This paper examines the phonological variations that K-pop idols exhibit in K-pop performances. As K-pop continuously develops into a global phenomenon with fans worldwide, the production philosophy of K-pop idols, idol groups, and their music releases has shifted towards catering towards an international audience over the years. Using in-depth analysis of K-pop vocals, this study will examine the phonology of K-pop singers over the span of about 30 years to determine (a) whether there has been a significant shift in linguistic quality compared to standard forms of Korean and (b) what may have motivated those changes, then proceed to discuss what social implications these shifts may have on both the nation of Korea and international fans of K-pop. Ultimately, over the course of the last twenty years of K-pop music, idols have shifted their vowels towards the center of the mouth in a way that closely resembles English's acoustic vowel space and thus blurred the lines between what used to be two very distinct phonological inventories. This paper discusses the implications of these shifts on Korean American identity, Western dominance in "globalized" spaces, and the K-pop scene as a whole. Keywords: K-pop, Cultural hybridity, Imperialism, Linguistic analysis, Phonology, Sociolinguistics, Korean Americans, Sound chang
