From German Radio to Australian Performances and UK Producers: The Global Expansion of K-POP

K-POP is expanding beyond South Korea to reach global stages. In Germany, the first dedicated K-POP radio program was launched. In Australia, a K-POP group with Japanese citizenship is performing there, while UK producers are participating in the K-POP industry. Radio Fritz, part of Germany’s public broadcaster rbb in Berlin-Brandenburg, began airing “Beste Musik K-Pop” on October 14, 2024 — Germany’s first program focused exclusively on K-POP. Yang Sang-geun, director of the Berlin Korean Cultural Center, delivered the opening in Korean, saying, “Justin Timpe with Radio Fritz! The best K-POP music!” The show airs every other Monday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Justin Timpe, the host who also introduces K-dramas alongside K-POP and idol groups, is a passionate fan who discovered K-POP through a friend about 10 years ago. He turned his passion into a career aligned with his interests. Timpe explained that the purpose of the program is to create a community platform since it is difficult for K-POP fans to gather and communicate in one place. Radio Fritz waited two years to find a host for the K-POP program. After learning Timpe was a K-POP fan, they offered him a test broadcast and were satisfied with his performance. Timpe pointed out that the biggest limitation of radio is its inability to showcase visual elements, as K-POP is content where both visual and auditory components are crucial. In Australia, the girl group XG, whose members are all of Japanese citizenship but operate within the K-POP system, serves as evidence of this global expansion. Abbreviating “Xtraordinary Girls,” XG consists of seven members: Hinata, Jurin, Chisa, Cocona, Harvey, Maya, and Juriya. All of them received training in the K-POP style. The average duration of their training as trainees was about five years, enabling them to develop excellent skills. XG is not merely visiting Korea temporarily but is actively performing there, and their music is classified as K-POP on global charts and streaming services. Starting with a sold-out “First World Tour [THE FIRST HOWL - Landing at Seoul]” in July 2024, they exceeded 120,000 total attendees by August through their Asian tour. From October, they toured cities in the United States such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago. Before their North American tour, their song “SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT” reached number one on Billboard’s “This Week’s Favorite New Song” chart and the U.S. iTunes Dance chart, eventually topping Billboard itself. This made them the first Japanese artist to grace the cover of Billboard magazine. Their performances in New York and Los Angeles were also sold out. After a European tour in November, they will come to Australia in February 2025. Performances are scheduled for Friday, February 14, at ICC Sydney Theatre in Sydney, and on February 16 at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne. Last year, XG held their Australian debut showcase by headlining the Billboard stage at SXSW in Sydney, leaving a deep impression on fans and critics with their powerful performances. Although they sing only in English and primarily communicate in English through their official social media accounts and YouTube channels, all members are learning Korean and English. On the global fan platform “Weverse,” they interact directly in three languages: English, Korean, and Japanese. In the UK, the number of local talent members participating in the K-POP production system is increasing. The reality program “Made in Korea: The K-Pop Involvement,” produced in collaboration with SM Entertainment, follows five British students as they debut as the K-POP idol boy group “Expensive Alice.” The program describes K-POP as a “multinational phenomenon worth hundreds of millions of dollars,” noting that “six of the world’s top 20 best-selling artists are K-POP artists” and that “9 billion streams come from K-POP idols.” K-POP is gaining increasing popularity in the UK as well. aespa, regarded as the successors to Girls' Generation, and BTS have held sold-out performances at the largest venues in the country. In 2023, BLACKPINK became the first Korean band to perform at London’s BST Hyde Park festival, appearing before 65,000 fans. BLACKPINK also received the prestigious MBE medal from Queen Elizabeth II in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow for their efforts to encourage youth participation. The K-POP industry is becoming increasingly globalized. Characterized by catchy melodies, precisely coordinated choreography, and unique costumes, K-POP has evolved by drawing inspiration from various pop music genres. Distinct from traditional Korean music, K-POP grew as a few pioneers began forming idol groups in the 1990s. Today, hundreds of choreographers, composers, and producers around the world contribute to the creation of K-POP songs and performances.