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The 1st Generation of K-Pop Music started in 1992 and ended in 2001. Here are the pioneering groups and solo acts who started the modern K-pop that we all know today.
For an explanation on how we defined each generation, see: YourOnly.One’s K-pop Generations
- This list is in no way complete.
- Arranged in chronological order of debut (first performance and/or song/video release, whichever is earliest)
1992
Seo Taiji & Boys
- Hangul: 서태지와 아이들
- Debut: 1992-04-11
- Song: 난 알아요 (Nan Arayo; I Know)
서태지와 아이들(Seotaiji and Boys) - 난 알아요(I Know) M/V
‘뮤직비디오’ 라는 개념이 정립되지도 못했던 1992년..
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- Also known for:
- Starting the modern K-pop music.
- The first modern K-pop boy group.
- Wikipedia: Seo Taiji and Boys
1993
Uhm Jung Hwa
- Hangul: 엄정화
- Debut: 1993-01-16 as solo
- Song: 눈동자 (Pupil)
Uhm Jung-hwa - Pupil - 눈동자
Saturday Night Music Show
The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBCfestival.
- Debut: 2020-10-10 as a member of supergroup Refund Sisters
- Wikipedia: Uhm Jung-hwa
Deux
- Hangul: 듀스
- Debut: 1993-04-23
- Song: Turn Around and Look at Me
DEUX - Turn around and look at me, 듀스 - 나를 돌아봐
Saturday Night Music Show
The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBCfestival.
- Wikipedia: Deux (band)
Solid
- Hangul: 솔리드
- Debut: 1993-12-15
- Song: Give Me A Chance
솔리드 - 이젠 나를 (Give Me A Chance)
The work shown above is Copyrighted to JohanKimRNB.
- Wikipedia: Solid (band)
1994
Jinu
- Hangul: 지누
- Also known as: 김진우 (Kim Jin Woo)
- Debut: 1994-03-09
- Song: 나는 캡이었어 (I Am Awesome)
나는 캡이었어 – 김진우
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JYP
- Hangul: 박진영
- Also known as: J. Y. Park; The Asiansoul
- Debut: 1994-09-01
- Founder of JYP Entertainment (1997)
- Song: 날 떠나지마 (Don’t Leave Me)
박진영 - ‘날 떠나지마’ (1995)| J.Y. Park - ‘Don’t Leave Me’ 【KBS 가요톱10】
The work shown above is Copyrighted to Again 가요톱10 : KBS KPOP Classic.
- Wikipedia: Park Jin-young
1995
Turbo
- Hangul: 터보
- Debut: 1995-09-06
- Song: 나 어릴적 꿈 (My Childhood Dream)
Turbo - My childhood dream, 터보 - 나 어릴적 꿈
MBC Top Music 19951124
The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBCkpop.
- Wikipedia: Turbo (South Korean band)
Kim Jong Kook
- Hangul: 김종국
- Fandom name: Papitus
- Debut: 1995-09-06 as a member of Turbo
- Debut: 2001-12-12 as a solo act
- Song: 남자니까 (Because I’m A Man)
음악캠프 - Kim Jong-kook - Because I’m a man, 김종국 - 남자니까
Music Camp 20020202
The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBCkpop.
- Also known for:
- Running Man host
- Bodybuilder
- Wikipedia: Kim Jong-kook
1996
H.O.T
- Hangul: 에이치오티
- Also known as: Highfive Of Teenagers
- Fandom name: Club H.O.T.
- Debut: 1996-09-07
- Song: Descendants of Warriors
H.O.T - Warrior’s Descendant, HOT - 전사의 후예
MBC Top Music
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- Wikipedia: H.O.T.
1997
Uptown
- Hangul: 업타운
- Debut: 1997
- Song: 다시 만나 줘 (Let’s Meet Again)
Uptown - Lets meet again
One of uptowns first hits!
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- Wikipedia: Uptown (band)
Yoo Seung Jun
- Hangul: 유승준
- Also known as: Steve Seung Jun Yoo
- Debut: 1997 March
- Song: 가위 (Gawi; Nightmare)
Yoo Seung-jun - Nightmare, 유승준 - 가위
MBC Top Music 19970614
The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBCkpop.
- Wikipedia: Yoo Seung-jun
JINUSEAN
- Hangul: 지누션
- Debut: 1997-03-01
- Song: Gasoline
JINUSEAN - GASOLINE M/V
featuring YG from Jinusean’s 1st album JINUSEAN (1997.3)
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- Wikipedia: Jinusean
Sechs Kies
- Hangul: 젝스키스
- Fandom name: YellKies
- Debut: 1997-04-15
- Song: 학원별곡 (School Anthem)
Sechs Kies - School byeolgok, 젝스키스 - 학원별곡
MBC Top Music 19970628
The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBCkpop.
