From a mere genre to a worldwide sensation
Short for Korean popular music, the K-pop genre grew out of South Korean culture. Though it influences pop, experimental, rock, jazz, gospel, hip hop, R&B, reggae, electronic dance, folk, and country style and genre, at the top of it, however, remains the classical, traditional Korean music root. Over time it grew into a pan-world genre with the western influence and many English words.
The emergence of the modern K-pop culture
With the 1990s came a wave of the westernized and modern versions of K-pop, also giving birth to the K-pop idol culture. The contemporary form came to light the earliest K-pop groups, the boy band SeoTaiji and Boys, in 1992. The crew of young singers experimented with different styles and genres of music while integrating foreign musical elements. These quirky mixes and matches of music and words played a great catalyst in reshaping the contemporary music scene in South Korea.
As this modernized genre of K-pop rose to prominence, it expanded its roots into the neighbouring Japanese market and subsequently popularized it internationally. And thanks to the invention of online, the popularity has grown across Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Latin America, North, Southern, and East Africa, the Middle East, and throughout the Western world - Besides, being famous in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
However, the term K-pop became popular in the 2000s, and by 2018, this genre emerged as a significant 'power player. Businesswise, its market value saw a 17.9 per cent increase in revenue growth. By 2019, K-pop rose to six among the top ten music markets worldwide, creating a rage. By the time it was the year 2020, it was a record-breaking year for K-pop, experiencing a 44.8 per cent growth value.
Popularity across the world due to the use of English phrases
According to the South Korean media, including English phrases and words came with many emerging singers knowing both languages well.
The usage is said to be influenced by Korean-Americans or Koreans having studied in the U.S. The singers take this to their full advantage, the free access to English fluency and cultural aspect since that is not so common in South Korea. A few of those Korean pop singers are Fly to the Sky, g.o.d, Rich, YooSeung-jun, and Drunken, presenting a style different from the typical Korean music attracting young people.
