Korean pop music (known in the West as K-pop) is an umbrella term for pop music originating from South Korea, usually similar in genre to pop in the United States. However, the material performed/produced by K-Pop artists covers a wide variety of genres, from EDM to rock to softer ballads, and everything in between. Usually known outside the country for the numerous Idol Singers and idol Boy Bands and Girl Groups in the industry. K-pop and other Korean based entertainment such as Korean Dramas first became very popular throughout Asia in the 2000s, in a phenomenon that has been nicknamed the "Hallyu" or "Korean Wave". Like many things in South Korea, the talent agencies managing the singers are mostly based in Seoul.

There are several distinctive generations of K-pop. The first generation (1992-2002) with groups like Seo Taiji And Boys laid the foundations of K-pop and its distinctive musical stylings, mixing traditional Korean pop with hip-hop and rock. The second generation (2003-2012) saw the rise of idol groups like Super Junior and Girls' Generation which also coincided with the initial Korean Wave, and are noted for their catchy music and elaborate dance routines. The third generation (2012-2019) introduced groups such as BTS and EXO, which wrote more personal and complex lyrics and took advantage of the rise of social media to reach an international audience. The fourth generation (2019-present) introduced groups like Stray Kids and saw more diverse musical styling and a greater focus on the growing international market. Many modern K-pop artists also changed their image from being pop superstars into the more relatable boys/girls next door.

Outside of South Korea, K-pop is most popular in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Latin America, particularly in China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, India, Mexico, Peru and Argentina. With the rise of groups like BTS and BLACKPINK in the late 2010s, K-pop is finding growing acceptance in North America and Europe.

The term "K-pop" is somewhat controversial, however. Its legitimacy (since it originated in Western media) and its exact meaning are still debated to this day - in and outside of Korea. Does it refer to all Korean pop music, or just idol music? Is it a genre or an industry? Does the "K" in "K-pop" denote the Korean identity and unique aspects of Korean pop, or is it just otherizing it away from so-called "main" (that is, Western) pop? Notably, even some Korean artists are reluctant to describe it as a music genre rather than an industry or a dance/music/visuals package with a diversity of music genres. This is all complicated further by its use in Western media, with music platforms labeling Korean music of any kind as "K-pop" (even indie artists), with Minority Show Ghetto implications.

The K-pop industry has also received criticism for their exploitation of their artists; issues such as overworking, exploitative contracts, restrictions on relationships and body images, and lack of creative control are highly debated even amongst fans of the genre. In South Korea, K-pop is less popular with older audiences, who instead opt for singer-songwriter artists like IU and PSY and genres like trot (an older type of Korean pop known for its repetitive rhythms and simple melodies).

A stage musical inspired by the phenomenon, KPOP, played Off-Broadway in 2017 and on Broadway in 2022. The Broadway cast included a number of Real Life Korean pop stars.

Notable Korean Pop artists:

• Seo Taiji and Boys: Highly influential Hip-Hop/pop/rock trio from The '90s, led by mastermind Seo Taiji. Widely considered the Trope Maker of Korean Pop music as we know it today. Massively popular and critically acclaimed, they challenged the Moral Guardians of the time by working independently from TV stations, including social critique in their lyrics, and mixing Western and Korean music genres (including, most notably, rap) in what became the Genre-Busting sound that would later characterize what we know as K-pop. Seo Taiji is still active as a solo artist after the group's disbandment, while fellow member YG would go on to create YG Entertainment, one of the "Big Three" most powerful Korean idol music companies.

The Big Three

The three biggest and most powerful agencies/labels in the Korean idol industry (at least for the time between the decline of DSP in the mid-00s and the rise of BigHit/Hybe in the late '10s).

Other Labels

Positions and roles

Most Kpop groups have assigned positions and roles for their members. These positions are often ranked into main, lead and sub, based on their skills and abilities. Typically there is only one main vocalist, one main dancer and one main rapper, but multiple of the lower ranks. The sub- label is usually only seen for sub-vocalists, as it's assumed that everyone dances and only 1 or 2 specialists rap.

It's important to note that not all groups have these positions with the same strict criteria and rules. Some groups may forgo all these roles and have a more flexible arrangement (or even start out with assigned positions only for these to lose relevance later on), while others may have well-rounded idols that can assume different roles at once.

