Timeline of K-pop at Billboard is a history of K-pop as recorded by Billboard, Billboard charts and Billboard K-Town, an online magazine column, presented by Billboard on its Billboard.com site, that reports on K-pop music; artists, concerts, chart information and news events. It is followed by later history at Timeline of K-pop at Billboard in the 2020s.
Legend +Type codes TEvent type BBillboard picks CConcert events CHChart information FFan picks INIndustry news KK-Town column launched MTMovie or television related OOther +Location codesEvent location L South Korea KR United States US Other O
1998 TMDEventDetailsL BJan+K-pop in Billboard top 1998 songs (2018 selections)#91, J. Y. Park's "Honey", did not chart on Billboard charts, but became "an instant K-pop classic", covered over the years by countless others. US
1999 TMDEventDetailsL BJan+K-pop in Billboard top 1999 songs (2019 selections)#37, Lee Jung-hyun's "Wa", a techno introduction to K-pop and a classic of K-pop's first-generation; and #70, H.O.T.'s "I Yah!", a social protest song infused with "metal and hard rock elements" by the group that was considered the first K-pop idol group. Neither song charted on the Billboard charts. US OOct91st use of term "K-pop" in Billboard magazineIn the article, "S. Korea To Allow Some Japanese Live Acts", a report from Seoul correspondent Cho Hyun-jin, in a quote of music producer Kim Chang-Hwan's. US
2000 TMDEventDetailsL INMar25K-pop Concert Promoters Association formedA 50-member trade body and lobby group established to modernize the local concert industry, no longer a "mom-and-pop shop", according to its first president, Lee Jong-hyeon of promoter Live Entertainment. KR INNov181st licensing deal between South Korean and Japanese record labelsS.M. Entertainment, home of K-pop artists H.O.T., S.E.S. and others, with Japan's biggest independent label Avex Trax, as South Korean government starts lifting ban on Japanese pop music (as of June 2000, restrictions on recording sales, with no Japanese lyrics, had been lifted). KR
2001 TMDEventDetailsL INJunChannel V Korea launchedA 24-hour music video channel, jointly owned by Hong Kong-based Asian TV network Channel V and South Korean record label DoReMi; a time of increased regional popularity for Korean pop and hip-hop groups in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. O INJul1MTV Korea launchedA 24-hour MTV channel in South Korea, Asia's second-biggest music market; with Korean pop a priority, as local consumers were purchasing it at nearly four times the rate of international pop. KR
2002 TMDEventDetailsL INDec28South Korean music industry investigationAllegations included bribery and corruption, specifically chart fixing, payola and "inappropriate" talent lobbying. Popular artists by this time include Shinhwa, H.O.T. and BoA. KR
2003 TMDEventDetailsL INFeb8Declining album salesS.M. Entertainment and the Recording Industry Association of Korea (RIAK) cite industry file sharing as a problem, while some industry insiders and fans account it to a stale product. After H.O.T.'s break-up, its splinter members, Kangta, Moon Hee-joon and jtL remained popular. KR CMay17Major Seoul concert against music piracyOlympic Park concert called "F*, standing for "Freedom, Fever and Future", with 30,000 fans and including artists BoA, Kangta, g.o.d and Drunken Tiger; predecessor was the "Dream Concert", started in 1995. KR INJuneGroup creates music videos for mobile-phone serviceJYP Entertainment's Noel partners with SK Telecom for the launch of their mobile multimedia EV-Do, including music videos, ring tones and other services. KR
2004 TMDEventDetailsL INJan+Physical sales further decline, digital sales riseAccording to the Music Industry Association of Korea, physical musical shipments fell to $150 million U.S. dollars, while the Korean Association of Phonogram Producers reported digital sales of $185 million U.S. dollars and rising. KR
2005 TMDEventDetailsL INJun11Sales increase in JapanJapanese record business now views "K-pop as a distinct musical genre", with last two years seeing increase in popularity. O INAug20Digital music growth in South KoreaA live Seoul concert for solo artist Rain was made available to mobile phone operators. KR
