KPOP: The History of K-Pop

My name is Ela and i want to tell you about my faforite music

I'm sure of the fact that when you hear K-Pop you think Gangnam Style well I'm here to change your mind set and educate you about K-Pop!

K-pop (short for Korean Pop) is the music industry and music genre of South Korea.

In K-Pop the music is not the main part of the song, but also the appearance – the visuals play a major part in the song and its popularity.

The Start (1992-2005)

The K-pop industry today wasn't always like this; in 1992 Seo Tai-Ji & Boys debuted with "Nan Arayo". Their debut created the "Korean Wave" also known as "Halluy": the spread of Korean culture around the world. This term became more known after the K-Pop fans in China had a massive "panic attack" over EXO who held a concert in there.

In 1995 "SMTown" was established- the first "K-pop company" which it's purpose was to create the perfect musician who will muster the arts of rapping, singing, dancing and sometimes acting.

This "vision" was born after the founder of "SMTown" went to the US and saw the big names in the western music industry and believed that he found the "perfect formula" for artists. Later on, two more companies were established: "JYP Entertainment" and "YG Entertainment". soon after competition began and the music industry in South Korea began to rise.

Present Time (more like 2008 'til now)

In 2008 the hype started in Korea too when the boy groups: Big Bang, Super Junior and SHINee and the girl groups: Wonder Girls, Girl Generation (or SNSD) and 4Minute rose to fame\debuted.

Their aesthetic, bright, colorful and fun videos caught the eyes of the audience not only in Korea but internationally too; they're fun to watch M\Vs & easy to learn chirographies also helped. This groups have a major part in the growth of the Hallyu around the world.

this era of time which those groups debuted in is called "2nd Generation" or "The Golden Age of K-Pop". Many believe that this generation paved the way for K-Pop.

More famous groups from the 2nd generation are: BTS, EXO, Monsta X, Red Velvet, Mamamoo, KARA, Got7 and much more.

3th generation are the groups and soloists who debuted in 2015 'till I guess 2020.

Famous groups: Twice, BlackPink, Seventeen, Oh My Girl, NCT 127, Wanna One and Stray Kids

K-Pop became much more famous after BTS received an award at Billboard Music Awards and performed at the AMAS in 2017 (both western music awards shows). This led to a "portal" to the western music industry, BTS created something incredible - they received 3 different prizes, one from their government for the achievement of spreading the Korean culture around the world (2018) (unlike PSY who opened this portal and then closed it in 2012).

How i got into K-Pop is for another blog.