- Did you know?
- They pioneered the idol fandom culture.
- Wikipedia: Sechs Kies
Haha
- Hangul: 하하
- Debut: 1997-05-01 as a solo act
- Debut: 2001 as a member of 지키리 (Z-kiri)
- Debut: 2005-02-18 as a solo act
- Song: 사랑가 (Love Song)
Haha - Love song, 하하 - 사랑가
Music Camp 20050319
The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBCkpop.
- Debut: 2012-07-30 as a member of RGP (레게 강 같은 평화; Reggae Peace like a River)
- Did you know?
- He is married to K-pop singer, Byul.
- He is a Running Man host.
- He is an Infinite Challenge host.
- Wikipedia: Haha (entertainer)
Baby V.O.X
- Hangul: 베이비복스
- Fandom name: Baby Angels
- Debut: 1997-07-10
- Song: 머리 하는 날 (Hair Cut)
Babyvox - Hair cut, 베이비복스 - 머리 하는 날
MBC Top Music 19971004
The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBCkpop.
- Did you know?
- They were the first modern K-pop girl group.
- They were also the first modern K-pop girl group to break into the Chinese market.
- Wikipedia: Baby Vox
DIVA
- Hangul: 디바
- Debut: 1997-08-29
- Song: 그래 (Yeah)
Diva - Yes, 디바 - 그래
MBC Top Music 19971018
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- Wikipedia: Diva (South Korean group)
NRG
- Hangul: 엔알지
- Also known as: New Radiancy Group
- Fandom name: Cheonjae Ilwoo
- Debut: 1997-10-28
- Song: 할 수 있어 (I Can Do It)
NRG - I can do, 엔알지 - 할 수 있어
MBC Top Music 19971213
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- Wikipedia: NRG (South Korean band)
S.E.S
- Hangul: 에스이에스
- Fandom name: Friend
- Debut: 1997-11-01
- Name stands for Sea, Eugene, and Shoo
- Song: I’m Your Girl
S.E.S - I’m your girl
MBC Top Music 19980110
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- Sample songs:
- Wikipedia: S.E.S. (group)
1998
Rain
- Hangul: 비
- Fandom name: Clouds
- Debut: 1998 as a member of Fanclub
- Debut: 2002-05-13 as a solo act
- Song: 나쁜 남자 (Bad Guy)
RAIN (비) - Bad Man (나쁜 남자) (Official Music Video)
The work shown above is Copyrighted to JYP Entertainment.
- Debut: 2020-07-25 as a member of supergroup SSAK3
- Wikipedia: Rain (entertainer)
Shinhwa
- Hangul: 신화
- Fandom name: Shinhwa Changjo
- Debut: 1998-04-19
- Song: 천일유혼 (Sharing Forever)
19981004 신화 천일유혼
⭐️2차 가공 & 재업로드 금지⭐️ 19981004 인기가요 신화 천일유혼
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- Wikipedia: Shinhwa
Fin.K.L
- Hangul: 핑클
- Also known as: Fine Killing Liberty
- Fandom name: Pinky
- Debut: 1998-05-25
- Song: Blue Rain; 내 남자친구에게 (To My Boyfriend)
[MV] Fin.K.L(핑클) _ Blue Rain
The work shown above is Copyrighted to 1theK (원더케이).
핑클 - 내 남자친구에게
SBS인기가요 980906
The work shown above is Copyrighted to takeaway.
- Wikipedia: Fin.K.L
Lee Hyo Ri
- Hangul: 이효리
- Fandom name: HyoRish
- Debut: 1998-05-25 as a member of Fin.K.L
- Debut: 2003-08-13 as a solo act
- Song: 10 Minutes
[MV] Lee Hyori(이효리) _ 10 Minutes
The work shown above is Copyrighted to 1theK (원더케이).
1TYM
- Hangul: 원타임
- Fandom name: Hip-Hop Village
- Debut: 1998-11-15
- Song: 1TYM
1TYM - 1TYM M/V
from 1TYM’s 1st album ‘One Time For Your Mind’ (1998.11)
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- Wikipedia: 1TYM
1999
g.o.d
- Hangul: 지오디
- Also known as: Groove Over Dose
- Fandom name: Fan god
- Debut: 1999-01-13
- Song: 어머님께 (To Mother)
G.O.D - 어머님께 (Dear Mother) MV (HQ)
The work shown above is Copyrighted to parkerlewisrocks.
- Did you know?
- They were originally to be named as GOT6.
- Wikipedia: g.o.d
Drunken Tiger
- Hangul: 드렁큰 타이거
- Debut: 1999-02-02
- Song: 난 널 원해 (I Want You)
Drunken Tiger - I Want You 난 널 원해 [MV]
드렁큰 타이거 - 난 널 원해 (1999) music video
The work shown above is Copyrighted to O.
