A Brief History of K-pop through Music Videos

This is a A Brief History of K-pop through Music Videos that I like. I've skipped some people either on accident or purpose.

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(1) Trot Songs - The First Kpop

Trot is a pop genre that emerged around 1910 - 1945 when Korea was under Japanese occupation. It blends Japanese folk, Korean folk, and Western foxtrot. This music laid the foundation for modern K-pop by bridging the gap between Korean folk melodies and Western pop music of the early 20th-century. Trot is still popular in Korea the same way big band standards are popular in America, often appearing in signing contests and on easy listening stations.

• Busan Seagull from Moon Sung Jae

  • Sadly, his career was cut short by a car accident but his primary hit is a classic in Korea.

• Camellia Lady covered by I.N. of Stray Kids

• It's Call from Song of iKon is an example of cross-over songs between this classic trot with modern K-pop.

  • It's interesting that in K-pop, the group members are likely to release solo work within the group instead of separately like most Western boy/girl groups.

(2) Nobody by Wonder Girls - America's Introduction to Kpop

After WW2 and the Korean War, pop music in Korea was a mix of jazz and sentimental pop like trot. There then was an influence of visual rock music from Japan, itself influenced from the USA. The 1980s saw the rise of dance-oriented pop. Television variety shows helped establish the idol model that would later define K-pop. By the 1990s, artists such as Seo Taiji and Boys revolutionized Korean music by blending rap, R&B, and electronic beats with Korean lyrics, marking the birth of the modern K-pop sound. This evolution set the stage for K-pop’s global reach, culminating in the Wonder Girls’ 2008 hit “Nobody,” the first Korean song to enter the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Wonder Girls was the first group to preform on an American talk show with a performance on Wendy Williams daytime show in 2009.

In the below music video, one of the male stars of the first generation of kpop boys bands, JY Park, is pushed aside, symbolically introducing this new second generation of girl and boy groups. He is an eccentric record label owner who likes to get involved with his acts.

(3) Shinee - Kate's Introduction to Kpop

Shinee is a popular band from the "second generation" of Kpop, or pop groups that debuted between 2003 and 2011. They were my introduction to Korean music.

• Ring Ding Dong by Shinee

  • This is just iconic. The gif of them dancing together in the water pops up online a lot when people are being too serious about Kpop, as teen boy bands have always been unserious. Except when it does get serious. Shinee lost one it's members to depression and their record label is probably partially responsible for Jonghyun's mental health decline. His funeral was a big deal in the music industry.

  • In late 2025, one of Shinee's members, Key, went on hiatus for allegedly receiving cosmetic injections from a non-licensed medical practitioner. It's hard to see someone get punished for under-the-table Botox while Kangin from Super Junior, another second generation boy band, still has a record label deal after the allegations of harassing women and causing multiple car accidents while drunk.

  
  

• Sherlock (Clue + Note) by Shinee

  • This is the first Kpop music video I watched, and it still holds up. The fake sets feel nostalgic compared to the heavy CGI and quick cuts in later generation music videos.

  • Interestingly, many of thehave master's degrees and have done professional theater as adults. Fan name: Shawol.

  • Shinee weren't the first to break into the USA, but they were the first to popularize dance practice videos with the "Lucifer" leak.

(4) Girls' Generation - Solidification of Genre & Photocards

Girls’ Generation is also known as SNSD, So Nyeo Shi Dae (소녀시대), the group’s original Korean name. They played a pivotal role in shaping the modern K-pop industry. Their 2010 album Oh! was the first Korean album to include official photocards, a collectible feature that became a staple in K-pop fandom culture. Collecting and trading photocards, especially rare photos that are only released at certain events, is akin to baseball card collecting.

In 2012, they became the first K-pop girl group to perform on a U.S. late-night talk show, appearing on Late Show with David Letterman, signaling the genre’s expanding international reach. One of their most iconic songs is "Gee" for choreography, cute visuals, and catchy hooks.

