Sayart.net - K-Pop′s Global Evolution: Breaking Boundaries Beyond Borders

XGALX

In an era where music transcends borders, K-pop, once synonymous with South Korea, is undergoing a profound transformation. Notably, K-pop groups comprised entirely of non-Korean members, nurtured by Korean labels, are making waves both in Korea and on the global stage. XG, an all-Japanese K-pop girl group under the wing of Korean label XGALX, and Horizon, a K-pop boy group composed of Filipino talents by MLD Entertainment, are two prime examples of this paradigm shift.

XG, a seven-member girl group, marked its Korean debut in March of last year with their single "Tippy Toes." Their journey to stardom involved rigorous training spanning five years under the watchful guidance of chief producer Jakops. Their single "GRL GVNG" not only dominated Billboard's Hot Trending Songs chart powered by Twitter but also conquered iTunes charts in an astounding 13 different regions. Most recently, XG has been captivating audiences with their first EP, "New DNA," showcased on local TV music programs and their electrifying performance at KCON LA 2023.

Horizon, a seven-member boy group, was forged through the crucible of the Filipino TV audition program "Dream Maker," a joint venture by MLD Entertainment and Filipino TV broadcaster ABS-CBN. After undergoing intensive 100 days of K-pop training, they entered the K-pop scene with their inaugural LP, "Friend-Ship." Horizon has been strategically promoting their music in both Korea and the Philippines, recognizing the widespread appeal of K-pop in both nations.

What's more, the K-pop landscape is evolving not only through Korean labels grooming foreign talent but also through international groups immersing themselves in the K-pop culture. Take, for instance, the popular Indonesian girl group StarBe, who recently released the Korean-language single "Bang" following a month-long K-pop idol training program in Seoul. Kezia of StarBe shared their motivation during a press conference in Seoul, saying, "We enjoy listening, dancing, singing, and rapping to K-pop, just as many young people in our country. We wanted this opportunity to learn K-pop in Korea, as we hoped to present music that combines the characteristics of K-pop and Indonesian pop music."

Experts in the field assert that K-pop has transcended national boundaries to become a genre in its own right. As local music critic Chung Duk-hyun puts it, "If you take a look at the history of K-pop, it derived from pop music. But then we threw in some Korean features to turn it into this unique genre. K-pop is becoming a genre, and that is why Billboard created a separate chart for K-pop. It includes everything from music, performance, and character establishment of each group member. Just like how South Korean musicians do diverse music genres such as hip-hop, reggae, and pop music, K-pop has now become a genre that can be performed by musicians overseas."

In this new era, K-pop's universal allure knows no bounds, heralding an exciting chapter in the genre's evolution.

Sayart.net 

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com