K-pop contenders: after BTS, three more bands that could conquer the West
- BTS have taken the US and Europe by storm this year, breaking all kinds of records
- Upcoming bands include Monsta X have been climbing the US charts
By Kwak Yeon-soo
With the worldwide success of South Korean boy band BTS, 2018 has become a litmus test for K-pop’s global expansion. This year has shown how far a K-pop act can go in the United States and gain traction in Western markets.
Along with their speech at the United Nations, the seven-member boy band have set multiple records, including topping the Billboard 200 chart twice and selling out concerts in Europe and North America.
BTS may not be the first K-pop band to break into the US, but they have given global music fans a taste of K-pop, which often embodies catchy melodies, powerful choreography, conceptual staging and heartfelt lyrics.
While K-pop is experiencing success on its own terms, many industry insiders are waiting to see which act will be the next to conquer the West. Here are three K-pop outfits acts on the rise.