The Genius Korean community prides itself on having accurate lyrics for new releases first, and its respective Romanization and English translation. This guide provides a list of Tags associated with Korean music.

If you are not sure what tags to use, or in a case not covered by the guidelines, consult the Genius Korea team before adding or changing them! Also, you can check this abstract for the start.Korean Language & Country TagsKoreanThis is a language tag. It should be used on evеry song that features verbal Korеan. Do not use it on the translation and Romanization pages.South KoreaThis is an artist's country tag. It should be used on every song by a South Korean artist. Do not use it on the translation and Romanization pages.한국어 번역 (Korean Translation)This is a translation tag. It should be used on every Korean Translation of a song on Genius.Korean Music Genre TagsK-PopKorean Pop, more commonly known as K-Pop (케이팝), is pop music from South Korea. K-Pop is a highly commercial industry throughout Asia, dominated by groups featuring young entertainers with the latest looks and dance skills. Contemporary Korean music and pop stars are popular worldwide, and the spread of contemporary Korean culture designated a word to reflect this fact. The Korean Wave, Hallyu (한류), is the word used to discuss the influence of contemporary Korean popular culture on the rest of the world. Prominent artists: BTS, EXO, SEVENTEEN, TWICE, BLACKPINK, SHINee.

When and how to use this tagK-Hip-HopThe Korean music industry has a very thriving rap/hip-hop scene. Korean hip-hop originates from the early 1990s and is distinguished from American one by not only sound and language but also by the history and culture from which the music is made. However, there are apparent parallels between the two in terms of how styles have evolved throughout the years. Prominent artists: EPIK HIGH, Tiger JK, ZICO, CL, Agust D, MIRANI, Ash-B, Beenzino.

When and how to use this tagK-RockKorean rock is very similar to Western one as its roots are in American rock. It originated in the 1950s during the Korean War and has a very similar trajectory and history as rock music around the globe. Modern-day K-Rock is mostly dominated by bands. Many major Korean labels have signed rock bands. Prominent Artists: THE ROSE, FTISLAND, DAY6, Xdinary Heroes, DREAMCATCHER, CNBLUE.

When and how to use this tagK-R&BKorean R&B is a music genre that combines rhythm and blues soulful melodies with heavy bass lines and synthesizers, as well as elements of pop, funk, and hip-hop music. Despite originating from American R&B, contemporary Korean R&B is distinct in its soundscape and influences. Over the recent years, Korean R&B gained visible popularity worldwide and became a recognizable part of the mainstream music scene. Prominent artists: DEAN, Colde, Jimmy Brown, Gemini, HEIZE, BIBI, Dvwn.

When and how to use this tagK-BalladKorean ballad is a style of music in South Korea. It became popular in the 1980s having roots in soul and blues music, but reflecting Korean sentiment. Since then it has influenced and evolved into many different music styles, the most prominent being Pop Ballads and Rock Ballads. Prominent artists: Park Hyo Shin, Lee Hi, Gummy, Ailee.

When and how to use this tagTrotTrot (트로트) is a traditional popular music genre originating in the early 1900s. It is characterized by orchestral production, grand vocals, and a simple, two-beat rhythm. The genre is known for its influences from Enka, a slightly earlier Japanese genre, as well as Korean and European folk music, blues, and jazz. The name trot originates in the ballroom dance style foxtrot, which influenced its simple rhythm. The genre began to resurface in popular culture again thanks to singing competition shows known as Miss Trot (premiered in 2019) and Mr. Trot (premiered in 2020). Prominent artists: Lim Young Woong, Jeong Dong Won, Hong Jin Young, Song Ga In.

When and how to use this tagOther Korean TagsK-IndieIndie music term categorizes music produced independently from commercial record labels. While artists experiment with a variety of sounds, "indie" music often dabbles in rock, pop, and alternative genres. This also reflects the Korean music scene, where K-Indie term covers music that acts as a counterpart to the music from major labels and general appeal.

When and how to use this tagK-OSTAs Korean dramas and movies are extremely popular, they are always accompanied by their own unique original soundtracks (OSTs). They are made very exclusively, with the music directors and executive directors of the shows heavily involved in a selection process. Each drama aired has its own soundtrack release, full of songs recorded by a plethora of artists, Idols and non-Idols, of different genres.

When and how to use this tagK-Idol-Hip-HopK-Idol-Hip-Hop tag is used to track rap and hip-hop-influenced songs by Idol groups. Those songs are very popular among Idol groups, however, they are not in the same collection as songs by Korean hip-hop and underground hip-hop artists. Therefore this tag is used to differentiate between the two.

When and how to use this tagK-JapaneseK-Japanese tag is used to track Japanese songs released by artists who have a connection with South Korea. Starting in the early 2000s, many Korean acts have gained immense success in Japan. Therefore, many modern artists release Japanese versions and original Japanese songs periodically. Recently, both the Japanese and South Korean music markets have become intertwined to the extent that both Korean labels have artists dedicated to the Japanese market, and Japanese labels have artists dedicated to the Korean market.

When and how to use this tagK-GlobalWith the rise of the Korean music market, the K-Global tag is used to track releases of non-Korean artists, who however have a strong connection with South Korea—e.g. are of Korean descent, are based in South Korea, are under Korean labels, etc. While they can't be directly covered by Koren music genres, they often use the Korean way of promotion and distribution for releasing music or targeting the Korean market. This tag also covers all multinational and global groups made with Korean audition shows and Korean entertainment companies.

When and how to use this tagGenius KoreaAn all-encompassing tracking tag for all the work done by the Genius Korea community. Any page—including romanization and translation pages—can be tagged with Genius Korea.FanchantFanchants are an essential aspect of live performances in K-Pop. Originally started as a trend by fans, many newer artists now post official fanchants on their fancafes. The tag should be used only to label fanchant versions of songs by Korea-based artists! Fanchant pages should be tagged as Non-Music.East Asian & South East Asian TagsJapanFor more information on tags related to Japanese music refer to this guide.ChinaFor more information on tags related to Chinese music refer to this guide.IndonesiaFor more information on tags related to Indonesian music refer to this page.MalaysiaFor more information on tags related to Malaysian music refer to this page.PhilippinesFor more information on tags related to Philippine music refer to this page.ThailandFor more information on tags related to Thai music refer to this page.VietnamFor more information on tags related to Vietnamese music refer to this page.