Hit songs that colored Korea's 1990s: Kayo (K-pop) pop music.
These days, K-pop has become beloved worldwide.
In today’s Reiwa-era Korea, J-pop—nostalgic yet refreshingly new—is starting to catch on, and songs that incorporate retro flavors are gaining popularity.
Korea’s 90s tracks are packed with the charms of mainstream pop that also seem connected to Japanese music!
Some of you may have discovered certain songs through covers by K-pop artists.
From emotionally rich ballads to irresistibly catchy tunes that still resonate today—there are so many wonderful classics.
Be sure to check them out!
Hit songs that colored Korea’s 1990s. Kayo (pop) (1–10)
난 알아요(I Know)서태지와 아이들(Seotaiji and Boys)
Seo Taiji and Boys, a Korean idol group active from 1992 to 1996.
Like Sobangcha, they’re known as a group that laid the foundation for modern K-pop.
Among their songs, a particularly recommended track is “난 알아요 (I Know).” The track, influenced by hip-hop and R&B of the time, is striking, and its catchy rap and vocals make it an incredibly approachable song.
A must-listen for fans of old-school rap!
ExcusesKimu Gonmo
These days, when people think of Korea’s national artists, mainstream idols like BTS and BIGBANG come to mind, but not so long ago, Kim Gun-mo was known as a national artist.
Armed with an orthodox, catchy musical style, he produced many classic songs and was especially prolific throughout the ’90s.
“Excuses” is one of his signature hits.
In terms of vibe, he’s similar to ASKA in Japan.
It’s a wonderful track, featuring a distinctive reggae-influenced vocal delivery and a delicate, wistful sound.
HopeH.O.T
As one of the first-generation groups in the Korean idol scene, H.O.T.
is beloved by many K-pop artists and fans.
Their name is read just as it appears: H-O-T.
They’re known as a group that infused rap and dance into K-pop, and their performances resemble those of today’s idols.
Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is Hope.
This track is heavily influenced by Black music, featuring a sound that closely aligns with the US R&B and hip-hop of that era.
Love Is…TURBO
TURBO is a three-member Korean idol group that was hugely popular in the 1990s.
The name is pronounced just as it looks: “Turbo.” They resumed activities in 2015 and still enjoy popularity among certain fan groups today.
Among their songs, the one I especially recommend is “Love Is…”.
While the track carries a bit of that classic Korean pop (gayo) vibe, its overall feel is quite similar to that of modern K-pop groups.
It’s a wonderful song where you can enjoy both the flavors of traditional Korean pop and idol music!
Run to youDJ DOC
DJ DOC is a Korean hip-hop group that also drew attention from heads in Japan.
The pronunciation is just as written: Dee-Jay Dee-Oh-See.
Their style retains an old-school and mid-school vibe, and they’re still regarded as stalwarts of the Korean hip-hop scene today.
Among their works, Run to You is a track I especially recommend.
Their performance, which leans closer to modern idol-style hip-hop, is striking.
It’s also the original song for DJ OZMA’s Age♂Age♂EVERY☆Knight, so many of you may find it familiar.
어젯밤 이야기소방차(Sobangcha)
Sobangcha is a music group that represents Korea.
They’re often said to be the prototype for today’s K-pop.
Although their musical style differs greatly from modern K-pop, as pioneers they still enjoy strong and lasting popularity among certain fans.
One of Sobangcha’s classic hits is “어젯밤 이야기” (Last Night’s Story).
While they laid the foundation for K-pop, their sound leans more toward rock.
The song also has a vibe similar to Japanese idol music.
Be sure to check it out.
달의 몰락kimuhyonchoru (kimu hyonchoru)
Hyun Chul Kim is a singer-songwriter from South Korea.
These days, in addition to being an artist, he’s also active as a composer and music producer.
Among his songs, the one I especially recommend is ‘달의 몰락’ (The Moon’s Fall).
His breathy vocal style is striking, and overall his musical sensibility is similar to Koji Tamaki in Japan.
The sweet, almost broken-off vibrato is quite sensual, so if you focus on that while listening, you’ll enjoy it even more.