Experts agree that J-pop has resolved the lack of diversity in the Korean music market.
“Most of the spotlight goes to idol groups’ music, which is labeled as K-pop. Still, a significant number of younger people consume a lot of indie music, so-called non-mainstream music, through YouTube or other platforms. There is demand for more diverse, deep musical options, but the Korean music market has not been able to meet that demand,” says Jung Duk-hyun, a pop culture critic.
The active performances of Japanese artists, coupled with J-pop’s entry into the Korean domestic music charts, are a phenomenon driven by a public craving for more diverse music, listeners and critics said. The Korean music market does have distinct strengths, which the global popularity of K-pop has proven, but they noted it is still lacking in terms of diversity.
“I think the biggest asset of the Japanese music industry is the capital and culture that enables the preservation of artists’ diversity and uniqueness,” said Jang Mi, an enthusiastic listener of J-pop.
“I like philosophical, subjective lyrics that talk about deep emotions, but it seems like the Korean music market considers such music less commercial, non-profitable. Musicians who produce such music don’t last long. I think that’s the biggest difference from J-pop.”
“There is a strong feeling that Korean singers and songs are nurtured through their agencies’ guidance and training system, but Japanese singers do not seem to involve their producers when they perform the music they want to do,” added Jang.
A woman in her 20s, who only gave her first name, Han, said that J-pop provides various options that are hard to find in Korean music charts. “I like band sound, and Japanese band music artists produce high-quality music. There are indeed some band musicians in Korea, but Japanese band (music) is more detailed and exquisite.”
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