케이팝 연말결산... 세계 뒤흔든 BTS 그들의 성공이유와 영향력br br 'Entertainer of the year': that's how TIME Magazine described K-pop superstars BTS.br BLACKPINK also scored hit after hit,... causing their global popularity to explode in 2020.br Celebrating the year-end, our arts and culture correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung tells us more about the sparkling success K-pop has enjoyed over the past twelve months.br It would not be an exaggeration to say that K-pop artists went to the very top of pop stardom in 2020.br BTS was the first Korean artist to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and 200 charts,... not just once but several times.br But one expert says that there are reasons behind the band's success.br BTS knew what was popular in the music industry,... but didn't follow trends and instead created their own path.br "I think what's really really special is that they didn't necessarily need to backtrack or follow certain trends, only record in English or only work with certain people, certain producers, whatever might be."br br This led to the Korean language song 'Life Goes On' reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100.br The band's music aimed to deliver messages of hope to try and empathize with fans.br "BTS has talked a lot about different struggles of young people whether that has been school bullying or mental health issues. I think it's this idea that you can be recognized and you can feel like there's an artist that is speaking to you and talks to you."br br The columnist points out that the group always tried to be innovative... such as by performing at historical sites while wearing Korean traditional clothing - 'Hanbok'.br "So they could kind of keep recreating the stuff they have done. But instead I think it is special that they always pushing themselves whether that's taking more artistic involvement in their music, trying new sounds, new collaborators."br br As BTS has already picked up honors in 2020 Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards,... all eyes will be on the Grammys scheduled for January.br BLACKPINK too has been enjoying global popularity... with three music videos surpassing one-billion YouTube views each...and reaching Number Two in the Billboard 200 with 'The Album'.br For further recognition,... expert says the girl group needs to be more accessible to its audience, like it was in the Netflix documentary: 'BLACKPINK: Light up the Sky'.br "The success of K-pop artists such as BTS and BLACKPINK shows that the rules of the music industry are not set in stone, and that music like K-pop can also be a major player on the global music scene. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.