Positions and roles commonly found in Korean idol groups are:

• Vocalist: There are at least 2-3 vocalists in a group and the more members a group has, the more vocalists they would have.
• Dancer: Main dancers are, often in the front of the group's formations or take center stage during the choreography, especially during dance breaks. Meanwhile, lead dancers are only a level below the main dancers in terms of dancing, basically the second best.
• Rapper: Many groups only have one primary rapper because the genre and style of the group doesn't have much space for rap in their songs. Some groups don't have rappers at all.
  • The majority of idols in this position get called "idol rappers", because they don't write their own lyrics and are assigned this role by their companies regardless of their rapping skills (a.k.a not "real" rappers). However, there's plenty of idols who still write their own raps, particularly found in groups with a Hip-Hop and Trap focused sound - with some even coming from the underground rap scene before joining the group.
• Visual: Simply put, they are the best-looking/most attractive member of the group.
  • Precisely speaking, however, they're the member with features that fit all or most Korean beauty standards (sharp jawline, pale skin, double eyelids, etc.). Many idols with a visual position move into acting and get offered sponsorship deals and acting roles because of their looks (this is not to say that they get cast based on looks alone and not talent. However, having good looks gives them an advantage).
• Leader: The member in charge of guiding the group. They're often the bridge between the members and the company, as well as the spokesperson of the group when promoting.
  • The way this role gets assigned varies from one group to another. Sometimes it's decided based on age — where the eldest gets the position, and sometimes it's based on experience — the one who has been in the industry the longest gets the position. Other times groups decide to not have a leader at all.
• Maknae: The youngest member of the group. While not an official performative position, the age-based hierarchy of South Korean culture makes it a point to identify the youngest. It's worth noting that despite its fame as a "K-pop term", it's not unique nor original to K-pop - it refers to the youngest in any kind of group in Korea, though it's mostly known in the West through its use within idol groups.
• Additional roles may include:
  • Center: which, as the name suggests, is the member at the center of the group during performances and formation.
  • Face: The most famous member and the group's representative, who gives them exposure through appearing in TV programs and public events. This is the member whose face first comes to mind whenever the group is mentioned. This is less of an assigned position and more whoever gets lucky with gaining individual fame. Though sometimes executives will have a face in mind during planning.

Glossary

Below is a glossary of some other common terms in the English-language idol fandoms. Many are loanwords or calques from the Korean language. See also Korean Honorifics.

Tropes associated with the K-pop scene include:

