You've heard of K-pop but aren't quite sure what it's all about? What is K-pop? Where does it come from? Who are the K-pop stars and why is this music genre so popular? We explain everything about K-pop and decode this global phenomenon for you.

What is K-pop?

K-pop is short for Korean pop, which is a music style of South Korean origin. K-pop encompasses several musical genres including pop, rock, R&B, rap, jazz, hip-hop, and sometimes electronic music.

Beyond music, K-pop is a true global phenomenon. K-pop stars, called "idols," don't just sing—they also perform carefully choreographed routines that appear in their music videos. They embody personalities that inspire millions of fans worldwide.

What are the origins of K-pop?

The beginnings of K-pop

K-pop traces its origins to the post-war period when South Korea discovered Western musical styles. It was in this context of cultural diversity that the first Asian boy bands emerged in the 1970s, drawing inspiration from both Western and South Korean musical trends.

K-pop experienced a real boom in the 1990s when the group Seo Taiji & Boys (composed of three members: Seo Taiji, Yang Hyun Suk, and Lee Ju No) appeared on a television show performing the track Nan Arayo. The success was so massive that the song climbed to the top of the South Korean charts. From that point on, the modern K-pop phenomenon (as we know it today) became global.

A phenomenon that became worldwide

From then on, numerous K-pop groups emerged and succeeded one another. The following generations of K-pop artists benefited from the internet, YouTube, and for the latest, social media, all of which greatly contributed to their growth. Thanks to all these platforms, idols became true influencers.

Even the South Korean government uses K-pop as a vector for its diplomacy. In the 2010s, it launched numerous initiatives aimed at improving the country's image, distancing itself from North Korea, and attracting the West.

And it worked, as contracts were signed with the biggest labels in the American music scene. The most popular K-pop stars even collaborated with internationally renowned artists like Kanye West and the Jonas Brothers, and went on extensive tours across America and Europe.

The phenomenon is now global, and since 2019, there has been a special K-pop category at the prestigious Video Music Awards ceremony.

What are the most famous K-pop groups?

Among the most famous K-pop stars in the world, we can mention:

• BTS,

• Blackpink,

• EXO,

• Twice,

• Big Bang,

• Stray Kids,

• Girls' Generation,

• Red Velvet,

• Star Kids,

• SHINee,

• NCT,

• GOT7,

• Itzy,

• TXT,

• SuperM...

Why is K-pop so popular?

Here are the characteristics of K-pop that make this music genre a true global phenomenon:

A well-oiled recruitment system

K-pop idols are not selected by chance. In fact, the recruitment system for K-pop group members is highly codified. Idols are recruited by major South Korean entertainment companies such as Big Hit, SM Entertainment, and YG Entertainment.

They then participate in auditions and become trainees if selected. What follows is a series of intensive training in multiple disciplines (singing, dancing, English, etc.) that can last anywhere from several months to several years. Once trained, they finally become idols and can join a group and sign a contract with a producer.

Lyrics that resonate with everyone and an infectious rhythm

While K-pop encompasses several musical genres, there's one thing all groups have in common: the lyrics of the songs always carry beautiful messages. Sometimes romantic, sometimes uplifting and motivational, but never crude, K-pop song lyrics can appeal to the broadest audiences, even the youngest who can easily see themselves reflected in the songs.

Since K-pop aims for an international audience, a few phrases in English are added to the Korean lyrics to appeal to a wider audience. Moreover, the rhythms of K-pop music are always meant to be danceable and catchy. All these reasons explain why K-pop appeals to such a wide audience.

Highly codified music videos

Beyond the song lyrics, K-pop is characterized by extremely codified music videos. This music genre is meant to be ultra-visual: outfits are carefully chosen to be at the height of fashion, and choreography is designed so that everyone can attempt to recreate it. This is why it's common to find a "killing part"—a dance move that's easy to perform (such as the TT by Twice or Sorry Sorry by Super Junior).

To achieve this, the industry doesn't hesitate to spend billions of won producing music videos. A winning strategy, since some K-pop group songs have exploded thanks to their videos. Consider the "I Got a Boy" video by Girls' Generation, which won the award for best YouTube video of 2013, beating global superstars like Lady Gaga.

Singers who are also influencers and sometimes actors

In addition to their concerts, K-pop artists have become true influencers thanks to social media. Each group has its own fan community with whom it shares events and daily life. In addition to musical performances and social media, K-pop singers are also very present on television and sometimes even become actors, landing roles in films or in the famous K-dramas—all of which further contributes to their fame.

As you can see, K-pop has achieved such worldwide success that many travelers come to South Korea solely to encounter their favorite artists. To give you an idea of the scale of this phenomenon, K-pop and especially the group BTS attracted over 800,000 tourists to South Korea in 2017... nothing short of remarkable!