Soompi Explained

Soompi
Language:English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Thai
Owner:Rakuten Inc.
(Viki)
Headquarters:San Francisco, United States (Global)
Seoul, South Korea (Korean offices)
Registration:Optional
Current Status:Active

Soompi is an English-language website providing coverage of Korean pop culture.[1] It has one of the largest international Internet communities for K-pop,[2] mostly concentrated in news and forums. With more than 23 million fans across all platforms, Soompi offers English and Spanish services.[3]

Since its establishment in 1998, Soompi has grown into one of the longest-running, and most frequently visited websites providing coverage of Korean music, celebrity news and entertainment.[4] [5] [6] [7]

Initially its visitors were mostly Koreans residing in foreign nations, with over 1.2 million people visiting the site. However, as of 2012, the majority of its members are non-Koreans in the United States, Canada, Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia, among others.[8] [9]

History

Soompi was founded in 1998 by Korean American web developer Susan Kang,[10] [11] In February 2011, it was acquired by Enswers, Inc.,[12] [13] [14] a Seoul-based IT venture company specializing in video search technology,[15] and operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of it. When Enswers was acquired by another company, Soompi found a new home with Crunchyroll, a U.S.-based VOD site that specializes in anime, in 2013. Viki acquired Soompi on August 19, 2015.[16]

Soompi Awards

Soompi is also known for its annual Soompi Awards,[17] which began in 2005, and recognise K-pop and Korean drama acts.[18] Winners are selected partially based on fan voting and partially based on Soompi's music charts.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Soompi.com shows Hallyu where to go. The Korea Herald. 16 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110216183733/http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110102000267. 16 February 2011.
  2. Web site: Have You Heard Of Soompi? It's The Largest English Community For The Korean Wave. Advanced Technology Korea. 16 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110429202117/http://www.advancedtechnologykorea.com/?p=3298. 29 April 2011.
  3. News: KT - New Strategies for Media & Contents industry . https://web.archive.org/web/20150220120517/http://www.koreaittimes.com/story/23628/kt-new-strategies-media-contents-industry . 20 February 2015 . 24 September 2012 . . 16 March 2018 . Kim . Dae-yong .
  4. Web site: Bue. Jonathan. K-Pop's Connection to CSUN. "of Soompi.com, an English language authority for Korean entertainment." . Daily Sundial. 27 October 2012. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001627/http://sundial.csun.edu/2012/10/the-stealthy-spree-of-k-pop/. 31 December 2013.
  5. News: Can Girls Generation break through in America?. The Wall Street Journal. "“Girls’ Generation are easily the biggest girl group in all of Asia,” says Susan Kang, founder and CEO of Soompi.com, the largest English-language K-pop site.". 14 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120212052959/http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2012/02/07/can-girls%E2%80%99-generation-break-through-in-america/. 12 February 2012.
  6. Web site: Ways to keep the Wave rolling around the world . Korea JoongAng Daily. 16 February 2012. usurped . https://web.archive.org/web/20120625004348/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2941687. 25 June 2012.
  7. News: Gangname-style viral popularity in US has koreans puzzled gratified . The Wall Street Journal. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170705161953/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/08/28/gangnam-style-viral-popularity-in-u-s-has-koreans-puzzled-gratified/. 2017-07-05.
  8. Web site: Web triggers global renaissance of Korean Wave. Korea JoongAng Daily. 16 February 2012. usurped. https://archive.today/20120712125254/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/html/492/2941492.html. 12 July 2012.
  9. Web site: Soompi – A Site Where Netizens Revel in Korean Culture. Koreabrand.net. 16 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120119065846/http://www.koreabrand.net/en/know/know_view.do?CATE_CD=0009&SEQ=2624. 19 January 2012.
  10. Web site: Music Of The Seoul. The Daily. 16 February 2012. live. https://archive.today/20120913214308/http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/11/27/112711-biz-k-pop-1-6/. 13 September 2012.
  11. Web site: Founder of largest English K-pop site Soompi. Korea Times. 17 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200141/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/include/print.asp?newsIdx=76236. 29 October 2013.
  12. Web site: Enswers Acquires Soompi Korean Entertainment community. allthingsd.com. 14 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217193905/http://allthingsd.com/20110206/enswers-acquires-soompi-korean-entertainment-community/. 17 February 2012.
  13. Web site: Enswers' history. enswersinc.com. 14 February 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120101204818/http://enswersinc.com/companyen. 1 January 2012.
  14. Web site: SOOMPI.COM - the Korean Pop Culture Site. HanCinema. 16 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130324152055/http://www.hancinema.net/soompi-com--the-korean-pop-culture-site-27724.html. 24 March 2013.
  15. Web site: Translation services make World Wide Web more worldwide. Yonhap News Agency. 16 February 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120525080723/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/n_feature/2011/06/30/25/4901000000AEN20110630002500315F.HTML. 25 May 2012.
  16. Web site: Viki Buys Korean Fan Community Soompi from Peter Chernin's Crunchyroll. Variety. 19 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150823012943/http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/viki-buys-korean-fan-community-soompi-from-peter-chernins-crunchyroll-1201573172/. 23 August 2015. live. 12 September 2015.
  17. Web site: Interactive Soompi Awards Show Immense Growth In K-Pop-Oriented Twitter Activity. Herman. Tamar. 16 April 2018. Forbes. en. 25 March 2019.
  18. BTS, GOT7 & Other K-Pop Acts Win Big at Soompi Awards. Herman. Tamar. April 16, 2018. Billboard. 28 June 2021.

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