# 2012 in South Korean music

The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in 2012 in music in South Korea.

## Notable events and achievements

* January 11–12 – the 26th Golden Disc Awards take place, the first time it was held in January. Super Junior and Girls' Generation win the grand prizes.
* January 31 – Girls' Generation become the first K-pop group to appear on an American late night talk show, performing the English version of "The Boys" on the Late Show with David Letterman.
* February 1 – Girls' Generation similarly appear on Live! with Kelly, the first U.S. morning talk show appearance from a K-pop artist.
* February 29 – Kiha & The Faces and IU win the grand prizes at the 18th Korean Music Awards.
* June – The Korean music industry grosses nearly $3.4 billion in the first half of 2012, according to Billboard estimates, a 27.8% increase from the same period a year prior.
* June 22 – Show Me the Money airs its first season, which is considered a pivotal work in making hip hop a mainstream genre in South Korea.
* July 28 – 2NE1 embark on their New Evolution Global Tour, considered the first world tour by a K-pop girl group.
* September 10 – Big Bang announces their three concert dome tour in Japan, making them the first Korean artist to perform at three dome stadiums in a single tour.
* September 26 – Psy's "Gangnam Style" attains a peak of number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, the highest for a K-pop song on the chart.
* October 16 – KCON 2012 takes place at the Verizon Amphitheater in Irvine, California, the first K-pop dedicated convention in the United States.
* November 18 – Psy becomes the first Korean artist to perform at the American Music Awards.
* November 19 – The third annual Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards take place. Psy, Song Chang-sik and Geum Sa-hyang are awarded the Order of Cultural Merit; Park Seong-yeon and Kim Chang-wan receive the Presidential Commendation; and Na Yoon-sun, 2NE1 and Lee Eun-ha receive the Prime Minister's Commendation.
* November 24 – "Gangnam Style" becomes the most viewed video on YouTube with 805 million views, surpassing Justin Bieber's "Baby".
* November 30 – Psy, BigBang, and Super Junior win the grand prizes at the 2012 MAMA.
* December 14 – Busker Busker, Beast and Psy win the grand prizes at the annual Melon Music Awards.
* December 18 – "Gangnam Style" is ranked number one on YouTube's list of top trending video of 2012.
* December 21 – The music video for Gangnam Style" becomes the first video in YouTube history to surpass 1 billion views.

## Award shows and festivals
### Award ceremonies

2012 music award ceremonies in South Korea :
| Date | Event | Host |
| January 11–12, 2012 | 26th Golden Disc Awards | Ilgan Sports and JTBC Plus |
| January 19, 2012 | 21st Seoul Music Awards | Sports Seoul |
| February 22, 2012 | 1st Gaon Chart Music Awards | Korea Music Content Association |
| February 29, 2012 | 18th Korean Music Awards | Korean Popular Music Awards Committee |
| November 19, 2012 | 3rd Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards | Korea Creative Content Agency |
| November 30, 2012 | 14th Mnet Asian Music Awards | CJ E&M (Mnet) |
| December 14, 2012 | 4th Melon Music Awards | Kakao M |

### Festivals

2012 televised music festivals in South Korea :
| Date | Event | Host |
| December 28, 2012 | KBS Song Festival | Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) |
| December 29, 2012 | SBS Gayo Daejeon | Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) |
| December 31, 2012 | MBC Gayo Daejejeon | Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) |

## Debuting and disbanded in 2012
### Debuted groups

* 100%
* 15&
* 24K
* 2BiC
* A.cian
* A-Jax
* A-Prince
* AOA
* B.A.P
* Big Star
* BTOB
* C-Clown
* Crayon Pop
* Cross Gene
* D-Unit
* EvoL
* EXID
* EXO
* Fiestar
* From the Airport
* Gangkiz
* Girls' Generation-TTS
* GLAM
* Hello Venus
* Hyungdon and Daejun
* JJ Project
* Lunafly
* Mr. Mr.
* NU'EST
* Puretty
* Rainbow Pixie
* She'z
* Skarf
* Skull & Haha
* Spica
* Sunny Days
* Tahiti
* Tasty
* The Barberettes
* The SeeYa
* The Solutions
* Tiny-G
* Two X
* VIXX
* Wonder Boyz
* ZE:A Five

### Solo debuts

* Ailee
* Allen Kim
* Anda
* Baek A-yeon
* Ben
* Han Seung-yeon
* John Park
* Juniel
* Kim Sung-kyu
* Lee Hi
* Loco
* Stephanie
* Yong Jun-hyung

