Know your KPOP history? The Evolution of Girl Groups!
2009 seems to be the year of the girl groups. We had about a dozen girl groups that either made their debut or had comebacks. Don’t you guys want to know some history of the girl groups in Korea? Who the first girl group in Korea was? How it all started? Lets turn on the time machine and explore the estrogen filled past.
So it all starts around the 1950s.
A duo group had debuted in 1954 and they were called the Silverbell Sisters (은방울 자매). The two members names were Park Ae Kyung (박애경) and Oh Sook Nam (오숙남), who are elders to us now. This group was one of the first groups to debut in Korea (girl or guy) and back in their day had gotten lots of love and success with their song “Terminal Mapo” (마포종점). Their songs weren’t necessarily trot songs but it was considered an older style of music than trot.
1970’s
In 1971, another girl group debuted, called the Bunny Girls {버니 걸스). The members names were Go Jung Sook (고정숙), and Go Jae Sook (고재숙). It seem like they’re sisters because of their similar looks and names. They had a variety of hit songs like “Flown Song”(1975) and “Bring me that person” (1974). They had very trot like songs.
1980’s
A trio group called Seoul Sisters (서울 시스터즈) formed in 1986. This group gives me a feel of Big Mama, mainly because of the huge voice and looks. The members were Bang Shil Ee (방실이), Park Jin Sook (박진숙) and Yang Jung Hee (양정희). Their hit songs included “First” and “Seoul Tango.” This was when groups started to lean away from trot and more into other styles / genres of music.
It was in the early 1990’s when Korean music was really transformed into what it is today. Kudos to Seo Taiji and the Boys, DJ Doc, and Deux.
Most KPOP aficionados should know S.E.S, because if you don’t you’re most likely a noob K-pop fan. Debuting in 1997 from SM Entertainment (TVXQ, BoA, H.O.T., Shinhwa, SNSD, Super Junior, Shinee, f(x)), they had explosive popularity and had very high album sales. Their third album, “Love” had sold over 700,000 copies and is their best selling album. The members were Bada, Eugene and Shoo. Bada and Eugene are still seen a lot on Korean TV these days (Bada had recently been quite successful with her song “Mad” and Eugene has been on many variety shows).
S.E.S. – Just a Feeling:
Of course with S.E.S. and their popularity, some competition was bound to come. Debuting right after S.E.S. were Fin.K.L and Baby V.O.X, who both had great success as well.
Fin.K.L (Fine Killing Liberty, pronounced Pinkle in Korea) debuted in 1998 with members Lee Hyori, Ok Joo Hyun, Lee Jin, and Sung Yuri. They debuted under DSP Entertainment (KARA, SS501) and has been named one of the most influential girl groups in Korea. One of their most famous songs that people still remember today is “Forever Love” which has been covered by many groups, such as 2PM. They unofficially disbanded in 2002 but some of the members are still successful (especially Lee Hyori). They briefly got together for a digital single in 2005, but shortly after unofficially disbanded again. Most of the members left DSP Entertainment after this and are signed with different companies.
Fin.K.L – Forever Love:
Baby VOX (Baby Voices of Expression) debuted in 1999 with members Kim E-Z, Lee Hee Jin, Kan Mi Youn, Shim Eun Jin, and later Yoon Eun Hye. This group was highly successful as well. Their single “Killer” won the ‘Top Excellency Award’ in 1999 that beat H.O.T. Unfortunately, because of many controversies the group had, the group had a hiatus in 2004 and officially disbanded in 2006. Yoon Eun Hye is still successful today as she changed her career towards acting, she has been in many dramas including Goong, Coffee Prince, My Fair Lady, etc.
Baby VOX – Doll:
If not for these girl groups in the past you probably wouldn’t have Girls’ Generation / SNSD, KARA, Wonder Girls, 2NE1, 4Minute, etc. Girl groups have really changed over the years, whether it be their looks, their music style, clothes, and dances. Watch the video by MBC below which is a timeline of the history of girl groups in Korea.
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2ne1 is the most different of all
i can’t get over the baby vox DOLL vid.. so cool.. i keep replaying it, over and over and over.. too bad i only got wind of them after goong.. T_T hope they do a reunion soon.. LOVE YEH!
149, LOLOL
no.. snsd actually broke the record with 9 consecutive wins IN A ROW
and they got 3 more awards, first half, 2nd half and whole year .. :P
so they have 12 as well =)
OMG the woman at 1:50 on the left totally looks like Brenda Song!!
love S.E.S., SNSD, 2NE1 & AfterSchool.
LOOOOL
times have changed so much….
and lol @ the commentary =DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
SNSD <3
wow O _ O
` tnx 4 the info ! ..
did you get this idea from the show Happy Time? lol, i just saw an episode that your article is basically exactly like.
-edit-
ahh sorry just noticed the video that you had posted up!!!
hmm very interesting
KPOP girl group ftw!!XD,,,i really like KARA and SNSD….:)
haha fin.k.l. was accept one of the first groups i listened to. ahha
I remember S.E.S. and FinKL but i was never a huge fan of either back in the day.
“Dreams Come True” was one of my favorite songs from S.E.S , though.
@154. – i have to agree with your whole post. the whole wonsoka line did bring back the limelight in 2007 after a few years in the dark for girl groups. i must say, ses/finkl/baby vox brought it on in their generation and wonsoka is bringing if for this generation :]
@151,157
Wonder girls won those 12 wins for tell me alone, though not continuously.
@157
Please do not be so condescending
GIRLS’ GENERATION made me love Kpop even more, ooh and our awesome TVXQ also.
I love them both!
what an evolution O___O i guess having so many girl groups are not that bad afterall, at least i’m quite entertained. old school kpop rocks!
lol…good posting…loved it
@writer, you need to distinguish even between the gen y girl groups. Groups like SNSD, WG and KARA debuted before others like 2Ne1 isnt it?
@149
You should check your facts rofl.
Go 2ne1…
Go f(x)…
Go SNSD…
Love yah… hwaiting
i love SES and baby Vox,,,
I’m ur girl vs. Get up
Man, I was such a big SES fan back then :)
Anyways I highly believe in this so yes, caps are needed!
THE SES/FINKL/BABY VOX OF THIS GENERATION = WONSOKA!!!
WG and SNSD basically started this whole new girl group phase. I mean true some other groups might have debuted before them, but you can’t deny that WG and SNSD’s success didn’t pave the ways for the big tidal wave of girl groups we’re getting these days. I honestly see WonSoKa as the big 3 because they have their own distinct styles whether it be appearance, personality, music style, etc. Every other girl group out nowadays is a wannabe copy of an exisiting group or a wannabe female version of a male group. And no don’t give me the whole SNSD is the female SJ because their styles are so different esp music unlike the thing BB/2ne1 have going on.
Very interesting article ;)
I Love Baby V.O.X. Their nice songs sound catchy. S.E.S is awesome girl band too ^^
@149 When did they win those 12 awards? 0.o but yes, WGs have achieved a lot and I think some people try to overlook that just because they’re not around right now.