Why is Korean Pop Music So Popular?
K-pop’s characteristics which are synchronized dance moves, simple songs with addicting hooks, and the outer beauty of all of the K-pop groups’ members, contribute to this feat. Some of these idols are even popular in dramas as the OST’s singers and the star that played the characters themselves.
Each new K-pop group debuting, and each comeback (the K-pop group or solo artist coming out with new material), is hyped in the media, with a specific concept and hook to get the general population excited to consume the new music. Additionally, it is more common for K-pop groups to do things for K-pop fans like performing in music shows, throw together fan signing events, attend variety shows, and even arrange more private fan meetings than it is for them to hold tours.
How did K-pop become a worldwide phenomenon?
There have been various attempts by different music companies in Korea to break into the international music markets, especially in the United States. The world only got to know K-pop when Psy’s “Gangnam Style” hit the radios all around the world in the summer of 2012.
Many years ago, if you were lucky, you could maybe attend a small club concert by your favorite K-pop artists if you lived in Asia, Europe, or Brazil. But now you can also see groups like Blackpink perform their music at Coachella!
For a few years, K-pop popularity seemed like a fluke, but now that the world has gone crazy over BTS, we can finally call K-pop a worldwide phenomenon! This K-pop boy group was a big tool with which K-pop became a truly worldwide phenomenon after BTS became popular in the United States.
Why is BTS So Popular?
One of the many reasons why BTS has been explained to have become so popular is because of the message in their songs. Many find them more relatable than some other groups, as their music is more about bullying and mental health than on love.
Also, these performers have used different tactics from different groups. Instead of relying on staying relevant by appearing on South Korean TV shows all the time, each group member has been active on social media to reach their audience all around the world. This has eventually earned them awards and recognitions including having the number 1 spot in the Hot 100 Chart on Billboard multiple times.
Why is K-pop Unique?
While K-pop music with its groups is quite different from western pop music especially, it’s easy to see why many people have become addicted to it now. The melodies are catchy, the choreographies are impressive and the group members are beautiful to the eye. There is usually a lot of effort also put into making the MVs look cool and high quality, even when it’s just the group members dancing. The groups have specific styles to help them stand out.
There is a special Korean slang term called 칼군무 (kalgunmu) which means “dancing perfectly in sync”. You can use this to describe your favorite K-pop performers. The word 칼군무 (kalgunmu) is written in Hangul, the Korean Alphabet. If you don’t know how to read it yet, you can learn using this guide in about 1 hour.
