K-pop was revolutionized in 1992 by the group Seo Taiji and Boys who introduced rap lyrics, pop music, and hip hop dancing. They disregarded existing music limitations and restrictions. Major K-pop groups include EXO, BIGBANG, Girls' Generation, and 2NE1. K-pop is dominated by three major record labels - SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment. Key features of K-pop include lyrics in Korean, choreographed dances, and specific member roles. It has expanded to include various genres and has a global fan base, though issues include alleged "slave contracts" and over-sexualization of female groups.

1. K-POP CASE STUDY
John-Francis Cabanus

2. K-POP GENRE

3. K-POP MIND MAP

4. HISTORY OF GENRE
 Modern K-pop was
revolutionised by the group,
‘Seo Taiji and Boys’ in 1992.
Each member is counted as
legends in the Korean
Music industry audiences
were amazed by the group’s
disregard for the existing
limitations and restrictions
of the time and offered
precise choreography and a
new innovative style to the
music industry. Rap Lyrics
infused with pop music
which was combined with
hip hop dancing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC7
yS0kpHWM&safe=active

5. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
 Lyrics of every K-Pop song are dominantly in the Korean
language, Hangul.
 Groups are usually gender segregated. There are no groups
in the K-Pop genre that have co-ed genders.
 Well established groups would have an official fan club and
take part in merchandising to broaden profits for their
respective music labels.
 Majority of videos have a very bright colour palette but
depending on the group and their concepts for videos.
Palette’s would vary so no group would be completely type
casted.
 A choreographed dance is always included within most K-Pop
songs.
 Groups have specific roles between their members. Roles
would include; Lead Rapper/Vocalist, Sub Vocalists/Rappers,
Main Dancer, Visuals and Maknae (Youngest member)

6. SUB-GENRES & HYBRID GENRES
 Many other genres are
explored through K-Pop as
artists aim on broadening
their music as much as
possible in order to appeal to
the audience interests and to
improve profits for their
record labels. Hip-Hop,
Ballad, Rock, Electro among
other genres have all been
hybridised alongside K-Pop
have been explored in he
songs of various artists.

7. ICONOGRAPHY OF GENRE
 One of the most known iconic songs of the genre
would be songs from Psy. Known for two ground
breaking songs around the world, Gangnam Style
and Gentleman. The dance moves are known
internationally as Gangnam style is the most
viewed YouTube video to date with over 2 Billion
views.
 In all fairness, all dances of K-Pop music videos
help the songs become more memorable to fans
and associating both the song and dance would be
iconography.
 K-Pop is also known for exploring different styles of
fashion. BIGBANG being the leading group who is
recognised for their vast sense of style.

8. LEADING ARTISTS
EXO (Top-Left) BIGBANG (Bottom-Left)
Girl’s Generation (Top-Right) 2NE1(Bottom-Right)

9. RECORD LABELS
There are a wide variety
of record labels that house
the K-Pop genre. This
means there is a big
amount of competition
between artists in order to
reach the top spots of the
music charts. These are
just a few of the major
labels in South Korea that
have K-Pop as the main
genre they produce. The
most successful
companies being SM Ent.
, YG Ent. and JYP Ent.

10. RECORD LABELS – THE BIG THREE
SM Entertainment
Arguably the richest record label of South
Korea with the company revenue being
$212,401,103. SM houses big time groups
in the industry such as Super Junior, EXO
and Girl’s Generation.
YG Entertainment
The company revenue is $150,000,000. YG
houses the trend setters of Korean pop
culture and trends such as 2NE1 and
BIGBANG and introduced the mainstream
Hip-Hop Genre to Korea.
JYP Entertainment
Company Revenue being $20,000,000. JYP
rival the groups of YG with powerhouse
performers like 2PM and Got7. The CEO
himself being a veteran idol, he passes his
knowledge towards his succeeding
performers.

11. TARGET AUDIENCE
 The obvious audience being the people of Korea mainly within the
female demographic of the Korean population. However due to the
globalisation and increasing popularity of K-Pop around the world. Fans
regardless of ethnicity or country of origin would listen to K-Pop and in
some cases idol groups would expand their promotions to other places in
Asia such as Japan and China but occasionally official English versions
of chart topping songs would be released world wide. Examples are
Taeyang – Eyes, Nose, Lips. Which has three official alternative
versions. Two being dominantly English lyrics.
 The socio-economic group of this genre would be specified for C1,
C2,D,E but with K-Pop being a nationwide genre it’s heard by all socio
economic groups.
 Psycho-graphic group would be aspirers and mainstreamers as people
believe idols live ‘ideal lives’ that would be better then their current ones
and considering this is culture in South Korea it is a mainstream aspect
of culture.
 Demographics: You should have a keen interest in the K-Pop genre to
listen to it and fairly young adults and teens are the main audience which
take an interest in the genre, particularly females.

12. ISSUES/REPRESENTATIONS
 There is a lot of conspiracy
surrounding the genre the most
important being slave contracts.
Slave contracts involve signing
people into companies training for
long hours in bare minimum living
conditions and stripping them of
most of their profits they rightfully
earn from that work. SM
Entertainment are well known within
this conspiracy as there’s been 3
cases involving slave or unfair
contracts. Most recent case being a
member of EXO.
 The representation of woman, similar
to mainstream western music over
sexualise them as if they were
objects. The sex appeal of these
female idols are a way of attracting
more audiences even though it isn’t
accepted by netizens.