There’s no doubt that a new K-Beauty product is always trending, especially when a K-Celeb is the face of said product. In recent news, we’ve seen big names like SEVENTEEN’s WonWoo named as the new model of Korean beauty brands like The Face Shop, ZEROBASEONE becoming the new faces of COLORGRAM, and RIIZE becoming the new models of ETUDE, and many more.

There is an abundance of K-Beauty brands with K-Celebs as the face/model/ambassador of the brand - and fans are dedicated to buying these products to support their favorite K-Pop idol or Korean actor. The Olive Young top product ranking (of Apr. 25, 2024) is a great example of this. Out of the 8 products shown, 4 of them have K-Celebs (namely MONSTA X's HyungWon, Go YounJung, 2AM's Jo Kwon, and ZEROBASEONE's Kim JiWoong) as the face of the product, which can increase the odds of consumers buying the product.

Olive Young Screenshot (25/04/2024)

If you've ever wondered why brands opt to add celebrities to their marketing campaigns, a look at the following data from 2021 by LaunchMetrics proves the impact that Korean celebrities (namely BLACKPINK's Jennie and JiSoo, and BIGBANG's G-Dragon) have had on international luxury brands for fashion and cosmetics (which has only grown stronger since then).

LaunchMetrics

If that is the impact that K-Celebs can have on international brands, then it goes without saying that they would have a similar impact on local K-Beauty brands, too.

However, recently fans have been raising the question wondering why K-Celebrities (especially veterans and big names) don't venture into creating their own cosmetics and beauty brands. If they did, surely they'd make a lucrative profit from their fans' support...

In the case of the Western world, artists like Beyoncé, Selena Gomez, and Rihanna have infiltrated the global beauty market with their respective brands. Beyoncé has recently gone viral for her content utilizing her hair care products Cécred, Selena Gomez has become a sensation on social media with her cosmetics brand Rare Beauty, and Rihanna has also created a cosmetics brand that is a staple on the dressing tables of many in the form of Fenty Beauty. So, why don't K-Celebrities leverage their fandoms and take the leap?

The K-Beauty Celebrity Cosmetics Landscape Is Not Non-Existent

If you're looking for K-Celebrity cosmetics, but feeling bleak because you can't find any, then don't despair. There is one brand that you can seek out!

That's not to say that K-Pop idols haven't ventured into creating their own cosmetics brands at all. Jeon SoMi is one of the first K-Pop idols to attempt her own cosmetics line.

 

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A post shared by 글맆 GLYF (@glyfing)

She launched the makeup brand GLYF which she had been working on since 2023.

Negative Reactions To A K-Celebrity Makeup Line

However, the product launch was met with some pushback from netizens as they questioned her intention/sincerity and the pricing of the product.

Some argued that Jeon SoMi's first product, the ILLUÉTTE Highlighter Palette (four colors) at 43,000 Korean won (about 31.39 USD), is too expensive.

Whilst this sentiment spread across communities, to be objective, similar celebrity brands in the West charge similarly or even more. The Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter (one or two colors) retails for 74,100 Korean won (about 54.02 USD) and the Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter (one color) retails for 25 USD (about 34,274 Korean won).

On the other hand, if you compare a similar highlighter palette (with 4 colors) from the Korean brand IPKN called the IPKN Flap One Face Palette, it retails for 32,000 Korean won (about 23.23 USD).

Note: all prices and conversions are as of Apr. 24, 2024.

GLYF Official / Fenty Beauty Official / Rare Beauty Official / Olive Young

Taking these brands into consideration, Jeon SoMi's product is slightly on the pricey side but not entirely out of reach. It is up to consumers to buy a product in their comfortable price range.

The Likeliness Of More K-Celebs Opening Brands In Future

Whilst K-Pop idols are at a career and popularity advantage to launch products in the form of beauty and fashion brands, there might be some hesitance on their part due to potential backlash from fans. Jeon SoMi is one case study, but so is former Girls' Generation member Jessica Jung, who faced backlash from her agency when trying to launch her current fashion brand BLANC & ECLARE.

Some fans perceive pursuing businesses like this as a distraction and a lack of dedication to being an idol. Even in the West, Rihanna has received a lot of backlash for not releasing music and focusing solely on her beauty brand, for example.

As K-Pop fandom prioritizes a relationship with the K-Pop idol, for instance, whilst there might be an outpouring of support for the idol's brand - fans might not like the change in focus.

There is also the issue of K-Pop idols losing out on much-needed brand deals essential to marketing their groups or themselves. This is because beauty brand models are usually tied to only promoting that specific brand due to exclusivity clauses in the contract.

