Korean website 100Beat is receiving a lot of attention for their recent article on the “5 Best and Worst Idols over the past 10 years”, and we’re bringing it straight to you.
The hottest topic of the Korean music industry over the past few years has been none other than the ‘idol fever’ sweeping the market. With previous years being taken over by boy bands, the past 10 years of the music market have been dominated by both group and soloist idols.
Which idols are the best? Which idols are the worst? With the emergence of H.O.T as the initial marking point of the trend, five individual teams were chosen to compile entries for both the best and the worst categories.
Those that participated in the survey include 20 professional critics, such as music magazine editor-in-chiefs, journalists, and broadcast writers. All of them participated in a discussion meeting with ‘100 BEAT‘ in order to come up with the following list.
<”BEST 5″>
1. BoA
2. SNSD
3. Big Bang
4. S.E.S
5. TVXQ / DBSK
BoA has topped the list, having debuted 10 years ago at the age of 14. She’s become the model of detailed planning and success. Maybe it’s because she was produced with the foresight and future planning of penetrating the overseas market, but her music itself was trendy with very little flaws. Her agency created a system that worked positively in BoA’s case, making her first footsteps the standard planning of all subsequent idols. She was also one of the first female idols to blow away the image of being a ‘passive’ woman, making sexist phrases like, “The right and wrong of women are covered behind men,” a thing of the past.
SNSD, who is now regarded as a cultural phenomenon, has taken second. SNSD was able to make those that turned away from the TV screens return with anticipation for their next stunt. Kim Jungwee mentioned, “They’ve even made ‘rock kids’ be able to confidently say that they like idols.”
Big Bang was able to garner attention as well, considering they’re a fresh group and unlike any other idol before them; consequently they’ve gathered a strong fanbase (VIP’s). If SNSD possess the ‘uncle fans,’ Big Bang has the ‘older sister fans.’ One such older sister, Lee Hoyoung, commented, “Their strength lies in the fact that each individual member came together to make a harmonious team, despite having their own talents and interests. Not only that, but they are also strong on their own as well.”
And despite much time having been passed since the era of S.E.S, they are still remembered as ‘the’ model for girl groups, earning their place in fourth. Critic Kim Bonghyun stated, “S.E.S is one of the first idols that successfully accomplished both image and music.” Their competition with Fin.K.L showed the market the effects of competition between stars – much like how the competition between the Wonder Girls and SNSD opened doors for yet a newer generation of girl groups.
In the fifth spot is none other than TVXQ / DBSK. Choi Jisun elaborated on TVXQ’s ranking by stating, “TVXQ works in correspondence with the needs of each new generation. They’re an example of a successful entrance into the Japanese market and a group that has made the Hallyu wave something meaningful.”
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source: 100BEAT.com
credit: allkpop
