The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in 2018 in music in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

Notable achievements and events

* January 10–11 – IU and

BTS BTS (), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010. The band consists of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, who co-write or co-produce much of their material. Originally a hip hop group, they ...

win the digital and album daesangs, respectively, at the

32nd Golden Disc Awards The 32nd Golden Disc Awards ceremony was held on January 10–11, 2018. The JTBC network broadcast the show from the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Ilsan. It is the second consecutive year that the show was hosted at the venue. ...

. * February 25 – CL and

Exo Exo (; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean-Chinese boy band based in Seoul formed by SM Entertainment in 2011 and debuted in 2012. The group consists of nine members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay Zhang, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen (singer), Chen, Chanyeol, ...

headline the

2018 Winter Olympics The 2018 Winter Olympics (), officially the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (; ) and also known as PyeongChang 2018 (), were an international winter multi-sport event held between 9 and 25 February 2018 in Pyeongchang County, South Ko ...

closing ceremony An opening ceremony, grand opening, or ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the official opening of a newly constructed location or the start of an event.

at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, serving as representatives of K-pop at the event. * February 28 – At the annual

Korean Music Awards The Korean Music Awards () is an annual South Korean music awards show that honors both mainstream and underground musical artists from a variety of genres. Unlike other major South Korean music awards, which largely rely on record sales to de ...

, BTS, Kang Tae-gu, and

Hyukoh Hyukoh () is a South Korean indie band signed to DooRooDooRoo Artist Company. The band was formed in May 2014 and consists of leader, singer, and guitarist Oh Hyuk, bassist Im Dong-geon, guitarist Lim Hyun-jae, and drummer Lee In-woo. Career Ba ...

win the grand prizes. * April 1 and 3 – The Spring is Coming Korean cultural diplomacy concert takes place in

Pyongyang Pyongyang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is sometimes labeled as the "Capital of the Revolution" (). Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. Accordi ...

, North Korea, which featured performances from various South Korean musicians including

Cho Yong-pil Cho Yong-pil (; born March 21, 1950) is a South Korean singer-songwriter who is considered one of the most influential figures in South Korean popular music (K-pop). He debuted as a member of the rock band Atkins in 1968 and made his solo debut ...

, Red Velvet, Lee Sun-hee,

Baek Ji-young Baek Ji-young (; born March 25, 1976), sometimes Anglicisation of names, anglicized as Baek Z Young, is a South Korean singer. She made her debut in 1999, with the release of her album ''Sorrow''. Over her career she has released eight studio a ...

, and

Seohyun Seo Ju-hyun (; born June 28, 1991), known professionally as Seohyun, is a South Korean singer, actress, and songwriter. She debuted as a member of girl group Girls' Generation (and later its subgroup Girls' Generation-TTS) in August 2007, which ...

. * April 20 – The

Korea Music Content Association The Korea Music Content Association (KMCA; ) is a non‐profit organization representing major music content producers and distributors in South Korea. History The KMCA was established on December 9, 2008, and registered with the Ministry of ...

launches new certification system for albums, downloads, and streaming in South Korea. * May 27 – '' Love Yourself: Tear'' by BTS becomes the first K-pop album to top the ''Billboard'' 200, as well as the highest-charting album by any Asian act. * May 28 –

Twice Twice (; Japanese language, Japanese: トゥワイス, Hepburn romanization, Hepburn: ''Tuwaisu''; commonly stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed by JYP Entertainment. The group is composed of nine members: Nayeon, Jeongyeon ...

's " Wake Me Up" becomes the first single by a foreign female artist to be certified double platinum by the

Recording Industry Association of Japan The is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved in the music industry. It was founded in 1942 as the Japan Phonogram Record Cultural Association, and adopted its current name in 1969. The RIAJ's activities include pro ...

(RIAJ). * May 29 – BTS's " Fake Love" becomes the first K-pop song to enter the top-ten on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and the 17th non-English song to do so in the chart's history. * June 16 – "

Ddu-Du Ddu-Du "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" () is a song by South Korean girl group Blackpink, recorded for their first Korean extended play, '' Square Up'' (2018). The song was written by YG collaborator Teddy Park, whilst production and composition were handled by Teddy, ...

" by

Blackpink Blackpink (, stylized in all caps or as BLɅϽKPIИK) is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment. The group is composed of four members: Jisoo, Jennie (singer), Jennie, Rosé (singer), Rosé, and Lisa (rapper), Lisa. Regarded by ...

records 36.2 million views on

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

video within 24 hours, setting a new record by a Korean act. * June 25 – Blackpink's "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and ''Square Up'' simultaneously become the highest-charting song and album by a K-pop girl group in the US at the time. * August 8 – Red Velvet's "

Power Up POWER UP (the "Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up") is an American non-profit organization and film production company with the stated mission "to promote the visibility and integration of gay women in entertainment ...

" become the first ever song by an

SM Entertainment SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies and has been responsible for fostering and popularizing the car ...

artist to achieve Perfect All-Kill on the . * October 24 – The 9th government-run Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards take place. Kim Min-ki, Jo Dong-jin, Gim Jeong-taek, and BTS are awarded with the Order of Cultural Merit; BTS were the youngest recipients of the honor in South Korean history.

