K-Pop history is often divided into generations based on sound and industry changes. This quiz walks through major shifts from first gen pioneers to newer fourth gen acts.
In K-Pop vocabulary, what does the word maknae refer to?
The leader who manages schedules
The fan who runs the largest account
The main producer of the group
The youngest member of the group
What is one feature that often distinguishes K-Pop performance stages from many other pop stages?
Performing only while sitting at desks
Using no lighting or visual effects at all
Avoiding any movement on stage to keep costs low
Highly synchronised group choreography and visual formations
Which of these is a common way K-Pop fans support their groups during a comeback?
Refusing to watch any official content
Avoiding all mentions of the group online
Streaming songs and voting on charts or music shows
Sending only anonymous letters without names
What does the word bias usually mean in K-Pop communities?
A fan’s favourite member in a group
A type of vocal effect used in recording
A company rule about trainee height
A music show that only plays one song
What does the term second generation, or 2nd gen, broadly describe in K-Pop discussions?
Only the trainees who have never debuted
Groups that rose in the late 2000s and early 2010s with expanding international reach
Exclusive fan clubs limited to one city
Producers who only compose trot music
What does the word selca commonly mean in K-Pop and Korean internet slang?
A special type of dance break
A concert sound check session
A self-taken photo or selfie
A live broadcast studio
What is a lightstick in K-Pop fan culture?
A limited edition snack box sold at airports
An official glowing stick used by fans at concerts
A small microphone used only during dance practice
A studio-only tool for adjusting stage lighting
What does the phrase all-kill usually celebrate when mentioned in K-Pop chart discussions?
A fan event where every album is given away for free
A show where only one group is allowed to perform
A group announcing a complete break from making music
A song ranking first place across multiple major real-time charts at once
Why do many K-Pop groups release multiple versions of the same physical album?
Different versions include varied packaging, photos and extras that fans collect
Each version contains a completely unrelated artist’s music
Only one version includes the actual title track
Extra versions are blank discs sold as decorations
Which of these best describes a fan chant at a K-Pop concert or music show stage?
Random noise with no pattern during the performance
Silently holding banners without any movement
Coordinated shouts of names or lines timed with parts of the song
Only clapping after the show is completely finished
Starter
You sense that K-Pop has eras, but generations and timelines still merge together.
Solid
You place many groups in the right generation, with only a few misplacements.
Expert!
You understand K-Pop generations so well that you could explain them to new fans in detail.
