What is K-pop and why does it appeal to such a diverse audience?

The rise of Korean artistic culture in the Balearic Islands has been gradual, gaining visibility thanks to local initiatives such as K-pop Baleares. K-pop (Korean pop) encompasses different musical styles that follow a shared line influenced and produced in South Korea. Although its main genre is pop, over time it has merged with other genres, including R&B and electronic music.

K-pop is far more than just a musical genre, as it is accompanied by a clean and distinct visual style: choreography, carefully crafted group identities, and the dynamics between artists and their audiences. As a result, performers within this movement undergo training similar to that of a musical theatre performer, encompassing music, dance, acting, singing and even modelling.

At first glance, it might seem that the audience for this movement is mainly young, as the groups often project that image. However, K-pop fans today span a wide range of ages, from children as young as five to people over sixty-five. This is because many singers are also trained actors who appear in K-dramas (Korean TV series), allowing them to reach a more mature audience that later becomes interested in their music.

In fact, since its beginnings in the 1990s, the movement has been divided into different generations, with the current one being the fifth. As a result, new groups emerge regularly – sometimes every few weeks – connecting with today’s younger audiences. Each generation has its own leading groups or solo artists, and the fanbase tends to be highly loyal, even over time. Some of the most prominent groups include BTS and BIG BANG, which belong to different generations.

K-pop Baleares: A decade promoting Korean culture

How did K-pop culture arrive and take root in the Balearic Islands? Leyla Sabelly, head of the K-pop Baleares community, says that the islands have had a loyal audience for this movement for over fifteen years: “Although the fan groups are relatively small, they strongly identify with the artists – their style, their behaviour and, above all, their motivation to create art”.

 

However, Sabelly explains that, over the years, due to the lack of connections between Balearic Islands and South Korea, it has been difficult to demonstrate that there is a loyal and engaged fanbase. She illustrates this by pointing out that a decade ago it was difficult to find merchandise or cultural products linked to K-pop: “Many people relied on friends travelling to Asia to bring them back,” she says. Today, however, the situation has changed. A simple walk through the central Palma or a visit to major shopping centres reveals shelves dedicated exclusively to K-pop music and merchandise.

Leyla Sabelly launched the K-Balear movement a decade ago, known on social media as K-pop Baleares. She explains that it is not formally an association, although it operates in a similar way, but rather describes it as a community. Its main role is to share audiovisual content from a wide variety of groups in order to introduce them to followers of this culture. “It’s a way of supporting and encouraging young people to express their creativity through K-pop,” Sabelly adds. They also organise events – which they call artistic gatherings – that serve as a space to showcase this art form.

Events and spaces bringing Korea closer to the islands

Initiatives of these have helped Korean culture establish itself within Balearic society, with major venues in Palma, such as the Auditorium and the Trui Teatre, incorporating K-pop performances into their programmes.

Given the specificity of this audience and culture, Sabelly acknowledges that contact with similar associations or public institutions is relatively straightforward: “For example, the Korean Consulate in Barcelona supports us by providing basic information and helping with our outreach.”

In recent years, the movement has gained greater visibility through initiatives such as I Love Korea Fest, a project by K-pop Baleares aimed at showcasing Korean culture and highlighting the connection between the island and the Asian country. Interestingly, one of the main links between the two is Eak-tai Ahn, composer of the South Korean national anthem and also founder of the Orquestra Simfònica de Mallorca.

The international impact of K-pop Demon Hunters and the Golden phenomenon

However, the definitive turning point for Korean music culture came in early 2026, when the K-pop genre won its first Academy Award for Best Original Song. The track “Golden”, from the film K-pop Demon Hunters, took home the Oscar, confirming the global scale of the phenomenon. Released on streaming platform Netflix, is an urban fantasy musical that follows a female K-pop group, Huntr/x, who lead a double life as demon hunters.

Leyla Sabelly notes that the Demon Hunters phenomenon has brought about a significant shift, particularly in the widespread use of the term ‘K-pop’. “As it has become so widely shared among both parents and children, the first events following the film’s release were especially enjoyable, as everyone involved recognised something about K-pop that connected us,” she says.

A global culture that has become part of the Balearic Islands

In conclusion, K-pop is no longer a distant trend but an established reality in the Balearic Islands. A movement that connects generations, crosses borders and proves that, even from the other side of the world, culture can find its place on the islands.