Idol musical bands in South Korea started to appear after the success of Seo Taiji and Boys, whose debut in 1992 is considered a turning point in the history of Korean popular music. [1] [2] 2012 was a record year in K-pop in terms of number of rookie artists: 33 male groups and 38 girl groups debuted. [3] [4]
This list of boy bands and girl groups is organized by year of debut.
A boy band is a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform love songs marketed towards girls and young women. Many boy bands dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. South Korean boy bands usually also have designated rappers. Most boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on-stage. They are similar in concept to their counterparts known as girl groups.
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented towards preteens and teenagers. Often, the artists themselves are teenagers during their breakout. While it can involve influences from a wide array of musical genres, it remains a subset of commercial pop, focusing on catchy melodies and marketability. Teen pop’s lyrics emphasize themes that teenagers can relate to, such as love, growing up, or partying. The image of the artist as an aspirational or desirable teenage figure is a crucial element of the genre, highlighting their visual appeal.
K-pop, short for Korean popular music, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip hop, R&B, rock, jazz, gospel, reggae, electronic dance, folk, country, disco, and classical on top of its traditional Korean music roots. The term "K-pop" became popular in the 2000s, especially in the international context. The Korean term for domestic pop music is gayo, which is still widely used within South Korea. While "K-pop" can refer to all popular music or pop music from South Korea, the term is often used when referring to artists associated with the entertainment and idol industry in the country, regardless of the genre of music output.
JYP Entertainment Corporation is a South Korean multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate founded in 1997 by J. Y. Park. Operating as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management company, concert production company and music publishing house, it is one of the largest entertainment companies in South Korea. The company also operates subsidiary ventures and divisions internationally.
Groove Over Dose, known by the acronym g.o.d, is a South Korean boy band formed by SidusHQ. Debuting in 1999, the group became one of the most popular boy bands of the early 2000s in South Korea. The members had gone on to solo careers in the entertainment industry after indefinitely discontinuing group activity in 2005 following the departure of a member. However, they regrouped as a quintet and made a comeback in July 2014. Although the group is largely known for their "story telling" lyrical style and signature blend of R&B and rap, their repertoire features a diverse array of genres ranging from hip hop to funk.
f(x) (; Korean: 에프엑스; RR: Epeuekseu) is a South Korean girl group, consisting of Victoria, Amber, Luna, Krystal, and previously Sulli until her departure from the group in August 2015. Formed by SM, f(x) officially debuted in September 2009 with the release of the digital single "La Cha Ta".
Highlight is a South Korean boy band formerly known as Beast (Korean: 비스트). The band consists of four members: Yoon Doo-joon, Yang Yo-seob, Lee Gi-kwang, and Son Dong-woon. Originally a six-piece band, Jang Hyun-seung departed from the group in April 2016, and Yong Jun-hyung departed in March 2019. In late 2016, the group moved labels from Cube Entertainment to Around Us Entertainment and subsequently changed their name to Highlight in 2017.
ZE:A, also known as Children of Empire, is a South Korean boy band formed by Star Empire Entertainment in 2010. The group is composed of nine members: Kevin, Hwang Kwang-hee, Im Si-wan, Moon Joon-young, Kim Tae-heon, Jung Hee-chul, Ha Min-woo, Kim Dong-jun and Park Hyung-sik. The group released their debut single album Nativity with lead single "Mazeltov" on January 7, 2010, alongside their showcase performance five days later. The group debuted on KBS' Music Bank on January 15, 2010.
Nicole Yongju Jung, referred to as Nicole, is an American singer based in South Korea. She is a member of South Korean girl group Kara. Her solo debut mini album, First Romance, was released on November 19, 2014.
Lee Ho-yang, known professionally as Shinsadong Tiger, was a South Korean music producer and songwriter. After debuting in 2001 at the age of 18, he still worked several odd jobs to fund his music career. He was a known figure in the Korean pop music industry and is responsible for a number of popular songs. In 2010, he was named the "New Generation Producer" at the 18th Korean Culture Entertainment Awards, and in 2011, he was named one of the most influential figures in the South Korean music industry by OSEN. Lee also started his own label, AB Entertainment, in which he debuted his own girl group, EXID.
An idol refers to a type of celebrity working in the field of K-pop in fandom culture in South Korea, either as a member of a group or as a solo act. K-pop idols are characterized by the highly manufactured star system that they are produced by and debuted under, as well as their tendency to represent a hybridized convergence of visuals, music, fashion, and dance. They usually work for a mainstream entertainment agency and have undergone extensive training in dance, vocals, and foreign language. Idols maintain a carefully curated public image and social media presence, and dedicate significant time and resources to building relationships with fans through concerts and meetups.
Sasaeng or sasaeng fan is the South Korean term for an obsessive fan who invades the privacy of Korean idols, drama actors, or other public figures in the entertainment industry. One of the most notable activities associated with sasaeng fans is stalking. The term sasaeng comes from the Korean words sa meaning "private" and saeng meaning "life", in reference to the fans' intrusion into celebrities' private lives.
Cultural technology (English) is a term that arose from postmodern interpretations of how ideas are used by cultures to frame meaning and the interpretation of concepts; and thus how technologies of thought and culture shape identity and thinking about the self. The term was first used by Australian writer, therapeutic theorist, and social worker Michael White in his lectures in 1991. Karl Tomm, a noted Canadian social worker, traces the use of the term to earlier lectures by Michael White in his foreword to Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends (1990). Giorgio Agamben discusses how the French philosopher Michel Foucault might have used the term apparatus in a synonymous way to describe the collection of ideas, practices, and meaning that determine how people, bodies, and institutions enact power/knowledge or how power/knowledge enact people, bodies, and institutions.
Park Sang-hyun, known by his stage name Thunder, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor and model. He is a former member of South Korean boy band MBLAQ. On December 16, 2014, it was announced that he had departed from the group to focus on studying music. He signed with Mystic Entertainment's music label APOP on February 11, 2015 and released his debut extended play on December 7, 2016.
"I Got a Boy" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation for their fourth Korean-language studio album of the same name. It was released on January 1, 2013, by SM Entertainment and KT Music. Produced by the group's long-time collaborator Yoo Young-jin and Will Simms, the song is described as a hybrid of various genres including bubblegum pop, dance, and electropop.
JJCC is a five-member South Korean hip hop boy band formed under the management of Jackie Chan Group Korea. The group debuted on March 20, 2014, with five members: E.co, Eddy, SimBa, San-Cheong and Prince Mak who performed live on MNet M Countdown. Their debut single entitled At First was then released on March 24. JJCC is the first K-pop idol group to be formed by Jackie Chan.
Sexualization and sexual exploitation in K-pop refers to elements of sexualization and sexual exploitation in K-pop, which was once seen as a conservative music industry. This is in part due to 21st century globalization, with Korean entertainment and record label companies intending to market their idols abroad.
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