Abstract

This article examines the American debut of the Kim Sisters in the 1960s. During that period they were known as "GI sweethearts" at the U.S. military clubs in Korea after the Korean War (1950–53). In the context of Cold War America, the Kim Sisters were seen to be emblematic of American ambiguity toward Korea and Koreans. On the one hand, they were embraced through the U.S. ideal concept of "global" harmony. On the other hand, Cold War paranoia heightened their racial differences. Under the circumstance, the Kim Sisters exploited such limitations to their own advantage and sometimes challenged and disrupted American audiences' expectations through their unique style of performance. This article considers the U.S. debut of the Kim Sisters as emblematic of both American Cold War integration and anxiety toward Korea and Koreans, and examines the processes that permitted the entry of Korean bodies into the American public sphere.

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