K-Pop's Big Wave

Turn on any radio or scroll through the hottest hits on any playlist from the last decade, and chances are, you will find K-pop.

Popular groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK propelled the musical genre into the global limelight. Other groups, such as Stray Kids, aespa, and SEVENTEEN, have found enduring success with fans in South Korea and overseas. But despite the big wave K-pop has made around the world, it began small.


In 1992 Seo Taiji and Boys sang and danced in the first K-pop performance. Soon, companies formed to create idol groups. H.O.T., S.E.S., and 1TYM were some of the first, but powerhouse groups such as Girls’ Generation, SHINee, and Wonder Girls came hot on their heels. In 2013 PSY released the song “Gangnam Style,” and K-pop’s trajectory changed forever. Learn all about K-pop including its history, popular groups, fan culture, community, and more.