Characteristics

Audiovisual content
Although K-pop generally refers to South Korean popular music and the associated industry, some
consider it to be an all-encompassing genre exhibiting a wide spectrum of musical and visual
elements.[15][unreliable source?] The French Institut national de l'audiovisuel defines K-pop as a "fusion of
synthesized music, sharp dance routines and fashionable, colorful outfits." [16] Songs typically consist
of one or a mixture of pop, rock, hip hop, R&B, and electronic music genres.
Systematic training of artists
See also: § Industry

South Korean management agencies offer binding contracts to potential artists, sometimes at a
young age. Trainees live together in a regulated environment and spend many hours a day learning
how to sing, dance, speak foreign languages, and gain other skills in preparation for their debut. This
"robotic" system of training is often criticized by Western media outlets. [17] In 2012, The Wall Street
Journal reported that the cost of training one Korean idol under SM Entertainment averaged US$3
million.[18]
Hybrid genre and transnational values

Search volume for K-pop for the period 2008–2012

according to Google Trends.
K-pop is a cultural product that features "values, identity and meanings that go beyond their strictly
commercial value."[19] It is characterized by a mixture of modern Western sounds and African-
American influences (including sounds from Hip-hop, R&B, Jazz, black pop, soul, funk, techno,
disco, house, and Afrobeats) with a Korean aspect of performance (including synchronized dance
moves, formation changes and the so-called "point choreography" consisting of hooking and
repetitive key movements). It has been remarked that there is a "vision of modernization" inherent in
Korean pop culture.[20] For some, the transnational values of K-pop are responsible for its success. A
commentator at the University of California, San Diego has said that "contemporary Korean pop
culture is built on ... transnational flows ... taking place across, beyond, and outside national and
institutional boundaries."[21] Some examples of the transnational values inherent in K-pop that may
appeal to those from different ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds include a dedication to
high-quality output and presentation of idols, as well as their work ethic and polite social demeanor,
made possible by the training period.[22]