K-Pop

A major contributor to hallyu, or the South Korean wave, is pop music. With over 2 billion views of Gangham Style on Youtube, Psy is the most well known cultural export of recent times however there are a number of other artists that seem poised for international attention as well. 

During my trip, I went to a hologram concert (!) featuring Psy, 2NE1 and Big Bang. Utilizing the same technology that brought 2Pac back from the grave a few years ago at Coachella, it was one of the COOLEST things I've ever seen in my life. K-Pop is becoming my latest obsession. 

The following song by girl group 2NE1 is catchy as hell and more deserving of radio play than anything Madonna, Lady Gaga or Britney Spears have put out in years: 

Big Bang is perhaps the biggest thing in South Korea right now. During the hologram concert (which they closed), there were women young and old fawning over cardboard cut-outs of them in the lobby and merchandise graced with their image lined every mall and street market I visited. Proof positive that assembling five cute boys who sing and dance may lead to world domination.