Girl's Generation massive popularity helped stabilize the industry after the IMF financial crisis and lawsuits involving first generation idols like TVXQ's massive lawsuit trying to split from the same label as Girl's Generation: SM Entertainment. According to The Korea Herald, most entertainment agencies in Korea changed their artist contracts from thirteen years to seven after the lawsuit.

TVXQ are considered the reason for k-pop's popularization in Japan and a lot of Korean stars have separate label contracts for Japan and preform the music in Japanese. This creates problems for American fans, where often the Korean and English versions will get promoted abroad, but not the Japanese versions and songs.

(5) Gangnam Style - Global Phenomena

Even though Psy is often thought of as a first-generation K-pop artist, his global breakout came much later. His 2010 hit Gangnam Style catapulted him into international stardom. The song’s catchy beat and viral horse-riding dance made it instantly recognizable worldwide, turning Psy into a household name and introducing millions to K-pop for the first time.

Gangnam Style became a cultural phenomenon, breaking multiple records on YouTube and becoming the first video to reach one billion views. Its viral success demonstrated the power of social media and online platforms in promoting K-pop internationally, paving the way for future artists to reach global audiences.

A lot of people didn't realize Gangnam Style was satire and just thought it was funny. The question became, was Psy a one-time fluke or was this sustainable? His next album was successful globally and he's still massively popular in South Korea. His summer music festival is well respected by other artists. Even though his most famous song may have been a joke, he's a well respected artist.

(6) Lightsticks & Crime - Third Generation Boy Bands

G-Dragon from the K-pop group Big Bang is credited with inventing the first official lightstick in 2006, which was called the "Bang Bong". He designed it for his fans to be able to identify them in a crowd, and this innovation set the trend for other K-pop groups to create their own unique lightsticks. G-Dragon is incredibly popular as a solo act in Korea to this day and is often called "your favorite k-pop star's favorite pop star." Which, I don't have a lot of evidence, but I believe based on the amount of fourth generation boy bands that cover his music.

Lightsticks are now sold by almost every kpop group, often featuring accessories and new versions for each album, creating an expensive merchandise line. American artists, like Doechii, have started to adopt this as well, since it's a great way to sell products and have everyone look cohesive in a concert.

Reason I don't love third generation, even though they started a lot of current trends, is most of the male groups are full of sexual predators.

In Big Bang, T.O.P. left over his weed use which feels real dumb when Seungri was convicted for 9 sexual assaults, embezzlement, being a pimp, and a number of other crimes associated with the Burning Sun scandal. "Look at me, Gwisun" by Daesung is an interesting revival of the trot genre but he only escaped being charged with running a brothel because they didn't have enough evidence. A lot of their music videos are bad, see "Bang Bang Bang" where a woman in a Native American costume is leashed like a dog. G-Dragon and Taeyang seem to have escaped the shadows of their former band mates and still top the charts in Korea, but both can have troll behavior. Fun fact: people like to ship TOP and G-Dragon. I don't know if this was one of the earlier instances of people writing fanfiction of boyband members together, I'm sure that's been going on since at least the 1960s, but writers have a lot to work with amongst all the scandals.

Moon Taeil from NCT went to prison for sexual assault. HimChan from B.A.P. went to prison for sexual assault. Super Junior is technically second generation but I'm going to include them here because they're still very popular and every member has sexual assault or incel allegations. I'm sure I'm missing someone people, but I don't generally trust k-pop boy bands. I understand they're key to Kpop being popular in other parts of Asia, but too many are awful to women.

EXO seems to have escaped any sexual assault rumors, but they're also in a slow attrition of members. Their song "Growl" was the closing ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

(7) Twice & BTS - The Saviors of Third Generation

TWICE and BTS are the central force of the third generation of kpop groups. They set a new standard for cross-market engagement while still being immensely popular in Korea. Both are still popular today, but BTS did have to take a break for their completion of the mandatory military draft.

