K-pop, four generations that changed the world

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Sarahcolibri
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Korean pop (also called Kpop) has allowed Asian culture to be exported around the world. Indeed, a new era of creative and exciting music was born.The recipe for this success rests on several pillars. Well-crafted choreographies, perfected video clips and the talent of these young artists who fight hard to reach the top of the Asian pop chart. We will introduce you to the history of the four generations of K-pop.

1st generation

The first generation of K-pop began in the 1990s. It ended in 2000. Thanks to Hallyu phenomena (한류 in Hangeul), South Korean culture developed. It is becoming popular not only in Korea but also throughout Asia and Australia. 

Korean pop music began with Seo Taiji & Boys in 1992, in a music show "MBC". The band draws inspiration from many aspects of popular Western music including hip hop music, pop music, rap-rock, alternative rock, techno and alternative metal. Their lyrics spoke not only of love but also of frustrations with school and society, differentiating them from Western music. However, as 1996 drew closer, Seo Taiji & Boys gradually lost their fame. It is as if they were just an experimental band that future music companies and bands would follow and improve afterwards (in terms of band management, including promotions, shows, dramas and styles of music.) 

Later, in 1997, a K-pop artist, Park Jin Young, founded JYP Entertainment, a company that currently runs famous bands and artists, such as Rain and GOT7. In 1998, one of the members of Seo Taiji & Boys, Yang Hyun-suk, went on to establish YG Entertainment. This current and renowned music company runs successful bands, such as Big Bang, 2NE1, Winner and PSY. At that time, K-pop began to have an international fan base. In addition, in 1989, Lee so Man founded SM Entertainment, which became a lucrative Kpop company, the largest and most successful.

The sounds of this generation revolved mainly around pop and hip-hop. The well-known groups of this generation are Shinhwa, S.E.S, Sech Kies, Turbo, G.O.D, Fly to the Sky and H.O.T. Rain, Lee Hyori and BoA. Already at that time, people were saying that K-pop had the potential for global success.

2nd generation

The second generation of K-pop began in 2003 before ending towards the end of the decade. 

With the decline of first-generation idols in the early 2000s, solo singers from major agencies, such as BoA, Rain, and Seven, became popular alongside solo singers who were once part of a group, such as Kangta, Moon Hee-joon, Bada, Ock Joo-hyun, and Lee Hyori. QST debuted as an a cappella group in 2004 and was followed by SS501, Super Junior in 2005 and Big Bang in 2006. They did not, however, have the success of first-generation idols.

TVXQ, SS501, Super Junior and Big Bang, all of which debuted earlier, then took advantage of the popularity sparked by Wonder Girls. TVXQ's beginnings brought a new generation of K-pop groups. They bring in Bigbang, Wonder Girls, 2ne1, Super Junior, Girls Generation and SHINee. While bands like Epik High, TARA, KARA, After School, 4minute, Brown Eyed Girls, Miss A, UKISS, SS501, 2 PM, 2 AM, B2ST, SISTAR, f(x) and Secret are attracting more and more followers.

Second-generation idol groups usually consisted of six or more members. They formed a "group within a group" called a unit and led group and unit activities at the same time. Agencies have tried to manage their idol groups more thoroughly than the first generation to avoid problems. They regularly assessed the singing and dancing abilities of the trainees and terminated contracts with the trainees if their abilities did not improve or were significantly inferior.

The rivalry present in first-generation idols was not as common among second-generation idols. As more and more idol groups made their debut, the theme of rivalry faded.

Wonder Girls, Kara and Girls' Generation have built an attractive image. They were heavily influenced by the groups of the previous generation. Kara looks like Fin.K.L. While Girls' Generation looked like S.E.S. Brown Eyed Girls became popular with both men and women for their own musical characteristics. 4minute, 2NE1, f(x) and Miss A have adopted the independent female image of Baby VOX and DIVA. SISTAR, Girl's Day and AOA developed a sexual theme, while Apink played on the theme of innocence. TVXQ and Big Bang were considered different from traditional idols because they created music that showed originality and maturity. TVXQ in particular has attracted attention by releasing different albums from one country to another. This concept of idol groups appears in entertainment shows. Groups.

During this period, Hallyu developed a lot in the K-pop music industry. The skills of the singers are especially their unique and distinctive choreographies, captivating melodies and lyrics that have won the hearts of many. It was at this time that ballads and sweet love songs also began to become more popular. But even with slow melodies, K-pop never fails to incorporate complex choreography and movement into their performances. A very crucial aspect of the music industry and one that will be part of a generation that will shake up the planet.