Lastly, and naturally, creating a brand in a saturated market is also a huge risk that K-Celebs may not have the time or energy to take on. Especially in South Korea, where K-Beauty giants such as Olive Young rule the day, it might be difficult to navigate the brands under that umbrella and other competitors. Even a brand (distributor) as huge as Sephora (selling international brands) has had to close down operations in South Korea due to being unable to beat the local K-Beauty market.

If competition can be this fierce between distributors, then it will undoubtedly be just as fierce amongst actual brand competitors.

However, there is still hope that more K-Celebs will take the leap to create products that can help fans feel closer to or like them.

What do you think? Should more K-Celebs be starting beauty brands? Do you reckon that being the face of another K-Beauty brand and not starting their own is the best way for K-Celebs to be part of the K-Beauty industry?

The K-Pop industry is known to be a revolving door of innovation, creativity, and impactful star presence. The Hallyu wave has effectively taken over the world with idol groups and soloists, along with riveting K-Dramas at the forefront. Just like previous years, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted the Overseas Hallyu Survey to determine overseas fans' favorites in various categories.

The main purpose of this survey is to compile the data on the impact of the Hallyu wave. With a sample size of 25,000 people from over 26 countries, the 2024 Overseas Hallyu Survey tries its best to show an accurate representation of what types of K-Content is being consumed in different countries.

In one part of the survey, respondents were asked "Who is currently your favorite Korean group/artists?". Let's find out their answers below!

Top 5 Favorite K-Pop Groups/Artists

1. BTS

GQ Korea

With an impressive 29.1%, BTS takes the top spot among overseas fans' favorite K-Pop idol groups/artists. While the BTS members were active with solo schedules, they slowly made their way into the army, one by one, in order to carry out their mandatory military enlistment. Despite fulfilling their national duty, the iconic boy group's musical influence, positivity, and unique outlook have cemented them as a top idol group.

2. BLACKPINK

BLACKPINK's Official Instagram

Following in second is world-renowned girl group BLACKPINK. They were selected by 13.1% of respondents as their favorite idol group. After the conclusion of their Born Pink World Tour, the iconic girl group decided to stay together with YG for group promotions, but would pursue their individual endeavors under a separate companies. Despite this, the very essence of BLACKPINK still resonated deeply with K-Pop fans across the globe for both their music and individuality.

3. Psy

SBS

When 'Gangnam Style' first dominated the world charts, it seemed like a fever dream. However, through its success, the Korean wave was able to make a resounding resurgence worldwide. This international success has remained with Psy since, praised for his contributions to Korean entertainment and culture. Psy had a somewhat quiet 2023 but was still able to fill concert venues and remained at the forefront of overseas fans' hearts, being selected by 2.9%.

4. BTS' JungKook

BTS' Official Facebook

BTS as a whole were successful soloists in 2023, however, the one member who was selected by 2.7% of overseas fans as their favorite artist was none other than the golden maknae himself, BTS' JungKook. Coming out with the album "GOLDEN", comprised of hits like 'Seven', 'Standing Next To You', and '3D', JungKook's career was elevated to another level. He was able to showcase his individuality as an artist, becoming a beloved name among the K-Pop community and beyond.

5. IU

IU Official

Rounding out the list at no. 5 is the lovely singer-actress, IU. The award-winning soloist was selected by 2.1% of overseas fans. In 2023, she earned immense love for her appearance in hilarious yet heartwarming sports movie, "Dream". Aside from this, IU is an artist that millions love worldwide, praised for her swoon-worthy musicality and incredible artistic prowess.

Top 5 Favorite K-Pop Groups Regional Breakdown

Translated by Kpopmap.com

Although the above artists were the overall consensus among overseas fans, there were some outliers among the various regions. In Asia - Oceania TWICE and BLACKPINK's Lisa took no. 4 and no. 5. Stray Kids were included in the Top 5 of the Americas and Europe. Then BIGBANG's G-Dragon was present among the fans in the Middle East and Africa. However, one common factor among all regions was BTS' place at the top. Even in a year where they all slowly transitioned into military service, they remained the hottest K-Pop act that the world has ever seen.

However, speaking of consistency, BLACKPINK remained at a constant no. 2, while they were beaten out by BTS' loveable maknae, JungKook, among the overseas fans in Africa. These rankings have remained quite similar over the past several years.

As seen through the results of the Overseas Hallyu Survey over the years, BTS and BLACKPINK remain a force to be reckoned with. They worked tirelessly, standing on the biggest stages worldwide, communicating with fans through whatever means possible. They built up a long-standing legacy within the K-Pop community that surely won't crumble anytime soon. And despite all the criticism and hardships they might have faced along the way, the groups remained resolute in their commitment to their profession as idols, leveling up at various moments of their career. Both BTS and BLACKPINK have become frontrunners of the K-Pop industry, recognized by millions, if not trillions, around the globe.

