What is K-pop?
K-pop is popular music from South Korea. It mixes pop, hip-hop, R&B and electronic styles and is known for polished groups, sharp choreography and striking music videos.
Modern K-pop traces its roots to the 1990s, when the group Seo Taiji and Boys blended rap and pop. Big entertainment companies, such as SM, YG, JYP and HYBE, train young performers for years in singing, dancing and languages before they debut.
K-pop went global in the 2010s through YouTube and social media. PSY's Gangnam Style became the first YouTube video to reach a billion views in 2012. Groups such as BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE and Stray Kids built huge international fan bases.
Part of the Korean Wave
K-pop is part of hallyu, the Korean Wave, the global spread of South Korean culture, including TV dramas, films and food. BTS became the first K-pop act to top the US Billboard Hot 100, with Dynamite in 2020.
Did You Know?
Most K-pop groups have official fan club names. BTS fans are called ARMY, and BLACKPINK fans are called BLINK.