K-Pop “Study Guide” Compilation
Get up to speed on many K-pop artists and their music video universes!
K-pop artists are big on musical world-building, but it can be hard to remember all of the storylines, so here are some helpful “Cheat Sheets” describing characters, plot points, symbolism, settings, themes, and more!
Note: “Cheat Sheets” are for paying subscribers only (please consider becoming one and supporting the tremendous amount of work that goes into 17 Carat K-Pop!), but the articles listed as “Additional Reading” are free!
aespa
The “Cheat Sheets”
Breaking Down aespa’s Third Short Film
“NEXUS,” the “SMCU,” and the Meanings of Doppelgangers
(Part 2) “NEXUS,” the “SMCU,” and the Meanings of Doppelgangers
Additional Reading: aespa Concert Review: Surprising, Spectacular Sights
ATEEZ
The “Cheat Sheets”: A Guide to ATEEZ’s Music Video World; ATEEZ Story Updates
Additional Reading: Reviews of THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW, GOLDEN HOUR : Part.1, GOLDEN HOUR : Part.3 ‘In Your Fantasy Edition,’ and GOLDEN HOUR : Part.4
Billlie
The “Cheat Sheets”
A Guide to the collective soul and unconscious: chapter 2
My Theory About Billlie’s Story
Billlie’s Music Video Universe
Billlie’s Music Video Universe (Part 2)
Billlie’s Music Video Universe (Part 3)
Billlie’s Music Video Universe (Part 4)
Additional Reading: Reviews of Of All We Have Lost, the Billage of perception : chapter one, and the Billage of perception: chapter three
CIX
The “Cheat Sheet”: CIX’s Music Video Universe
Additional Reading: Reviews of GO Chapter 1: GO Together, THUNDER FEVER, and ‘OK’ Episode 1 : OK Not
DPR IAN
The “Cheat Sheet”: A Summary of My DPR IAN MV Theories
Additional Reading: Where DPR IAN’s Story Goes from Here; DPR IAN’s Five-Star Feat
Dreamcatcher
The “Cheat Sheets”: The Dreamcatcher Music Video Universe; Dreamcatcher Story Updates
Additional Reading: Reviews of [VirtuouS], [Apocalypse : Follow us], and [Apocalypse : Save us]; a review of SIYEON’s band’s debut album
ENHYPEN
The “Cheat Sheets”
The ENHYPEN Music Video Universe (Part 1)
The ENHYPEN Music Video Universe (Part 2)
TXT story parallels
A recap of the ROMANCE : UNTOLD era
A recap of THE SIN: VANISH era
A Guide to DARK MOON : THE BLOOD ALTAR
A Guide to DARK MOON : THE BLOOD ALTAR (Part Two)
Additional Reading: What it Means to Be ENHYPEN; DARK BLOOD and ENHYPEN’s Humbling Journey; ENHYPEN’s “FATE” and “FATE+” Storytelling; The Deeper Meaning Behind ENHYPEN’s Setlist
EXO
The “Cheat Sheet”: The EXO Music Video Universe
Additional Reading: SUHO’s Remarkable Comeback
G-DRAGON
The “Cheat Sheet”: Inside G-DRAGON’s World
Additional Reading: A review of ÜBERMENSCH
IU
The “Cheat Sheet”: A Guide to IU
Additional Reading: IU’s “HEREH” World Tour Review: Unsurprising Talent and Surprising Warmth
KAI
The “Cheat Sheets”: Decoding KAI’s Latest Short Film; KAI’s Role in the SMCU
Additional Reading: A review of Peaches
LE SSERAFIM
The “Cheat Sheets”
A Guide to LE SSERAFIM’s New Era
30 Things You Missed in ‘PUREFLOW’, Pt. 1
Additional Reading: Reviews of EASY, CRAZY, and HOT
LOONA
The “Cheat Sheets”: A Guide to the LOONAverse; 17 Reasons for LOONA’s Popularity
Additional Reading: A quick interview with HeeJin; an analysis of Yves’ discography; reviews of CHUU’s albums: XO, My Cyberlove, Only cry in the rain, Strawberry Rush, and Howl
MONSTA X
The “Cheat Sheets”: The MONSTA X Music Video Universe (Part One); The MONSTA X Music Video Universe (Part Two)
Additional Reading: MONSTA X’s No Limit Tour: Chicago Day 2 Review
NCT
The “Cheat Sheet”: Thoughts & Theories: NCT DREAM’s DREAM( )SCAPE
