The history of K-Pop is full of significant moments that have made it what it is today. From its small beginnings in South Korea to a global phenomenon, K-Pop has always been shaped by creativity and the drive to break new ground. Every “FIRST” moment in K-Pop shows the hard work and fresh ideas of its artists, producers and fans. Whether it was the first light stick that changed concerts forever, or the first international award that brought K-Pop onto the world stage – these moments are essential to understanding its success.
Today we are looking at these topics:
- The first K-Pop idol group
- The first group to sell 1 million albums
- The first fan club name
- The first photocard
- The first sub-unit
- The first light stick
- The first dance practice video
- The first “2x Speed Dance Challenge”
- The first fancam in K-Pop
- The first Korean “Ending Fairy”
- The first Korean artist to be nominated for the Grammys
- The first TikTok challenge in K-Pop
The first K-Pop idol group
Before K-Pop became a global phenomenon, “Seo Taiji and Boys” laid the foundation for the industry with their debut single in 1992. This trio revolutionized the South Korean music scene by combining Western genres such as hip-hop, rock and techno with Korean lyrics and culture.
“Seo Taiji and Boys” introduced themes and styles that were unknown in Korean pop music at the time, and addressed topics such as the problems of youth, social pressure and cultural identity. Their groundbreaking success not only changed the music scene, but also marked the beginning of idol culture as we know it today. With new standards for choreography, music production and fan engagement, they paved the way for the future of K-Pop.
The first group to sell 1 million albums
The first K-Pop group to sell 1 million albums? That was Seo Taiji and Boys with their iconic second album “Seo Taiji and Boys II”, released in 1993. This milestone was not only a great success, but also changed the South Korean music industry and showed the world the massive commercial potential of K-Pop as a genre!
The first fan club name
The whole concept of official K-Pop fan club names picked up speed in the 1990s. At that time, fan clubs such as H.O.T.’s “Club H.O.T.” and Sechs Kies’ fandom were rather informal and were often organized by the fans themselves. The names were not officially recognized by the agencies, but as K-Pop gained popularity, the industry realized how powerful these fan clubs were and decided to give them official titles. The first example of this change came in 2002, when S.E.S. introduced their fandom as “Friend/Chingu”, although it still had a fan-driven origin.
As K-Pop moved into its second generation, a lot of things began to change. TVXQ coined the fan club name “Cassiopeia”, which is often considered one of the first fan club names officially created by an agency. From then on, the trend spread – groups like Fin.K.L. called their fans “Pinkys”, a cute variation of their name, while Baby V.O.X. called their fans “Baby Angels”. These fan club names not only helped to unite the fans, but also became an important marketing tool for the groups, creating an even stronger connection between artists and their supporters!
The first photocard
The iconic photocard trend actually began with TVXQ. In 2007, they released limited cards together with their Japanese album “Summer Dream” and introduced photocards to the K-Pop world.
In 2010, Girls' Generation (SNSD) made history when, with their hit “Oh!”, they became the first K-Pop group to include photocards in a Korean album. At first there was not much fuss, but the idea quickly took off, thanks to groups like Super Junior, SHINee and EXO. Today, photocards are a must-have and an indispensable part of K-Pop culture!
The first sub-unit
The idea of sub-units in K-Pop began with the boy group Super Junior, who launched their first sub-unit “Super Junior-K.R.Y.” in 2006. This trio, consisting of Kyuhyun, Ryeowook and Yesung, put the focus on ballads and vocal performances and paved the way for what later became a trend in the K-Pop industry. The success of “Super Junior-K.R.Y.” opened the door for other groups to explore sub-units, which allowed the artists to dive into different genres and concepts while appealing to specific fandoms.
Since then, sub-units have become a strategic way to bring variety within a group and to offer fans even more personalized content. Groups like “Orange Caramel” (After School), “TTS” (SNSD), “EXO-CBX” (EXO), “NCT U” (NCT) and “BSS” (SEVENTEEN) have continued their success and impressed with fresh ideas that captivated both fans and critics and contributed to the diversity of K-Pop!
The first light stick
Light sticks have become an iconic part of K-Pop culture, but that was not always the case. Before there were light sticks, fans cheered on their idols with colorful balloons. But then Big Bang ran into a problem: there was no balloon color left that wasn't already being used by another group! G-Dragon had an “aha” moment and thought: “What if we could use something different to cheer?” And that is how the light stick was born.
Big Bang is credited with creating the first official K-Pop light stick. In 2006, they unveiled their legendary Bang Bong light stick, which is shaped like a crown. It not only represented their fandom, the VIPs, but also brought a fascinating visual element to their concerts and set the standard for fan light sticks in the industry.
“Black Ocean”
While K-Pop is full of passion and energy, there is a darker side that fans rarely talk about – the so-called “Black Ocean”. This happens when fans deliberately turn off their light sticks and stay silent during a group's performance. It is a powerful and heartbreaking sign of rejection.
