The Korean Wave is making its splash all over the western culture. When Park Jae-Sang, recognized by stage name Psy, had released his famous hit single “Gangnam Style” in July of 2012, the world craved more. The music video had received a whopping 15 million views and is currently at 2 billion. Psy’s channel has received 7.5 million subscribers and following “Gangnam Style,” Psy released “Gentlemen” on April 13, 2013 that has almost reached the 1 billion mark. Psy has even collaborated with a famous American rapper, Snoop Dogg, in his proceeding video “Hangover.”

Is Psy the only Korean singer the world recognizes? The answer is no. Psy was just the beginning of the Korean culture following throughout the whole world, including the U.S. The creators of the popular music are known as SM Entertainment, a Korean-Chinese entertainment agency. All artists that pass through SM Entertainment must pass through boot camp which include, but not limited to vocal classes, dance practice, keeping a healthy and lean body, and fashion 101. Their most loved groups include EXO, a boy band consisting of 12 members, Super Junior, boy band consisting of 10 members, and Girls Generation, a girl group currently consisting of 8 members. Well known songs from each group include “Overdose,” “Sorry Sorry,” and “Gee.”  Not just the fans in Korea are head-over-heels for these pop/hip-hop sensations, even American boys and girls have fallen in love with their charm. Examining each group closer, most members are slim, chic, fair-skinned, and have many talents along with just singing and dancing. Just as the U.S. has their top hottest looking artists, South Korea thrives with their heart throb males, either cute and gentlemen or muscles and rough, and their beautiful woman, sexy or scandalous or cute and shy.

There are controversies following these idols. Many accuse South Koreans of over using plastic surgery in order to achieve a perfect image. Others speculate that these ideas set a bad example for not just young females, but as well as for young males. Depending on certain agencies and their ideas, certain artists of the Korean world have undergone multiple surgeries to change their nose, plump up the lip, or tighten any loose skin. However, veteran artists have decided to go all natural along with upcoming stars, as they want to project an image of themselves rather than being known as “perfectionists”.

Despite this, the South Korean artists try to keep their music fun, colorful, and catchy, along with even heartwarming love songs or totally random gibberish that does not make sense whatsoever. Hip-hop is becoming a popular genre among the region and is slowly making its why within the states with famous artist G-Dragon and Hyuna with their songs “Crayon” and “Red.” Korean singers are mixing both English and Korean into their music to build up their population with world-wide fans and regardless if many of the fans do or do not understand Korean, they still like to follow through the catchy beat.

Whether you can or cannot dance to “Gangnam Style” or perform the cute dance “Gwiyomi” while looking “Ulzzang,” (overly cute), South Korea is full of music styles that fit any type of person and they are not afraid to expand their boundaries into the world.  Just as they say in South Korea, 우리가 서울에서 무엇을 즐길 수! (Enjoy Soeul to its fullest).