‘Humble’ BTS, ‘unforgettable’ Taeyang – K-pop video director on working with the biggest stars
- Kim Sung-wook achieved fame after working on music videos for BTS, including Dope, Save Me, Young Forever, and MIC Drop
- He has also worked with Red Velvet and Big Bang’s Taeyang, and dreams of shooting video for Kendrick Lamar
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Alongside the rip-roaring success of K-pop, the genre’s music videos also have staying power in the age of YouTube. The platform’s views and comments are seen as useful gauges of a music video’s success.
The colourful, choreography-heavy video for Idol, a song by K-pop sensation BTS, set a record this year as the most-viewed Korean music video within a 24-hour period on YouTube, garnering a staggering 45 million views.
To date, it holds second place among all genres following Ariana Grande’s clip for Thank U, Next. And the video for Ddu-du-Ddu-du by K-pop group Blackpink is ranked fifth, amassing 36.2 million views in one day.
The people behind the videos rarely receive any recognition. Praising creative direction isn’t a priority for mainstream fans – they are more interested in the performers’ looks and voices.
“We music video directors aren’t recognised by the public much because we work behind the camera,” said music video director Kim Sung-wook.