For K-Pop groups, experiencing a Black Ocean is one of the hardest experiences. Performing in complete darkness without waves of light sticks or cheers can feel isolating. It is not just a lack of support – it is a clear, deliberate rejection. Fans take part in a Black Ocean to express their disappointment with the group, the management or certain controversies.
Although rare, the Black Ocean leaves a lasting impression. The silence and darkness send a shattering message that shows how much power fans have in K-Pop culture. Unlike the usual electrifying cheers of the fans, the Black Ocean is the most extreme way fans can show their rejection of the group. It is a painful experience for any group and is a reminder of how deep the connection between idols and their fans is and how quickly this bond can be broken.
The first dance practice video
In K-Pop, releasing so-called “Dance Practice” videos has become standard whenever groups or solo artists come out with a comeback or a new track with choreography. These videos have quickly become fan favorites, as they give fans the chance to learn the moves themselves and at the same time offer a behind-the-scenes look at how much work and precision goes into perfecting every routine. Dance practice videos have become an important part of K-Pop culture and are loved by fans all over the world today. In fact, these videos sometimes even surpass the actual music videos, thanks to fans' love of choreography and the desire to master the moves. The raw, unpolished look at their idols makes these rehearsals a central part of K-Pop fandom.
Fun fact: Did you know that “SHINee” was the first group to deliberately release an official dance practice video? They introduced this groundbreaking idea with their iconic track “Replay” and thereby set a trend that became a K-Pop must-have. This step changed the game and created a new way for fans to interact with their idols and their performances!
The first “2x Speed Dance Challenge”
The “2x Speed Dance Challenge” is a fun K-Pop tradition that began in 2016 on the variety show “Weekly Idol”. Idols perform their choreographies at double speed, showing off their talent, teamwork and stamina in a playful way.
It began with GFRIEND’s incredible performance of “Rough”, which amazed the fans and hosts with its energy and precision. Since then, groups, from newcomers to legends, have taken part in the challenge, making it a must when promoting new songs.
Fans love it for the laughs, the impressive moves and the chance to see idols in a new way. The trend has even inspired global 2x speed dance covers, proving how K-Pop continues to unite people through creativity and fun!
The first fancam in K-Pop
Fancams, those addictive close-ups of our favorite idols, are a K-Pop fan's dream. But where did this phenomenon begin? While fancams existed earlier, the first viral fancam was of “Yuri” of “Girls’ Generation” in 2010. Her performance of “Oh!” at Namyangju Central Stadium showed her amazing energy and moves, which earned her the title of “Black Pearl”. This iconic fancam became a sensation despite the relatively small online audience.
Then came “Hani” of “EXID” in 2014, whose fancam of “Up & Down” broke the internet and made her group stars overnight. Since then, fancams have become a cultural standard, with idols often thanking fans for capturing their stunning moments. Today, fancams are more than just videos – they are the ultimate love letter from fans!
The first Korean “Ending Fairy”
The term “Ending Fairy” in K-Pop refers to the idol who steals the spotlight at the end of a performance with an iconic close-up. This trend gives performances a charming, personal flair and has become a popular part of K-Pop stages. The term combines “Ending” for the last moment of the performance and “Fairy”, a Korean slang term for someone who is exceptionally beautiful or captivating.
The term gained widespread popularity during the show “Produce 101”, when Jung Chaeyeon of I.O.I became one of the best-known examples through her stunning closing moment during “Into the New World”. This trend has developed into a playful element that idols gladly embrace. A standout example was SHINee's “Atlantis” promotion. During the performance on SBS’s Inkigayo, Key decided to bring humor into his Ending Fairy moment by holding up a handwritten sign that said “Ending Fairy” and jokingly announcing that he would be stepping down from the role.
The first Korean artist to be nominated for the Grammys
The Grammy Awards are widely regarded as the most prestigious awards in the music industry, and receiving a nomination is a great achievement that reflects an artist's significant influence. BTS made history by becoming the first Korean artist to be nominated for a Grammy. The group received two nominations in the category “Best Pop Duo”/“Group Performance”: one for their hit “Dynamite” in 2021 and another for “Butter” in 2022.
But that's not all. In 2018, they made history by becoming the first Korean artists to reach No. 1 on the “Billboard 200” with their album “Love Yourself: Tear”. Then, in 2020, BTS continued their chart success by becoming the first Korean artists to reach No. 1 on the “Billboard Hot 100” with their worldwide hit “Dynamite”.
The first TikTok challenge in K-Pop
When it comes to viral moments, Zico of Block B set the bar with the “Any Song Challenge” in January 2020. This challenge got everyone, from fans to celebrities, dancing to the cheerful choreography of his song “Any Song”. Before that point, TikTok was not yet widespread in South Korea, but Zico's challenge changed that overnight. The trend became so popular that it opened the doors to countless K-Pop dance challenges. Soon groups like BLACKPINK, BTS and ITZY joined the platform too, making TikTok an important means of promoting music and reaching fans worldwide.
