**K-pop**, short for **Korean popular music**, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea as part of South Korean culture [4]. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip-hop, R&B, rock, jazz, gospel, reggae, electronic dance, folk, country, disco, and more [4]. The term K-pop became popular in the 2000s, especially in the international context [4]. While K-pop can refer to all popular music or pop music from South Korea, it is colloquially often used in a narrower sense for any Korean music and artists associated with the entertainment and idol industry in the country, regardless of the genre [4]. Here are some key points about K-pop from the search results:

**History**:
In the 1990s, Korean pop musicians incorporated partially Europop and mostly American popular music styles such as hip hop, rock, jazz, and electronic dance in their music [4]. The roots of K-pop began in the 1950s and have since been influenced by different types of Western music and pop groups [6]. In 1992, the emergence of Seo Taiji & Boys marked a revolutionary moment in the history of K-pop [4]. The huge popularity of Seo Taiji & Boys among teenagers shifted the focus of the Korean music industry to teen-centered pop music [4]. The very first K-pop group to exist was H.O.T., which debuted in 1996 [6]. The popularity of K-pop indeed soared with the emergence of BoA and TVXQ on the scene in 2003 [6].

**Influence**:
K-pop has become the international face of South Korea thanks to an extremely regimented, coordinated production system [2]. K-pop stars can excel at everything from singing to comedy to rap to dance to social commentary [2]. K-pop has a distinctive blend of addictive melodies, slick choreography, and production values, and is a cultural product that features “values, identity and meanings” [4].

**Characteristics**:
K-pop is known for its synchronized dance moves, simple songs with addicting hooks, and the outer beauty of all of the K-pop groups’ members [6]. The music features catchy beats, hooks, rapping, and instrumentals for dance breaks [5]. The lyrics are often in Korean, though groups like BTS have also released songs in English and other languages [1].

**Global Impact**:
K-pop has become a truly global phenomenon, connecting people worldwide through their love of Korean pop music, while also introducing them to concepts of cultural diversity [3]. K-pop has a considerable fan base, and fans take it upon themselves to learn about cultural differences so they can be respectful of their pop idols [3].

In summary, K-pop is a popular music genre originating in South Korea that has become a global phenomenon thanks to its distinctive blend of addictive melodies, slick choreography and production values, and cultural product that features “values, identity, and meanings” [4].