| Kpop music or Korean popular music is music that | | | | Apart from BoA, other artists as well have contributed |
| comes from Korea, also famous in other parts of Asia | | | | to the popularity of Korean music outside their |
| such as Japan, China, Taiwan, Honk Kong and some | | | | country’s borders. Rain and Se7en are some of |
| South Eastern Asian countries. The rise of Kpop music | | | | the artists who sold their albums in other countries |
| is considered part of the rise of the Korean Wave | | | | from eastern Asia. However, the greatest challenge |
| (“Hallyu”). Korean music was challenged in 1992 | | | | for Korean artists (in fact, for all Asian artists) is to |
| when a Korean popular music group called Seo Taiji | | | | enter the profitable English-language music market. |
| and Boys mixed traditional Korean music with | | | | As English has become an international language, the |
| American rap, rock and techno influences. | | | | only way for a singer to achieve international |
| Their success, followed by other experimental groups | | | | recognition is to sing in English, so that everyone should |
| (line panic) is what contributed to the present day’s | | | | be able to understand the lyrics. Korean singers are |
| popularity of Kpop. Korean popular music scene met | | | | aware of that and a few of them (Rain, Se7en, Skull, a |
| afterwards the influence of dance-oriented acts such | | | | reggae artist and Min form JYP Entertainment) are |
| as the famous hip-hop duo Deux, followed by teen idol | | | | planning to make a debut on the USA music market |
| groups such as Baby V.O.X., Fin.K.L., g.o.d, H.O.T., | | | | soon. Once they have managed to conquer the |
| Shinhwa, Sechs Kies, and S.E.S who were highly | | | | American listeners, the door to worldwide fame will |
| popular in the mid 90s. | | | | stay open for them. |
| Today, pop groups are still fashionable, despite the | | | | R&B, hip-hop and dance are the popular music styles |
| current emergence of R&B and hip-hop in Korean | | | | today in Kpop music, which one can compare, from |
| music. MC MONG, 1TYM, Rain, Big Bang and Epik High | | | | this point of view, with English pop music. Boy bands, |
| are some of the bands that have made hip-hop | | | | girl groups, pop singers and R&B stars, currently |
| popular, together with other underground artists such | | | | dominate the Korean music scene. Ballads are also |
| as Drunken Tiger, Tasha and Dynamic Duo. Rock | | | | very popular. Some people argue that more diversity is |
| music has also gained recognition lately, represented | | | | necessary in Kpop music, but perhaps the rock |
| by artists such as Yoon Do-Hyun Band and Seo Taiji. | | | | industry will also develop in the future and everyone |
| For techno/dance Korean music lovers, Lee Jung Hyun | | | | will be satisfied. The future looks bright for Korean |
| and Kim Hyun Jung, two of the veteran artists in the | | | | singers and it is probably just a matter of time until |
| industry, are the favorites. Kpop music has become | | | | they will conquer the US charts and the rest of the |
| famous worldwide, thanks to artists such as BoA, who | | | | world. Kpop is gaining more and more fans every day |
| has become Korea’s highest-selling international | | | | and Korean artists are gaining popularity in US and |
| artist. | | | | Europe. |