K-Pop, Domination Culture in Other's Culture

The blooming of K-Pop was in the top rank of pop culture that most influence in Indonesia nowadays. K-Pop is also a popular culture in Korean that becomes the center of culture many countries in the world. The development of K-Pop itself has given influences in many countries, especially in Indonesia, and the popularity of K-Pop in Indonesia also gives a change for media industry to make any program that becomes a way to be similar with fandom’s idols.

            The raised of many of K-Pop stars in Indonesia, such as SNSD, Super Junior, DBSK and many other boybands and girlbands which has many fandom of K-Pop was a main role of how media really exposed about K-Pop a lot. Producers in media industries also pierce about the benefits of K-Pop booming in Indonesia. It also occurs in many boybands and girlbands in Indonesia, such as SM*ASH, 7 Icons, Cherry Belle, etc. Many Indonesian TV programs were making programs which are related to K-Pop and its fandom by finding talents of Indonesian people who want to be Kin-Pop (Korean-Indonesia) superstars. The candidates or finalists indirect have to dress up and imitate what the Korean superstars do. As Jeje, the finalist of Galaxy Superstar which is a program that shows about finding talents about Korean lovers in Indosiar, he argued that he colored his black hair into blonde and piercing his ear in order to similar with Korean superstar. His changing was not just his want but it was the order of management in Galaxy Superstar.

            From the phenomenon above, it shows us how K-Pop has great influence for our country. Many young people become crazy in love about Korean culture and they seem like the imitate characters in Korean superstars. Based on Diana Crane theory about model of cultural globalization, I choose cultural imperialism theory which also related to Marxist in critique of capitalism. As Diana Crane argued that cultural imperialism is the impact of powerful weak of nations to the abroad cultures. From the fact of K-Pop ‘sparkling’ culture in Indonesia, it did not release from government role. It seems like our society has already homogeneous of Korean culture, especially in music side. K-Pop in Indonesia is also as a type of cultural domination and even bear down Indonesian music or other cultures which belong to our country, Indonesia. Indonesia also do not make a kind of rule as the sort of delimitation of culture abroad and it is exactly makes other country culture influence many people in Indonesia easily. Media industry is also as a main character of this phenomenon, because media as a strongest medium to give either ideology or power lifestyle here. As Marxist theory in capitalism, it also suitable for media industries because indirectly, they had already ‘indoctrinate’ Indonesian people, especially young people to consume other country culture and made as if irresponsive with their own cultures.

In my opinion, it was tragic phenomenon how Indonesian people are adorer about other country’s culture especially Korean, than their own country culture. Still fresh in our mind someday ago when Malaysia claimed about Reog Ponorogo, Batik, and Pendet dance which clearly original of Indonesian culture, then many Indonesian people was angry about that claim. So mourn indeed, but back to human nature, it is all about direct personalized of each person to be desire for a kind of other country culture. In this phenomenon, it is time to government side for making role or kind of trick to make Indonesian culture become more attractive for young people, so that they can be proud of their own country cultures. Government, especially minister of culture and tourism has to more active to promote about Indonesian culture and tourism object. I have ever seen in cable television in my home about some kind of Indonesian culture such as Reog and Batik. In my mind that day was how odd Indonesia should make an advertisement to promote Indonesian culture, but in the last of it, I was surprise that it is a Malaysia advertisement to promote its country.

            I hope from this fact, the government ‘opens their eyes’ to look after what kind of Indonesian cultures that must be conserved and be proud of our own products and cultures. For young people also, Indonesian cultures are belonging to us and none who can perpetuate them expect ourselves. Be smart, creative and proud of our Indonesian cultures!