K-Pop: What is it, and Why Has it Taken the World by Storm?

Published: Dec 04, 2023

The music industry is one of the fastest-growing industries these days. As such, music lovers have options to listen to different songs from different genres. One fantastic thing about these genres is that everyone has a song to listen to, from pop music to K-pop. Korean pop, famously known as K-pop, originates from a South Korean music genre. This genre heavily influences other music genres, including hip-hop, reggae, and pop music. 

Despite the number of available music genres, there is something unique about K-pop. This genre veers away from the traditional four-member band style. But there could be up to 21 members! The music scene welcomed the first K-pop band in the early 90s. As time went on, the brand upgraded to modern K-pop. This upgrade brought so much improvement that the band had to subtitle their songs in English. They also added many hip-hop elements.  

Beyond the usual popularity of Korean Pop among Koreans, the genre has taken lots of shape and continues to revolutionize the music scene globally. From the Korean wave to female K-pop bands, here are some recent changes and factors that contributed to the popularity of the K-pop genre.

The Korean Wave

For most Koreans, ‘Hallayu’ isn’t a strange word. It is a local term used for the prevalent spread of K-pop and drama series popularity. ‘Hallayu’ centers around beautifully colored outfits and elaborate music. These songs have catchy hooks and are one of the most sought-after among teens in the country. A few years ago, the sensational song ‘Gangnam Style’ caught global attention, which heightened the popularity of K-pop. The song appeared on YouTube alongside its famous dance steps.

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‘Gangnam Style,’ a song originally made as a gimmick, broke some records and still holds the record of the best music videos till today. After its release in December 2012, the song saw more than 4.47 billion global views and is still counting as of 2022. The song’s popularity, which ranked it among the most-viewed musical videos, led to other artists using the same dance moves as part of their choreography. The infamous horse dance also contributed to the song’s popularity, which was a massive win for the K-pop genre.

The Rising Fame of Female K-Pop Bands

The female K-pop band is another contributor to the popularity growth of the K-pop genre. Blackpink Girl’s Generation, to mention a few, are some female K-pop bands sending K-pop music lovers into a frenzy.

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Blackpink debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 with the fund ‘Ice Cream.” The song, produced in 2022, became so famous on their album. The Female K-pop band sold over a million copies globally. The sales clinched them the record of the only female band to have sold many copies globally. The hit song displaced many existing records, spreading its fame across the West. This led many Western artists to adopt the female K-pop dance steps and choreographies into their videos.

Addictive Melodies and Sing-Along Lyrics

Catchy lyrics, among other features, are one of the reasons people continue loving and listening to K-pop songs. The lyrics are so catchy that they sink into their heads quickly. Despite these songs being in Korean, non-Korean speakers can easily understand them as they feature English phrases to communicate most of their verses, making K-pop more acceptable in society.

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The choreographic display is another attention-catching feature in the videos. Although these dance steps may look challenging, Koreans have the skills and art to master them. As such, K-pop is not only taking the Korean music scene by storm but also the Western world.

Final Submission

The Korean music industry is full of promising talents, thanks to the input of K-pop legends, who have contributed to K-pop’s rising fame. Beyond featuring in music videos, K-pop artists like Daesung from Big Bang got crucial TV roles.

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K-pop’s evolution continues nurturing its steady growth, driving forward the music norm standards. The genre continues to sell across the other genres through its storytelling globally. Unarguably, beyond the past and current feat K-pop music is achieving, the future looks brighter. As years roll in, its potential continues rising steadily! In a few years, K-pop will have more listeners, not within the country alone but in other parts of the world.