Spring 2026

K-Pop's Big Wave

A Global Phenomenon

From the Series Gateway Headlines

  • Interest Level: Grade 4 - Grade 8
  • Reading Level: Grade 5

Turn on any radio or scroll through the hottest hits on any playlist from the last decade, and chances are, you will find K-pop.

Popular groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK propelled the musical genre into the global limelight. Other groups, such as Stray Kids, aespa, and SEVENTEEN, have found enduring success with fans in South Korea and overseas. But despite the big wave K-pop has made around the world, it began small.

In 1992 Seo Taiji and Boys sang and danced in the first K-pop performance. Soon, companies formed to create idol groups. H.O.T., S.E.S., and 1TYM were some of the first, but powerhouse groups such as Girls’ Generation, SHINee, and Wonder Girls came hot on their heels. In 2013 PSY released the song “Gangnam Style,” and K-pop’s trajectory changed forever. Learn all about K-pop including its history, popular groups, fan culture, community, and more.

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Interest Level Grade 4 - Grade 8
Reading Level Grade 5
Genre Social Studies
Category 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Traditional Nonfiction
Copyright 2026
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Lerner Publications ™
Language English
Number of Pages 48
Publication Date 2026-01-01
Text Type Informational/Explanatory
BISACS JNF036050, JNF038020
Dewey 781.63095195
Dimensions 7 x 9
Lexile 1080
Guided Reading Level W
Features Bibliography/further reading, Index, Photo captions, Sidebars, Source notes, Table of contents, and Timeline

Author: Sarah Roggio

Sarah Roggio began her career as a journalist with a masters degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Since then she has written and edited hundreds of articles. She lives in Chicago.