Yoon Sang Lee Yoon-sang (; born 11 May 1968), known professionally as Yoon Sang, is a South Korean composer, record producer, singer and songwriter. He currently serves as a contemporary music professor at Sungshin Women's University. Music career Lee ...

is awarded with the Presidential Commendation and

Kang San-ae Kang San-eh (, born Kang Yeong-geol, ; November 3, 1963) is a South Korean folk rock singer-songwriter and actor. He is sometimes referred to as the "Korean Bob Dylan." Early life and education Kang was born in 1963 in Busan, South Korea. His ...

and Choi Jin-hee receive the Prime Mister's Commendation. * November 5 – Twice become the fastest K-pop girl group to reach 20 million views on YouTube with " Yes or Yes", doing so in 10 hours and 27 minutes. * November 9 – " Mic Drop" (Steve Aoki remix) is certified platinum by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

, making BTS the first Korean group with a platinum-certified single in the US. * November 12 –

becomes the first group to surpass 10 million total album sales in South Korea. * December 1 – At the annual

Melon Music Awards The Melon Music Awards () is a major music awards show that is held annually by Kakao Entertainment (a Kakao company) through its online music store Melon. The event was initially a fan-voted award conducted entirely online from 2005 through ...

iKon iKon (; stylized as iKON) is a South Korean boy band formed in 2015 by YG Entertainment. The lineup consists of six members: Jay, Song, Bobby, DK, Ju-ne, and Chan. Originally a seven-piece band, B.I departed from the group in June 2019. ...

and BTS win the grand prizes. * December 10, 12, 14 – The

2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards The 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards ceremony, organized by CJ E&M through its music channel Mnet, took place from December 10 through December 14, 2018 (dubbed as "MAMA Week") in South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. The ceremony was the first Mnet Asia ...

are held in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong over the course of a week. BTS and Twice receive the grand prizes at the ceremony. * According to ''Forbes'', "the South Korean music market experienced a 17.9% increase in revenue growth in 2018, and it was described as 'shifting from 'potential' to 'power' player'" on the global stage.

Award shows and festivals

Award ceremonies

Festivals

Debuting and disbanding in 2018

Debuting groups

Ateez Ateez (; stylised in all caps) is a South Korean boy band formed by KQ Entertainment. The group consists of eight members: Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho. They debuted on October 24, 2018, with the extende ...

D-Crunch D-Crunch () was a South Korean Korean idol, idol group formed by All-S Company in Seoul. They debuted as a nine-member group with rappers Hyunho, O.V, Minhyuk, Chanyoung, Jungseung, and Dylan, and vocalists Hyunwook, Hyunoh, and Hyunwoo. The non ...

* DreamNote * Fanatics - Flavor *

Forestella Forestella () is a South Korean crossover male vocal quartet formed through the JTBC singing competition '' Phantom Singer 2'', which aired in 2017. They won first place on the show and officially debuted on March 14, 2018, with the album ''Evol ...

Fromis 9 Fromis 9 (; stylized in snake case) is a South Korean girl group. The group consists of five members: Song Ha-young, Park Ji-won, Lee Chae-young, Lee Na-gyung, and Baek Ji-heon. Originally a nine-piece group, Jang Gyu-ri departed the group in J ...

(G)I-dle I-dle (; stylized in all lowercase), formerly known as (G)I-dle (), is a South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2018. The group consists of five members: Miyeon, Minnie (singer), Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua. Originally a se ...

* Girlkind * Gugudan SeMiNa * GWSN * Honey Popcorn *

Iz*One Iz*One ( ; ; ; stylized in all caps) was a South Korean–Japanese girl group formed through the Mnet (TV channel), Mnet reality competition show ''Produce 48''. The group was composed of twelve members: Jang Won-young, Sakura Miyawaki, Jo Yu-r ...

JBJ95 Kenta Sanggyun (stylized as KENTA • SANGGYUN; formerly JBJ95) is a South Korean musical duo, duo consisting of Kenta Takada and Kim Sang-gyun. They debuted on October 30, 2018, with the single ''Home''. History 2018: Formation and debut Shor ...

Loona Loona (stylized in all caps or as LOOΠΔ; ; , ) is a South Korean girl group created by Blockberry Creative. The group is composed of eleven members: Heejin, Hyunjin, Haseul, Vivi, Yeojin, Kim Lip, Jinsoul, Choerry, Yves (singer), Yves, Go Won ...

* Maywish *

Nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

* NeonPunch * Noir * NTB * Oh!GG *

Pristin V Pristin V () was a sub-group of South Korean girl group Pristin Pristin (; stylized in all caps, and pre-debut name Pledis Girlz) was a South Korean girl group formed by Pledis Entertainment in 2016. The group was composed of ten members: Nayo ...

Saturday Saturday is the day of the week between Friday and Sunday. No later than the 2nd century, the Romans named Saturday ("Saturn's Day") for the god Saturn. His planet, Saturn, controlled the first hour of that day, according to Vettius Valens. T ...

