The Rise of K-Pop
How K-pop went from a national pastime to a global phenomenon in just three decades.
Defined by addictive pop melodies, ultra-precise choreography, and a seemingly endless line up of talented South Korean performers, K-pop has quickly become a global sensation, with groups like BTS selling out stadiums around the world. With over 100 billion views on YouTube (yes, billion) and hundreds of international music awards between them, it’s clear that K-pop is more than a fleeting fad, but rather, a seismic shift in the culture of pop music worldwide.
Humble beginnings
For many listeners, it may seem like K-pop sprang up overnight, but the true history of K-pop extends back to the late 1980s and the widespread popularity of weekly talent shows, broadcast on South Korea’s national television networks. Each week, the network would introduce the country to new music groups, most of whom tended to focus on slow ballads and traditional pop formats. As the country moved into the 90s, South Koreans became regularly exposed to more contemporary American music like rap and hip-hop, which would go on to become one of the cornerstones of K-pop’s distinctive sound.
Image courtesy of ione.net
The first ever K-pop performance: Seo Taiji and Boys
Everything changed in 1992 with the first appearance of Seo Taiji and Boys and their debut single, “Nan Arayo (I Know).” Fusing hip-hop beats and heavy metal guitar with traditional pop melodies and perfectly synchronised choreography, it became known as the first ever definitive K-pop hit – and while it failed to win them the talent show, “Nan Arayo” went on to top South Korea’s singles charts for a record-smashing 17 weeks, firing the starting pistol on a new generation of South Korean performers.
Image courtesy of Schoolboy/Universal Music Group
Psy becomes the king of YouTube
Until 2012, K-pop had rarely appeared on the radar of western media, but when Psy dropped his hit single “Gangnam Style,” the world was quick to take notice. Known for his signature mix of comedy and party-pop styling, Psy’s viral sensation went on to become the most-viewed video on YouTube for the next five years, and now has almost 4 billion views. Part of a wave of South Korean musicians to study music in American schools, Psy’s fame marked the beginning of K-pop’s global takeover, and paved the way for hundreds of future K-pop stars.
Image courtesy of Big Hit Labels
K-pop hits its stride
Over the last decade, K-pop has evolved into a full-force global movement, as bands like BTS break records and break the internet. BTS alone have won over 250 awards from 359 worldwide music award nominations, and the video for their hit ‘Dynamite’ generated more views within 24 hours of posting than any YouTube video in history. BlackPink recently starred in their own documentary, Light Up the Sky, which can be watched on Netflix, and which has received broad acclaim from audiences around the world for its intimate depiction of the K-pop studio system. In short, K-pop is just hitting its stride and there is much, much more to come.
Samsung x BTS
Seen by many as the torchbearers of K-pop’s meteoric surge in popularity, BTS are known for spreading the love to everything they touch, and the Galaxy S20 is no different. Designed with BTS’s characteristic purple hue and loaded with tons of exclusive wallpapers and features, the Galaxy S20 BTS Edition represents the best of South Korean tech, combined with the best of South Korean culture.
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Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition
Galaxy Buds+ BTS Edition
