Male K-pop acts revive early-2000s dance-pop in latest wave of releases

A growing number of K-pop boy groups are looking to the dance-pop's past as they shape its future. In recent years, many idol releases have been built around short-form-friendly hooks, easy-listening melodies and highly segmented song structures optimized for social media consumption. But some of K-pop’s leading male acts are increasingly embracing a more traditional approach to dance-pop — one characterized by strong melodic lines, dramatic song progression and clear verse-chorus-bridge structu