The BTS & BLACKPINK Effect

It's hard to describe just how big of an influence BTS and BLACKPINK have had on the K-Pop community, resulting in both groups being no. 1 and no. 2 on overseas fans' top 5 list. With such longevity in their careers and the ability to connect to audiences beyond music, they've become a mainstay within the various micro-communities scattered across K-Pop. Currently, the two groups are taking a pause in their careers as a group, with BTS in the military and BLACKPINK focusing on their solo endeavors. However, both BTS and BLACKPINK continue to show up in netizens' mentions, extending their reach past the dedicated fandoms of ARMY and BLINK.

Kpopmap

As a result of their continuing fame, despite being in a rest period of their group career, the sentiment towards the two are quite positive as fans patiently wait for their return.

Kpopmap

And while it might be some time until we're able to see both BTS and BLACKPINK take the stage as a full group, this proves one thing: they show no signs of slowing down. The fact that people are still mentioning and searching about the two groups showcases their massive allure, bewitching the entire world to fall into their ocean of charms. This affection is well-earned, backed up by spectacular stages, heartwarming social media interactions, and being treated to additional content, so their absence is rarely felt. With this, it's quite likely that even future iterations of the Overseas Hallyu Survey will result in the idol groups being no. 1 and no. 2 once again.

Other Consistent Star-Studded Names

JYP Entertainment

The prestige of BTS and BLACKPINK aside, along with Psy, there are even more names that deserve recognition for leading the Hallyu wave to even bigger heights. When talking about the globalization of K-Pop, one cannot forget about JYP Entertainment girl group TWICE. They've become a sturdy cornerstone within the industry, consistently selling out concert venues and becoming more than a national gem. Now, fans everywhere cheer their name at their various world tour stops and all across social media.

Kpopmap

The interest over time towards TWICE has remained consistently high over the past 5 years, peaking around the times of their world tour, year end award show performances, and new releases. With such a strong fanbase and even interest from casual K-Pop fans, the girl group has an enormous stake in the K-Pop industry. Their presence is undeniable and will surely continue to persist, even with the changing of generations.

Then there's celebrated veteran, IU, who has managed to remain in the top 5 K-Pop acts for overseas fans for the past several years. Her sheer influence in the K-Pop scene cannot be understated, as she's also able to bridge the gap between music show stages and drama film sets.

Kpopmap

Over the past 5 years, similarly to TWICE, netizen's interest over time towards the soloist have remained at a constantly high rate, showing huge jumps during song releases, news of her relationship status, and the moment she announced her world tour. Apart from BTS, BLACKPINK, and Psy, these two amazingly talented and renowned artists have remained at the top of the K-Pop scene, receiving love from international fans far and wide.

Newer groups from the fourth and fifth generation are currently showcasing a parade of talents, vying for the top spot in overseas fans' heart. Only time will tell if they'll have the ability to be included in the Overseas Hallyu Survey and be mentioned among the top 5 groups of overseas fans.

What do you think of the results of the Top 5 K-Pop Idols/Artists for the 2024 Overseas Hallyu Survey?

Disney Plus is quickly emerging as a new power player in the K-Content landscape, and the platform's latest claim to global fame is the science-fiction thriller "Blood Free", starring Han HyoJoo and Ju JiHoon.

Han HyoJoo, who is steadily becoming the face of Disney Plus, having previously appeared in the mega-hit blockbuster of a K-Drama - "Moving", plays the stoic and ambitious CEO of "Blood Free" Yun JaYu in the drama of the same name. "Blood Free" is a company dedicated to eliminating animal cruelty and protecting the environment through game-changing inventions such as cultured meat, cultured seafood, and even cultured grains and food crops! Thanks to the company's unprecedented development, "Blood Free" has gone global. However, the ethical implications that come with such strides are making life just a tad more difficult for Yun JaYu.

Spoiler Alert!

Disney Plus

From death threats to hired killers, violent protests, a massive hack that costs her billions in Bitcoin, and a prodding suspicion that someone's betraying her organization from the inside, Yun JaYu is constantly on edge. In steps her knight in a suave grey coat - Ju JiHoon as Woo ChaeWoon.

Woo ChaeWoon is a soldier-turned-bodyguard hired to protect Yun JaYu after he very conveniently turns up at the right times in the right places. Just as unreadable as JaYu, ChaeWoon is a man with a dark past, the wounds from which still continue to haunt him. Secrets abound in the relationship that they form, teetering on the line between allies and enemies, trust and suspicion, light and dark.

