JYJ│Where K-pop stands, as seen from Barcelona

JYJ performs in Barcelona, Spain on October 29, 2011. [C-JeS Entertainment]

"Hello! I love you! JYJ!" shouted out several dozens of European women to Korean reporters while lined up in front of the Poble Espanyol in Barcelona of Spain on the afternoon of October 27 (local time). Because it was raining they had to bring out their umbrellas and tents to secure the front rows to JYJ's concert set to take place two days later but they still looked happy. On October 28, about 800 fans from various countries including Spain, Norway, the Netherlands and Greece, cheered for JYJ with placards with the flags of their country and Korean written on them while JYJ themselves performed on one of the stages of a Manga festival, a major event related to Japanese comics and animation.

JYJ [C-JeS Entertainment]

Then at 9 p.m. on October 29, the curtains to JYJ's Europe tour were raised. Fans from various countries in Europe including France and Italy gathered to watch JYJ perform in Spain, the first time for a Korean artist to hold a concert in the country. The crowd cried out loudly everytime the members of the group elicited response by saying, "Gracias" (thank you) or "Te Quiero" (I love you) and asked them to cheer by doing the waves. The concert may have been small and simple compared to the fancy shows JYJ has put on in the past for concerts attracting tens of thousands in Asia but like how Kim Junsu had said they will "show the know-how we've acquired from our tours till now," the concert was also perfect for they whose main weapon is the level of completion of their live singing and performing. Famed Spanish TV personality Rafa Mendez, who was in charge of the choreography for JYJ's concert, said, "The members of the group were so busy that they practiced in different countries at different times but they have great chemistry. I'm amazed at their ability to sing live perfectly while dancing so aggressively."

JYJ's European fans, also mostly females in their teenage years to their thirties, were not used to the organized or passionate cheering that music fans in Korea or Japan display. Yet they sang along to the chorus of the soundtrack to KBS TV series "SungKyunKwan Scandal" expressed their disappointment when Kim Jaejoong remarked, "I'm sad to say that this will be our last song." Over 3,000 tickets of their concert this day, costing between 50 to 100 Euros, were sold. Sisters Charo (18) and Tamara (24) said they became fans of JYJ by chance while surfing the web, said they set up banners about JYJ's concert in a number of cities in Spain starting from a month in advance. Jose and Maria, a 24-year-old couple, remarked, "We've been fans of TVXQ the whole four years we've been dating. We listen to JYJ's music when we're on a date and these days, we're into Korean dramas. 'SungKyunKwan Scandal' was so much fun and we plan to download and watch SBS' 'Protect the Boss' as well." Another fan brought a frame with the words "I love you" engraved in Korean and said she wanted to give it as a gift to JYJ. Most of the European fans at the concert said, "JYJ sing and dance amazingly and their characters are appealing as well. Also, K-pop is better to dance to than Spanish music." Many of them still root for both TVXQ and JYJ while a lot of them showed interest in a variety of musicians such as Big Bang, Rain, BEAST, Wheesung, Park Hyo-shin and Clazziquai as well.

Fans cheer for JYJ during the trio's concert in Barcelona, Spain on October 29, 2011. [C-JeS Entertainment]

Of course, it would obviously be exaggerated to say that K-pop has conquered Europe or that the world has fallen for K-pop. Clara, (18) who came to the concert from Zaragoza which is three hours away from Barcelona said, "There are small communities where K-pop is popular. But not a lot of people know about it." Laura (24), a member of fan site Yongwonhi.sub which translates and shares video related to TVXQ and JYJ remarked, "Not a lot of people are interested in Koreans in the area of Galicia that I live. But those of us who are get together to listen to music or watch Korean dramas." However, the level of interest and knowledge they had of them was far more extensive than expected. Alice (23) and Celine (26) from Paris stated, "We were sad after reading news that JYJ couldn't appear on KBS. It's unfair for the broadcaster to boycott them."

At a press conference held on October 28, reporter Maria Jose of the Hearst Sociedad y Corazon explained, "This isn't a very surprisingly amazing situation. Even I don't know JYJ that well. But what's important is that they're very interesting and attractive. The influence and popularity of K-pop will grow as more Spanish youngsters find out about Asian culture." Reporter Marie Carmen of Asian Club too said, "In the past, the most common news that Europe heard on Korea was mostly negative such as on North Korea's nuclear weapons but with more reports on K-pop and it being popular, young people are trying to find out about Korea and are starting to have positive thoughts on the country." Hence this means that K-pop will have to 'settle' before 'conquer.' Therefore, the step that JYJ has taken may seem small compared to those taken into the world by numerous Korean singers in recent days but it is different and significant. They will hold their second concert in Europe at Berline's Tempodrom on November 6.

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