### Disbanded groups

* 2NB
* Big Mama
* Black Pearl
* Broken Valentine
* JQT
* Loveholics
* T-max

## Releases in 2012
### First quarter
#### January

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 3 | Funky Town | T-ara | Dance, Disco |
| 5 | Neo Spirit | NS Yoon-G | Pop |
| 5 | It's | Teen Top | Dance |
| 10 | 100% Ver. | MBLAQ | Pop, Dance |
| 13 | The Grasshoppers | Sunny Hill | Dance |
| 20 | Vintage | Wanted | K-pop |
| 26 | Warrior | B.A.P | Hip-hop, R&B |
| 27 | Hit U | Dal Shabet | Dance |
| 31 | Grown-Up | F.T. Island | Rock |

#### February

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 1 | Se7en Second Mini Album | Se7en | R&B, Pop |
| 2 | Welcome To The Block | Block B | Hip-hop |
| 6 | Thank You | F-iV | R&B, Ballad |
| 7 | New Breed | Jay Park | Hip-hop, R&B |
| 8 | Russian Roulette | Spica | Dance, R&B |
| 9 | My Angel | M. Street | Ballad |
| 14 | I Need You | K.Will | Ballad |
| 20 | Touch | Miss A | Dance, Electronic |
| 22 | Re-Issue | Brave Girls | Dance |
| 29 | Alive | Big Bang | Electronic, Hip-hop |

#### March

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 7 | Love Diary | C-Real | Dance |
| 8 | Sweet Rendezvous | Nine Muses | Dance |
| 12 | F.Scott Fitzgerald's Way Of Love | 2AM | Pop, R&B |
| 14 | Ignition | B1A4 | Dance |
| 19 | Sherlock | Shinee | Electronic, R&B |
| 20 | The Boys Becomes Adult | Monni | Rock |
| 23 | The Return | Shinhwa | Dance |
| 26 | Ear Fun | CNBLUE | Pop rock |
| 29 | Painkiller | Spica | Dance, R&B |

### Second quarter
#### April

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 3 | Born to Beat | BtoB | Dance |
| 9 | Mama | Exo-K | Electronica, R&B |
| 9 | Volume Up | 4Minute | Electropop |
| 10 | Slip Away | Nell | Rock |
| 12 | Alone | Sistar | Dance, R&B |
| 12 | 2 Guys | Baechigi | Hip hop |
| 17 | Spaceensum | Daybreak | Rock |
| 18 | Everyday II | Girl's Day | Dance, ballad |
| 25 | DoraDora | U-KISS | Electropop |
| 27 | Power | B.A.P | Hip-hop, Pop punk |
| 27 | For Century Ultimate Zest | F.Cuz | Dance |
| 28 | Spring | Park Jin Young | R&B, Ballad |
| 29 | Twinkle | Girls' Generation-TTS | Dance, Electropop |
| 30 | Welcome To The Block (repackage) | Block B | Hip hop |

#### May

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 8 | "Bounce" | JJ Project | Hiphop |
| 9 | Une Année | Apink | Dance |
| 9 | Venus | Hello Venus | Dance |
| 10 | Ulala Sensation Part 1 | Ulala Session | Pop |
| 10 | Shade | Broken Valentine | Rock |
| 11 | Spring of a Twenty Year Old | IU | Ballad |
| 14 | Tarantallegra | Kim Junsu (JYJ) | Pop |
| 15 | Infinitize | Infinite | Dance |
| 16 | State of Emergency | DMTN | Dance |
| 17 | Ulala Sensation Part 2 | Ulala Session | Pop |
| 21 | 2PM Member's Selection | 2PM | Dance, R&B |
| 21 | Bloom | G.NA | Pop |
| 23 | Born to Beat (Asia Special Edition) | BTOB | Dance |
| 24 | Ignition (Special Edition) | B1A4 | Dance |
| 27 | Good Boy | Baek Ji-young | K-pop |
| 30 | Illusion | M.I.B | Hip-hop |

#### June

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 1 | Myname 1st Single | Myname | R&B |
| 3 | Still Alive | Big Bang | Dance, Hip-hop |
| 3 | Wonder Party | Wonder Girls | Dance, Ballad |
| 4 | Artist | Teen Top | Dance |
| 5 | The Special To Kiss Me | U-KISS | Dance |
| 6 | Bang Bang | Dal Shabet | Dance, Electropop |
| 7 | My First June | Juniel | Pop rock |
| 8 | Timeless: Begins | Cross Gene | Electronic |
| 13 | Electric Shock | f(x) | Electropop |
| 13 | Love Style | Boyfriend | Dance |
| 20 | Flashback | After School | Pop, Dance |
| 22 | Hu+man | 2BiC | R&B |
| 25 | I'm Da One | Jo Kwon | Dance |
| 28 | Loving U | Sistar | Dance, R&B |

