Korean music
Korean music is a mix of Chinese and Japanese influences and indigenous elements.
Although it was primarily an independent state (except during the colonization of the Mongol Empire or a dependent state of the Chinese Empire for a short period of time and finally during the colonization of the Japanese Empire in 1910), Korea has been divided into two since the War of Korea, but its traditional music and culture remain the same. The only difference comes from the western capitalist influence on modern music in the South, and the western communist influence in the North.
Korean traditional music (gugak) developed according to the vicissitudes of history and as early as the 6th century, during the Silla dynasty, it was separated into court music and folk music; the instruments of the time are still in use. Also, the musicians wear a traditional hanbok or formal suit.
The second period of development of Korean music was the Middle Ages (918-1910), when the Yayue court music genre was brought from China to Korea and transformed into the local “aak”. Also, Korean folk music began to flourish around this time.
The modern period begins shortly before Japan’s conquest of Korea in 1910 and is characterized by the penetration of European art – music, dance, theater and others – into Korea, with the immediate approval of society. During this period, the music is divided into “traditional” (cor. 구각?, 國樂?, kugak) and “modern” (cor. 양악?, 洋樂?, yonak).
The development of Western musical composition has progressed most rapidly since Korea gained independence from Japan, and in the 1960s a new generation of composers was born, who actively studied the Western school of music and completely abandoned the Kagok tradition. In the 1980s, composers appeared who included Kagok in their works, but they did not find an approach to local listeners. At the same time, composer Yoon Isan was widely known in Europe for using elements of traditional Korean music in his work.
At present, the K-pop (korean pop) industry is the most popular in South Korea.
Korean music song charts
Spotify Playlists
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(LIST) Korean K-pop music
(TOP-10) South Korean music typical, traditional, folk
Meanwhile K-pop you will be able to discover some of its most emblematic music.
| Theme | followers | Browser | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|
| chill | 4,400 |  |
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| Traditional | 1,100 | |
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| R&B/House/Chill | 5,400 | |
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| k pop | 8,100 | |
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| Hip hop | 1,100 | |
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| Music of movies | 4,100 | |
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| k pop relax | 1,800 | |
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| chill | 4,100 | |
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| k pop | 7,600 | |
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| K-pop/K-rock | 2,100 | |
Youtube videos
All the Korean songs that hit it so hard, on the Google video platform.
(LIST) Historical South Korean songs
(LIST) Current best K-pop songs
(TOP-10) Korean songs
The most important South Korean artists, known worldwide.
| Theme | Reproductions | Youtube |
|---|---|---|
| Psy Gangnam Style | 3,552,000,000 |  |
| 이루마 (Yiruma) – River Flows in You | 106,600,000 | |
| BTS – DNA | 943,300,000 | |
| BoA – Only One | 45,600,000 | |
| Rain – The Best Present | 10,600,000 | |
| BIG BANG – BANG BANG BANG | 435,500,000 | |
| Super Junior – SUPER Clap | 19,200,000 | |
| EXO – Monster | 317,700,000 | |
| Grils’ Generation – Gee | 246,600,000 | |
| Urban Zakapa – I Don’t Love You | 45,600,000 | |
(TOP-5) Mix videos (>40 min.)
From love songs to traditional music and even R&B, in full-length videos.
| Theme | Reproductions | Youtube |
|---|---|---|
| movie soundtracks | 12,882,000 | |
| Indie/Acoustic | 4,526,000 | |
| Love songs | 2,407,000 | |
| R&B | 814,000 | |
| Traditional music | 27,000 | |