[New Word Dictionary] Jedangshuman - I Will Make You a Superstar

Jedangshuman is a term derived from a line in a Japanese TV animation, "I will make you a superstar," referring to an active 'fan spirit' that aims to turn a favorite celebrity into a star for everyone. Illustration by artist Oh Seongsu

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The phonograph, invented by Edison in 1877, is estimated to have arrived in Korea three years later, in 1880. The earliest record is an advertisement for a phonograph listening event published in the Hwangseong Newspaper on March 11, 1899, and the first known record production was the recording of the Gyeonggi folk song Yusanga by Gyeonggi master singer Han In-o and gwan-gi Choi Hong-mae in 1907. As records, called "record discs," became widespread, the production of records sung in Korean became active, and famous singers of the time such as Lee Hwaseonjung, Lee Dongbaek, and Lee Jinbong began traveling to Japan to record traditional Korean music masterpieces. In 1926, when Korean traditional music records dominated the market, Ikise, the manager of the Japanese record company’s Gyeongseong branch, was paying attention to a soprano from Pyongyang who had studied in Japan. Yoon Simdeok, who graduated from Tokyo Music School as a government-sponsored student recommended by the Governor-General’s office, became Korea’s first soprano after returning home, but her presence was unfamiliar to the public, who were unaccustomed to art songs and classical music. Her appointment as a teacher was delayed, marriage plans fell through, and scandals arose claiming she became a wealthy man’s mistress due to her striking appearance. As a result, she devoted herself to her love for playwright Kim Woojin rather than music. Ikise, who had long recognized her outstanding vocal talent, persuaded her not to waste her precious talent and to share it with the world by recording, and Yoon Simdeok agreed and went to Osaka, Japan, to record the song “Praise of Death.” The test pressing of the record safely arrived in Gyeongseong, but the singer who sang the song never returned, and the album became a legend.

“Jedangshuman” is a term derived from a line in a Japanese TV animation, “I will make you a superstar,” referring to an active form of fandom that aims to make their favorite celebrity a star for everyone. Recently, fandoms have moved beyond passive support such as buying albums and watching dramas and movies to actively making their singers and actors stars. They exert strong influence by requesting model casting through specific companies’ SNS and customer centers and even sending proposals directly.

Usage Example

A: Did you see the new Kkobuk Chip commercial? In the end, Purgeul Yujeong became the model.
B: If Kkobukjwa doesn’t become the Kkobuk Chip model, who will! Haha. That’s why Jung Dongwon became the model for Dongwon Tuna too.
A: True. Also, when Rain’s “Gang” went viral again, he shot a Shrimp Snack CF...
B: Fans’ power is really scary. They show their influence directly through consumption.
A: My Jedangshuman is not nonsense anymore. It’s the era where active fandom makes my celebrity a star.