Korean Pop is South Korean music. The music includes different elements and styles like pop, rock, jazz, R&B, electronic dance, folk, and traditional Korean music. The Korean Pop we know now was initially formed in 1992 with a boy band named ‘Seo Laji boys’. It was an experiment aiming at a mixture of different styles of music and the integration of foreign music.
1. PSY
PSY is the stage name of Park Jae Sang, a South Korean rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He released many mega-hits but the most famous one was Gangnam Style released in the year 2012. Gangnam Style became a global sensation with the help of YouTube. It was his 18th single release. The song Gangnam Style is still the highest viewed with more than 4 billion views till now among all the Korean Pop songs.
2. Blackpink
Blackpink has four members namely Lisa as the leading dancer, Jennie as the main rapper, Jiso as visual, and Rose as the main vocalist. The group was formed under YG Entertainment and debuted in August 2016. Blackpink became the first Korean pop group to hit over 1 billion views till now on YouTube with the song the Ddu-du-Ddu-du, released in 2018. It was the best Korean pop video ever produced on YouTube.
3. BTS
Bangtan Sonyeondan, the boy band consisting of seven members namely J Hope, RM, Suga, Jungkook, V, and Jimin, was formed under the Bighit label and debuted in 2013. They became the Global Association with their many super-hit music videos. BTS song videos are among the top viewed Korean Pop music videos on YouTube. Their track ‘DNA’ from the album Love Yourself, released in 2017, is the most considered and topped with over 1 billion views till now. DNA stayed on billboard's hot chat for four weeks, and the song got certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
4. Twice
Twice is the South Korean girl group consisting of nine members namely Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Jihyo, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu. The group was formed through the television reality show ‘Sixteen’ in 2015 and debuted in October 2015. TT is one of the mega-hits of Twice which has crossed over 599 million views till now on the YouTube music video that was released in June 2017. The song title TT refers to emotions used to express crying or sadness.
5. BigBang
YG Entertainment formed Bigbang, a South Korean boy band. G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, and Daesung are the four members of the group. It was a five-member group, but Seuhgri retired from the industry. Bigbang is known for its stage presence, self-produced, and trendsetting music experiment. Their hit song ‘Bang Bang Bang’ which was released in June 2015 has the highest views with over 553 million views till now. The track won song of the year in 2015 at Mnet Asian Music Awards. The song was among the band's best-selling works.
6. Momoland
Momoland is a South Korean girl group consisting of the winner of the television reality show ‘Finding Momoland’ in 2016. The members are Hyeben, Yeonwoo, Jane, Nayun, Jooe, Ahin, and Nancy. The others were Taeha and Daisy. But in 2019, Taeha, and Yeonwoo left the group and Daisy departed in 2020. So now the group only consists of seven members. ‘Bboom Bboom’ track was released on January 3, 2018, through which the band crossed over 528 milloion views till now. Gaon Music Chart awarded the group Platinum status, making them the first girl group to receive the honour.
7. iKON
The South Korean boy band iKON was formed in the year 2015 by YG Entertainment with six members namely Bobby, Jinhwan, Ju-ne, Yunhyeong, Donghyuk, and Chawoo. They were initially a seven-member group, but BI departed from the group in 2019. The song ‘Love Scenario’ by the band which was released in 2018 crossed over 525 million views till now and won song of the year at the 2018 Melon Music and 33rd Golden Disc awards. This song became the signature track of the band iKON.
8. EXO
The South Korean Chinese boy band based in Seoul, EXO, consisting of nine members namely Suho, Kai, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O, Sehun, Xiumin, Baekhyun, and Lay, was formed in the year 2011 by SM Entertainment. They have been labeled as kings of Korean pop. The band has been releasing many songs and impressing audiences with their fantastic dance style and stage presence. Among all hit songs, their ‘Love shot’ track which was released in the year 2018 crossed over 448 million views till now and became the band’s fastest music video to reach all three milestones. The track topped billboard's world digital songs for three continuous weeks.
9. GOT7
GOT7 is a South Korean boy band which consists of seven members namely Jay B, Mark, Jackson, Jinyoung, Youngjae, BamBam, and Yugyeom. The group debuted in the year 2014 under the level label GOT7, gained attention with their songs and also by their live performance, including martial arts tricking and Street dancing. Their track ‘Just Right’, released in 2015, has got over 384 million views till now. The song ‘Just Right’ promoted the EP- Extended Play, a total of two pieces.
10. Itzy
JYP Entertainment formed a South Korean girl group named Itzy with members Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna, who debuted in February 2019. Nine days after its debut the band became the fastest girl group in history. Itzy’s track ‘Wanna-Be’, released in March 2020, got over 368 million views till now. The song topped the charts in Malaysia and Singapore and remained on top first on Korean Pop Hot 100.
