K-POP Archive Artist & Group Database

K-POP 1st Gen

The era after Seo Taiji and Boys' arrival, when the idol system of agencies training and debuting trainees took hold.

1992–2002 · 17 acts

  • · Record sales (cassettes and CDs) and TV music ranking shows were the measure of popularity.
  • · Groups such as H.O.T., Sechs Kies, S.E.S. and Fin.K.L first created fan club culture and official fan colors.
  • · BoA's success in Japan opened the way for overseas expansion.

Group 13

Seo Taiji and Boys 서태지와 아이들 Gen 1 · Debuted 1992 · Group Disbanded
DEUX 듀스 Gen 1 · Debuted 1993 · Duo Reunited
Cool 쿨 Gen 1 · Debuted 1994 · Group On hiatus
Clon 클론 Gen 1 · Debuted 1996 · Duo On hiatus
H.O.T. 에이치오티 Gen 1 · Debuted 1996 · Group SM Entertainment Reunited
Sechs Kies 젝스키스 Gen 1 · Debuted 1997 · Group Daesung Entertainment (DSP) On hiatus
Baby V.O.X 베이비복스 Gen 1 · Debuted 1997 · Group DR Music Reunited
S.E.S. 에스이에스 Gen 1 · Debuted 1997 · Group SM Entertainment Disbanded
Shinhwa 신화 Gen 1 · Debuted 1998 · Group SM Entertainment On hiatus
Fin.K.L 핑클 Gen 1 · Debuted 1998 · Group DSP Media Reunited
Koyote 코요태 Gen 1 · Debuted 1998 · Group
g.o.d 지오디 Gen 1 · Debuted 1999 · Group SidusHQ
Fly to the Sky 플라이 투 더 스카이 Gen 1 · Debuted 1999 · Duo SM Entertainment On hiatus

Solo 4

Kim Gun-mo 김건모 Gen 1 · Debuted 1992 · Solo Line Production
Uhm Jung-hwa 엄정화 Gen 1 · Debuted 1993 · Solo
BoA 보아 Gen 1 · Debuted 2000 · Solo SM Entertainment
PSY 싸이 Gen 1 · Debuted 2001 · Solo

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Key events of this era

  1. 1992Seo Taiji and Boys released their first album and debuted on an MBC stage on April 11 with '난 알아요', reshaping the Korean music scene.
  2. 1995Lee Soo-man reorganized SM Planning into SM Entertainment, and the agency-led idol training system took off in earnest.
  3. 1996SM's H.O.T. made its broadcast debut, opening the era of 1st Gen idol groups built on trainee selection and training.
  4. 1999China's Beijing Youth Daily is said to have first used the term 'Hallyu' (Korean Wave).
  5. 1999The Mnet Music Video Festival, predecessor of the MAMA Awards, was held for the first time.
  6. 2002BoA's Japanese album 'LISTEN TO MY HEART' debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon weekly album chart, a first for a Korean singer.