• Album Filler: Extremely common. In the past it was just bland songs, since the 2020s you're more likely to see large amounts of remixes. It's considered notable when a "B-Side" is of good quality. Though, obviously, dedicated fans of a group will like more of them.
• Alternate Album Cover: Physical releases often have several different covers, including member-specific variants on group releases.
• Animal Motif: It's quite common for idols to have animals that represent them as motifs, with cats, bunnies, and puppies being the most popular animals that either resemble the idols' look or a trait they share with the animal (bunny teeth, clingy like a cat or a koala, etc.).
• Bathtub Scene: Usually seen in girl groups' music videos with soap foam or sometimes clothes covering their bodies.
• B-Side: Naturally appears on some single albums, though in K-pop terminology, any album song that isn't a single is referred to as a B-side.
• CAPS LOCK: As the Korean script does not have upper & lower case, designers are quite free with all-caps when writing in English. Group names commonly get this treatment, and sometimes album and song names.
• Censorship Bureau:
  • Due to South Korea's conservative laws, censorship reaches ridiculous heights sometimes on music shows. Plenty of songs and videos were initially banned by TV networks, most notably, MBC, SBS, and particularly KBS who's notorious for placing bans on almost everything, for merely using slang or vaguely referencing brand names. To solve this, most entertainment companies usually alter their artists' songs and videos and re-release them. However, some agencies refuse to change their content in any way and choose to promote it in other programs instead.
  • Female artists are frequent victims, especially when they go for a sexy concept. Expect many of their dance moves, lyrics, and clips to be banned for being provocative.
• Chronological Album Title: Many albums are marketed with the subtitle "The [Nth] Full/Mini/Single Album".
• Colour-Coded for Your Convenience: Some groups have assigned theme colors for the group as a whole and for each member, often to represent the group concept or to simply differentiate the members much more easily.
• Contractual Purity: The K-Pop scene is notoriously strict about behavior that isn't child-friendly or could ruin an idol's image. For the most part, when in public, idols can't smoke, can't swear (outside maybe their song lyrics), can't get a tattoo, and can't date.^note Some companies, in the literal sense of the trope, will write it into an idol's contract that they can't be seen in public with a significant other for a certain number of years. Not all of this is about micromanaging an idol's public image; some of it's just a question of different social norms in Korea, like a longstanding stigma against tattoos^note South Korea still has very restrictive laws for tattoo artists; while they're being challenged by the younger generation, it's slow going. This might be why most idols can openly drink and endorse alcohol; it's ingrained in the culture. While pressure comes from both the company and the public, enforcement can depend on the company and the individual circumstances. Enforcement is not universal, and some K-Pop stars will push the limits, but even then, fans, anti-fans and paparazzi can be so obsessive that even if the contract allows an idol to date, they won't do it in public.
• Cool Car: This is a must-have element or prop for any cool Kpop MV to look even cooler and trendier.
• Crowd Chant: Numerous kpop songs are made in a way that allows fans to sing along, which is known as fanchants. Kpop fanchants can be very, very loud and enthusiastic, or used as a surprise project for the idol(s).
• Dancing Is Serious Business: Although not obligatory (instrument-playing bands and some soloists don't incorporate dance moves in their performances), dancing is an essential element that defines Kpop. Kpop choreographies generally have three fundamental elements: intricacy, sharpness, and intensity. Though again, not all choreographies are like this. Additionally, many idols incorporate incredible and elaborate dance breaks into their choreographies to show more of their talents. Plus, lots of them take great pride in dancing and join dance competitions (i.e. Hit the Stage) even after debuting to showcase their talents and improve themselves.
• Early-Bird Cameo: Some trainees have appeared in music videos by their companies' senior artists before debuting in their own groups. Depending on how famous they become after debuting, it may result in Retroactive Recognition.
• Fan Community Nicknames: Almost every group (sometimes soloists as well) has a name for their fandom. The names are mostly picked by company or idols and revealed shortly after the debut. Sometimes it takes months for a fandom to get their nickname, and in some cases fans can choose the name themselves through the polls.
• First-Name Basis: Technically a "given name basis" due to Korean naming order putting the family name before the given name, as opposed to Western naming orders having it the other way around, but the majority of idols use only their given names or variations of them professionally, and the ones that don't will use Stage Names instead (that are usually still mononyms). It's rare for an idol to use their full name professionally in the K-pop industry.
• Free-Handed Performer: Aside from the occasional rock-leaning group (DAY6 et al), idols usually perform free-handed to focus on dancing and interact more with the audience and other group members, regardless of how skilled certain members are at any instruments, though some idols have been given limited opportunities to play their instruments on stage as well.
• Groupie: Female idols have dedicated, passionate male fans (though female ones exist too), while male idols have similarly passionate female fans/fangirls (they rarely have male fans). When female idols go to perform at military sites, loud and enthusiastic cheering can be heard in the background alone.
• Groupie Brigade: Nearly any time an idol goes outside without covering their faces, fans will swarm them, asking for pictures, autographs, or just wanting to be seen by them. Some fans try to defy this image by giving the idols space and being level-headed during their interactions, and even greeting them from afar.
• Idol Singer: The basic unit.
