K-pop, abbreviated colloquial term for popular music from South Korea. K-pop is typically used to describe “idol music” made by artists trained by entertainment companies to become pop music stars. K-pop includes upbeat pop, dance music, and ballads. It can incorporate a variety of influences, including reggae, hip-hop, salsa, and other types of music.

Early history of K-pop

K-pop emerged in the early 1990s and has achieved global popularity in recent years, an unusual feat for music mostly sung in a language other than English. Owing to the many influences that can be present in a group or solo artist’s songs, rather than being defined by different musical genres, K-pop is loosely delineated by “generations,” which refer to distinct periods in its development. Because of its birth in the digital age, a significant aspect of K-pop culture involves online campaigns allowing K-pop fans to engage with artists and their music, with widespread participation from fans all over the world. K-pop has also spawned an entire industry in South Korea based on the search for future K-pop stars and their training by various entertainment companies.

The origins of K-pop can be traced to April 11, 1992, when a group called Seo Taiji and Boys performed “Nan Arayo (I Know)” on South Korea’s Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. Their sound and synchronized choreography were a very American mix of dance music, hip-hop, rap, and rock, but they were new to South Korea—as were their socially conscious song lyrics, which challenged the country’s censorship laws. Nevertheless, in 1993 the group sold 2.13 million albums, and their popularity led to censorship reform—and the birth of the K-pop industry. Entertainment companies specializing in the formation and training of K-pop artists were built in the wake of Seo Taiji and Boys’ success, starting with SM Entertainment in 1995, JYP Entertainment in 1997, and YG Entertainment in 1998.

Dynamics of the K-pop industry

Groups that are created by management and record companies, rather than formed by the members themselves, have existed in America as far back as the 1960s with The Monkees and continued into the 1990s with *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and other bands. However, there was a mild stigma from critics, if not fans, about such manufactured origins. In K-pop group creation is transparent, part of the appeal, and a potential factor in success.

The South Korean entertainment companies launched in the late ’90s streamlined and formalized the creation of K-pop idols: young hopefuls wanting to become K-pop stars must first audition for any or all of the companies. A successful audition means advancing to trainee status, with lessons not only in singing and dancing but also media training and instruction in another language, such as English or Japanese. K-pop artist training can take years and offers no guarantee of placement in a group or as a solo performer.

Trainees and artists are expected to uphold high standards of K-pop etiquette, including maintaining a “clean” image. Placement in a K-pop group is a decision made by management, and artists are chosen to fill certain roles within a group, such as leader; vocalists (who may be categorized as lead, main, and sub-vocalists); rappers (with the same categories); lead dancer; “visuals,” a member or members with the most eye-catching looks, or the most popular member; and the maknae (Korean: “youngest”), the youngest member of the band. Trainees who are not placed, or who are placed in groups that do not become successful, can continue on to yet another arm of the K-pop industry: TV shows focused on an additional chance at placement and possibly stardom.

Global impact of K-pop

In 1996 the group H.O.T. (High-Five Of Teenagers), created by SM Entertainment, made their debut. They are considered the first “official” K-pop group. Their first album We Hate All Kinds of Violence sold 1.5 million copies in South Korea, and their subsequent albums sold equally well, but K-pop had yet to become established outside of South Korea and Japan.

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That changed in the summer of 2012 when a song called “Gangnam Style” by South Korean solo artist PSY went viral. The digital era had come of age, and the song’s humorous video, featuring a tuxedo-clad PSY doing a dance reminiscent of riding a horse, was likely as responsible for the song’s worldwide popularity as its infectious techno-pop sound; the video was the first of any kind to get one billion views on YouTube, eventually surpassing three billion views. Through “Gangnam Style,” the world became aware that South Korea had modern catchy music to offer.

The following year the K-pop industry unveiled what would become one of their most successful acts: BTS (initially known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, or “Bulletproof Boy Scouts,” and Bangtan Boys; in 2017 they began going by Beyond The Scene). The seven-member group distinguished themselves from other K-pop bands with songs not solely focused on romance but also on mental health, self-love, bullying, and their own stories of the pressures of fame. Their albums and videos grew in popularity outside of South Korea and Japan, and in 2017 their EP Love Yourself: Her debuted on the Billboard 200 chart in America at number seven, the first K-pop album to make the U.S. top 10. In 2019 BTS became the first K-pop artists to appear on the American late-night comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live, and they made Time magazine’s list of most influential people; in 2020 Time named BTS entertainer of the year. In 2021 they became the world’s top-selling musical act, playing sold-out arena tours.

Beyond multimillions in album sales, concert tickets, and followers on social media, a measure of BTS’s immense success and influence is their social outreach work. The group collaborated with UNICEF to support social programs for children and teens, and they have addressed the United Nations General Assembly. In 2022 BTS were invited to the White House to meet with Pres. Joe Biden about combating the rise of anti-Asian violence in the U.S. Social action is not limited to BTS; legions of K-pop fans used their digital fluency to reserve tickets at a rally for Donald Trump in 2020, creating low actual attendance, along with other forms of social activism.

Amid K-pop’s growing popularity, girl groups like Twice and Blackpink have also become prominent in the global music scene. Twice achieved significant acclaim with their 2016 hit “Cheer Up,” which topped the South Korean charts and won song of the year at both the Melon Music Awards and Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). The group has achieved platinum status for several albums in South Korea and Japan, earning the title in South Korea of “the nation’s girl group.”

Blackpink has achieved major international fame. In 2020 the music video for their song “How You Like That” broke five Guinness World Records, including three previously held by BTS. A landmark year for Blackpink was 2022, with their album Born Pink debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The accompanying world tour set a new record for the highest-grossing concert tour by a female group. That year Blackpink also became the first Asian act to headline Coachella and was named Time magazine’s 2022 entertainer of the year. The group has achieved numerous additional awards and distinctions from music organizations including MTV, the People’s Choice Awards, and Billboard, solidifying their status as “the biggest girl group in the world.”

In 2019 the K-pop industry’s estimated worth was $5 billion. K-pop is a large part of hallyu, the Chinese term for “Korean Wave,” referring to the global popularity of Korean culture, including films such as the Academy Award-winning Parasite, TV shows such as Squid Game, and Korean food.