K-Pop Idols: Inside the Hit Factory – BBC4

BBC4’s K-Pop: Inside the Hit Factory looks at how South Korea’s pop bands have become major players in the global music industry

If you’re unfamiliar with K-Pop, the BBC4 documentary K-Pop Idols: Inside the Hit Factory will be an eye-opener (see TV Guide for full listings).

No, it’s not a kids’ breakfast cereal but a music phenomenon from South Korea that has spawned the biggest boy band in the world, BTS (pictured above on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon).

In this documentary, music journalist James Ballardie travels to South Korea to find out how in just 20 years, K-Pop went from obscurity to become so huge, meeting songwriters, producers, music video makers and some of the bands.

Main picture: Getty Images

TV Times rating: ***