K-pop

K-pop refers to the contemporary Pop scene from South Korea that emerged in the early 1990s from the growing influence of modern genres from the Western hemisphere like Dance-Pop, Contemporary R&B, and Hip Hop on Korean popular music. The style developed as an evolution from the Korean Ballad era prominent in the 1980s. The scene was mainly established in 1992, when Seo Taiji and Boys achieved major commercial success with a blend of R&B, hip hop, and Rock that was unrivaled by other acts from the time. This trend continued with solo artists like 엄정화 [Uhm Jung Hwa] and Kim Gun Mo who became equivalently popular with the Korean audience. In 1995, record producer 이수만 [Lee Soo-man] founded SM Entertainment, forming idol groups and singers tailored towards a teen audience, leading to the popularity of its first groups, H.O.T. and S.E.S.. Former Seo Taiji & Boys band member Yang Hyun-suk founded the rival company YG Entertainment in 1996; their acts, 지누션 [Jinusean] and 1TYM, opted for a more mainstream hip hop-influenced image. The third most notable K-pop agency, JYP Entertainment, was founded by 박진영 [J.Y. Park] in 1997. This era of late 1990s and early 2000s acts, dubbed the "first generation," foresaw great rivalry with other emerging singers and groups from smaller agencies. DSP Media produced Sechs Kies and Fin.K.L., who were H.O.T. and S.E.S.' largest competitors. Co-ed groups like Cool, 룰라 [Roo'ra], and 코요태 [Koyote] also had the highest level of popularity in the period. Stylistically, forms of Dance music, like Eurodance and House, attained massive popularity during the new millennium era, before K-pop transitioned toward more mid-tempo and Electropop-derived styles after the early 2000s. The second generation of K-pop, which started in the mid-2000s, became the most important period for the scene's imminent popularity. This expansion coincided with the “Korean wave,” during which Korean films, television dramas, and soundtracks spread across Asia and later the West, increasing global exposure to K-pop and Korean culture. BoA became popular by singing in both Korean and Japanese, leading to other similar tactics from popular idol groups and singers. 소녀시대 [Girls' Generation], Super Junior, SHINee, BIGBANG, and Wonder Girls were the first K-pop groups to have major breakthroughs in the international market, reaching a peak in the early 2010s, especially when PSY's "강남스타일 [Gangnam Style]" became a major viral phenomenon. During this time, artists leveraged television and online platforms to build viral visibility and cultivate international fan communities. With the emergence of the third generation and beyond, notable acts like BTS, BLACKPINK, Red Velvet, TWICE, and NewJeans continued K-pop's international appeal. The K-pop idol model has since inspired similar groups worldwide, including NiziU and JO1 in Japan, 威神V [WayV] in China, and KATSEYE in the United States.