A wave of K-pop-inspired pop groups is on the rise in Chile
In Chile, young artists are reimagining elements of Korean pop music and forming their own bands that blend K-pop aesthetics with the Spanish language and local slang. One such group is the six-member Chilean boy band QARE, according to NPR World.
QARE performs energetic music with lyrics in English, Spanish, and Chilean slang. In their videos, the group uses retro-game aesthetics, bold makeup, and rapid-fire cuts. The members handle songwriting, choreography, visual style, and video design themselves.
The band consists of Seba, Jamin, Jota, Bin, Aiden, and Fabi. They responded to an online casting call two years ago, and the lineup was finalized after a six-month selection process and intensive training. QARE debuted with the single “Try Again” in 2024. Ahead of the release of their track “FÚ” in May, the musicians rehearsed their choreography at a dance studio in Santiago.
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The band has its own fan community, Qniverse. According to member Bin, QARE’s fans include listeners from Chile, Peru, Mexico, the U.S., Costa Rica, Singapore, and Japan. Last year, the group toured Brazil and also performed at venues in Chile.
Interest in Korean culture in the country extends not only to music but also to cuisine, television, cosmetics, and clothing. There are over 50 Korean restaurants in the Patronato neighborhood of Santiago. Valeria Vivar, coordinator of the King Sejong Institute, reported that about 200 people are studying Korean there—four times as many as when classes began in 2019. Some students want to understand K-pop songs or watch K-dramas and movies in their original language, while others are interested in South Korean literature and society.
In October, BTS is scheduled to perform in Santiago as part of their world tour following the group’s return to the stage. BTS has already held concerts in Mexico, and performances are also planned in Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and Brazil.