Third generation kpop groups legacies are closely tied to the rise of social media-driven fandom. TWICE and BTS thrived on platforms like YouTube, V Live, Instagram, and later TikTok, where behind-the-scenes content, livestreams, and short-form dance clips help maintain constant fan engagement. When BTS debuted in 2013, they were not initially viewed as industry frontrunners, coming from a relatively small company. Their rise was fueled instead by an unusually strong online presence and an actively engaged fanbase, later known as ARMY. By consistently using social media platforms TWICE and BTS were able to chart strongly on both Western streaming platforms and East Asian services simultaneously. Obviously, it helps there music is also very good. But without fan support to help BTS win the Melon Music Awards Deaseang, they would not have won that award.

Launched by Naver in 2015, V Live quickly became the go-to platform for real-time interaction between idols and fans. It allowed artists to livestream casually from dorms, backstage, or practice rooms, creating an unprecedented sense of intimacy. BTS helped create a dedicated fan base through informal livestreams, including annual birthday events which are now industry standard. Their fans often joke about the early era not being media approved (think members leading other members around by leashes). With newer bands, these live streams and behind the scenes content from training is more formally part of marketing.

The K-pop idol system is built around an intensive trainee and dorm structure, designed to develop performers long before debut. Trainees are recruited as children, live in company-managed dorms where their daily lives are highly structured around vocal training, dance practice, language lessons, fitness, and media etiquette. Living together serves both practical and strategic purposes: it reduces costs, enforces discipline, and helps trainees develop group chemistry, while also acclimating them to the lack of privacy that often accompanies idol life. Training periods are unpredictable, with no guarantee of debut, and trainees are constantly evaluated through internal performances and usually on survival-style game shows.

Park Jihyo, the leader of TWICE, holds the distinction of being the longest-trained member, having spent approximately ten years as a trainee under JYP Entertainment before debuting in 2015 in a competition television show (started at 8 years old and debuted at 18). Some artists will debut on multiple competition shows before finding success or "aging out" of the system, often becoming trainers or writers in this system.

With the success of V Live, labels started to want to have their own apps. The label behind the most popular group on there, BTS, bought V Live and integrated into their own platform, Weverse. Kpop fans can still maintain a fan-artist relationship through livestreams, dance practices, and text messages with artists through apps like Bubble, but its now more siloed by group or label.

Hallyu, or the “Korean Wave,” refers to the global spread of South Korean culture, including music, television, film, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. While this was fully under way before BTS and Twice's rise of popularity, they're who I think of when I hear "hallyu." It helps that neither group has had a major scandal.

(8) GOT7 - Rare Success After a Label Split

 In the early years of K‑pop’s global rise, the exclusive contract system used by major Korean entertainment companies gave agencies near‑total control over their artists’ careers. These contracts typically granted agencies full management rights, profit distribution oversight, and ownership of group names and trademarks for the entire contract duration. Until recently, artists had little leverage to negotiate these terms, and disputes frequently ended up in court when idols tried to reclaim autonomy.

As mentioned above, in 2009, three members of TVXQ successfully sued SM Entertainment to invalidate what they argued were overly long contracts of 10-13 years dropping it down to the more standard 7 years.

Interestingly, there's a pattern of Chinese idols being more successful in getting Korean courts to overturn overall oppressive contracts. Han Geng, the sole Chinese member of Super Junior, filed a similar lawsuit over alleged wage and contract issues and reached a settlement with SM in 2011.

Part of his case included allegations that SM Entertainment refused to give him a day off for over two years, during which he developed gastritis and kidney disease due to the grueling workload and lack of rest, as well allegations they worked him under improper visas and pressured him to work while violating immigration rules. In the mid‑2010s, three Chinese members of EXO, Kris, Luhan, and Tao, each filed legal actions to end their contracts with SM. These early battles highlighted systemic issues in idol contracts that require long litigation and often only successful for non-Koreans.

