A Beginner’s Guide to K-pop
K-pop is more prevalent in western pop culture than ever before, thanks to BTS, Blackpink, and other groups accruing massive fandoms with their charisma and talent. If you’ve never been in one of these fandoms before, you might get confused by the terminology and intricacies of the K-pop community.
Because despite what the word “bias” literally means, when a K-pop fan asks you who your bias is, they’re not asking you if you are prejudiced against someone. And, no, a lightstick is not a flashlight or a glowstick.
In this brief guide to K-pop, I’ll define the terms above and answer some questions about the industry in general. Whether you’re new to K-pop, actively getting into K-pop, or wanting to have conversations with people who are already K-pop fans, I hope this guide helps you!
Why are they called K-pop “groups,” and not “bands”?
To put it simply, bands have instruments, and groups don’t. Instead, members of the group dance while they sing. K-pop songs are meant to be performed with choregraphies involving synchronized dance moves and formation changes. With the average number of members for a group being 7 or 8 members, these aspects make for very visually appealing performances.
K-pop bands do exist, though. Take Xdinary Heroes, Day 6, and N. Flying for example. They perform just as captivatingly, but with instruments rather than dancing.
What’s a bias, and why have one?
A bias is your favorite member in a group. It’s usually someone who piques your interest because of their personality, talent, humor, or leadership skills. Fans typically choose a bias that they relate to, so they feel a special connection to one member while also being dedicated to and supporting the group as a whole.
Oftentimes, groups will release merchandise that’s member-specific. For instance, there will be different album versions for each member, or banners and pickets to show your support for your bias at concerts.
Why does K-pop have generations?
Ever since K-pop emerged in the 1990s, it has evolved in waves. With each wave came an influx of groups, and collectively they represent different “generations." Each generation has a distinctive style of music that was trending when these groups debuted.
Roughly, 1st gen groups debuted from the 90s through the early 2000s. 2nd gen groups debuted from the mid-2000s through the early 2010s, and 3rd gen picked up from there until the late 2010s. Now, there is a fourth generation that refers to any K-pop group that debuted after 2018.
Who are the Big 3?
This question sparks a bit of a debate. Before the formation of BTS, there were three music studios that acted as powerhouses for assembling groups and massively promoting them. These studios were SM, YG, and JYP.
BTS came from Bighit Entertainment, which was not as influential at the time of their debut (2013). Fast forward to today, Big Hit has rebranded into an entertainment lifestyle platform company under the name Hybe Corporation. It’s responsible for several successful groups now, from TXT to New Jeans, causing some people to include Hybe in their “Big 4.”
Others argue that the original big three will never be changed since it’s more about which music studies shaped K-pop into what it is today, rather than which ones are currently upholding the K-pop industry.
Why is it called a comeback when new music drops?
A comeback is the new release of a song, mini album, or album from a K-pop group. There's usually a period of time between each release, so groups are literally coming back to promote their new music after ending their previous era of promotions. After a comeback is officially announced to the fans, groups put out teasers and trailers.
What concepts are prevalent in K-pop?
To nonfans of K-pop, perhaps you’re most familiar with the cute theme that Kpop is most commonly known for. However, there are more themes, or concepts, that groups take on and display through their lyrics, music videos, and outfits. There are light and fresh “summer” concepts, and elegant or retro concepts. Girl crush, futuristic, fantasy, dark, and edgy are also concepts that groups frequently take on.
Bonus terms:
Fanchant- Most K-pop groups have an official fanchant. These are chants that involve shouting all the member’s names in age order, and they are used to cheer the idols on while performing.
Lightstick- Used by fans during concerts,lightsticks are unique signs that identify different fandoms. When everyone in the crowd turns their lightsticks on in the dark, a beautiful ocean of color fills the venue.
Photocard- Official K-pop photocards come from the physical album packages, and they are similar to sports trading cards or Pokemon cards. They are small printed selfies taken by the idols themselves, and fans go crazy trying to pull their bias from an album.
Ult- “Ult” is short for "ultimate bias/group.” It refers to a fan's favorite member of a K-pop group, or the group you love the most in the whole industry.
Rookie- Groups or soloists that have just debuted in the K-Pop world.
Soloist- Singers who perform alone. This may include singers who are/were a member of a group and made a solo debut.
You don’t have to worry about committing these terms to memory before you can get into K-pop. Most of them
you’ll absorb by consistently consuming content. Fanmade content will be the most useful, since it naturally
contains the most lingo. I recommend watching compilations on Youtube, watching music videos, and
following fan accounts on social media if you want to learn quickly. You only discover the magical world of
K-pop once, so enjoy the process!
