SM엔터 '구약의 시작' H.O.T. 30주년…아이돌 원형질서 K-팝 유산으로 - 뉴시스

A Newsis report published on September 6, 2026 frames H.O.T.’s 30th anniversary (debut on September 7, 1996) as the ‘‘Old Testament’ start’ of K-pop, within SM Entertainment’s history. The article cites critics saying H.O.T. established modern idol industry norms—role specialization and the trainee system—and that the group’s increased use of self-composed songs from their third album onward helped idols evolve into creator-performers.