Breakdancing, or breaking/bboying, as it is formally known, was introduced to South Korea back in the 1980's. It first started in Itaewon and other parts of the country that were heavily influenced by American presence, mainly the military bases. That is where the members of Seo Taiji and Boys picked their dancing skills from. Thanks to Seo Taiji and Boys, all major po music acts in the nation were expected to perform a choreographed dance routine. However, breaking didn't become popular in South Korea until the 1990's.
Participants of R-16 Korea 2007 posing for a photo.
The biggest influence on the spread of the art of breaking came in 2000, when Johnjay Chon from Seattle, and Charlie Shin from New York arrived in Korea. The two dancers met with other dancers, Expression Crew is mostly noted, and taught new moves to the other dancers they met. The most important part of their teaching, was that they left behind some videos of top breakers for the South Korean dancers to watch.
Johnhay Chon, the man credited with bring breaking to South Korea, now CEO of Cartel Creative Inc.
A couple years later, they find that the videos had been copied and spread like wildfire, marking the start of b-boying in Korea. Visual Shock had managed to take 4th place and the Best Show award at the International Battle of the Year 2001, putting South Korea on the map in breaking. Expression Crew even went on to win 1st place the year after at the International Battle Of The Year 2002 also in Germany. This started a winning streak for Korea when it came to b-boying, holding the most wins at the Battle of the Year (by 1 win, with France following close behind, however France does dominate the overall rankings/awards for this even): Gamblerz won in 2004, Last for One won in 2005, Extreme Crew won in 2007, Gamblerz won again in 2009, Jinjo Crew won in 2010 and Fusion MC won at last year's competition.
The BOTY 2002 Final: Expression (South Korea) Vs. Vegabonds (France)
Breaking grew more and more popular within South Korea afterwards. Music companies took an interest in particular top breakers and brought them in to teach and dance with the company's groups. Advertisers jumped at the opportunity to get breakdancers to promote all sorts of products. In fact, it became so popular that the Korean government took to promoting the art form. In fact, R-16 Korea is a break competition which is sponsored by the Korean government, produced by Cartel Creative Inc. (CEO is Johnjay Chun) hosted by the Korean Tourism Organization and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Jay Park (CEO of AOMG and b-boy, singer, and rapper) has been the official ambassador of the event for the past 3 years.
Hi . I agree breakdancing started in Hannah village of itaewon we would bring our roll out mats and Korean technology boomboxes and make money breakdancing from one corner of iatarwon to the inner parts and miles away. I remember going inside. The martial arts school breakdancing for the students and teachers I was scared for being look at as disrespectful but they allowed me to breakdance on that soft mat I improved the windmill that day.there is a music video out made by a Korean singer (male).this video played on Korean TV. A music video show around 1984-1986 that's as close of time and thanks for doing your research I do have pictures of the winners of the first Korean wide breakdance contest if you would like some for future evidence of your truth. Out jamcity and universal rockers itaewon 1983-1987i was one of those great pioneers the youngest in the crew thanks for taking perfection further may the world know itaewon be blessed Delmar the second grader who became a b
Boy legend love yall. .......
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Delmar Abrams
11/6/2017 08:11:51 pm
just wondering ifaby oneseen the video of back up breaksancers in 80's filmed inside hannam village