K-pop

noun

ˈkā-ˌpäp 

: popular music originating in South Korea and encompassing a variety of styles

The opening ceremony, which took place Friday in Pyeongchang, South Korea, featured several songs from notable K-pop artists as teams circled the stadium.

—Kimberly Yam

Examples of K-pop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Part of that meant Jiung letting go of perfection typically placed — and expected — upon K-pop idols. — Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2026

Last year, NewJeans staged a revolt that challenged the foundations of the K-pop industry. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026

Originally cast in 2023 as a contestant for the K-pop reality show that formed Katseye, she was booted out early partly because—despite becoming a fan favorite in Netflix’s subsequent docuseries—the judges sensed she was destined for solo stardom. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026

Manga Day Festival Enjoy a free day of manga, anime and sequential art with a welcome parade, K-pop Demon singalong, a cosplay runway showcase, free swag bags to the first 300 preregistered arrivals, plus drawing and masterclasses. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

short for Korean pop

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for K-pop

• bop
• chop
• cop
• crop
• drop
• flop
• fop
• hop
• knop
• lop
• mop
• op