I hate the term "paving the way"/ no one "paved the way"
I know this is kind of a controversial topic because lots of people (especially Armies. Sorry to single that fandom out but I personally hear a lot of them say that they did. Also this is just an example please don't hate me) will say "BTS paved the way" or "BlackPink paved the way". If I'm being honest, I hate that term and no one group in particular "paved the way".
I'll admit that BTS was a contributor to why Kpop got global, but just because they made a huge hit in the US market doesn't mean they "paved the way" for everyone else. There have been Kpop groups before them such as Girls' Generation that performed in America even before BTS (Girls' Generation performed on the "Late Show with David Letterman" and on "Live! With Kelly!" back in 2012. Some evidence just in case.), and they were a huge hit. While "DNA" did blow them up globally and is what got them to attend their first overseas award show, again does not mean they "paved the way" for everyone else. I also know that because "DNA" blew up so much it did open up gates and barriers that were once there between the US and South Korean music (Kpop), but again there were others before them (and others in the future) that also were and will be successful in the US and globally.
Next I will personally state some groups that I think have made a big impression on the US market, but this does not mean I think others who have been to the US were flops and didn't contribute in any way shape or form. These are just some groups who I think have contributed a lot to breaking the barriers. I think the biggest are Girls' Generation, BTS, Blackpink, and NCT but please feel free to share who you think. I firstly think Girls' Generation because they were one of if not the first Kpop girl group to perform over on American TV shows, and they also were pretty successful which helped draw in new fans globally as well as bring attraction to them and the Kpop industry. BTS because "DNA" really helped them gain attention and is what brought them overseas to American award shows which then helped gain publicity and popularity. Blackpink because again their songs especially DDU-DU-DDU-DU again blew up causing them to come over into the US market and be successful, and then again gain popularity and publicity. NCT because they've always kind of had fans from multiple places, but I think their first American World Tour is what really helped them gain attention and get themselves out there and they are quite known in the states as well so I put them here too. Again, this does not mean others such as Stray Kids, Oneus, Ateez, and SVT did nothing to help contribute. I just think the ones above really helped break barriers early on, but again there's so many other contributors and will be more to come.
