What KATSEYE's success means for future of K-pop

KATSEYE, the first global girl group jointly launched by HYBE and Geffen Records, is proving that K-pop’s next frontier may not be in Seoul but in the world’s major markets. Backed by what HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk has called the “K-pop methodology,” the group’s achievements suggest a new growth path for an industry that some say has reached saturation. KATSEYE was formed through the audition program “The Debut: Dream Academy” and officially launched in June 2023 with the single “Debut.” The “K-pop methodology” at the heart of their creation refers to exporting Korea’s production system abroadm keeping the DNA of K-pop while tailoring it to local music markets. It was proposed as an answer to concerns that K-pop’s explosive growth would inevitably slow. As the first experiment in this strategy, KATSEYE’s trajectory has been closely watched. Their results are increasingly being seen as proof of concept. From Billboard to Lollapalooza In just over a year, KATSEYE has built an impressive track record. Their debut EP “SIS” entered the Billboard 200, while songsWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times