K-pop’s global expansion to Latin American shores is further proof that music is, indeed, universal.
Latino K-pop fans have grown steadily in the last 10 years, and an increasing number of K-pop groups have visited and performed in Latin American countries. Because of the rising popularity of the genre in the region, groups and soloists have begun to release tracks inspired by Latino sounds.
Most songs have lyrics that are a mix of Korean, Spanish, and English—and there are even a few that’s sung completely in Spanish!
Here are 10 K-pop songs infused with Latino flavor that are definitely worth checking out:
Lo Siento – Super Junior ft. Leslie Grace, Play-N-Skillz
Latin pop and Super Junior is a combination most would not even think possible. But actually, this is not the first time that the second generation legends have released Latino-inspired music. In their 2014 bop Mamacita, the group only dipped their toes into the genre. But 2018’s Lo Siento, from the group’s Replay album (repackaged version of Play), marked the first time that the SuJu guys collaborated with non-Korean artists as well as their first real venture into Latin pop.
The tri-lingual track featured Dominican-American singer Leslie Grace and producer/DJ duo Play-N-Skillz. The song fully embraced the Latin vibe, with its bold and upbeat sound punctuated by Spanish guitar riffs. It also presented a more mature, more sensual side to the group while still retaining their unique musical color.
Upon its release, the song debuted at no. 13 in Billboard’s Latin Digital Song Sales chart—making Super Junior the first K-pop group to appear on a Latin chart.
One More Time (Otra Vez) – Super Junior ft. Reik
After the success of Lo Siento, Super Junior dove deeper into the Latin pop genre with their first extended play (EP) album, One More Time, also released in 2018. For the album’s tri-lingual lead single, One More Time (Otra Vez), the group collaborated with the Mexican pop rock trio Reik.
The group continued to play up their sultry side with the song, infused with a tinge of Spanish guitar and the addition of more high notes from main vocal Ryeowook, as the song marked his return from military enlistment.
Bonus: The second generation legends also did a remake of Ahora te Puedes Marchar—and released a special music video that was a hilarious parallel (complete with strawberry blonde wigs and ‘80s-inspired leather jackets) to the 1987 song by Mexican singer Luis Miguel!
Hola Hola – Kard
The co-ed group, made up of male members BM and J.Seph and female members Somin and Jiwoo, has become well-known for their Latino-inspired and tropical house sound releases. Their official debut song Hola Hola is an upbeat and breezy dance track that’s perfect for a Caribbean cruise. Its smooth melody and captivating beat, punctuated by Jiwoo’s surprising rap verse in the middle, makes it a great summer song.
The group’s first pre-debut track, Oh Na Na, is also a great tropical house track. It also has the same addictive beat that would make you want to get up and dance.
Demente – Chung Ha ft. Guaynaa
I.O.I alum and soloist Chung Ha proved that she can break boundaries with her music in her first studio album, Querencia, released in 2021. In the album is the track Demente, a sultry Latin pop song that features Puerto Rican rapper Guaynaa. Here, she sings about the confusion that comes from simultaneously mourning for a lost love and waiting for him to return.
Unlike other Latin pop-inspired K-pop songs, Chung Ha sings this song entirely in Spanish. The idol, who lived in Dallas, Texas before getting into the entertainment industry, reportedly turned to her Mexican friends to help perfect her Spanish for the song—and to great results.
Egotistic – Mamamoo
A beautiful Spanish guitar intro + god-tier vocals + alluring visuals = Mamamoo’s Egotistic.
In this 2018 song, the quartet sings about the breakdown of a relationship with a self-centered person. The track is equal parts sultry and powerful, with just the right amount of grittiness. It’s a departure from the group’s usual sound, but still, the song beautifully showcases the ladies’ vocals. Plus, Moonbyul’s rap added another layer that, while unexpected, works with the overall Latino vibe.
This song is further proof that Mamamoo can pull off just about any music genre.
Si Fueras Mia – D.O. (EXO)
Here’s another exceptional song from a K-pop artist that’s sung entirely in Spanish! D.O. is one of EXO’s main vocals, and in the B-side track Si Fueras Mia, from his debut mini-album Empathy, the idol sings about falling in love with someone he cannot be with. Yet despite this, he will continue to love that person from afar.
D.O. (with Suho, Baekhyun, and Chanyeol) has already enchanted Latin American audiences with EXO’s rendition of Mexican singer Luis Miguel’s Sabor a Mi in a 2014 episode of Music Bank in Mexico. And with Si Fueras Mia, Latinos—along with all EXO-Ls around the world—have only fallen deeper in love with D.O.’s charms.
O Sole Mio – SF9
SF9 laid it on thick with the Latino energy in O Sole Mio, which made the track even more beautiful to listen to. From the strum of the acoustic guitar instrumental to the passionate declaration of love in the lyrics, the song definitely gives justice to the Spanish influence.
O Sole Mio doesn’t have the booming beats and catchy, repetitive hooks. Rather, the smooth melodies and solid vocals, along with a smattering of electronic sounds make it a timeless K-pop track. The song was released in 2017, and it still sounds fresh to this day.
Airplane pt.2 – BTS
Global superstars BTS have also dabbled in Latin pop! Airplane pt.2 is a Latin pop-inspired B-side from the group’s Love Yourself: Tear album, released in 2018. The song is a sequel to J-Hope’s solo song Airplane, and it talks about the group’s journey, from dreaming of traveling around the world to showcase their music to finally achieving international success.
It’s no secret that BTS started as a group of talented young singers and dancers from a small company, who simply wanted to share their music to the world. But despite all the odds stacked against them, these seven young men continued to work tirelessly to become the biggest male K-pop act in the world.
Señorita – (G)I-DLE
Señorita is (G)I-DLE’s take on the sultry Latin dance genre. The group had been active for only a year when they released this song in 2018, but it was no surprise that they decided to release music that was different from their previous singles. In an interview with Billboard, leader Soyeon thought that the song was a perfect opportunity to show a different, more aggressive side of the group.
In the song, the girls fall in love with an unnamed señor. Unlike the other songs in this list, brass permeated the instrumentals along with the electronic beats. Snaps of the castanets can also be heard in the verses. This track can definitely inspire anyone to stand up and dance, and it might just be what you need to hear to finally take up tango or flamenco lessons!
Bomba – Kai (EXO)
EXO’s main dancer Kai proves his mettle as a soloist with his third mini-album Rover, released in 2023. In this album, he once again infuses his unique energy and charisma in every R&B, pop, and dance track. The lead single, also called Rover, is a lively dance track tinged with reggaeton beats. But it is in the B-side track Bomba that the idol star fully embraces the Latino vibe.
Kai has admitted to wanting to try this genre. In an interview during Rover’s promotions, he even considered making Bomba the lead single for his second album, Peaches (released 2021). With addictive beats and straightforward expressions of summer in the lyrics such as “You can melt the ice, hot, hotter than the summer,” this song will surely be a staple in beach trip playlists.
This is by no means an extensive list of K-pop tracks with a Latino flair. What other Latino-inspired K-pop songs are in your playlist?
