History of K-pop in Timeline
K-pop is a popular music genre originating in South Korea, emerging in the 1990s as a youth subculture. Influenced by Western dance music, hip-hop, R&B, and rock, K-pop today primarily refers to the music produced by teen idol groups. These groups, both girl groups and boy bands, are known for their emphasis on visual appeal and performance. K-pop as a pop genre is characterized by its melodic nature and cultural hybridity, blending Korean and Western musical elements.
1910: Rise in Popularity of Changga Songs
During the Japanese colonial period, starting in 1910, the popularity of changga songs rose as Koreans expressed their feelings against Japanese oppression through music.
1925: Release of the First Known Korean Pop Album
In 1925, the first known Korean pop album, I Pungjin Sewol (이 풍진 세월) by Park Chae-seon and Lee Ryu-saek, was released, containing popular songs translated from Japanese.
1929: First Pop Song Written by a Korean Composer
In 1929, the first pop song written by a Korean composer, Nakhwayusu (낙화유수) sung by Lee Jeong-suk, was released.
1945: Japanese Confiscation of Changga Collections
By 1945, the Japanese had confiscated existing changga collections and published lyrics books of their own.
1945: Partition of Korean Peninsula and Introduction of Western Culture
Following liberation from Japanese occupation in 1945, the Korean Peninsula was partitioned, and Western culture was introduced into South Korea on a small scale.
1950: Korean War and Spread of Western Culture
Beginning in 1950, The Korean War led to U.S. troops remaining in South Korea, causing American and world culture to spread, and Western music to gradually become more accepted.
1953: Korean War and Spread of Western Culture
The Korean War ended in 1953, U.S. troops remained in South Korea, causing American and world culture to spread, and Western music to gradually become more accepted.
1957: American Forces Korea Network Radio Broadcast
In 1957, the American Forces Korea Network radio started its broadcast, spreading the popularity of Western music in South Korea.
1961: Han Myeong-suk's Song Covered by French Singer
Han Myeong-suk [ko]'s 1961 song "The Boy in The Yellow Shirt" was covered by French singer Yvette Giraud and was also popular in Japan.
1962: Formation of Add4
In 1962, Add4, the first local rock band in Korea, was formed as Beatlemania reached the country.
1968: First Talent Contest for Rock Bands in Seoul
In 1968, the first talent contest for rock bands in Seoul was organized.
1975: Imprisonment of Shin Joong-hyun
In 1975, Shin Joong-hyun, known as the "godfather of Korean rock music," was imprisoned due to a marijuana scandal.
1976: Cho Yong-pil's Hit Trot Song
In 1976, Cho Yong-pil's trot song, "Please Return to Pusan Port," became a great hit.
1977: Cho Yong-pil's Marijuana Incident
In 1977, Cho Yong-pil faced a temporary setback due to his involvement in a marijuana incident.
1977: MBC music contest for university students
In 1977, local television channel MBC organized a music contest for university students, which laid the foundation for several modern music festivals.
1980: Launch of Asia Music Forum and Cho Yong-pil's Success
In 1980, the Asia Music Forum was launched, with Korean singer Cho Yong-pil winning first place. His album Chang bakkui yeoja became a hit, and he became the first Korean singer to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York.
1985: Success of Lee Gwang-jo's album
In 1985, Lee Gwang-jo's album "You're Too Far Away to Get Close to" sold more than 300,000 copies, marking the rise of ballad singers.
1988: Cho Yong-pil Sings at Seoul Olympics
In 1988, Cho Yong-pil sang "Seoul Seoul Seoul" in three languages (Korean, English and Japanese) to celebrate the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
1990: No Singers in Top Charts With English Names
In 1990, no singers in the top fifty charts had English in their names, as using Korean names was standard in the Korean music industry.
April 11, 1992: Debut of Seo Taiji and Boys
On April 11, 1992, Seo Taiji and Boys debuted on MBC's talent show with their song "I Know", marking a revolutionary moment in K-pop history.
1992: Debut of Seo Taiji and Boys
In 1992, Seo Taiji and Boys debuted, revolutionizing the Korean music scene by incorporating rap and American hip-hop conventions into their music and fashion.
1995: Founding of SM Entertainment
In 1995, Lee Soo-man founded SM Entertainment.
