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A Classic of Korean City Pop [KOREAN CITY POP]
In recent years, Japanese city pop has become beloved around the world.
Whether you usually listen to K-pop or not, many of you are probably interested, right?
While the definition has broadened and there are many ways to interpret it, it evokes a refined, “urban” feel.
In Korea, although that stylish approach hasn’t often produced explosive hits, starting around 2018 there’s been a noticeable increase in retro-style releases, and their charm has maintained strong support.
In this article, we’ll spotlight some classic tracks from this Korean take on city pop!
Korean City Pop Masterpieces [KOREAN CITY POP] (1–10)
Your SummerKIM A REUM
The moment you hear the birdsong and the sound of waves, along with a sweet-toned guitar and a slap-driven bassline, you’re already in a car cruising along a midsummer seaside! Kim Ah-reum, who sings this track “Your Summer,” is a South Korean female singer who debuted in 2013, and as of 2023 has released four original albums—an artist with a solid, mid-career résumé.
Her slightly lisping, cute vocals combined with a sound directly descended from 1980s Showa city pop create a perfect synergy, making this a track that fans of the style will absolutely adore.
The romantic saxophone tone adds a wonderful flavor, too!
City DriveNahee
With a title like “City Drive,” this track delivers exactly what city pop fans hope for—its breezy, rhythmically chopped guitar makes your heart dance and showcases the high caliber of Korean city pop.
The song is by Nahee, a Korean singer-songwriter and producer who debuted as a solo artist in 2019, and it was released in 2021.
As of 2023, Nahee hasn’t put out a full album and instead seems to regularly release standalone singles.
So if you like this track, I recommend checking out her other songs as well—they reveal her talents as a songwriter beyond just city pop.
We RideBrave Girls
If the phrase “K-pop girl group” makes you think of songs grounded in uptempo dance music or idol-style pop, this is exactly the Korean city pop masterpiece I want you to hear! Known for their massive hit “Rollin’” and for making waves again in 2023 by rebranding as “BB GIRLS,” Brave Girls released “We Ride” in 2020—a track that, as noted, consciously embraces a distinctly city pop sound.
Its music video also carries a subtly retro vibe that brings out a new side of the group.
Even if you’re not particularly into K-pop, this is a must-check!
Plus n MinusYein
If the name “Yein” rings a bell, you’re probably quite a fan of K-pop.
“Plus n Minus” is the solo debut track by Yein, the youngest member of the girl group Lovelyz, active from the mid-2010s to the early 2020s.
Her wistful vocals—blending a lingering youthful cuteness with the charm of a grown woman—pair exquisitely with the mellow city-pop sound.
It’s a standout song I’d recommend even to those who aren’t particularly into K-pop.
숙녀Yubin
Among the so-called second-generation groups that sparked the K-pop boom in Japan, Wonder Girls stood out with concept-driven songs that each highlighted a retro image from the ’60s to ’80s, bringing a very fresh feel and boasting many hits of different styles—and they were also quick to break into the U.S.
market as a girl group.
Yubin, who was active as the group’s main rapper, made her solo debut with “Lady (숙녀),” a track that clearly channels 1980s disco and city pop.
It’s a must-listen masterpiece for anyone looking to delve into Korean city pop.
Be sure to check out the wonderful music video too, featuring Yubin in glamorous, bubble-era fashion!
SOUL LADYYUKIKA
After working in the Japanese entertainment industry, Raika Teramoto made her debut in South Korea as a singer in 2019 under the name YUKIKA.
Her debut album, Soul Lady, released in 2020, consists entirely of songs sung in Korean and drew attention by reaching No.
1 on the K-POP album charts on iTunes in several countries.
The piece featured here is the album’s title track mentioned above, a song whose refined disco-pop arrangement evokes the 1980s—nostalgic yet fresh—and fits perfectly with current trends in the music scene.
Be sure to check out the dazzling music video as well.
GraceADOY
The high caliber of Asian city pop and indie pop is already well known, and ADOY—a Korean band that delivers wistful, dreamy synth-pop—is one of the standouts.
Since they primarily sing in English rather than Korean, they’re also easy to recommend to listeners who enjoy Western music and are new to Korean indie.
In this article, I’ll introduce one of ADOY’s signature tracks packed with their charm: “Grace,” released in 2017.
It carries a chillwave-like texture reminiscent of the early 2010s, making it a surefire hit for fans of modern bedroom pop.