From ‘Anti’ to ‘V Live’: Here's a look at popular K-pop terms

Newcomers to the K-pop world will often find themselves lost in an online culture riddled with inside jokes, confusing terms and a unique vocabulary.

Here's a look at some of the most common K-pop terms:

Korean popular music, or “K-pop”, is the genre of music originating from South Korea.

Originally sung in Korean — but now often in English — K-pop songs may have musical elements from hip hop, electronic dance, jazz or rock.

It is mostly performed by boy bands and girl groups. Key components include tight choreography, high production values and original concepts.

Shortened as “anti”, the term refers to someone who hates a particular celebrity so much that they devote their time to mocking and criticising that artist.

A K-pop “comeback” means a group releasing new music or an album — with no long passage of time required. Often a multi-step process, a comeback is teased out for weeks with images, videos, and in some cases, even pre-album singles.

Chants are words shouted by fans during performances which usually include naming all the members of a group during the intro and then repeating specific words or lines throughout a song. The chants are often tailored to specific songs.

If you want to keep up with your favourite K-pop star, “V Live” is a must. It’s a livestream platform used by most K-pop idols to connect with their fans. Some upload behind-the-scene footage, while others use it to livestream after shows.