K-Pop and K-Pop groups have evolved throughout the years, especially with the burst of its popularity in the past decade. We've seen K-Pop groups change from having only Korean members, to groups with having foreign members, and these days, groups with no Koreans have also started to emerge. But what exactly is considered as K-Pop? Does K-Pop mean a way of styling, marketing, and promotion? Does a K-Pop song have to have Korean lyrics? Does a K-Pop group have to have Korean members in it? These are points that have been raised recently by netizens who have seen the rookie girl group XG perform in Korean music shows and promote in Korean through their social channels.

As an introduction to XG, the girl group has 7 members who are all Japanese in nationality. The girl group debuted March of last year with the track 'Tippy Toes' , under XGALX, a label under Avex. The members of XG are Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Harvey, Juria, Maya, and Cocona. The group has released a total of 3 single albums since their debut.

The girls have been receiving praise for their talent, performance skills, and concept unique only to their group. Fans of the girl group can be seen raving about the group on the comment sections of their videos, and netizens (both Korean and international) also have been talking about them on community pages such as Reddit, Quora, Nate, Bada, and others. However, controversy has also surrounded the group, which started with a statement made by the CEO of Avex Group, emphasizing that XG is not K-Pop, but XGALX has only "used" Korean staff for the production of XG, which was considered offensive by Koreans.

But the question remains: Should XG be considered as a K-Pop group? The group themselves do not claim to be K-Pop nor J-Pop, but rather a global girl group. On the other hand, the girl group gets featured in K-Pop playlists, promote in Korean music shows, use Korean as one of the language to communicate with fans. Considering all this, a discussion among netizens have commenced and here are sides of the argument presented by the netizens themselves.

Note: Sensitive details which may reveal information about particular groups/companies/individuals has been redacted to maintain generality. The opinions of netizens do not reflect those of Kpopmap.

 

With the informaton we gathered from community pages, there seems to be a positive and negative, and neutral views about XG among netizens.

On one side, fans and netizens seem to view the group in a good light, naming XG as a pop group that has simply utilized the strategies commonly used among K-Pop groups.

A number of fans cite that their production and the way they are promoted are mainly influenced by K-Pop. It was even talked about how their producer had a background in K-Pop (Jacops (Simon), the CEO and producer of XGALX used to be part of the K-Pop group DMTN), their music videos are also produced by Koreans, and that they used K-Pop marketing strategies.

Translation: "Music video, dance, composer, hair and make up, the shoot, all of it was done by hiring Korean staff."

One user also mentions that the way the group's musical genre is not connected to the way they are marketed and styled.

A lot of netizens also mentioned that the girls, while mainly promoting in Korea, is a global girl group.

It was also mentioned by some that XG, with the use of the K-Pop platflorm, the global audience is the target of XG, not Koreans, thus making them a non-K-Pop group.

Translation: "In other words, their target is not Koreans. The target is most likely people from the United States and Japan, and the group aims to enter the United States using the K-Pop platform."

One Reddit user further explains that "XG's aim is global", intending to increase their exposure worldwide as a K-Pop-inspired group.

 

On the other side, there are also some negative opinions regarding XG's strategy in promotions.

There are netizens who are claiming that XG pretends to be a K-Pop group. The title of this Nate Pann (a Korean community platform) post is quite direct in its statement that XG is pretending to be K-Pop.

Translation: "Japanese Female Idol Group Pretending To Be K-Pop".

With the marketing of the group that is too familiar to some, they could also think that XG is under the pretense of being K-Pop group.

The talks even goes further about the motives of XG for promoting in Korea. One Twitter user even talks about how XG promotes in Korea to prove that a Japanese group is also able do what a Korean group can do.

Adding fuel to the fire, some Korean netizens believe that XG is Japanese group formed to win against Korean groups by attracting existing international Hallyu fans.

Translation: "In a nutshell, they are an all-Japanese girl group created to win against Korea. It's an anti-Korean group full of anti-Korean sentiment. Why do they keep trying to appeal to foreign Hallyu fans by coming out on the Korean platform.

Basically, some Koreans seem to believe that XG is just trying to benefit from the K-Pop platform, while being anti-Korean at the same time.

 

Another popular opinion among fans and other netizens is that that XG is just simply another K-Pop group, since XG's promotions are in Korean, and because the group is mainly based in Korea.

Translation: "The dictionary definition of K-Pop is "Korean popular music". Their songs aren't in Korean, and there's not a single Korean among the members, but they appear on Korean music shows, and their promotions are in Korean. If these foreign singers like Korea and promotes in Korea, then it's all K-Pop!! Even if they say they aren't!"

With the argument of some that XG is not K-Pop, one Twitter user even frustatingly asks what should be considered as K-Pop.

Translation: "If XG is not K-Pop, then what is K-Pop?" 

 

However, a huge portion of netizens just seem to be confused about XG. Looking through comments mentioning the group's identity, many still seem to ask the question if XG is K-Pop or not. Some also just assumed or mistake them as a Korean group.

Translation: "It's a Japanese girl group consisting of 7 Japanese members, and they are active in Korea. When I first saw them, I thought they were a K-Pop group. Their lyrics are 95% in English and little bit of Korean. Their dance and rap skills are good. 

 

In summary, one portion of netizens believe that XG is a global girl group that is inspired by K-Pop, making use of strategies similar to K-Pop group have, while other view XG more unfavorably, thinking that the group copies Korean groups to attract the already established market K-Pop groups have. Other people think simplier and just think of XG is a K-Pop group, while a huge number of netizen also are just confused about the girls' identification as artists.

There remains a big difference in opinions about XG and the genre of music they do as a group, and the topic is far from having a consensus. What are your thoughts about XG? Do you consider the team a K-Pop group or otherwise? Let us know how you think by voting in this poll:

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