K-pop is an abbreviation for Korean popular music, specifically from South Korea. There are many artists and groups, most notably Se7en, TVXQ, Shinhwa, BoA, and Rain, that have branched out of Korea and have become popular in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South East Asia. The popularity of K-pop is often considered a part of the rise of the Korean Wave, or "Hallyu"(??), in the region. History The emergence of the group Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992 marked a turning point for Korean popular music, as the group incorporated elements of American popular musical genres of rap, rock, and techno into its music. The tremendous success of Seo Taiji and Boys in Korea and other experimental groups (such as Panic) set the trend for the present generation of K-pop groups and artists. Following Seo Taiji and Boys, dance-oriented acts were dominant in the Korean popular music scene of the early 90s including the legendary hip hop duo Deux (??).