BTS break records, Blackpink hit new heights: K-pop adapts, survives and thrives in 2020 amid Covid-19 pandemic
- The K-pop industry took 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic in stride
- Online concerts, album sales, calls for social justice and international collaborations helped grow Korean pop music’s reach
K-pop has gained love from fans across the world for years, but it was in 2020 that the musical genre showed how high it can fly amid adversity.
The year started on a high for Korean pop music before plunging into the harsh reality of the global pandemic. People around the world found themselves stuck at home and looked for distraction and entertainment on the internet – the place where K-pop connects most with its global audience.
K-pop offered a respite and consolation – and for the rest of the global music industry, a blueprint for how to engage digitally with fans.
It wasn’t just about trying to maintain business as usual – K-pop sought to capitalise and become even more successful. And by the end of the year, everyone was talking about K-pop artists and their fans, who weren’t only rooting for their favourite bands but also standing up for social justice and against racism and hate.
