한국국제교류재단

COVER STORY

Pop Music of Southeast Asia
By Hyunjoon Shin (Professor, Institute for East Asian Studies, SungKongHoe University)

The words “Southeast Asia” and “pop music” may not, at first glance, seem related. The countries, of this region, which all have a tropical climate, can seem as if they are richer in traditional music than the modern overtones of pop. Even if we consciously realize that this is a prejudiced notion, there are few avenues for those living in Korea to come into contact with Southeast Asia’s pop music.
The part of Southeast Asia that is located on the Asian continent is often referred to as “mainland Southeast Asia,” and less frequently as “Indochina.” While it cannot be denied that the latter term is a vestige of European colonialism, the historical fact remains that this region has a unique amalgam of cultures caused by the clash of several major civilizations from different areas: Southern and Eastern Asia, China, and India. So why not take a journey through the pop music of Southeast Asia, which is peppered with cultural diversity? A good place for beginners to start is with the music of Cambodia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Even if international travel is not an option for the time being, you can easily hear such music at restaurants frequented by Southeast Asian immigrants. If you go on a weekend, you can experience the added benefit of pleasant conversation in the patrons’ native languages.

Article may not reflect the opinion of the editorial board of the ASEAN Culture House Monthly.