TORONTO -- K-pop has become a world dominating genre on the music charts over the past decade and 2019 saw some of the most influential moments for the South Korean entertainment industry on the international stage.
CTVNews.ca is taking a look back at some of the moments that made 2019 a landmark year for K-pop:
BTS at Wembley Stadium
BTS attends the 2019 Variety's Hitmakers Brunch at Soho House on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
No list of 2019 K-pop accomplishments would be complete without mentioning BTS and their legions of fans known as A.R.M.Y. The incredibly popular group wrapped up a massive world tour, performed on 鈥淪aturday Night Live,鈥 had several collaborations with artists like Charli XCX, Halsey and Lauv, and recently announced their partnership with the Formula E Championship racing series. During their international 鈥淟ove yourself: Speak yourself鈥 tour, BTS became the first K-pop group to headline Wembley Stadium in the U.K. to . The concerts were even voted as the 鈥溾 for 2019.
Monsta X鈥檚 massive international year
MONSTA X attend the Chanel Nº5 In The Snow launch event at The Standard, High Line, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
It has been a massive year for Monsta X, with their international 鈥淲e Are Here鈥 world tour, performances at the Jingle Ball holiday concert series, and their collaborations with electronic music heavyweight DJ Steve Aoki, rapper French Montana and Latin music star Sebastian Yatra. This year also saw member Hyungwon鈥檚 Pepsi commercial take off, the group鈥檚 ridiculously popular collaboration with , and the announcement of an all-English album debuting in 2020 鈥 a rarity for a South Korean act. Fans of Monsta X 鈥 known as Monbebe - have championed the group through the surprise departure of vocalist Wonho due to a 鈥渟candal,鈥 and a rumour concerning leader Shownu鈥檚 personal life. Fans have even embarked on a massive campaign to reunite all seven members of the group.
Blackpink performing at Coachella
Rose, from left, Jisoo, Lisa, and Jennie Kim of BLACKPINK perform at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival Friday, April 12, 2019, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
The 鈥渋t鈥 girls of music label YG Entertainment, Blackpink debuted a new album entitled 鈥淜ill This Love鈥 in 2019, which . The debut came ahead of their crowning achievement of the year 鈥 performing at music festival Coachella. In a first for any K-pop girl group, members Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo and Rose had their first full-length U.S. concert at the massive venue, sharing the spotlight with heavy hitters like Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Diplo, DJ Snake, J Balvin and many more.
Psy鈥檚 new record label 鈥楶 Nation鈥 signs Hyuna, E鈥橠awn, and Jessi
At the beginning of the year, the K-pop king responsible for the earworms 鈥淕angnam Style鈥 and 鈥淣ew Face鈥 announced the launch of his new management and record label P Nation. First to be signed was female rapper Jessi, followed shortly by K-pop royalty Hyuna and ex-boy group member E鈥橠awn, who were cut from their previous label after revealing their relationship. All three signees have since debuted new music, much to the delight of their fans.
Holland鈥檚 single 鈥楲oved you better鈥
After debuting as one of the first openly gay K-pop idol last year, musical act Holland has delighted fans and gained popularity by leaps and bounds. His single 鈥淟oved you better鈥 is a homage to his troubled past with . It highlighted his vocal abilities and showcased a message of self-love.
Itzy, TXT and Everglow debut
Members of the band Itzy pose for photographers upon arrival at the Asian Music Awards in Nagoya, Japan Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Several groups debuted this past year, but five-piece girl group Itzy from JYP Entertainment, five-member boy group TXT from Big Hit Entertainment and six-piece girl group Everglow of Yuehua Entertainment definitely deserve a shout-out. Itzy鈥檚 smash hits 鈥淒alla Dalla鈥 and 鈥淚cy鈥 put them on the map, while TXT proved that excellence runs in the Big Hit family, the same company behind BTS, with their debut album 鈥淭he Dream Chapter: Star.鈥 The girls of Everglow burst onto the music scene with their electric song 鈥淏on Bon Chocolat,鈥 which raised the bar for rookie groups everywhere.
EXO, X-EXO and Obsession
With two members of the group currently completing their mandatory military service, and another one performing solo in China, it would be easy to think that K-pop鈥檚 masterclass of entertainment EXO would take a break. On the contrary, the six remaining members have been everywhere this year. Vocalists Chen and Baekhyun released three solo albums between them, Sehun and Chanyeol debuted in a hip-hop sub-unit called EXO-SC, and Baekhyun and Kai joined forces with other SM Entertainment artists in the newly formed SuperM group. The latest studio album from the six members, entitled 鈥淥bsession,鈥 has the boys facing off against their alter egos, or X-EXO, in a slick choreographed battle.
Mamamoo and their empowering hit 鈥楬ip鈥
Members of the band Mamamoo pose for photographers upon arrival at the Asian Music Awards in Nagoya, Japan Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Four-piece girl group Mamamoo, known for their incredible live vocals and 鈥淚 don鈥檛 care鈥 attitude, found a hit with their single 鈥淗ip,鈥 a song about self-love. The group prides themselves on not bowing to the expected conformity of the K-pop world, which earns them both high praise and heaps of criticism. Hip became their first number one hit on the , a special feat from a girl group that is not under any of the 鈥渂ig three鈥 entertainment companies that dominate the South Korean music scene.
Big Bang members finish military service
Members G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung and T.O.P. all finished their mandatory military service this year, with hundreds of fans awaiting them with open arms after their respective discharges. YG Entertainment has yet to make a statement about the group鈥檚 future activities, but G-Dragon hit the ground running, debuting a hand-painted shoe collaboration with Nike, which sold out globally in a matter of minutes.
CL leaves YG Entertainment, debuts new album
After working under YG Entertainment for more than a decade, both as a soloist and member of beloved girl group 2NE1, rapper CL announced in November that she was leaving the company and ending her exclusive contract. Shortly afterwards, she announced that her new album titled 鈥淚n The Name of Love鈥 would be released this month to the delight of fans everywhere.
GOT 7鈥檚 year of albums
Members of South Korean music band GOT7 pose for photos on the red carpet of the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
The princes of K-pop have had a jam-packed year, with two Korean albums titled 鈥淪pinning Top鈥 and 鈥淐all My Name,鈥 one Japanese album entitled, 鈥淟ove Loop,鈥 and the sub-unit album called 鈥淛us2,鈥 made GOT 7 a mainstay on the charts. Separately the members have also kept busy, with massive endorsement deals such as rapper Jackson Wang being named a Fendi and Cartier ambassador and BamBam鈥檚 multiple deals with brands in Thailand.
(G)-IDLE on Queendom
After (G)-IDLE exploded onto the music scene in 2018, the six-member girl group has gone on to make a name for themselves with hits like 鈥淪enorita鈥 and 鈥淯h-Oh.鈥 But it was their performances on the reality music show 鈥淨ueendom,鈥 a competition where female acts perform against one another, that really impressed. Despite only having a year under their belt as an official group, the girls pulled off incredibly polished performances and showcased their creativity. Although Mamamoo ended up being crowned the winner of Queendom, (G)-IDLE鈥檚 finale song, performance and ensuing music video of 鈥淟ion,鈥 cemented their status as a girl group to watch.