Shadowy figures surround the two as the story progresses, including the Prime Minister of the nation, Sun WooJae (played by Lee HeeJun), a very close friend On San (Lee MuSaeng), a genius scientist Kim SinGu (Kim SangHo), and more.

What Makes "Blood Free" So Unique?

Disney Plus

In addition to the brilliant cast and their outstanding acting, one of the biggest strengths of "Blood Free" is the uncanny atmosphere it builds up, where chaos starts to unravel slowly yet steadily, threatening to swallow everything in its wake. It is virtually impossible to judge good and evil or even be able to tell them apart. Our protagonists are so intricately layered and complex that imposing our own moral standards upon them becomes an exercise in futility. So, to enjoy this show, the first thing you need to do is abandon your inherent nature to pick a side and let the story carry you to its conclusion.

Another attractive quality of the drama is that it naturally encourages discourse. If there's anything K-Drama fans love more than K-Dramas, it is making theories and predictions about said K-Dramas. "Blood Free" is the type of drama that is all show and no tell. There's very little exposition, but there are hints peppered throughout the episodes that tell you all you need to know. Naturally, this births fan theories and engaging with such theories is arguably one of the best parts about the K-Drama fandom.

Eagle-eyed fans are already noticing details like how Yun JaYu could have had a twin sister who suffered from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and how JaYu could be working on organ culture behind the guise of her cultured meat business. Human experiments have already been alluded to, so such a revelation would not really be a stretch.

Discussing the K-Drama in this manner while we wait for author extraordinaire Lee SooYeon (known for works like "Stranger", "Life", and "Grid") to captivate us with her writing is an experience you do not want to miss.

How Is "Blood Free" Performing?

Disney Plus

All things considered, "Blood Free" seems to have the makings of a fantastic thriller with impressive rewatch value. The subject matter is novel, the first of its kind in Korea, the cast is star-studded, and the cinematography, especially during the action scenes, is unmatched. It is riveting, full of spectacle, but also imbued with deep meaning and detailed nuances. The drama has gathered a niche audience who enjoy the genre and are watching the show as it airs, but we're expecting even more viewers to tune in once the series can be binge-watched.

This is because the very novelty of the subject matter may be what is holding some viewers back from investing their time into the show right away. As it is a sensitive issue, we suspect that not all viewers may be comfortable, especially with the graphic scenes depicted in the very first episode. However, if one can get past the initial shock, it's smooth sailing from then on as new mysteries unfold. A lot of the latter part of the show seems to be quite unrelated to the core concept of cultured meat and instead delves into more of a whodunnit thriller surrounding Yun JaYu's connection to the terror attack, her past, as well as the culprit behind the attack on Blood Free.

Disney Plus

At the time of writing, "Blood Free" has entered Disney Plus' top 10 most-watched shows chart in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, according to FlixPatrol.

We also carried out our own data analysis, pulling posts from all across the web over the last 30 days to determine how "Blood Free" has been performing worldwide.

According to our analysis, mentions of "Blood Free" and the use of the hashtag #BloodFree have gone up +18455%, social media reach has gone up +307961%, interactions increased by +483026%, and positive sentiment towards the drama increased by +23200%.

To put things into perspective with numbers, the estimated social media reach of "Blood Free" at the moment is 7,513,618, while the non-social media reach is 9,956,584. The hashtag #BloodFree is currently a trending hashtag across social media, followed by related hashtags like #HanHyoJoo, #JuJiHoon, #BloodFreeKdrama, #한효주, #지배종, #주지훈, and #DominantSpecies.

While the K-Drama is considerably popular, it certainly has room to expand further and capture virality, and factors like social media edits and word of mouth are going to play a major role in attracting more attention to the drama.

"Blood Free" Netizen Sentiment Analysis

Kpopmap

We also conducted a sentiment analysis, analyzing hundreds of posts from across the internet to understand how viewers are reacting to the show. We noticed that a majority of the viewers of "Blood Free" were more attracted to the chemistry between the lead actors Han HyoJoo and Ju JiHoon than any other aspect of the drama. As the drama is not mainly a romance drama, this chemistry seems to be hitting different for viewers of the show.

The idea of cultured meat also brought forth some discussion, especially as the drama explores the moral dilemma surrounding cultured meat and grains, which can have a devastating effect on primary industries.

There is, however, some negative reaction to the show, which seems to be based on the slow pacing of the narrative.

In conclusion, we found that 96.9% of netizens have a positive sentiment towards the show, and 3.1% have a negative sentiment. These numbers were recorded on April 17, 2024, when episodes 3 and 4 were released.

Episodes 5 and 6 of "Blood Free" release today, April 24. It will be interesting to see how the numbers change after this week's episodes.

"Blood Free" is now streaming on Disney Plus. Are you watching?