1995: Popularity of Singers With English Names Increased
In 1995, while popular singers still used Korean names, fourteen singers and groups in the top fifty used English names, including DJ DOC, 015B, Piano, and Solid.
1996: Debut of H.O.T.
In 1996, H.O.T. debuted as one of the first idol boybands, marking a shift towards teen-centered pop music.
1996: H.O.T.'s 'Candy' and Coordinated Idol Costumes
In 1996, H.O.T.'s hit song "Candy" exemplified the level of coordination taken into account for idol's costumes, as each member wore a designated color and accessorized with face paint, fuzzy oversized mittens, visors, bucket hats, and earmuffs, and used stuffed animals, backpacks, and messenger bags as props.
1996: Formation of YG Entertainment
In 1996, Yang Hyun-suk formed YG Entertainment.
1996: Death of Charles Park (Seo Ji-won)
In 1996, singer Charles Park, also known as Seo Ji-won, died by suicide at age 19 before his second album was released.
1997: Government Stops Censoring English Lyrics
After the 1997 financial crisis, the South Korean government stopped censoring English lyrics, leading to a boom in the use of English in Korean music.
1997: Establishment of JYP Entertainment
In 1997, Park Jin-young established JYP Entertainment.
1997: Asian Financial Crisis and K-pop Expansion
In 1997, the Asian financial crisis prompted South Korean entertainers to seek new markets and led the government to invest in building the nation's cultural influence through music.
1998: Baby Vox Releases 'Ya Ya Ya'
In 1998, Baby Vox released their second album hit, "Ya Ya Ya," featuring the girls dressed in white outfits.
2000: Growth in Usage of English Names
In 2000, seventeen singers in the top fifty charts used English names.
2002: Corruption in South Korea's Music Business
In 2002, Time magazine reported the arrest of Korean television producers like Hwang Yong-woo and Kim Jong-jin for accepting payments to guarantee TV appearances for aspiring singers, in an attempt to tackle corruption. Companies such as SidusHQ and SM Entertainment were investigated.
2005: More Singers Using English Names
In 2005, thirty-one singers in the top fifty charts used English names.
2005: K-pop Performances in North Korea
Prior to 2005, South Korean pop singers occasionally gave performances in North Korea.
July 2009: TVXQ Lawsuit Against SM Entertainment
In July 2009, TVXQ and a Super Junior member sued SM Entertainment, claiming poor working conditions caused health problems. The court ruled the TVXQ contract void. The Fair Trade Commission then released contract templates to regulate industry conditions.
2009: DFSB Kollective and K-pop on iTunes
In 2009, DFSB Kollective became the first distributor of K-pop on iTunes.
May 25, 2010: South Korea Broadcasts 4Minute's "HuH" Across the DMZ
On May 25, 2010, South Korea broadcast 4Minute's single "HuH" across the DMZ in response to the alleged North Korean sinking of a navy ship, prompting North Korea to threaten to destroy border speakers.
2010: Dominance of English Names in Top Charts
In 2010, forty-one singers used English names among the top fifty songs.
2011: Musical 'Gwanghwamun Yeonga'
In 2011, Lee Young-hoon's songs were compiled into a modern musical titled Gwanghwamun Yeonga.
2011: Formation of United Asia Management
In 2011, SM Entertainment, along with Star J Entertainment, AM Entertainment, and Key East, founded the joint management company United Asia Management.
2011: Government Subsidies for K-pop Acknowledged
In 2011, the South Korean government acknowledged the benefits of the Korean Wave to the export sector and started subsidizing certain endeavors, estimating that a US$100 increase in cultural product exports resulted in a US$412 increase in other consumer goods exports.
September 2012: North Korea Uploads Video Manipulating South Korean President
In September 2012, North Korea uploaded a video with a manipulated image of South Korean president Park Geun-hye performing the dance moves of "Gangnam Style," labeling her as a "devoted" admirer of the Yusin system.
November 2012: Hugo Swire Addresses South Korean Diplomats
In November 2012, British Minister Hugo Swire spoke to South Korean diplomats, emphasizing close ties between South Korea and the UK, and noted the global impact of Korean music, exemplified by "Gangnam Style."
2012: Report on Training Costs for Korean Idols
In 2012, The Wall Street Journal reported that the cost of training one Korean idol under SM Entertainment averaged US$3 million.
