SEVENTEEN’s Vernon has sparked a conversation that many K-pop fans have been having for years. While discussing how the genre has changed, the rapper shared his thoughts on the growing influence of American pop music in K-pop—and admitted that sometimes, he misses the sound of the 2000s and early 2010s.

For Vernon, this isn't necessarily about saying today's K-pop is bad. In fact, his point is almost the opposite. He believes K-pop producers have become so good at incorporating Western sounds that the musical gap between K-pop and American pop has become much harder to notice.

And fans are strongly supporting what he had to say.

Vernon explained that he feels K-pop has increasingly started sounding like American pop.

“I feel like K-pop sounds more and more like American pop instead of K-pop, and I think a lot of people talk about that too.”

He then took listeners back to the music he grew up with, saying he sometimes wants to return to the 2000s and early 2010s, when groups such as Wonder Girls, BIGBANG and 2NE1 were shaping the sound of K-pop.

That era had a very different identity.

K-pop was already borrowing heavily from hip-hop, R&B, electronic music and other international genres, but the final product often had a distinctly Korean pop identity. The choreography, visuals, songwriting structures and overall presentation helped make the music feel different from what was dominating American radio. Vernon appears to feel that distinction has become much less obvious.

Vernon went on to explain why he thinks this change happened.

According to him, K-pop producers have consistently tried to take American sounds and turn them into something of their own.

But now, he believes they've reached a point where they're “too good” at doing it.

It's an interesting observation, especially coming from an artist who has worked within the global K-pop industry for years.

K-pop has always been influenced by music outside Korea. That's nothing new. What has changed is just how global the production process has become.

American producers and songwriters frequently work with Korean artists. English-language songs and choruses have become increasingly common. And with K-pop now competing directly in the global pop market, artists are naturally experimenting with sounds that international listeners already recognize.

For Vernon, however, that success may have come with an unintended consequence: K-pop sometimes doesn't sound as distinctly “K-pop” as it once did.

Many fans seem to agree with Vernon's observation, particularly those who have watched K-pop evolve across different generations.

All 13 members renewed their contracts with PLEDIS Entertainment in April 2026, reinforcing their commitment to continuing as a group.

The group also wrapped up its NEW_ World Tour with encore concerts in Incheon on April 4 and 5, 2026.

At the same time, SEVENTEEN is navigating another major reality: mandatory military service.

Jeonghan officially completed his military service and was discharged in June 2026. Other members are entering or preparing for their own service periods, with the group working to minimize the amount of time its members have to spend apart.

Mingyu is scheduled to begin alternative service on September 10, while Seungkwan and Dino are scheduled to enlist together in the Army's military band on October 26.

Wonwoo, Hoshi and Woozi are already serving, while DK and Vernon are also among the members preparing for enlistment.