Music Critics Analyze the Current State of the K-Pop Scene: Unstructured Nature and Expandability Drive Global Growth

The book *Moments in the K-Pop Scene*, co-authored by music critics Kim Yoon-ha, Mi-myo, and Park Jun-woo, provides an in-depth exploration of the current K-pop industry. The three authors stated they published this work to correct the widespread superficial perception of K-pop. This effort stems from the issue that despite K-pop being central to South Korea’s music industry in terms of volume, revenue, and cultural influence, it is often discussed only in relation to external awards or chart performances. According to the authors, significant changes have occurred in the K-pop scene around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, including shifts in consumer demographics, industry structures, and strategic goals. Critic Kim Yoon-ha defined K-pop as a genre whose very lack of fixed foundations is its core characteristic, emphasizing that it can transform into any form akin to Pokémon’s “Metamorphon.” She explained that aside from basic elements like group formation and trainee systems, almost anything is possible within this industry. Even within music itself, popular styles vary greatly by generation; whereas earlier first-generation K-pop targeted only teenage youth, it now appeals to a broader age range with diverse tastes across popular culture. This unstructured nature and adaptability have fueled K-pop’s global expansion. Individual solo activities now incorporate various genres such as modern rock, alternative pop, and hip-hop, and there has been a significant increase in collaborations between K-pop artists and professionals from fields like composition, photography, design, and video production. The author remarked, “By observing how K-pop evolves, you can encounter almost all the most talented creators in today’s popular culture,” adding that K-pop has become a major research hub for Korean culture. Meanwhile, the English-language podcast *“Ask Me About Kpop”* has documented seven years of K-pop’s transformation through nearly 300 episodes since its launch in 2018. Hosts Shannon Rocky and Angelica Dabila noted that the program’s initial goal of explaining K-POP has evolved into a deeper exploration of the genre’s extensive history, current status, and key corporate structures. Early episodes covered idol group structures, music concepts, and major agencies such as SM, YG, and JYP Entertainment, while recent episodes feature in-depth content with guests like composer Chik, idol groups BLITZ and ONEUS. Experts pointed out that although K-pop is still often referred to narrowly as “idol pop” in South Korea, it is already used internationally as a term encompassing the entire South Korean music industry. Bands like Wave to Earth and solo artists such as IU are also classified as K-pop or K-Music abroad, suggesting this trend will solidify further in the coming years. At the same time, there is growing advocacy for greater recognition of voices from experts who have closely monitored the K-pop scene in South Korea.