In a global world, being hip can be a challenge, especially for those of us who are not…hip. While access to current trends is just one click away, no longer is it sufficient to know what’s trending in your neck of the woods—you’re expected to keep tabs on international happenings. To help you out with the worldwide music scene, I’ve created a brief primer on K-pop. What is K-pop? Have a quick read (and listen).
A Little History
The K in K-pop stands for Korean, and to fully grasp the phenomenon, it’s worth having a geographically relevant historical perspective.
After World War II, the Korean peninsula that Japan had been occupying was carved up by the victorious parties. North of the 38th parallel, a Soviet-backed communist regime took hold, while south of that latitude saw the formation of a US-backed military government. One thing led to another, with the result being the Korean War, a three-year conflict that successfully thwarted an invasion from the North. What was left was something similar to what we know today—a mysterious and autocratic North Korea and a more relatable South Korea.
Initially, South Korea wasn’t exactly a model of democracy either, plodding through a couple decades of authoritarian rule. In 1987, pro-democracy protests forced the implementation of direct presidential elections. The next year, South Korea’s capital, Seoul, hosted the Summer Olympics. By 1996, a Constitutional Court decision partially relaxed the practice of censorship.
The stage was thus set for what has been termed the Korean wave (also known as Hallyu), or the deliberate spread of South Korean culture through entertainment. Well into the 21st century, South Korea—with a population of about 52 million—has approximately the 14th-largest nominal GDP in the world, aided in part by an entertainment industry that has been credited with boosting tourism. In 2019, the wave continued to gain momentum as the Korean film Parasite became the first non-English film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
So What Is K-Pop?
K-pop can be considered the musical contribution to the Korean wave. (As indicated above, if we’re being technical, it should probably be called SK-pop.) While the abbreviation is short for all Korean popular music, i.e. a geographic designation, its use tends to be restricted to one entity, namely pop music performed by pop idols. (Although the music may draw from a wide variety of influences, calling the end result pop is not a major stretch.)
In reference to this particular construction, K-pop experts trace its origins to 1992, specifically the hit “Nan Arayo (I Know)” by Seo Taiji and Boys. Since that time, the industry has seen rather dramatic growth. While music is the centerpiece, pristine choreography, attractive artists and costume design, and a holistic approach to providing entertainment are equally important. Highly engaged (and perhaps obsessed) fan bases complete the picture.
In contrast to the familiar tale of musicians toiling away in anonymity until they are discovered, the K-pop scene grooms its stars from an early age. Studios typically sign young talent and then provide intensive training. The picture can involve long hours (that include foreign language instruction), calorie restriction, unfair contracts, and, of course, a high risk of failure.
Given the above approach—along with built-in songwriting teams—K-pop has at times been criticized for creating an unoriginal, formulaic product that lacks lyrical and musical depth. It has been accused by some for drowning out what they believe to be more meaningful music. The industry has also gained notoriety for placing undue stress on both failed and successful stars, and reports of a disturbing number of suicides have surfaced. Similarly, sexism and sexual abuse cases have made headlines.
Of course, a counterargument exists, and K-pop proponents point out that some of the same criticism could have been leveled against the Motown scene of the 1960s. Furthermore, in their view, the rigorous training simply reflects the difficulty in achieving highly in any industry. Regarding songwriting, the structures can actually be more complex and eclectic than their American counterparts, making the label of formulaic somewhat laughable. Finally, many argue that Western ears are simply slow to warm to outside influences, and perhaps shedding the K-pop label would change some minds. After all, neither Drake (Canadian) nor Shakira (Colombian) is listed as a C-pop artist.
Some Examples
Here are a few introductory examples to help you form your own opinion.
“Gangnam Style” by PSY
While Asian audiences were already very familiar with K-pop, this international hit from 2012 introduced many in the US to the Korean wave. The song is actually a satirical take on the self-absorbed wealth that can be found in Seoul’s Gangnam District.
“Boombayah” by Blackpink
One of the biggest all-female K-pop acts is Blackpink, a foursome that boasts a collaboration with Dua Lipa. Even if you don’t want to like this song, there’s a high risk you will.
“Dynamite” by BTS
At this point, BTS is a massive name across the globe. Their huge fanbase is termed ARMY (Adorable Representative MC for Youth), and their rapidly expanding list of collaborators includes Ed Sheeran, Halsey, and Coldplay. This is their first song recorded fully in English.
So is K-pop as good of an export as kimchi and Korean barbecue? That’s still up for debate. Regardless, it may be time to catch the wave.
