K-Pop has been divided into so-called “generations” since it emerged in the 90s. Each one lasts several years and is characterized by certain aspects. You'll find out here what exactly these are and which bands belong to which generation!
The term “generations” usually refers to a group of people who have had similar experiences because of their age and historical events. The gap between generations actually always stays the same.
In K-Pop, however, new generations emerge in parallel with changes in the industry: New trends, musical developments or external influences such as technological progress or the global COVID-19 pandemic contribute to the shift.
The first generation of K-Pop began in 1992 and ended in 2003. Since then, the generations have become shorter and shorter. The 5th generation, for example, started only 4 years after the 4th generation began.
We'll briefly introduce you to the generations and their best-known representatives:
- 1st Generation: 1992 - 2003
- 2nd Generation: 2003 - 2012
- 3rd Generation: 2012 - 2018/ 2019
- 4th Generation: 2018/ 2019 - 2023
- 5th Generation: 2023 - Today
1st Generation: 1992 - 2003
The first generation began with the three-member boy band “Seo Taiji and Boys”, who debuted in 1992 and revolutionized Korean music. They worked rap and English terms into their songs and thereby laid the foundation for K-Pop as we know it today. The generation is strongly shaped by American influences and is very similar to classic pop.
Find more details about the first generation here!
The best-known groups of this era include:
- Seo Taiji and Boys
- H.O.T
- S.E.S.
- g.o.d
- Shinhwa
2nd Generation: 2003 - 2012
From 2003 to 2011, K-Pop artists became bolder and slowly developed their own style. They also spread their music, and with it their language and culture, more widely across Asia and in some cases even beyond: Korean stars, for example, gave concerts more and more often in the United States or in European countries such as Spain or France.
The second generation is often also referred to as the "Golden Age of K-Pop", because the artists spread K-Pop, released countless hits that have since become legendary and let the scene blossom.
If you'd like to learn more about the second generation, you've come to the right place!
The best-known groups of the second generation include:
- BIGBANG
- Super Junior
- Girls' Generation (SNSD)
- Wonder Girls
- SHINee
- 2NE1
3rd Generation: 2012 - 2018/ 2019
During the third generation, K-Pop achieved its international breakthrough, above all thanks to BTS. Although Korean artists already had fans all over the world before, the global media finally started to take notice of K-Pop. Since then, the various bands have achieved not only national but also significant international success.
The music itself has developed a lot since the first generation. While it was initially clearly oriented toward American influences and classic pop, it now also contains elements from many other music genres such as techno or rock.
Find out more about the third generation here!
These are a few of the best-known bands from this era:
4th Generation: 2018/ 2019 - 2023
The fourth generation is characterized by a much stronger use of digital media such as Instagram, and the groups target the global music market very early on. In addition, the generation was of course strongly influenced by the Corona pandemic. Among other things, it led to the development and promotion of online concerts and new digital platforms.
When exactly it begins is hotly disputed, but the generally accepted boundary lies somewhere around 2018/ 2019.
Dive deeper into the fourth generation here!
These are currently a few of the best-known representatives of the fourth generation:
5th Generation: 2018/ 2019 - 2023
The fifth generation marks the beginning of a new era that is more strongly shaped than ever by technology and the influence of globalization. Earlier generations paved the way to the international stage and turned to social media. The new generation is growing up in a fully connected and digital world. Classic idol groups share the stage with virtual artists such as PLAVE.
Furthermore, the growing number of world tours and the increased presence of English lyrics make it clear that K-Pop has become a global music genre.
Get to know the fifth generation better here!
These are a few of the best-known groups of the fifth generation:
Which generation do your favorite idols belong to, and since when have you been part of the community? Let us know in the comments!
