BY  — NINI

Throughout the years, different artists have explored and introduced us to countless amounts of new genres and sounds. Most genres of music can be vastly classified into one of five categories: pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop, and classical. Today's topic will be K-pop.

K-Pop (Korean pop/Korean popular music) is a musical genre and industry which uses a mix of electronic, hip-hop, pop, rock, R&B, and other types of music. It originated in South Korea and has become quite well-known among teenagers and young adults throughout the world.

The more modern form of the genre, originally termed "rap dance", emerged with the formation of the hip-hop boy band ‘Seo Taiji and Boys', in 1992. Their experimentation with different styles and genres of music, as well as foreign musical elements helped reshape and modernise South Korea's contemporary music scene.

K-pop "idol" culture began in the 1990s, as K-pop idol music developed into a subculture that gathered massive fandoms of teenagers and young adults. After a slump in early idol music, from 2003, TVXQ and BoA started a new generation of K-pop idols that broke the music genre into the Japanese market, and continue to popularise K-pop internationally today. Other groups that had a huge impact during the earlier ages of K-pop were Girls Generation, Wonder Girls, 2NE1, Big Bang, Super Junior, and INFINITE.

In 2012, K-pop took a huge leap forward into the global music industry with the hit single ‘Gangnam Style’ by soloist Psy. His song set several phenomenal records on music charts and gained international fame. Later on, in 2015 - 2017, groups such as BTS, Blackpink, Twice, EXO, Red Velvet, and many others gained popularity internationally — making the K-pop industry known to millions of people. It’s thanks to the idols who are part of the 3rd generation of K-pop, that many groups today are known worldwide and have more opportunities abroad.

During 2018 - 2019 the 4th generation of K-pop had begun, debuting groups such as IZ*ONE, Stray Kids, (G)I-DLE, ATEEZ, ITZY, TXT, Aespa, ENHYPEN, and more. These groups had risen to fame, breaking records, and popularised ‘noise music’ in the K-pop industry. These groups continue to make history with their never-ending achievements.

In 2021 - 2022 many groups continued to debut, such as Ive, Billlie, Xdinary Heroes, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans, Kep1er, and many more. The groups Ive, LE SSERAFIM, and NewJeans have gained immense popularity for breaking away from the ‘noise music’ that many 4th gen groups have become accustomed to. Netizens believe that these groups have the potential to become the next powerhouses of the 4th generation.

With all of these new and popular groups, their ‘fans’ have started unnecessary fan wars leading to rumours and scandals. Some even go to such lengths as to harass these idols — both physically and over the internet. It’s as if some of these so-called ‘fans’ never learn. The K-pop industry has already seen how bad these idols’ mental health can become, and have experienced the grief of an idol taking their life due to the hate they receive.

In my opinion, people should forget all these pointless fan wars and unnecessary hate towards idols. We should all just be at peace and enjoy music together — which is what we all should’ve been doing since the very beginning.

What do you think about groups such as LE SSERAFIM or NewJeans and their potential to become the next 'powerhouses' of the 4th generation? Do you think any other groups have the same potential?