K-POP is just a GENRE
K-POP is a genre, called Korean pop music. When K-POP idol culture started, basically it was all Koreans. 1st generation K-POP idol groups all Korean, and Korean Americans or Korean Japanese were only the exceptional cases. However, as it becomes 2nd generation SM started to put in Chinese in the group, like Hankyung of Super Junior. As K-pop is loved around the world, now it is natural for stars of various nationalities to debut with Korean members in Korea. From 3rd generation ‘diverse nationality’ is just common. Some even mark their position as ‘FULL KOREAN GROUP’ nowadays.
Recently, there are some K-pop groups that do not have any Korean members at all. They commonly belong to Korean agencies and have a strong will to work in Korea.
BLACKSWAN
The group, BLACKSWAN debuted in 2020. At the time of its debut, Korean members were included. However,as time past the group had several changes in the members. The team was made up of only foreign members in 2022. They are a multinational girl group consisting of members of Brazil, India, Belgium, United States and Germany. 5 members are all from different countries, but none of them are Korean. BLACKSWAN produced the first purely black member, the first Indian member, and the first Brazilian member in K-POP. K-pop fans accepted this change positively, and rather, it served as an opportunity to raise awareness of K-pop in each country. The group does not have any Korean members but having Korean lyrics.
XG
XG is a group made of Japanese, trained in Korea. It is a Japanese seven-member girl group that debuted in Korea on March 18, 2022. It is under care of XGALX, a Korean corporation established by Avex Group, and is active in Korea. The group is singing all the songs in English, they stand for “going into the world.” XG is aspiring to become a global artist who can positively influence pop around the world, including Korea. Their strategy is smart at a time when K-pop is currently loved around the world.
The creation of K-pop groups consisting of only foreign members also means that K-pop is continuously developing through new challenges. It also makes them look forward to the pure function of promoting K-pop in their own country.
Articles about all Korean groups,
EXO, CLICK HERE
ASTRO, CLICK HERE
BTS, CLICK HERE
