Members of the four-strong boy band CNBLUE pose for the camera at a
gallery of the Korea Foundation in downtown Seoul. The popular group
have recently released their EP titled "Ear Fun." / Courtesy of
enewsworld
This is the first of a 15-part series on the stars and trends in
“hallyu,” or the Korean Wave, which is gaining global popularity
particularly in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The Korea Times
produces this special project in cooperation with the Korea Foundation
and CJ E&M. — ED
By Kwaak Je-yup
Since
their 2009 debut in Korea, CNBLUE have been one of the few rock
bastions in the ultra-competitive local music scene dominated by dance-able electro-pop.
Their
lasting success has comforted some about the continuing mainstream
appeal of rock, while detractors have accused them of packaging
innocuous poppy sounds, even calling them a “fake band.”