GOT7’s contract departure for JYP (same label as TWICE) in 2021 marked a turning point. When the group’s exclusive contract expired, they chose not to renew. But what truly set GOT7 apart was how they handled their trademark rights. Under South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission guidelines, agencies retain trademark and intellectual property rights during the contract but must transfer them to artists after expiration. GOT7’s members worked directly with JYP to ensure that the trademark rights to “GOT7” and related group intellectual property were fully transferred to them. I believe this was an industry first, proof that the new guidelines would be enforced for the benefit of all artists. Genius Article.

There is a rumor is that JY Park, the owner of JYP, ran GOT7 so hard because he was jealous of their success compared to his own as a first generation idol. Combined with how long JYP's other 2 big groups, Stray Kids and TWICE, spent in the training system and difficulty of their competition shows, I'm tempted to believe this is a top-down problem in the industry of high-control.

(9) COVID & Supergroups - Rise and Fall of a Bubble

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when live events were halted, kpop groups benefited from a global “bubble spike” in streaming, online fandom activity, and virtual engagement. Groups started doing online fan events instead of in-person fan events, rewarding fans who bought lots of records and supported them in getting awards. It's interesting that people being at home in lockdown led them to more kpop consumption, and I think this has to do with the parasocial element of lots of content (tv shows, movies, talk show, youtube series, streaming, etc) and interaction in fandom communities. In 2024 physical album sales declined for the first time since 2015, and both domestic and export figures showed a flattening trend. Some of this flattening can also be explained by China limiting foreign music imports and big groups going on hiatus (see BTS). With the popularity of Kpop Demon Hunters and new music from BTS, I wonder if 2026 will see a rise.

• Jopping by Super M

  • This group was cursed. The record label tried to put together a super-group of different bands only all that investment was right before COVID lockdown, killing the entire promotional tour which involved USA investment. Also killed a second album as by the time lockdown was lifted, some of the members had mandatory military service. This video was filmed in Dubai and likely has one of the highest budgets for a music video.

  • "Jopping" has become a meme now for something that's an expensive flop, my favorite being "better to have jopped then never jopped at all" or "they jopped to close to the sun."

• Tiger Inside by Super M

  • I love the choreography for this song and in every live or filmed performance, they cut the full dance off trying to do dynamic cinematography and I hate it. So below is a dance practice.

• Nightwalker by TEN

  • TEN debuted with the foreign sub-group of NCT. TEN is often considered an underdog by Kpop fans because of S.M. history in mismanaging foreign idols and a lot his projects have had their promotional tours disrupted (WayV, SuperM). All that to say, he's an incredibly magnetic dancer.

(10) Fourth Generation - Global First

The fourth generation of K-pop, roughly spanning groups that debuted from 2018 to 2023, is defined by global focus and diverse sounds. Groups like Stray Kids, ATEEZ, ITZY, LE SSERAFIM, and Tomorrow X Together often have larger overseas fanbases than domestic ones. Many fourth-generation groups actively release multilingual content, including Japanese, English, and Spanish tracks, and have English-speaking artist collabs. Many of these groups complete world tours without corresponding chart presences because of the success of online fandoms.

• Give Me Your TMI by Stray Kids

• Icy by ITZY

• Bouncy by ATEEZ

(11) Fifth Generation - Aesthetic Queerness

K-pop groups are typically expected to adopt a cohesive concept or theme that defines their image, music style, and stage presence. Themes range from “school boy” to “dark vampires”. These concepts are central to how groups are marketed, often involving complicated lore through the albums and music videos. For much of K-pop’s history, however, themes explicitly exploring queer or gay identity have been absent due to conservative cultural attitudes. Cortis and XVLOV have more greatly embraced queer aesthetics. Their emergence signals a slow but notable shift in K-pop, and Korean society overall. However, it's notable that while some artists are coming out, gay marriage is not legal in Korea. Gay marriage was only legalized in Taiwan in 2019 and full adoption rights in 2023. A lot of kpop groups play a game of double entendre, which isn't helped by the culture of group members being shamed if they announce they have a boyfriend or girlfriend, even if they're straight, as many fans consider it "cheating" on them.

