What is Korean City Pop

Music
Written By Van Paugam

What is Korean City Pop

Korean City Pop is 1970s and 1980s inspired contemporary music re-imagined through the lens of a fictional past of the country’s history. Korean City Pop is pioneered by famous K-Pop stars and many in the indie scene there have also adopted the style adding their unique perspective on the music. While not enjoying the same bubble economy that Japan was experiencing at the time, Korean artists and producers show an acceptance of the style as a legitimate musical movement that focuses on retro elements both Western and Eastern.

South Korea has had some massive success when it comes to music, and is very keen on trends as well, making them a powerhouse of musical talent that knows how to market themselves. It’s no wonder why they have jumped on the City Pop style almost naturally with some of K-Pop’s biggest names working in the style. Their take on City Pop is good enough that it inspired me to make a mixtape of my favorite tracks which you can hear on the above-embedded player, though I only call this compilation City Pop as a way to define certain contemporary tropes that imitate the mood of the genre. There can never be new City Pop created because it’s distinctively locked to a specific date range of 1977-1987.

K-Pop star Yubin went as far as to get her album canceled because of copyright infringement due to similarity to Mariya Takeuchi’s works. Koreans are very aware of the popularity of the genre and add their own unique touch to the sound which seems to make it more marketable and fittingly commercial. Yukika, a Japanese singer who is based in Seoul recently released one of the most commercial interpretations of the genre ever made with her album Seoul Lady.

City Pop has always seemed like a product of the west, refined in Japan, and now finally sold in South Korea. Musical influence travels faster than the speed of light, and I hope the genre continues to inspire and influence musicians so we can get back to the authenticity and originality of more hopeful and carefree times that the music can evoke. - Van

AUTHOR

Van Paugam is an Internationally-Acclaimed DJ and leading figure specializing in 70s and 80s Japanese Music, dubbed City Pop. He has organized and hosted over 100 events dedicated to the style, and actively promotes Japanese culture while on the board of the Japanese Arts Foundation of Chicago. He has been featured on CNN, NHK, and many other publications for his dedication to City Pop. Van is credited with being the first person to begin popularizing City Pop online through his mixes on YouTube in 2016, and subsequently through live events. Learn More…

 

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Van Paugam
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