ll find me analyzing Korean pop culture, planning my next travel destination, or still trying to learn that title-track choreo.
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I am the newbie of the group, only entering the K-pop scene in early 2016. Life as I knew it ended the day I stumbled upon BTS’s “Dope” MV. That little stumble led to a full-on swan dive into the deep ocean that is K-pop. With the aid of my WKP collaborators, I began to explore all that Korean music and culture has to offer, voraciously consuming all the media I could get my hands on.
Here at WKP, my main focus is all things dance related, providing performance and dance analysis. I figured this was the best use of my many years of dance experience, plus it means I get to binge watch all the stages. When available, I am an avid photographer and excited to bring the best shots of K-pop concerts to our readers.
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My first glimpse of K-pop was Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” but I didn’t become a fan until I saw a “YouTubers React to K-pop” video in 2013. One of the music videos was BIGBANG’s “Fantastic Baby.” I watched the whole MV and was hooked. It didn’t take me long to become 100% K-pop trash. So much so that I’m way too multifandom for my own good. I listen to K-pop, K-rock, K-indie, and K-hiphop and lots of music outside of the Hallyu bubble.
I’m an avid K-drama watcher – everything from high school dramas to historical dramas. And, I’m a recent K-beauty addict.
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GUEST CONTRIBUTORS​
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Shannon G., Washington, DC
Alan N., New York, NY
Brianna R., Boston, MA
Katie T., Baltimore, MD
Dreena T., Blacksburg, VA
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