The Rise of K-pop Among College Students: Exploring the Global Phenomenon

Published on 2023/06/23

There are millions of K-pop fans across the world. And most of them are college students. This genre became popular in the United States because of its unique integration with pop music which is different from American pop. The music speaks volumes about the change of generational culture in Korea, and music composition and reflects other genres such as hip-hop, dance, R&B, classical, jazz, disco, and rock. I am going to share with you a brief history of K-pop and why it's so popular among college students in different parts of the world.

Defining K-pop

Korean popular music also known as K-pop is one of the leading genres of music in our modern world. It originated from South Korea. And it contains a wide range of musical influences such as jazz, hip-hop, rock, and electronic dance. It is usually performed by groups or bands having four to twenty-one members. To become a K-pop star, you have to train together with your team for many hours and develop skills such as dance choreography until you are ready to entertain your fans live. As a college student, you should read K-pop essays by WritingBros to know more about this genre. There are a lot of free essay examples for students that will help them understand the essay writing process and achieve their academic goals.

The History of K-pop

Musical experts report that kpop was born in 1987. This was the year that South Korea had many political changes that led to its democratization. As a response to the rapid rise of cultural influences from the West in the early '90s, musicians started merging key elements of rock, rap, and jazz with Korean music. Here's how this popular music genre has evolved over the years:

A track released by Seo Taiji and the Boys - Seo Taiji and the Boys released a track that led to the emergence of K-pop back in the early 90s. It topped the music charts in Korea for nearly seventeen weeks. The sound of the band blended with contemporary pop. The group had a huge following and inspired other musical groups to create similar sounds.
K-pop boom in the late 90s - Due to the success of Seo Taiji and the Boys, a lot of music agencies started recruiting a lot of young performers with the potential for training to meet the demand for this amazing talent. The model used to train these young performers was similar to that of Japanese pop. And this led to the creation of famous bands such as Baby Vox, H.O.T., SECHSKIES, and Fin.K.L to name a few.
K-pop becomes an international genre - K-pop continued growing rapidly in the 2000s thanks to popular bands such as BIGBANG. In the last decade, the genre has become quite popular in Western nations due to the success of Bangtan Boys - a boy band that started performing in 2010. The group performed at the American Music Awards for the first time and managed to recruit millions of viewers from the West. Since then, the band has been charting internationally, selling out tours, breaking records, and releasing English singles that have topped the Billboard charts.

Why is K-pop popular among college students?

K-pop fans have millions of fans from different parts of the world. Thanks to technological advancements, it's easier for fans to access their favorite tracks like never before. Here are some of the reasons why K-pop is popular among college students:

Good-looking costumes - Some of the elements that attract college students to this popular genre include good-looking costumes, energetic concerts, and expensive production. They artistically present their music, interact with a wide range of set elements and dance unapologetically.
Narration - In most instances, K-pop artists narrate interesting stories in their music videos. These stories are easy to understand and resonate with listeners. And this usually encourages fans to keep listening to the tracks. Narration is quite appealing to a wide range of audience because it is humorous.
Amazing dance moves - One of the key elements of Korean music is epic dance moves. The performers usually spend a lot of time and energy training to achieve the desired results before releasing a video to their audience. Training usually involves singing, dancing, and presenting.

Conclusion

K-pop is a popular genre from Korea that utilizes lots of influences and sounds. It has catchy hooks, beats, and dancing instrumentals and involves lots of rapping. As a college student, it's always important to set some time aside for relaxing and listening to your favorite tracks. There are a lot of great K-pop tracks that you can find in the digital space. If you are interested in pursuing a musical career, don't procrastinate. Now is the time to start to achieve your goals quickly. Don't hesitate to get help from the professionals whenever you need it.

Author's Bio:

Jana Mitchell is a talented content creator, academic editor, and writer. She reads educational materials during the week and shares key information with college students to help them understand difficult concepts. She is passionate about traveling and listening to music.

Photo by Josh Sorenson