Life&Culture
K-pop 101 In series
The world of K-pop explained, for both fans and newcomers
#Kpop
# Idol
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K-pop 101 In series
The world of K-pop explained, for both fans and newcomers
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Series preview
Celebrate your fave K-pop artist’s birthday at a 'birthday cafe'
THave you ever attended a birthday party without the guest of honor? That’s exactly what K-pop fans are doing: celebrating their favorite artists' birthdays at cafes that allow them to be us
Stars give back to fans in 'reverse tribute' trend
“Does being a K-pop fan put food on the table?” is a common phrase in Korea, often used to criticize fans for being overly absorbed in their favorite idols. But these days, some fans can confidently answer, yes -- sometimes it literally does. It’s becoming increasingly common for K-pop stars to bring meals, coffee and small gifts for fans who show up to their events and performances. There’s even a new term for it in Korea: “Yeokjogong,” which roughly translates to "reverse tribute." While jogon
Feb. 5, 2025 - 09:01:00
Trends to note: easy listening, fictional universes
K-pop is constantly evolving, shifting from heavily conceptual themes to more accessible, easy-listening songs that resonate with the new generation. The easy-listening era kicked off with the arrival of NewJeans and hit singles like “Attention” and “Hype Boy.” Easy-listening tracks typically feature medium to low-toned, catchy hooks that are simple to sing along to and usually last less than three minutes. For example, BoyNextDoor‘s “Nice Guy,” the lead single from the group’s third EP “19.99”
Feb. 1, 2025 - 10:00:00
Promoting new releases through dance challenges
A dance challenge is short-form video that shows a set of dance moves posted on social media, challenging others to follow along with their own version of the moves. The choreography is typically catchy and easy to learn, and successful dance challenges go viral social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and X. The challenges were brought to Korea by Zico, a K-pop producer, solo artist and a member of Block B, to promote his 2019 release “Any Song.” It then became a norm in the K-pop indus
Jan. 28, 2025 - 10:00:00
Virtual idols increasingly permeate music scene
Virtual idols, once considered a niche subculture, are increasingly making their mark in mainstream K-pop. With the success of virtual groups like Plave, major agencies such as SM Entertainment and Hybe have begun to explore the virtual artist market. There are two main types of virtual K-pop groups: those with real people behind virtual characters and those created entirely through artificial intelligence. Plave, consisting of five virtual idols with real-life counterparts, debuted on March 12,
Jan. 25, 2025 - 10:00:00
'Kalgunmu' lends K-pop sharp edge
If you are a K-pop fan, or at least have heard about K-pop, you may be familiar with the term "kalgunmu." Kalgunmu, a combination of the Korean words for "knife" and "group choreography," is often translated as synchronized dance. It refers to a dance style that emphasizes the precise alignment of a group's unified movements, creating a powerful visual likened to the clean cuts of a knife. As many K-pop artists perform in groups, kalgunmu has become a tool for creating visually captivating perfo
Jan. 22, 2025 - 10:00:00
'Lore' distinguishes one K-pop group from another
As a cultural movement encompassing vast genres, K-pop has sprouted countless creative branches, one of the most enriching being lore. Referring to the fictional worlds or storylines crafted by many K-pop artists, lore began emerging in the 2010s as a tool for defining groups' identities. EXO, considered one of the pioneers of this trend, debuted as a boy group drawing inspiration from the concept of exoplanets. According to the storyline, members come from an unknown world, with their memories
Jan. 18, 2025 - 10:00:00
Bring your idols everywhere with sparkling photocards
K-pop fans' love for their singers goes well beyond the music they listen to and the concerts they attend. Loving a K-pop idol becomes a part of daily life. In the genre's ever-evolving fan culture, two key trends stand out on social media: photocard decorations and "yejeol-shot." Essential to this part of fandom is the photocard, now an indispensable piece of merchandise packed inside K-pop albums. The term yejeol-shot, combining the Korean word for “etiquette” (yejeol) and "shot," as in a phot
Jan. 15, 2025 - 10:00:00
From balloons to light sticks, fans' cheering evolves
K-pop fans often arrive at concerts carrying bags filled with essentials: banners to support their idols, water and snacks to endure the long performance, and, most importantly, the iconic light sticks. These customized light sticks, crafted to embody each artist's or group's unique identity and style, have become an essential part of the K-pop concert experience and a powerful symbol of fan solidarity. "When you're surrounded by people holding the same light stick, all glowing in the same color
Jan. 11, 2025 - 10:00:00
'Private chats' with your idols
K-pop enthusiast Lee’s phone lights up dozens of times a day with notifications — not from friends or family, but from messages sent by her favorite singer, SHINee's Minho. “It really feels like talking to a friend. It’s not like admiring a celebrity from afar; it feels like having a close, personal connection,” Lee said. Private messaging services exemplify how K-pop has evolved into an industry that sells not only music but also fantasy, emotions and excitement. While idols have long used soci
Jan. 8, 2025 - 08:50:22
How ‘homma’ became little helpers of Korean celebrities‘ rise to stardom
“Homepage masters,” also known as “Homma” among K-pop fans, are superfans who, armed with professional cameras with sophisticated lenses, take high-quality pictures of their favorite artists. These superfans follow their artist’s official schedules such as fan meetings, concerts, end-of-the-year awa
Nov. 19, 2024 - 15:50:01
Celebrate your fave K-pop artist’s birthday at a ‘birthday cafe'
Have you ever attended a birthday party without the guest of honor? That’s exactly what K-pop fans are doing: celebrating their favorite artists' birthdays at cafes that allow them to be used for this purpose. In Hongdae and Myeong-dong in Seoul, where many of these birthday cafes are located, you’ll find cafes decorated with neon signs, posters and balloons in honor of various K-pop idols. Fans from both Korea and abroad flock to these celebrations. “I live in Japan, but
Nov. 18, 2024 - 16:37:58