2012: Global Rise of Korean Pop Culture Acknowledged
In 2012, U.S. President Barack Obama, during a visit to South Korea, acknowledged the global influence of Korean pop culture, noting the impact of social media. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also recognized South Korea's global success in culture and arts. Victoria Nuland's daughter's love for Korean pop sparked media attention as well.
2012: Korean Music Industry Grosses Nearly $3.4 Billion
In 2012, the Korean music industry grossed nearly US$3.4 billion in the first half of the year.
February 2013: Peruvian Vice President Expresses Interest in South Korean Investment
In February 2013, Peru's Vice President Marisol Espinoza expressed her desire for increased South Korean investment in Peru, citing K-pop as a key factor in fostering interest in South Korea among Peruvian people.
2014: Park Geun-hye's Opening Statement at MAMA
In 2014, President Park Geun-hye delivered the opening statement at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) held in Hong Kong, highlighting the Korean government's support for cultural industries to strengthen the nation's international reputation and political influence.
2014: South Korea Passes Law to Protect Idols
In 2014, South Korea passed a law protecting idols under 19 from unhealthy labor, sexualized performances, and ensuring rights to learn, rest, and sleep. Violators faced fines.
2014: Law Passed to Protect Idols Under 19
In 2014, South Korea passed a law to protect idols under the age of 19 from overtly sexualized performances.
August 2016: China Restricts Korean Media
In August 2016, China restricted Korean media, including K-pop, to protest South Korea's deployment of U.S. THAAD systems, impacting Korean talent agencies' shares.
March 7, 2017: KFTC New Regulations to Protect Trainee Idols
On March 7, 2017, the South Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) enacted new regulations to protect trainee idols from unfair contracts and working conditions. These regulations aimed to prevent agencies from restricting trainees' ability to seek contracts elsewhere and from terminating contracts without valid reasons.
December 2017: Kim Jong-hyun's Suicide
In December 2017, Kim Jong-hyun, who had previously been open about his history of depression, died by suicide.
2017: Restrictions Lifted
In 2017, China's restrictions on Korean media were lifted.
2017: K-pop music industry revenue
In 2017, it was estimated that the K-pop music industry had a revenue of US$5 billion.
April 1, 2018: K-pop Concert in Pyongyang
On April 1, 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hosted a K-pop concert in Pyongyang.
April 3, 2018: South Korean Performers in Pyongyang
On April 3, 2018, approximately 190 South Korean performers, including Red Velvet, Lee Sun-hee, Cho Yong-pil, and Yoon Do-hyun, performed in Pyongyang, North Korea, with Kim Jong Un in attendance.
2018: Regulations Applied to All Agencies
In 2018, the Ministry of Culture applied the KFTC's new regulations for trainee idols to all existing agencies.
2018: Free Concert Series for Suicide Prevention
In the spring of 2018, a number of prominent Korean musicians participated in a free concert series to raise awareness of suicide prevention.
2019: South Korea Ranked 6th Largest Music Market
By 2019, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) listed South Korea as the 6th largest music market in the world, with BTS alone accounting for $4.65 billion, or 0.3%, of South Korea's GDP.
2019: South Korean Ministry Announces Non-Mandatory Guidelines
In 2019, the South Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family introduced non-mandatory guidelines to prevent "lookism," suggesting limits on idol appearances on TV due to concerns about narrow beauty standards.
2020: SM Entertainment Launches SM Culture Universe and Aespa
In 2020, SM Entertainment launched "SM Culture Universe" and the first metaverse girl group, Aespa, in which real life members correspond to their virtual counterparts.
2022: Korean Music Awards Establishes K-pop Genre
In 2022, the Korean Music Awards established a separate genre-specific field for K-pop, defining its "distinct aesthetic tendencies" as dance-pop music originating from the Korean idol system with a focus on performance.
2023: Death of Moonbin
In 2023, the death of Moonbin renewed scrutiny on the competitive nature and pressures of Korean show business.
September 2024: Hanni's Testimony on Workplace Harassment
In September 2024, Hanni from New Jeans testified to Korean lawmakers about the workplace harassment and mistreatment during her time at Hybe.
2024: K-pop Leading Global Genre
In 2024, IFPI declared K-pop the leading global genre in unit sales, across both physical and digital formats.
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