• Rizz by XLOV

• Go! by Cortis

  • You can really tell these boys are young and aiming for a younger crowd, as this sounds made for Tik Tok.

• Color by TMC

  • The choreography for this song is wild and both dance videos and music video cut it off, presumably because it's too sexual for a guy-pair group for day-time television.

  • I really really like this song and I think other kpop fans are sleeping on TMC.

• Better than Me by Wonho

  • Wonho left Monsta X amongst rumors of owing money to shady people and purchasing marijuana. He went to solo after a break and has been pretty successful, leaning into a male gaze look. While he is technically fourth generation, I'm lumping him in with 5th generation for the theme.

(12) Idol Culture - Survival Shows

Television competitions are key to kpop. These programs allow dozens of trainees to compete for a debut spot, turning the audition process into a public spectacle. This isn't solely a Korean invention, they're popular throughout the world. One Direction was formed on a singing competition show, X-Factor, and the Pussycat Dolls had a competition show. Recently, Katseye was formed in a tv show that was a mix of music documentary and competition show with an internationally diverse group of singers and intentionally launched for a global market. The BBC tried Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience and it didn't produce a successful group. I think it's a number game, where there's more investment in Asia so they are more likely to produce a success. Also, if you're foreign you can just go to Asia to try your luck there and then come back, see Mark from GOT7 coming back to Canada for a solo career.

Even if a singer doesn't make a cut to join a band, they made pivot to acting or television hosting. Trainees like Kim Dong-yoon sometimes undergo multiple survival show appearances, as he was part of Produce 101 and Boys Planet. Some may also return to training and become back up dancers or trainers themselves.

Produce 101 is infamous for vote manipulation and rigged rankings. Other shows, such as Mix Nine and Idol School, faced criticism for unfair elimination practices, overwork of trainees, and opaque judging criteria. Like all reality tv, there is an element of "faked for tv" but it feels insidious since it's not just to crown best baker - it determines who gets a record contract after training since they were children (and many are still children).

Some other fun kpop history is H.O.T. and Sechs Kies rivalry, who debuted under SM Entertainment and DSP Media, respectively. In a true movie twist, Tony and Jaeduck from HOT and Sechs Kies became friends after their military service and they lived together for almost 12 years. Not all similar groups are rivals. Stray Kids and Ateez fans generally like each other since they appeared together on Kingdom survival show (group name of StayTiny).

(13) Kpop Definitions

• Idol – Broadly refers to a celebrity who has undergone rigorous training, image crafting, and fan-targeted marketing. This can be for singing, acting, or dancing, or any combination. A television show made-up of such idols is also considered lower art than more serious television, as it's considered to appeal to people more interested in aesthetics.

• Bias – Your favorite member of a K-pop group.

• Ult – Your favorite member of a K-pop group of all the groups for all time, short for ultimate.

• Bias Wrecker – A member who temporarily steals your attention away from your bias.

• Stan – A devoted fan of a particular group, artist, or member (originated from the Eminem song “Stan” about a man stalking him).

• Sasaeng – obsessive fan who is a stalker, often invading the privacy of an idol

• Fandom – The collective community of fans supporting a particular group or artist, they often have a collective nickname.

• Comeback – A new release or promotional period for a K-pop group, even if they have not been inactive. Often these can have a turn around of a few weeks or months from the last release. Kpop is known for short but often album releases.

• Debut – The official launch of a K-pop idol or group into the music industry.

• Maknae – The youngest member of a K-pop group.

• Hyung – The oldest member of a K-pop group.

• Leader – The designated member responsible for guiding the group and often acting as spokesperson.

