Over the past decade, the Kpop market has recently seen a significant expansion in terms of influence and revenue in the industry. However, according to many experts, the future prospects of Kpop are not very bright.

This is also proven by Google's data on the decline in global fans' interest in Kpop, especially since BTS's military enlistment. Experts believe that the absence of the top Kpop group has greatly affected the recognition of this music genre in the international community.

Below are the specific numbers according to Google's report and the opinions of industry experts:

When BTS walked on the red carpet for the first time in 2013, many people ignored them because they were just a rookie group from an unknown entertainment company. 10 years later, BTS has been recognized by the кσяєαn Ministry of Education as a “National Living Treasures” – a title given to those who possess important intangible cultural αѕѕets, based on the кσяєαn Cultural Properties Protection Law.

BTS is considered by the media and researchers to have changed the way the world views кσяєα. They brought the “K-pop universe” to the international stage through many major achievements. They were the first K-pop artist to dominate Billboard’s main singles chart, won a Grammy nomination and countless other awards. BTS has been described as “the biggest and most successful name in K-pop globally” who can “do things that no other name in their genre can do.”

As a result, K-pop has certainly made its mark on the global stage, but I can’t help but wonder if we are witnessing the peak of its success, with a significant decline looming on the horizon. A key element in this argument is the significant drop in global interest in K-pop after the seven BTS members enlisted, according to Google data.

The chart shows that the period from 2017-2022 was a period of K-pop's heyday, with interest in the genre steadily increasing and showing no signs of slowing down. In 2022, global interest in K-pop peaked and since then, the numbers have been falling. This is not a coincidence, but rather reflects the correlation between BTS and K-pop.

Specifically, the period from 2017-2022 was the period when BTS exploded in global power with their music and achievements. As a result, the au∂ιєnce's interest in the K-pop genre, idols, and culture also increased. However, BTS began their military service at the end of 2022, which means their musical activities will be limited.

Similarly, Sports Today pointed out that the K-Pop fan community is built around BTS fans. This community cannot expand further due to the large size of BTS's fandom. Along with BTS's hiatus, many fans of this boy band will gradually lose interest in K-Pop, creating a major crisis for the кσяєαn music industry.

In addition to the data on global interest in K-Pop, the number of K-Pop awards or nominations in the international market also warns of the decline of this genre. Typically, since BTS members enlisted in the army, K-Pop has not received any nominations at the Grammys. Major international awards can also be counted on the fingers and of course, no group can reach the realm of BTS in previous years.

For fans, this situation seems unsurprising. They think that to solve the decline in taste for K-Pop, just wait for BTS to return next year:

- Just wait a few months until all 7 members of BTS return

- When we say BTS are bigger than kpop, this is what I mean.

- The kings went on hiatus and the rest is history.... Just like kpop wave and reputation!

- Quick who’s on hiatus since 2022?

- It’s thee bts that’s been carrying kpop on their backs

- As far as I know, the one who is going on hiatus in 2022 is BTS. Those who claim it is BP are wrong, because in 2022 BP released the album Born Pink and held a world tour concert which ended in september 2023.

- And everyone here knows why but no one is gonna admit lmfao.

- bts took all the hype with them and will bring it back in 2025

- The best news of the year. But we all know that this will return to its peak next year when BTS comes back, so no BTS no kpop

- Can we all just admit the popularity of “kpop” was really just the popularity of BTS?