How K-pop established itself as one of the most popular musical genres in the world ?

Blackpink, the biggest girl band on the planet, does not appear in the IFPI ranking of best-selling albums in 2023. ADEK BERRY/AFP

In just a few years, K-pop has become an international musical phenomenon. The enthusiasm of music lovers for this South Korean musical genre is such that almost all of the records appearing in the ranking of the best-selling albums in 2023 are K-pop.

In detail, 19 of the 20 best-selling albums last year in the world (physical and digital sales) belong to the K-pop genre. Only '1989 (Taylor's Version), Taylor Swift's fourth re-recorded opus, appears in the ranking of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), at the sixth place.

Blackpink, the biggest girl band on the planet

The leading trio is made up of "FML" by Seventeen, "5-STAR" by Stray Kids and "ISTJ" by NCT ​​Dream. Seventeen is one of the most influential K-pop groups in the world. This boy band became known in 2013 through the reality TV show Seventeen TV, during which "interns" undergo intensive training in the hope of becoming a member of the group. Seventeen has been able to arouse enthusiasm beyond the borders of the country of Morning Calm over the years, until becoming one of the most beloved South Korean groups on the planet.< /p>

Seventeen's great rival, BTS, does not appear in the top 20 best-selling albums of 2023. For good reason, the world-famous South Korean group has announced that it will take a break from its career in 2022 , so that its seven members can devote themselves to their personal careers and their military service. Two of them, Jungkook and Jimin, managed to make their way into the IFPI rankings. The first is in seventh place with his first solo album, "Golden", and the second is in 18th place with "FACE".

Three K-pop girl groups appear in the ranking of the world's best-selling albums in 2023, namely IVE, (G)I-DLE and aespa. Blackpink, the biggest girl band on the planet, is not included since their second and last album, "Born Pink", dates from 2022.

Overall, the IFPI top 20 shows how K-pop has established itself as one of the most popular musical genres in the world. But also a cash machine. The turnover of the K-Pop industry is estimated at ten billion dollars, according to the magazine Forbes. Enough to make K-pop a real economic base for its country of origin.