K-pop stars: the lowdown on South Korean pop
Psy's hit, Gangnam Style, has taken the genre to the top of western charts – if it's new to you, here are the names to drop and videos to watch
His quirky dance steps and unforgettable sing-a-long chorus have given us the smash pop hit of the year. By the weekend, Psy, the podgy antihero behind the Gangnam Style phenomenon, is expected to make history by becoming the first Korean to reach No 1 in the UK charts, having already risen to the top of the iTunes download charts here and in the US.
Other South Korean artists may have mixed feelings about the astounding success of Gangnam Style. Riding the crest of the "Hallyu" wave that has already swept across much of east Asia, the highly stylised, impeccably sculptured boy and girl bands made the leap to the US and Europe the hard way.