- Wikipedia: Drunken Tiger
2000
BoA
- Hangul: 권보아
- Fandom name: Jumping BoA; SOUL (Japan)
- Debut: 2000-08-25 as a solo act
- Song: “ID; Peace B”
BoA 보아 ‘ID; Peace B’ MV
Original Release in 2000, Remastered in 2021.
The work shown above is Copyrighted to SMTOWN.
- Sample songs:
- Debut: 2022-01-01 as a member of GOT the beat a subgroup of supergroup Girls On Top
- Did you know?
- She was discovered by SM Entertainment at the age of 11 and trained for two years.
- She debuted at the young age of 13.
- BoA can sing well not just in Korean but also in English, Japanese, and Chinese.
- She’s known as the Star of Asia. 9
- First Korean to be in Billboard. 9
- She’s called the Queen of K-pop.
- BoA was the first K-pop act to break in Japan after the restriction of imports between Japan and Korea was lifted. 10
- She is the only non-Japanese with three albums which sold one million copies in Japan. [^boa-dyk-japan-times]
- BoA is one of three female pop star with six consecutive number 1 studio albums in the Oricon charts since her debut. The other two are highly popoular and successful Japanese stars Ayumi Hamasaki and Utada Hikaru. 11
- Wikipedia: BoA
2001
PSY
- Hangul: 싸이
- Also known as: 엽기가수 (The Bizarre Singer)
- Fandom name: PSYcho
- Debut: 2001-01-19
- Song: 새 (Bird); 끝 (The End)
PSY - 새(BIRD) M/V
1st Album ‘PSY FROM THE PSYCHO WORLD!’ (2001.1)
The work shown above is Copyrighted to officialpsy.
- Sample songs:
- 강남스타일 (Gangnam Style) 12
- Did you know?
- Gangnam Style earned PSY multiple Guinness World Records as the “Most Viewed Video Online”, “Most ‘Liked’ Video Online”, “First Video to Receive 1 billion views”. 13 As of 2022-01-28 20:25:35+0800:
- Gentleman also entered the Guinness World Records as the “Most Viewed Video Online in a 24-hour period” hitting 38.4 million views on 2013-04-14. 13
- Wikipedia: Psy
Jewelry
- Hangul: 쥬얼리
- Fandom name: Jewel Box
- Debut: 2001-03-30
- Song: 사랑해 (I Love You)
쥬얼리 - 사랑해
SBS 인기가요
The work shown above is Copyrighted to Entertainment World.
- Wikipedia: Jewelry (group)
Jang Na Ra
- Hangul: 장나라
- Fandom name: Fly Nara Love
- Debut: 2001-05-04
- Song: 눈물에 얼굴을 묻는다 (Burying My Face In Tears)
Jang Na-ra - Buried my face in tears, 장나라 - 눈물에 얼굴을 묻는다
Music Camp 2001090
The work shown above is Copyrighted to MBCkpop.
- Sample songs:
- Wikipedia: Jang Na-ra
Part of series: K-pop Generations
[S.E.S.] YouTube: S.E.S. ‘Dreams Come True’ MV ↩︎
[Nylon Beat] YouTube: Nylon Beat - Rakastuin mä looseriin -live (27.1.1996) ↩︎
[Nylon Beat] Wikipedia: Nylon Beat ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: BoA 보아 ‘No.1’ MV ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: Every Heart-ミンナノキモチ- / BoA ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: BoA 보아 ‘Milky Way’ MV ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: BoA 보아 ‘아틀란티스 소녀 (Atlantis Princess)’ MV ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: BoA 보아 ‘Only One’ MV (Dance ver.) ↩︎
[BoA] Heyday: Legend of Kpop? Korean Teenagers React to BoA’s golden days ↩︎ ↩︎
[BoA] Japan Times: No constrictions on BoA’s ambitions ↩︎
[PSY] YouTube: PSY - GANGNAM STYLE(강남스타일) M/V ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
[PSY] Guinness World Records: [PSY secures new YouTube world record with “Gentleman”](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/4/psy-secures-new-youtube-world-record-with-gentleman-48291 “PSY secures new YouTube world record with “Gentleman”) ↩︎ ↩︎
[Jang Na Ra] YouTube: 음악캠프 - Jang Nara - Sweet Dream, 장나라 - 스윗 드림, Music Camp 20021026 ↩︎
[Jang Na Ra] YouTube: [MV] 장나라(Jang Nara) - Someday [당신의 하우스헬퍼 OST Part.4 (Your House Helper OST Part.4)] ↩︎
[Jang Na Ra] YouTube: Jang Nara - Calling love, 장나라 - 사랑 부르기, Music Core 20070224 ↩︎