The History of Kpop: Part 1

This article is written by guest author (and Kpop superfan!) Rebekah White.

First, the disclaimers. I am a white woman who has never stepped foot outside of North America. I do not claim to know or speak for the Korean people. The historical facts and discussion of the political state of the country will be gleaned from people with more knowledge than I. I will do my due diligence in ascertaining that these are correct facts, but I know I am human and prone to error.

Additionally, I do not claim to write an entire in-depth history of k-pop here. That would likely start to get dull, both for me to write and for you to read. There may be things I gloss over or miss entirely. If I do not mention a certain group, it does not mean they are not important to the history or less significant than others who may be mentioned. For a more thorough and detailed history, please feel free to refer to the sources provided.

Now…onto the fun stuff.

Part 1 – Historical Background

Like, war. War is fun, right? Well, maybe not. However, it is often very influential on the creative arts. Most of the 20th century for South Korea was spent either at war, recovering from war, or under Japanese occupation. When your economy is in the pits and you are trying to survive, music is not your highest priority. Which is not to say that music did not happen. There were still traditional songs, folks songs written to protest the Japanese oppression, ballads, and, perhaps most significantly, trot music.

Trot music is, uh, kinda hard to describe. It is a very unique style, which makes sense since it draws influence from Korean, Japanese, American, and European music. Wikipedia says it is known for “its use of repetitive rhythm and vocal inflections.” Which is a good way to describe it, but hard to understand if you have never heard a trot song before. If you want a classic example, have a listen to “Look at Me GwiSoon” by the incomparable D-Lite. Trot remains extremely popular among Koreans today, even for the younger generations. But we are not here to discuss trot, we are here for k-pop.

Western music started to become a thing in Korea after they were freed from Japanese rule, in 1945. That influence grew slowly throughout the 50s and 60s, as even Asia was not spared Beatlemania. Rock bands popped up and established Korean rock music as a genre (though somewhat short lived due to harsh government crackdowns), and those omni-present folk songs were popular among youth demonstrating against an authoritative government. And then in the 80s, basically everything changed for Korea.

1987, Korea’s first president by popular vote was elected, and he worked to overhaul the strict authoritative rules from the past. More than two broadcast stations are allowed, artistic creativity is able to flourish, and the general public gets to learn more about music through televised competitions. 1988 further kicks things off with the successful Seoul Olympics. Ballads and folks songs were massive during these years, a trend that continues to be popular with the general public to this day. 

By the 90s, South Korea’s economy was booming and the cultural expansion was running at neckbreak speed. You have nightclubs full of European music, as well as spots for people who were more drawn to hip-hop culture. A whole new world for young people to explore and play had been born.

OK ok, boring history stuff out of the way.

It might seem excessive, but it is actually important historical context. South Korea did not have the same growth pattern as the United States or the UK. Their time spent under military rule and the economic depression that followed, not to mention the thousands of years of history before, created a unique cultural atmosphere that is all their own. All of these experiences inform a lot of Korean society today, and this includes the formation of Korean pop music. 

In March 1992, history was made.

A young rapper by the name of Seo Taiji, along with Yang Hyun-suk (remember the name) and Lee Juno debuted on MBC’s (a Korean broadcast station) talent show as Seo Taiji and Boys with their song “I Know.” Written and produced entirely by Seo Taiji, the song was a mix of several Western styles, including hip-hop and swingbeat. At the time, they received the lowest score possible from the judges, but the album went on to smash record after record, from selling 1.5 million copies to being number one on music charts for seventeen consecutive weeks. Seo Taiji and his boys didn’t know it at the time, but they were establishing the precedent for the future of the music industry in Korea.

Even looking beyond the influence they had on music; the combining of genres like techno, hip hop, traditional ballads, and even heavy metal; Seo Taiji and Boys set the groundwork for the entire k-pop idol culture. Official fan clubs, fan meetings, even the creation of saesangs (obsessive fans who stalk idols)…the list goes on. The trio even changed how music was enjoyed. Previously, it had been mostly listened to over the radio, but now the performance was almost as important as the song itself. They became known for their distinct style and catchy dance moves, a trend that continues well into this day.

Lee Soo-man, or LSM as he is also referred to, debuted as a singer in 1971. After a moderately successful career in a band called April and May, he later moved to the States to study computer engineering. While there, he watched the rise of the “MTV generation” and stars like Michael Jackson. He then moved back to Korea and started a production company called SM Studio and signs an artist named Hyun Jin-young. He saw some success for a couple years, but after a drug scandal effectively ruins his career, Soo-man sees the need to have more control over his idol’s image and life. He then begins the process of creating the factory-like process that idols are produced to this day/

Alright, so k-pop has been born.

But how did we get from three guys doing the “tornado” dance to the massive billion dollar industry it is today? Easy. Lee Soo-man.

See, a k-pop idol is not just a young person with talent who signs with an agency. They train, usually for years, before they are allowed to debut. During this time they are given vocal and dance lessons, and prepared to one day be a star. After debut, their life continues to be controlled and they have to maintain a certain public image in order to remain successful. The general public take the word “idol” fairly seriously.

Not only that, the young hopefuls also are accruing debt during this whole training process, for the aforementioned lessons as well as room and board. This is slowly paid off over time only after they debut. Everything they make from performances or ad deals goes back to pay off their trainee debt and fund their continued livelihood. Being an idol is not an easy way to make money as it is in many other countries. If you are not from a bigger company, it could take years to make a profit, if ever. 

This is definitely the darker side of k-pop that you might hear about. You have kids, some as young as ten or even less, want to be a star, so they convince their parents to let them sign a contract with a company. These contracts typically last seven years. In the early days, they lasted longer, from ten to thirteen years, and they were far stricter. They became known as slave contracts and it took several idols suing their agency before more strict regulations regarding what was allowed in them to be put into place.

This idol production process is unique to Korea, and although it definitely has its drawbacks and its dark parts, there is no question of the results.

There are thousands of idols who have debuted and the talent is evident. They dance, sing, and perform flawlessly. They are perfectly sculpted and crafted into an object of admiration. Make no mistake, this process does not mean anyone can debut. There still has to be talent in order for a trainee to truly shine. This process is grueling and only the best will make it to debut. So what you end up with is a slew of highly talented and trained performers who are willing and able to do what it takes to succeed.

There is quite a lot that can be said about the k-pop industry, both positive and negative. From the exploitation of the artists, to the lack of proper physical and mental health care, to the many, many scandals that have plagued the system along the way. But one thing is for certain: the music and artists that come out of it are some of the best in the world.

Watch for Part 2 Coming Soon!

Sources:

History of Kpop in 20 Minutes by DKDKTV

The Birth of K-pop by K-Pop Evolution

The most comprehensive history of kpop, possibly ever by anhonorandapleasure

Kpop Wikipedia page

Cover Image by ktphotography from Pixabay