• Line - distribution within a K-pop group (e.g. the Hyung line would a group of the older singers or bias line is a group of your different favorites)

• Visual – The member considered the most conventionally attractive and often highlighted in promotions. Some singers really chafe against the label because it becomes "they don't have talent, they're just pretty." Often groups get broken down into: visuals, vocalists, dancers, and rapper distributions.

• Fanchant – Coordinated chants or cheers shouted by fans during live performances or music shows.

• Lightstick – A custom, official LED stick used by fans during concerts to show support for a group.

• Concept – The theme or aesthetic a group promotes for a specific album or comeback (e.g., cute, fierce, dark).

• Concept Photo – Teasers or official images released before a comeback to show the group’s visual theme.

• Fanservice – Actions idols take to engage or charm fans, such as gestures, poses, or playful interactions.

• Ending Fairy - Action taken at the end of a song while the camera pans to each singer, often doing some sort of fanservice action like kissing at the camera.

• Selca – A selfie taken by an idol, often shared on social media. This was a Korean term before 'selfie' took off and I've literally never heard it used.

• Ship – The pairing of two members (real or imagined) by fans for entertainment or fanfiction purposes. Sometimes this is just for friendship, but usually it's romantic.

• Ship War – When fans debate or argue over which member pairings are preferable.

• MV (Music Video) – The official video produced for a song, often featuring elaborate visuals and choreography. Necessary because many channels but out so much behind the scenes content it's important to search just for MV.

• Fancam – A fan-recorded or official video focusing on a single member during a performance.

• OTx – “One True [Number]” referring to a fan’s support for all original members of a group (e.g., OT7 for all seven members of GOT7).

• Stage Name – The professional name a K-pop idol uses, often different from their real name.

• Sub-unit – A smaller group formed from members of a larger group for special promotions or albums.

• Survival Show – A competition program where trainees or idols compete for a chance to debut or re-debut in a group.

• Fanmeeting / Fansign – Official events where idols meet and interact with fans, often including autographs or games.

Many groups have internal nicknames, for instance for management or backup staff of the group, as well as additional nicknames for each member or friendship lines within the group. Also, many groups have animal or stuffed animal avatars, which usually have their own names. See "skooz" from Stray Kids.

The "ending fairy" but it was probably Jung Chaeyeon from DIA, as she would naturally do a pose after then end of a performance.

Worst "ending fairy" goes to Jake from ENHYPEN, only click this video if you dare.

(13) The Elusive American Award

There's an interest in Korean labels for a band to win a Grammy. As an American, I find the award show to be rigged for producers and don't put too much weight, but it really means something to those groups based on their interviews. BTS has been nominated but have yet to win. BlackPink is a group that's easier for American critics because there's only 4 of the singers so feels more familiar (coming from a place of Spice Girls compared to the origin of large dance troupes Asian fans are often familiar with). So out of everyone, I expect BTS or Black Pink to win first. However, 2025 brough the absolute surprise hit of Netflix/Sony KPOP Demon Hunters which secured an Oscar nomination for best song and has been an absolute hit on the charts. HUNTR/X from KPOP Demon Hunters became the first K-pop associated female group to hit #1 on the Hot 100, beating TWICE and BlackPink here in the USA. The elusive American award of Grammy or Oscar may actually be won by a fictional group (though the singers behind the group are very real).

One reason I think American award recognition is so important is that it helps boost record label stock prices. Many Korean music labels are small, publically traded companies. For instance, it was probably important for Ateez to get "Lemon Drop" on the American charts as their label was going public. This does mean insider trading is a problem in Kpop spaces. Three employees went to jail over the insider trading concerning BTS. They knew beforehand when BTS would go into the military. Once it was announced, the stock of HYBE dropped by 25% so they avoided that drop by selling early / shorting.

To end this massive blog post, here's a mashup between Stray Kids and NSYNC at an American award show:

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Did I miss any iconic music videos or timeline events?