Korea in Rotterdam: From K-pop to Korean BBQ

Fans of Korean pop music can find everything from their favourite artists at Keapop (Van Oldenbarneveltstraat 117 and Botersloot 38a) . From photo cards of K-pop stars and key rings with recorded messages to specially designedlightsticks to take to concerts, for example. Because, as assistant manager Laura Badre explains: K-pop isn’t just a music genre, but the whole package.

How did you become a K-pop fan?

''During the pandemic, I started watching Korean drama series. The soundtrack for one of those series was by BTS. When I heard that song, I was instantly hooked.

The fan culture surrounding K-pop is different from that of most Western artists. It’s not just about listening to the songs; you also immerse yourself in a particular group . Collecting albums, learning the lyrics, going to concerts and buying merchandise are all part of it. Most fans — or rather‘stans’ (the term for super-fans) — also have a favourite artist within such a group , whose merchandise they collect exhaustively.''

What’s the K-pop community like in Rotterdam?

''It was great fun! Because K-pop fans are so passionate, lots of events are organised. For example, we organised cup sleeve events at the Korean tea café . Whenever a group was celebrating an anniversary, you could buy a special bubble tea themed around that band, wrapped in a specialcup sleeve: a paper sleeve featuring photos of the group.”

Every year, we organise around ten events in the shop featuring various bands. Visitors can, for example, swap photo cards with one another. Dance is also an important part of K-pop. In Rotterdam, there are various dance crews that organise what are known as RPDs : random play dances . Fans come together to practise choreographies and dance with one another.''

What do you like about K-pop?

''K-pop really isthe whole package.At concerts, you can see that the artists have thought everything through. Not only do they write and produce their own songs and come up with the choreography, but they also wear fantastic (ever-changing) outfits. That’s what keeps a performance like that constantly interesting. With some Western artists, you see someone standing on stage in the same outfit for two hours. Isn’t that a bit boring?''

How did you come up with the idea of starting a K-pop shop in Rotterdam?

''I used to work at the Korean tea café run by the same owner. There , we started by organising events that attracted lots of fans, including some from other cities. That venue eventually became too small for all the visitors, so we began to dream of a place dedicated entirely to K-pop. I was given the opportunity to become assistant manager and help shape the shop’s direction. The concept proved a hit, because as well as our shop in Blaak, we’ve recently opened another shop in the city centre. Here too , we organise events, such as afternoons for swapping photo cards, listening sessions for new albums and competitions where you can win posters and postcards.''

What can you find at Keapop ?

''We sell lots of albums by K-pop artists on vinyl and CD. Albums you can’t buy in other music shops. The owner of Keapop has been to Korea several times to establish contacts with record labels. This means we can sell albums that are hard to find online, and we also stock records by smaller, lesser-known K-pop groups. Thanks to these contacts, we also stock T-shirts in the shop that are normally only sold at concerts. We enjoy giving smaller groups a chance too, so please do let us know if you have any suggestions for a great group! We love working with the community.''

What sort of people come to Keapop ?

''Mainly young people. That’s not surprising, as K-pop only really became popular in the Netherlands during the coronavirus pandemic. People also come here from all over the country, as there aren’t that many K-pop shops in the Netherlands. Most of our customers are die-hard fans who also go to concerts, sometimes even in Korea.''

What has K-pop done for you?

''Lots of fun and new friends. When you go to a concert, you meet loads of people. Everyone is really kind to one another. For example, it’s a tradition to bring freebies: little gifts like key rings and bracelets. You then give these to people you don’t know. Most of my friends are now part of the K-pop community too.''