### Third quarter
#### July

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 3 | Day by Day | T-ara | Dance |
| 4 | Sexy, Free & Single | Super Junior | R&B, Electropop |
| 4 | Like a Wave | Hello Venus | Dance |
| 4 | Spectacular | ZE:A | Dance |
| 8 | 23, Male, Single | Jang Wooyoung | Dance |
| 10 | Run to You | LED Apple | Pop rock |
| 11 | Action | Nu'est | Dance |
| 12 | Bigstart | Big Star | Dance |
| 15 | Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1 | Psy | Dance, Hip-hop |
| 18 | Skinship | NS Yoon-G | Pop |
| 19 | No Mercy | B.A.P | Hip-hop, Pop |
| 19 | Not Alone | C-Clown | Dance |
| 22 | Midnight Sun | Beast | Dance |
| 22 | Only One | BoA | Dance, R&B |
| 27 | Racer | Chaos | Dance |

#### August

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 2 | Welcome to Business | D-Unit | Dance |
| 3 | Summer Special 'Be Ma Girl' | Teen Top | K-pop, R&B |
| 6 | Spy (Sexy, Free & Single Repackage) | Super Junior | R&B, Electropop |
| 9 | Spectrum | Tasty | Dance |
| 10 | Let Me Explode! | EvoL | Dance |
| 13 | Hippity Hop | EXID | Dance, R&B |
| 14 | Rising Sun | E7 | Dance |
| 16 | Phantom City | Phantom | Hip-hop |
| 16 | Mystery | Able | Dance |
| 20 | Double Up | Two X | Dance |
| 22 | Pandora | Kara | Synthpop |
| 23 | Sol Bi Neun Ottugi | Sol Bi | Dance |
| 27 | Phoenix | ZE:A | Pop |
| 30 | Crash | B.A.P | Hip-hop, Pop |
| 31 | Vista | Fiestar | Dance |

#### September

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 4 | Mirage | T-ara | Dance |
| 10 | I'm Baek | Baek A-Yeon | R&B |
| 10 | Five Treasure Box | F.T. Island | Rock |
| 12 | Press Play | BtoB | Dance, R&B |
| 12 | Lipstick | Orange Caramel | Dance, Electropop |
| 13 | Poison | Secret | Dance, Electropop |
| 15 | One of a Kind | G-Dragon | Hip-hop |
| 20 | Stop Girl | U-KISS | Dance |
| 20 | Hypnotize | Anda | Pop |
| 20 | Principle of My Soul | Naul | R&B |
| 24 | Catch Me | TVXQ | R&B, Electropop |
| 29 | Girl's Secret Party | 84LY | Pop |

### Fourth quarter
#### October

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 4 | Blossom | Big Star | Dance |
| 5 | Talk About S | Gain | Dance, Electronic |
| 10 | 2.0 | 10cm | Acoustic folk |
| 11 | The Third Album Part 1 | K.Will | Ballad |
| 15 | Independent Women Part III | Miss A | Dance |
| 16 | Blockbuster | Block B | Dance, Hip-hop |
| 16 | Invitation | Ailee | Dance |
| 16 | Open The Door | Wonder Boyz | Hip-hop |
| 19 | 99 | Epik High | Hip hop |
| 21 | Melting | Hyuna | Dance, Hip-hop |
| 23 | Stop It | B.A.P | Hip-hop, R&B |
| 24 | Vol. 5 Be Renewed | Chu Ga-yeoul | Folk |
| 31 | PYL Younique Volume 1 | Younique Unit | Dance |

#### November

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 1 | Journey Home | Kim Jong Kook | Pop |
| 6 | Hello | A-Prince | Dance |
| 7 | The Next Big Thing | Roh Ji-hoon | Dance |
| 8 | Janus | Boyfriend | Dance |
| 8 | I Will Protect | SM☆SH | Pop |
| 9 | We Don’t Stop | Fiestar | Dance |
| 12 | In the Wind | B1A4 | Dance |
| 13 | Have, Don't Have | Dal Shabet | Dance, Synthpop |
| 15 | 2MYX | A-Jax | Dance |
| 15 | Young Love | C-Clown | Pop |
| 19 | Another Me | Kim Sung-kyu | Pop rock |
| 20 | 1&1 | Juniel | Pop rock |
| 21 | Lonely | Spica | Dance, R&B |
| 22 | Forest | Lee Seung-gi | Ballad |
| 26 | Humanoids | TVXQ | Electronica, Dance |
| 26 | The First Collage | Yang Yo-seob | R&B |
| 28 | I Got The Feeling | Big Star | Dance |
| 30 | Kara Collection | Kara | Dance |

#### December

| Date | Title | Artist | Genre(s) |
| 4 | Now and Forever | Wax | R&B, Ballad |
| 6 | Love U | The SeeYa | R&B |
| 11 | 5 Point 5 | Joosuc | Hip-hop |
| 12 | What Are You Doing Today? | Hello Venus | Dance |
| 13 | Antique Romance | Sunny Hill | Dance |

## Charts

* List of number-one hits of 2012 (South Korea)
* List of number-one albums of 2012 (South Korea)