3rd generation

Idols that debuted in the 2010s are known as third-generation idols. Some people say it ended in early 2018; while others claim that this generation of K-pop is underway. EXO is considered the starting point for the third generation, especially for groups of boys.

On the other hand, many groups of girls split up after the Korean Fair Trade Commission stipulated in 2009 that exclusive contracts between agencies and celebrities could only last for a maximum of seven years. As such, girl groups are classified in the third generation if they debuted after 2014. The term "generation 2.5" refers a contrario to certain groups of girls who made their debut in the transition period between generations 2 and 3. This includes bands that debuted from 2011 to 2012. The same goes for the NFB Group. Some people wonder if they are 3rd or 4th generation. Indeed they made their debut in 2017 but can also be considered as 4th generation members by their contemporaries.

The marketing strategy of idol groups has diversified due to social media. This leads to the emergence of unprocessed and self-produced content on sites such as YouTube, AfreecaTV and V App rather than via TV programs. Idols members also started posting on social networking services to get closer to their fans. In terms of planning, the "localization" strategy has expanded. They not only release albums in different countries or perform in different languages. But still they directly include non-Korean foreign members in the groups.

Idol groups such as IOI and want to One were selected. They debuted in popular singing competition programs similar to American Idol. Since the mid-2010s, there have been more cases of second- and third-generation idols using breaks from group activity to release records as solo singers and deviating from the characteristics of their groups.

Companies nowadays are more open to the production of groups of different origins and ethnicities (unlike before, where all idols had to be purely Korean). Some bands of this generation include EXO, Blackpink, BTS, Twice, Red Velvet, iKON, GOT7, Winner, Apink, G-friend and CLC. This era continues to spread the contagious charm of K-Pop around the world. The recipe has not changed: impressive choreographies, charismatic singers.

It can certainly be seen that K-pop has evolved from the first generation to the current era. She became more creative, expressive and daring. The music has modernized with combinations of different genres such as techno, rock, ballad, etc.

4th generation

The latest generation of K-pop is called 4th generation K-pop groups. Artists in this category emerged in the last 3 years between 2018 and 2021.

The history of K-pop breaks down into generations. This division provides a better understanding of how K-pop as a culture was born. In this vein, there are 4 K-pop generations identified and accepted. The 1st generation, includes K-pop groups that were the precursors of K-pop responsible for the birth of K-pop. Second-generation K-pop groups emerged during a period of economic crisis. While thethird generation is called the golden period of K-pop with bands like BTS, Blackpink. 4th generation K-pop groups are those that have been recently formed and are quite young.

In 2019, K-pop ranks sixth among the top ten music markets in the world according to the "Global Music Report 2019" of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. BTS and Blackpink are cited as the best-selling artists. In 2020, K-pop had a record year when it grew by 44.8%. It is positioned as the fastest growing market of the year.

First generation – Seo Taiji & Boys, Shinhwa(@shinhwa_official), S.E.S, Sech Kies, Turbo, G.O.D, Fly to the Sky, H.O.T. Rain (@rain_oppa), Lee Hyori and BoA (@boakwon).

Second generation – TVXQ (@tvxq.official), Super Junior (@superjunior), Girls' Generation (@GirlsGeneration), SHINee (@SHINee), 2PM (@real_2pmstagram) , f(x)(fx.official), SISTAR (official_sistar), MISS A, NU'EST, Cnblue, UKISS, SS501, 2 AM, Epik High, TARA, KARA, After School, 4minute, Secret, Brown Eyed Girls, Bigbang.

Third generation – EXO (@weareoneEXO), BTS (@bts.bighitofficial), GOT7 (@GOT7Official), MAMAMOO (@RBW_MAMAMOO), Red Velvet (@RVsmtown), MonstaX (@OfficialMonstaX), SEVENTEEN (@Pledis_17), TWICE (@JYPETWICE), NCT (@NCTsmtown), BLACKPINK (@BLACKPINK), PENTAGON, IKON, N.flying, Day6, SF9, Astro, AOA, MOMOLAND, Victon, Winner, Apink,
G-friend and CLC, ONF, ONEWE, IU, etc…

Fourth generation – THE BOYZ (@official_theboyz), Stray Kids (@realstraykids), GIDLE (@official_g_i_dle), ATEEZ (@ateez_official_), ITZY (@itzy.all.in.us), TOMORROW X TOGETHER (@TXT_BigHit), TREASURE (@yg_treasure_official), aespa (@aespa_official), EVERGLOW (@official_everglow), ENHYPEN(@enhypen),WANNA ONE (wannaone.official) , cherrybullet, wnjr, izone, p1harmony, cix, M.O.N.T, The Rose, MCND, ONEUS, etc…

For more kpop music you can listen on spotify:

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