Yohan Yukiya Seseㆍ사요한・謝雪矢The reason we have known the first generation of K-pop artists and groups since 1995 was because OCW (Overseas Contract Workers; as it was known then), and migrants, were bringing back albums to their kids and these were passed around in schools and friends. Some even hit radio stations; or were used as a music for the 90s Philippine dance craze.
In other words, long before the assumed beginning of the Hallyu wave, K-pop was already gaining grounds in the Philippines. Long before modern K-pop started to get popular in China and Japan, they were already known here in the Philippines.
I would say that BoA was the most popular K-pop solo artist in the Philippines because the Japanese versions of her songs gained quick popularity here, along with the original Korean versions.
All GNU social JP content and data are available under the