From the Margins to the Center of Popular Music: A History of the Growth of Korean Hip-Hop
Until the early 1990s, hip-hop was an unfamiliar music genre enjoyed only by a small number of enthusiasts. At the time, hip-hop was strictly classified as a subculture in the Korean popular music market, and it had limitations in gaining widespread popularity.
However, with the emergence of pioneering artists such as Seo Taiji and Boys, Korean hip-hop faced a wave of change. They played a major role in introducing the genre to the public by incorporating elements of hip-hop into popular music.
As time passed, talented rappers like Joosuc consistently remained active, laying the foundation for hip-hop. Thanks to these efforts, hip-hop gradually began to establish itself as a genre familiar to the public, expanding its fan base through various broadcast programs and performances.
Ultimately, starting in 2019, hip-hop grew into a core genre leading the golden age of Korean popular music. It has shed its past label as a subculture and has now become a popular genre that encompasses all generations.
This growth of Korean hip-hop has brought significant changes to the music industry as a whole. Many are now paying close attention to how Korean hip-hop will continue to evolve and communicate with the public in the future.