K-POP NOW

Not since the teen pop craze of the early 2000s have we seen a music movement quite like this. Acts like BTS and Blackpink have led K-pop boldly into the mainstream, winning fans around the globe with catchy hooks, colorful videos, and irresistible personalities. But that’s only a sampling of what Korea’s hottest acts have to offer.

- TIM CHAN

While K-pop isn’t a new phenomenon — the supergroup Super Junior just celebrated their 15th anniversary, and rapper CL is as relevant as ever, five years after her longtime girl group 2NE1 broke up — it’s never been a more exciting time to be a K-pop fan. Today, a new wave of artists is pushing the genre forward with A-list collaborations, adventurous new sounds, and surprising emotional heft.

Just as Latin pop has become a major global force over the past decade, the best K-pop songs transcend genres, languages, and borders with ease. In fact, as these seven artists prove — from hot new groups to solo stars changing the game — K-pop isn’t defined by where you’re from anymore, but rather, where you’re ready to let the music take you.

CHUNG HA

A triple threat who sings in Korean, English, and Spanish

IF there were any doubt left that K-pop is a truly global phenomenon, just listen to Chung Ha, the singer-dancer-choreographer who stormed onto the international scene this year with her reggaeton-tinged hit “Demente.” The single marked the first time a K-pop artist released a song sung entirely in Spanish, and immediately won over fans both old and new.