2006 TMDEventDetailsL INJun27MTV K launched in U.S.A satellite TV channel for Korean Americans which went defunct in 2007. It was revamped in 2010 with major K-pop content and organized some K-pop concerts in New York City, but by May 2017, had ceased operations. US CAug19Major South Korean music festival debutPentaport Rock Festival 2006, first major rock festival since the "1999 Tri-port Festival" and which included K-pop, like Psy. KR
2007 TMDEventDetailsLBJun161st artist on Billboard magazine coverJ. Y. Park, artist and producer, featured in the June 16 edition of Billboard, a special advertisement cover for artists or companies selected by the magazine. US
2008 TMDEventDetailsLMTAprArtist debuts in Hollywood filmRain, Speed Racer USMTMay5Artist guests on U.S. late-night talk showRain, The Colbert Report, May 5, 2008 episode. After being beaten by Rain for the Time 100 people's choice award several times, host Stephen Colbert challenged him to a dance-off which was aired on the show. USCDec61st artist performs at iHeartRadio music eventBoA, Anaheim's KIIS-FM Jingle Ball concert, Honda Center. US
2009
TMDEventDetailsL INMar1st direct distribution on iTunes DFSB Kollective signed worldwide distribution deals with a range of South Korean music acts, including Epik High, Yoon Mi-rae and Drunken Tiger. KRCHApr41st album on Billboard 200 chart#127, BoA, BoA USCJun+1st opener for U.S. artist concert tourWonder Girls for Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009 North America leg of tour. USMTJul201st performance on U.S. TV showWonder Girls' "Nobody" on The Wendy Williams Show USMTNovArtist with lead role in German-American filmRain, Ninja Assassin USCHOct311st single on Billboard Hot 100 chartWonder Girls' "Nobody" debuted at No. 76. USMTDec91st performance on US dance competition TV showWonder Girls "Nobody" on So You Think You Can Dance US
2010 TMDEventDetailsLCHMar27First album on Billboard World Albums chartEpik High's Epilogue debuts at No.13.US OAug6Artist/producer/CEO receives global leadership award in AtlantaJ.Y. Park, Usher's New Look's World Leadership Awards, "Global Ambassador of Youth Award", shared with Michelle Nunn and Hital Muraj, among eight recipients which included former U.S. President Bill Clinton. USCHSep4Tour on Billboard Hot Tours top 10#10, SM Town Live '10 World Tour, Los Angeles's Staples Center, grossed $1.1 million with 15,015 tickets sold, placing them on the Billboard Hot Tour list on their boxscore report for October 9. USBSep231st artists on Billboard annual showcase "21 under 21"#16, Wonder Girls, Birthdates (ages, at the time): Sunye: August 12, 1989 (age 21); Yenny: May 26, 1989 (age 21); Sohee: June 27, 1992 (age 18); Yubin: October 4, 1988 (age 21); Lim: September 1, 1992 (age 18) US FSep26Group voted "Best Mashup Monday of 2011" Billboard poll#1, Wonder Girls cover of B.o.B and Bruno Mars's "Nothin' on You", winning 65% of poll votes with 32 videos entered, over #2 Greyson Chance, #3 Hanson, #4 James Blunt and #5 Grace Potter. USCNov261st artists perform live at Billboard StudioJYJ at Billboard New York studio, from their album The Beginning "Ayyy Girl" and "Empty" US FDec8Artists on Billboard Readers' Poll Your Fave Album Of 2010#5, JYJ, The Beginning, between Taylor Swift, #4 and Katy Perry, #6. US
2011 TMDEventDetailsLCH Jun301st artist on Social 50 chart2PM debuts at No. 35 following the release of their album Hands Up and the music video of their song "Hands Up".USCH Aug25Korea K-Pop Hot 100 chart launchedSistar's song "So Cool" was the first to top the chart. USBSep27Artist on Billboard annual showcase "21 under 21" (2nd time)#17, HyunA, birthdate June 6, 1992 (age, at the time, 19). US OOct11Article on artist going to militaryRain joins Republic of Korea Army KRBOct241st article by 1st Billboard K-pop columnist"K-Pop Hits Madison Square Garden at SMTown Live", Jeff Benjamin's "on the scene" coverage of a SM Town Live '10 World Tour concert at Madison Square Garden, including the press conference. USCNov25-26"2011 Billboard K-Pop Masters, presented by MGM Grand" Las Vegas2 nights of concerts in MGM Grand Garden Arena, organized by Billboard Korea. The line-up included TVXQ, 4Minute, G.NA, MBLAQ, Sistar, Beast, Shinee, and Brown Eyed Girls. US
2012