K-pop

K-pop (Korean: 가요, kayo) (an abbreviation of Korean pop or Korean popular music) is a musical genre consisting of pop, bubblegum pop, dance, electronic, electropop, hip hop, rock, and R&B music originating in South Korea. In addition to music, K-pop has grown into a popular subculture among teenagers and young adults around the world. Although in a bigger scope K-pop may include other genres of “popular music” within South Korea, outside of the country the term is more commonly used for songs sung by Korean idols, which covers mostly dance, electronic, rap, hip-hop, and R&B genres. Starting in 1992, dance and rap music became popular due to Seo Taiji & Boys, which is seen as the beginning of modern K-pop. Genres such as ballad and rock are still popular today. With the rise of social media networks during the mid 2000s, the ability of K-pop to reach a previously inaccessible audience via the Internet is driving a shift in the exposure and popularity of the genre. The Korean Wave has spread K-pop to the Pacific Rim, the Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. According to the news agency Reuters, the success of PSY’s 2012 single Gangnam Style has led to other K-pop artists positioning themselves for a similar breakthrough in the U.S. music industry.

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