“We Wouldn’t Exist If It Weren’t For Her”—Former K-Pop Idols Name The Singer Who Paved The Way For The Entire Industry

Former NU’EST member Aron (Aaron Kwak) and BTL member Joel released the newest episode of their joint podcast on their YouTube channel KOREAN COWBOYS.

Joel (Left) and Aaron (Right) | Korean Cowboys/YouTube

At one point, they mentioned BoA, one of the most legendary soloists in the industry. They called her their “beloved super sunbae” and “the queen of K-Pop” and urged current K-Pop fans not to “trash her legacy.”

BoA

As two people who know the inner workings of K-Pop best—with Aaron debuting in 2012 and Joel in 2014—they were confident that her significance in the history of K-Pop can never be downplayed.

First and foremost, K-Pop, all your faves, everybody, him, me, all of us. We would not exist if it weren’t for BoA.

— Joel 

Aaron Kwak (NU'EST Aron) and Joel Lane (BTL Jay) mentioned BoA in their podcast:

"I'm going to be very blunt: K-pop, all your faves, everybody, all of us — we would not exist if it wasn't for BoA […] And that's coming from two people who were actually *in* K-pop." pic.twitter.com/VVGbAD0AFl

— BoA Source #Emptiness (@BoASource) April 21, 2024

Aaron agreed, saying that, “She was one of the trailblazers” of K-Pop. Joel added, “She’s the one who made K-Pop international.”

They noted that her popularity is what grew SM Entertainment, the company that houses huge K-Pop names such as TVXQ, Girls’ Generation, EXO, and more. Her success in Japan, for instance, is the biggest reason why K-Pop idols are now able to easily promote overseas.

She is one of the biggest reasons why SM became what it became. She went to Japan at the age of 14 or something and paved the way for Japan, opened that lane of promotion.

— Joel

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At the end of the day, BoA helped all K-Pop idols grow their fandoms.

Aaron: She literally paved the way for junior groups like us, like the groups that are promoting now.

Joel: In my opinion, there’s nothing that she could do or not do to say that she’s washed up. Because her legacy is in place. Everybody in the K-Pop world exists because of her.

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K-Pop fans who studied at Yonsei University and Seoul National University agreed with this assessment. They were apparently taught in class that the industry is the way it is today because of BoA. Along with SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo Man and fellow artists under this company, the industry grew thanks to their persistence and talent.

At Yonsei University we had an entire college presentation on how BoA is the entire reason KPOP was able to expand globally and if it wasn’t for her none of these companies would have existed. https://t.co/6wWgy8zOUk

— T E O // europapi La Noia (@BejbaLasagna) April 21, 2024

At Seoul National University, we also had a Korean Culture & History class, and the Professor explained that K-pop wouldn't exist w/o Lee Sooman's brains + w/o BoA's, TVXQ's and SNSD's skills, talent & determination. That's why all idols have so much respect for SM senior groups. https://t.co/dUoDH7Gw8U

— 요정 (@junguwu) April 22, 2024

BoA debuted in 2000 at the tender age of 13. She churned out hit songs such as “No. 1,” “Hurricane Venus,” “Woman,” “Only Me,” and more. To the sadness of fans, she hinted at her retirement earlier this month.

Check out the full Korean Cowboys podcast below.