What makes a K-Pop band a K-Pop band, and should BLACKSWAN be considered part of the K-Wave?

Those who believe that a K-Pop band must have members from South Korea might do well to steer clear of HYBE Corp and Geffen’s global idol search, “The Debut: Dream Academy” when the auditions begin. But a debate broke out between netizens over the nature of the group BLACKSWAN and their inclusion as part of the K-Pop wave that’s becoming more prominent to Western audiences. 

The bone of contention lies in the fact that the current line-up of the group doesn’t have one South Korean-born performer within their ranks. The group count Gabi from Brazil, NVee from the United States, Sriya from India and Senegal-born Fatou, who now lives in Belgium. Though the group sing in Korean and former members were originally from the country, some have asked if they truly are a K-Pop group given their international contingent.

As CNN reported before, K-Pop groups with an international continent are not a new concept, and if HYBE X Geffen’s proposals for an all-inclusive global K-Pop group is anything to go by, the idea of a K-Pop group being exclusively South Korean seems to be an ideal bigger record labels and management teams are keen to avoid. Perhaps in an attempt to globalize the incredibly strong musical movement.

Netizens in support of BLACKSWAN were also quick to point out that some of the more popular groups as part of the current K-Wave also have members that were not born in South Korea too. Both Lisa and Rosé of BLACKPINK were born in Thailand and New Zealand respectively, while Felix, Bang Chan and Changbin of Stray Kids were born in Australia. Then there are the likes of EXO and NCT who have members from China within their midsts.

So if a K-Pop band isn’t predominantly based on the idea that the group are South Korean by birth, what are the tenets then that make up the idea of a K-Pop group being, well, a K-Pop group? Well, it all has to do with the style of music, the aesthetic and most importantly, their connection with a fanbase.

What are the fundamental traits that make a K-Pop group?

The K-Pop “sound” and presentation

K-Pop groups generally produce a blend of various music genres, including pop, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and more. Their music often features catchy melodies, energetic beats, and a mix of different musical elements - and on a number of occasions have seen melodic vocals mixed with moments of rapping (see: BTS). There is also a strong emphasis on visuals, including music videos, choreography, fashion, and overall appearance. Groups are known for their stylish and coordinated outfits, distinct hairstyles, and captivating music video concepts.

One of the defining features of K-Pop is its intricate and synchronized choreography. Groups invest a significant amount of time and effort into practising and perfecting their dance routines, which are often an integral part of their performances. Most K-Pop idols also undergo extensive training before debuting, encompassing singing, dancing, acting, foreign languages, and more. Trainees are often scouted at a young age and go through years of preparation under entertainment agencies.

Interaction with fandoms

K-Pop groups maintain close connections with their fans, known as "fandoms." This involves fan meetings, fan signs, social media engagement, and other activities that help build a strong fan base, hence the extensive use of WeVerse, a social media platform that BTS and BLACKPINK have known to interact with their fanbase. BLACKPINK has gone one step further, incorporating the use of Discord to interact with netizens. 

It goes without saying that the culture has a unique and enthusiastic fandom; fans often have specific names and colours associated with each group, engage in fan art and fanfiction, and organize various events to support their favourite groups. Those same fans have also used their wide fandom for social causes, such as “trolling” TwitterX trends that they deem as being socially irresponsible - what some would consider a fandom being “woke.” 

It helps that K-Pop groups often release new music at a relatively fast pace, with multiple comebacks in a year. This consistent release schedule keeps fans engaged and excited. Even when members have entered mandatory military service, there is always a solo debut on the cards for some band members - such as Jungkook and V from BTS.

Are BLACKSWAN considered a K-Pop band then?

Given that they tick the majority of boxes when it comes to the fundamentals of being a K-Pop band, including release schedules, highly choreographed performances and their interaction with their fanbase, PeopleWorld feels safe calling BLACKSWAN a K-Pop band rather than a “pop” act.