Music videos can comprise of a variety of aspects—choreography, aesthetics, and sometimes entire stories! Some groups even carry their storylines over from one music video to another, leaving connecting clues that really get fans thinking. With tons of theories and lots of different ideas out there, here are just a couple of story-based music videos in K-pop that are fun and interesting. Even if you’ve heard the song before, it’s worth the watch!
Stray Kids – “Mixtape : OH”
Thought to be one of a longer series that follows the same storyline, “Mixtape : OH” is nonetheless a beautiful music video. From the styling to the color palette chosen for each shot, it’s very soothing. There are several aspects of this one that track back to other Stray Kids music videos, including the birthday cake, that have fans buzzing with theories!
Red Velvet – “Peek-A-Boo”
With “Red” representing the group’s brighter concepts and “Velvet” representing the more sultry side, it’s hard to say where this music video really fits on the spectrum. While the song definitely fits the classic bubblegum K-pop genre, the music video suddenly takes a turn into horror film territory! An older classic, this music video has always gotten fans speculating.
TXT – “Eternally”
If ever there was a group that did full, story-based music videos that seem more like movies than music videos, it’s TXT! The music video for “Eternally” is almost 20 minutes long and covers the group’s amazing journey through what could be a magical land or the end of the world. There are so many ideas about this one—the real interpretation is up to you!
NewJeans – “Ditto”
With an immaculate concept execution reminiscent of old-school home videos, NewJeans’s music video for “Ditto” leaves behind more questions than it answers. What seems like a wholesome group of friends proves to be something else—a dream, or maybe the friends that the girl behind the camera wishes she had. It’s a fascinating storyline!
ATEEZ – “Answer”
This one might take a little more background knowledge if you’re unfamiliar with ATEEZ’s other music videos. Aside from some of the most energetic choreography in K-pop, there’s also some storyline sprinkled in. It appears that the ATEEZ members are sharing a meal with their doppelgangers, who also make appearances in other music videos. The rabbit hole goes deep here!
Dreamcatcher – “Scream”
Another music video with some truly gorgeous aesthetics, Dreamcatcher’s music video for “Scream” appears to show two different worlds—one where there is still good, and one where evil has taken over. Whether the group is acting as guardians of the light or denizens of darkness is still up for question, but it only makes the music video all the more fascinating!
BTS – “RUN”
An old BTS classic, the music video for “RUN” tells the story of a rebellious friend group throwing a party—but it’s a whole lot more than just that! Friendships and fights are shown in vignettes that correspond with the party happenings in a sequence of events that’ll have you watching over and over again just to catch the details. It’s also thought to be part of a longer series, but what do you think?
What are some other story-based K-pop music videos that get you thinking? Let us know in the comments!