K-POP NOW

Not since the teen pop craze of the early 2000s have we seen a music movement quite like this. Acts like BTS and Blackpink have led K-pop boldly into the mainstream, winning fans around the globe with catchy hooks, colorful videos, and irresistible personalities. But that’s only a sampling of what Korea’s hottest acts have to offer.

- TIM CHAN

While K-pop isn’t a new phenomenon — the supergroup Super Junior just celebrated their 15th anniversary, and rapper CL is as relevant as ever, five years after her longtime girl group 2NE1 broke up — it’s never been a more exciting time to be a K-pop fan. Today, a new wave of artists is pushing the genre forward with A-list collaborations, adventurous new sounds, and surprising emotional heft.

Just as Latin pop has become a major global force over the past decade, the best K-pop songs transcend genres, languages, and borders with ease. In fact, as these seven artists prove — from hot new groups to solo stars changing the game — K-pop isn’t defined by where you’re from anymore, but rather, where you’re ready to let the music take you.

CHUNG HA

A triple threat who sings in Korean, English, and Spanish

IF there were any doubt left that K-pop is a truly global phenomenon, just listen to Chung Ha, the singer-dancer-choreographer who stormed onto the international scene this year with her reggaeton-tinged hit “Demente.” The single marked the first time a K-pop artist released a song sung entirely in Spanish, and immediately won over fans both old and new.

Born in Seoul and raised in Dallas, Chung Ha, 25, says she’s always wanted to be an artist for everyone, regardless of their location, language, or genre of choice. The songs on her debut album,