Spectrum A spectrum (: spectra or spectrums) is a set of related ideas, objects, or properties whose features overlap such that they blend to form a continuum. The word ''spectrum'' was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of co ...

Stray Kids Stray Kids (often abbreviated to SKZ; ) is a South Korean boy band formed by JYP Entertainment. The band consists of eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han (musician), Han, Felix (rapper), Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. For un ...

Target Target may refer to: Warfare and shooting * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artille ...

* UNB * Uni.T * W24 * We Girls * WJMK

Solo debuts

* Ash Island * Elkie * Haon * Ha Hyun-woo *

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...

Hoya Hoya may refer to: Places *Hoya, Germany, a city in Lower Saxony, Germany *County of Hoya, a former state in present Germany *Hōya, Tokyo, now incorporated within Nishi-tokyo, Tokyo, Japan * Hoya, Hpruso, a place in Hpruso Township, Kayah, Myanma ...

Hynn Park Hye-won (; born January 15, 1998), also known by the stage name Hynn (; stylised in all caps), is a South Korean singer and songwriter. She was a contestant in Superstar K 2016, where she finished in the top 3. On December 28, 2018, she mad ...

* Jennie *

J-Hope Jung Ho-seok (; born February 18, 1994), known professionally as J-Hope (; stylized in lower case), is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer. He made his debut as a member of South Korean boy band BTS in 2013, ...

* Jin Longguo *

Jung Il-hoon Jung Il-hoon (; born October 4, 1994), simply known as Ilhoon or Illhoon, is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, record producer, host, actor and entertainer. He was the rapper of the South Korean boy band BtoB. He is well known for his coll ...

Katie Katie is an English female name. It is a form of Katherine, Kate, Caitlin, Kathleen, Katey and their related forms. It is frequently used on its own. People Sports * Katie Boulter (born 1996), British tennis player * Katie Clark (born 1994), ...

* Key * Kim Dong-han * Lee Chang-sub * Leo * Mino *

Moonbyul Moon Byul-yi (, born December 22, 1992), known professionally as Moonbyul (; stylized as Moon Byul), is a South Korean rapper and songwriter under RBW Entertainment. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Mamamoo and its sub-unit Mama ...

Onew Lee Jin-ki (; Korean pronunciation: Help:IPA/Korean, .dʑin.ki born December 14, 1989), better known by his stage name Onew, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and actor. Born in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, Onew was discovered at the 2006 ...

Zior Park Park Ji-won (; born October 11, 1994), better known by his stage name Zior Park (), is a South Korean rapper and music video director. Life and career Early life and career beginnings Zior Park was born Park Ji-won on October 11, 1994. He grad ...

* Sohee * Sori * Son Dong-woon *

Sooyoung Choi Soo-young (; born February 10, 1990), known mononymously as Sooyoung, is a South Korean singer, actress, and songwriter. She was a member of the short-lived Korean-Japanese singing duo Route 0 (group), Route 0 during 2002 in Japan. After ...

* twlv *

Vinxen Lee Byeong-jae (; born April 20, 2000), better known by his stage name, Vinxen (), is a South Korean rapper. He released his debut extended play, ''Smelting,'' in 2018, followed by the extended play, ''Boycold 2'', later that year. He released ...

Wheein Jung Whee-in (; born April 17, 1995), known mononymously as Wheein, is a South Korean singer. She rose to prominence in 2014, as a member of the Korean girl group Mamamoo. In 2017, her song "Anymore" with Jung Key, topped the Gaon Charts. In A ...

Yoo Seon-ho Yoo Seon-ho (born January 28, 2002) is a South Korean actor, singer, and model. He is best known as a contestant on the survival reality show ''Produce 101'' season 2 and acting in the drama ''Under the Queen's Umbrella''. He has been a cast me ...

* Youra *

Yubin Yu-bin, also spelled Yoo-bin, is a Korean unisex given name. Its meaning depends on the hanja used to write each syllable of the name. People People with this name include: * Kim Yu-bin (musician) (born 1988), South Korean female singer, former m ...

* Yuju * Yuri

Disbandments

* Drunken Tiger *

Fiestar Fiestar () is a South Korean girl group, composed of Cao Lu, Jei, Linzy, Hyemi and Yezi. They began their career prior to debut by releasing a duet with label mate IU (singer), IU titled "Sea of Moonlight" in July 2012 for LOEN Entertainment's c ...

* Homme * JBJ * Kiha & The Faces * Melody Day * Mr.Mr * NU'EST W * Rainz *

Secret Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controver ...

* SSAW * Stellar *

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian language, Tahitian , ; ) is the largest island of the Windward Islands (Society Islands), Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located in the central part of t ...

* The East Light *

Triple H Paul Michael Levesque (; born July 27, 1969), also known by the ring name Triple H, is an American business executive and former professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he serves as its chief content officer. Levesque began his wres ...

Notable achievements and events

Award shows and festivals

Award ceremonies

Festivals

Debuting and disbanding in 2018

Debuting groups

Solo debuts

Disbandments

Releases in 2018

First quarter

January

February

March

Second quarter

April

May

June

Third quarter

July

August

September

Fourth quarter

October

November

December

Deaths

See also

Notes

References