The heartbeat of K-pop: How Tina Melk’s passion for Korean music inspired a utopia for others to share

EXPLORING KOREA: Stories from Milwaukee to the DMZ and across a divided Peninsula. This special series explores historical sites and cultural traditions from across the Korean Peninsula, building a bridge back to the search for identity in Milwaukee. From the occupation of Korea at the end of World War II, to Korean War veterans in Milwaukee, veterans from Milwaukee who served in later years at the DMZ, adopted South Korean children who grew up in Milwaukee, different waves of the South Korean diaspora who moved to Milwaukee to raise their families, and even a defector from North Korea, their stories share generations of Korean and American experiences. https://mkeind.com/koreanstories

The Korean pop music phenomenon, known as K-pop, had made significant inroads in Milwaukee, driven by passionate fans, community events, and a dedicated local business like K-Pop Utopia in the Milwaukee County suburb of West Allis.

As Wisconsin’s first store to exclusively sell Korean music CDs, K-Pop Utopia also stocks other merchandise from Korea like photo cards and accessories for collecting. Owner Tina Melk opened her shop in January, after having success selling K-pop products online.

“Enthusiasm from the Milwaukee community has been great. They’ve been very happy to have a shop here, and not have to make the commute down to Chicago,” said Melk. “It was a dream of mine to open up a K-pop store, because I just love the community so much. And I love the hobby of collecting and selling, so it made sense to take this next step.”

Melk said she opened Milwaukee’s pioneering K-pop store because of her passion for K-pop, and her frustration with not having any place nearby to shop at. Despite K-pop’s popularity, Milwaukee had been one of the last major U.S. cities without a dedicated K-pop store. Melk attributed this to the focus on larger metropolitan areas like LA, Chicago, and New York.

“Slowly, more states are starting to get a K-pop store. Wisconsin was actually only one in eleven that didn’t have a K-pop store yet, so now other states are one in ten,” said Melk.

Melk’s introduction to K-pop was through BTS in 2018. Her journey reflected that of many fans who started with one group and then expanded their interest. The boy group ATEEZ is now her favorite.

BTS announced their break from performing or releasing new music in October 2022, due to mandatory military service. The decision was made to comply with South Korea’s conscription laws, which require all able-bodied men to serve in the military for about 18 to 21 months. As part of the entertainment industry, BTS members were able to postpone joining for several years.

Groups like BTS, and Blackpink, have a global fan base. But many groups can be more popular in different regions, or even better known overseas than at home in South Korea. ATEEZ, for example, has a bigger international fan base than anywhere else. The girl group LE SSERAFIM is wildly popular with Japanese fans because one of the members, Sakura, was previously in the Japanese girl groups AKB48 and HKT48.

In Milwaukee, Melk said the most popular boy bands include Stray Kids, ATEEZ, TXT, and HYPE. For girl bands, New Jeans, AESPA, Red Velvet, and TWICE are top sellers. Music from those groups resonates deeply with local fans, who do not speak Hangugeo – the Korean language.

“People can always look up a translation of the lyrics,” said Melk. “But I think if music speaks to you then the language is not important. It speaks to you through the way it sounds, the way the music is put together – the assembly of it. That’s the beauty of music, you can enjoy it in your own way.”

Melk has made five trips to South Korea since 2019, two in that year to see BTS concerts because the experiences were so different than performances in the United States. In addition to the toned-down vibe of crowds and a more interactive environment, K-pop artists include fan meetings which are separate from the concerts.

“They have a whole fan zone where you can go in sponsored tents, and you can get some free stuff and exclusive things,” said Melk. “They have a little passport that you can get stamped as a keepsake, and then you get a photo card set. Some groups will actually come out and meet fans, pose for selfies, or give autographs. It’s the little extras on top of the concert that makes it so special.”

As for visiting South Korea, Melk highly recommends it for anyone who enjoys good food. She said that American dishes are very popular, like Texas barbeque, but everything has a little Korean spin which makes it special.

Melk also noted how easy it was to travel around in South Korea, with the public transit system and English-friendly environment. She said it was affordable, and a nice place to explore. Melk was happy that so many people have asked her about taking a trip to South Korea when they come to her store. It gave her a chance to be a cultural ambassador.

K-Pop Utopia serves as a hub for people to discover the vibrant world of K-pop, providing a space in Milwaukee for fans to connect and celebrate their shared passion. As that enjoyment grows, Melk’s shop is ready to support the expanding interest.