A music genre that is rapidly gaining popularity is Korean pop music, more commonly known as K-Pop. It covers a variety of music styles such as dance, electric, hip-hop and ballads. With its catchy tunes, memorable music video choreography and unbelievably gorgeous artists, it’s no wonder it’s becoming an international phenomena.

So what makes K-Pop such a unique form of entertainment?

The artists in this music business, also known as idols, audition and train for years before they officially debut in their late teens and early twenties. In their training for big label names YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment, they practice dancing, singing and are even taught foreign languages to communicate with their international audiences. These idols are essentially groomed to be the perfect musicians. This staged rise to fame often causes controversy among people because they see the singers as manufactured and not genuine in their music.

K-Pop idols usually debut in groups, some being as small as duos such as Akdong Musician or as large as Seventeen, a group that has 13 male members.

Big Bang, a male group that debuted in 2006, has made their name very well known across the world. They’ve been regarded as the best of the best, not just K-Pop but in the music industry as a whole. They even took home the European Music Award for Best Worldwide Act in 2011, proving that K-Pop has become popular across the globe, not just in Korea.

Other groups who have become notably popular are girl groups 2NE1 and Girl’s Generation. Both have very different styles in the way they present themselves, with 2NE1 having a more of a in-your-face attitude that demands your attention, while Girl’s Generation has more of a sweet and girly image that makes you want to get to know them. 2NE1’s most well known song is “I Am The Best” and Girl’s Generation “Gee” will remain stuck in your head after just one listen.

EXO is another male group who has made its catchy songs “Growl” and “Overdose” very well known. The dance choreography for those music videos are fun, exciting and out of this world. A big up-and-coming group that has gained more and more popularity since their debut in 2013, is boy group BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys. With their album, “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt.2,” BTS was the first K-Pop group to spend more than one week at the number one spot on Billboard’s World Albums Chart.

K-Pop groups have very devoted fans that can sometimes be borderline obsessive. But that’s not exactly strange to those who are in the limelight. Idols are usually very appreciative of their fans because without them, their careers wouldn’t exist.

No matter how you see K-Pop, you can’t deny that it’s here to stay and that these very talented musicians work extremely hard to hone their craft.