Additional Reading: An In- “Depth” Look at YUTA’s Album; NCT DREAM Chicago Concert Review; NCT 127’s “The Link” Chicago Concert Review
NewJeans
The “Cheat Sheet”: A Guide to NewJeans
Additional Reading: Making Sense of NewJeans’s New Videos
PURPLE KISS
The “Cheat Sheet”: A Guide to PURPLE KISS
Additional Reading: A Tribute to PURPLE KISS; PURPLE KISS’s “FESTA” USA Tour Review
P1Harmony
The “Cheat Sheet”: A Guide to P1Harmony
Additional Reading: P1Harmony’s DUH! Review: Proof of Earned Hype; P1Harmony Return with a New Kind of “SAD SONG;” P1Harmony Keep “Killin’ It;” HARMONY : ALL IN Press Conference: 17 Takeaways; P1Harmony’s HARMONY : ALL IN: Album Review; P1Harmony’s “P1ONEER” Chicago Concert Review
Red Velvet
The “Cheat Sheet”: A Guide to Red Velvet
Additional Reading: Reviews of Cosmic, Chill Kill, and Queendom; a review of SEULGI’s Accidentally On Purpose; a review of WENDY’s Wish You Hell
SEVENTEEN
The “Cheat Sheets”
“The SEVENTEEN Files” series
Chapter 1: 2015 and 2016 releases
Chapter 2: 2017 releases
Chapter 3: 2018 releases
Chapter 4: 2019 releases
Chapter 5: 2020 releases
Chapter 6: 2021 releases
Chapter 7: About Face the Sun and DREAM
Chapter 8: About FML
More “Cheat Sheets” breaking down the meaning behind specific SEVENTEEN eras
The Ultimate Guide to HAPPY BURSTDAY!
Each SEVENTEEN Member’s Role in SPILL THE FEELS
17 Key Details About 17 IS RIGHT HERE
Key Details Throughout the “Ima” Music Video
Additional Reading: An ENORMOUS amount of essays and reviews!
SHINee
The “Cheat Sheet”: The SHINee Music Video Universe
Additional Reading: Reviews of ONEW’s PERCENT and CONNECTION; reviews of TAEMIN’s Guilty and Advice; reviews of KEY’s HUNTER and Pleasure Shop
Stray Kids
The “Cheat Sheets”
A Guide to Stray Kids’ Discography
A Summary of My ROCK-STAR Theories
Thoughts & Theories: Stray Kids’s ATE Era
Additional Reading: ATE Review: An Explosive Expansion of the Stray Kids Universe; Stray Kids’ ODDINARY: Album Review and Press Conference Coverage
TAEYONG
The “Cheat Sheet”: Decoding TAEYONG’s TAP Era
Additional Reading: TAEYONG’s Purposeful Playfulness; A Guide to TAEYONG’s Solo Music
TXT
The “Cheat Sheets”
The TXT Music Video Universe (Part 1)
The TXT Music Video Universe (Part 2)
The Star Seekers recap part one
The Star Seekers recap part two
The Star Seekers recap part three
The Star Seekers recap part four
The Star Seekers recap part five
More on TXT’s Neverland-inspired era
Decoding “Chasing That Feeling” and The Name Chapter: FREEFALL
minisode 3: TOMORROW Story Notes
(Part 2) minisode 3: TOMORROW Story Notes
(Part 3) minisode 3: TOMORROW Story Notes
“TXT’s Real Magic” essay outtakes and related notes
Additional Reading: TXT’s Real Magic; TXT coverage compilation; Decoding TXT’s Neverland; TXT’s Take on The Little Prince; another essay that is coming SOON!
Dig Deep into Even More K-Pop Artists’ Discographies with These Articles!
BOYNEXTDOOR: Reimagining the “Boy Next Door”
BTS: BTS Coverage Compilation; Diving Deep Into ARIRANG; An Underrated Message in Agust D’s D-DAY; BTS’s Book: 10 Main Topics
Epik High: The Best Lyrics from Epik High Is Here 下, Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 (paywalled); also check out this (free!) podcast interview: Authentic: The Story Behind the Story of Tablo
HUNTR/X: KPop Demon Hunters: The Most Interesting Coverage
i-dle: The Many Sides of MINNIE; What (G)I-DLE’s I love Represents; The Triumph of (G)I-DLE’s I NEVER DIE
NMIXX: A Guide to NMIXX (from the “Cheat Sheet” series)
The Rose: Inside The Rose’s Feature-Length Film!
tripleS: Unpacking tripleS’s “Girls’ Capitalism” Music Video; tripleS EVOLution on Superpowers, Resilience, and Standing Out
Xdinary Heroes: The “Beautiful Mind” of Xdinary Heroes