• I Have Many Names: This is due to idols using Stage Names and nicknames given by fans or other members.
• Incredibly Long Note: Some groups (especially for some vocal-focused groups) often have their main vocalist hit high notes at the end of the song bridge and last chorus; however, in some cases, the lead vocalist (and to a lesser extent, the sub vocalist) will do this, mainly to showcase their vocal strength or cover up their main vocalist's absence during concerts.
• Kaleidoscope Hair: Kpop stars frequently change their hair color when a comeback is approaching. The idols' concept may determine which hair color said idol will have during a specific promotional era.
• Kayfabe Music: Downplayed. Companies don't normally draft entirely new characters, but some groups have their own fictional lore attached to them. Idols also tend to have deliberately put-on personalities on stage and in content (reality shows, variety show appearances, livestreams, etc.); the similarities between their media personalities and their real-life personalities naturally vary from person to person.
• Limited Special Collector's Ultimate Edition: It's rare for a K-pop album to have a standard CD release. A typical physical release is a box set containing not only the CD, but a book (usually a photobook, but sometimes a lyric book), photocards, and sometimes posters or other feelies.
• Multilingual Song: Most songs mix Korean with varying amounts of English, with fully Korean songs becoming increasingly rarer. Although Gratuitous English is omnipresent in the industry to the point of rarely being noteworthy, there has been a noticeable increase in English lyrics in The New '20s, especially among girl groups. This has been attributed to the success of BLACKPINK, whose members are mostly fluent in English and whose 2020 album The Album has half the songs entirely or mostly in English.
• Multinational Team: Dozens of groups market themselves as multinational groups with members from all around the world. This also makes it easy for the group to promote in different countries and for companies to break into other markets like Japan's, China's, and the much-favored USA by having members who speak their language.
• Ode to Youth: A frequent topic in boy group songs more than girl groups, but several groups make songs regarding youth as it's the age range the groups themselves are typically within and to relate to their equally young audiences.
• Officially Shortened Title: Doubles as Fun with Acronyms. A slew of groups has long names that are shortened to easier and catchier ones. Some of them include BTOB as an acronym for Born to Beat, TEEN TOP = Teenage Emoboy Emotion Next Generation Talent Object Praise, and BOA = Beat of Angel/Best of All.
• Paparazzi: A group of reporters/photographers tend to follow idols and wait for them in airports when they are traveling to an event, snapping endless photos of them at near and close distances. Korea Dispatch, an online media outlet, is infamous in the Kpop community and scene overall for having paparazzi who specialize in catching celebrities on their secret dates and reporting rumors. Korean stars sometimes make Take That! jokes about Dispatch.
• Pelvic Thrust: A common sexual dance move in male groups and soloists' choreographies, that usually acts as Fanservice for their female fans. A few girl groups do this move as well when doing sensual or "masculine" choreographies.
• Power Ballad: It's hard to find a group without a ballad track on one of their album, more often than not as the Album Closure.
• Reality Show: Most groups have official reality shows and/or variety shows that showcase the chemistry and personalities of the members.
• Scatting: Lots of Kpop songs include scatting such as the frequently-used "la la la" and "na na na" and so on. See here for a prime (and humorous) example/parody.
• Self-Empowerment Anthem: Another common topic in upbeat and feel-good Kpop songs, where idols encourage listeners to think better of themselves and remind them that they're all unique in their own way.
• Self-Titled Album: Many groups have used their group name on one of their albums, especially their debut album.
• Silly Love Songs: Countless Kpop songs have cheesy descriptions of falling in love and focus on teenage romance. Kpop idol music is known for being full of such silly love songs.
• Singer-Songwriter: While most groups tend to perform songs that the producers gave them, others try to challenge the norm by writing their own songs. This is particularly evident for groups from mid to small companies, although some idols from big companies are also given the freedom in songwriting.
• Sliding Scale of Beauty: Because of the way the medium works, all idols are meant to be world class beauties, but the ones that stand out the most are the "Visuals" who are meant to be the most attractive even compared to others. There are even visuals that have managed to be on many lists of the "most beautiful people in the world".
• Teen Idol:
  • A good number of idols have started their careers at young ages, with some as young as 12 or 13. This is because there's a clear preference for young and fresh faces to cater to Kpop's young demographics, with older idols often ditching this image and going for a mature and serious persona, some moving into the acting field as they grow older.
  • Many Kpop idols have big teenage fanbases because they aim at and appeal to teenagers and young adults. However, idols that have been in the industry for a long time had their teen fans grow up with them and become older now.
• Title Track: The main single of an album, usually having its music video released simultaneously with the album, is referred to as a title track regardless of whether or not it's a literal title track or if the album even has a literal title track.
• Unlimited Wardrobe: It's rare for an idol to appear at two public events wearing the same thing. Apparently the clothes are often rented by the company from third parties.
• Vocal Tag Team: Plenty of groups have at least two or more vocalists who trade vocals together on their songs. Harmonizing is less common, since for many groups the focus is mainly on giving every member their own time to show off in the spotlight.
• A Wild Rapper Appears!: It's common for a group's rapper to get one verse after the first or second chorus, and very few other lines.