Korea is completely inundated with singers from the pretty idols and talented dancers to the indie artists and OST stars. However, among the Korean artists I know, the names that immediately flood my head when I hear the phrase 'unique voice' form a much shorter list. Much like the "it factor", it's a bit hard to quantify but when you hear it, you just know that there's something special there.

Keep in mind that this list is solely based on my opinion and the artists are who I deem to have unique voices. Also, I'm limited to the scope of artists that I've been exposed to so I apologize in advance for not including your favorite artist!

Kim Yoon Ah

Let's start with Kim Yoon Ah. If you don't know already, Kim Yoon Ah is the lead singer of alternative rock band Jaurim. I selected her because she encompasses so much dynamic range. She could yodel powerfully in one song but tone down to a soft warble in the next. Her slightly nasal singing pitch or her caterwauling—if you can call it that—may not be everyone's cup of tea, but you can't deny that it's a rare voice in the Korean music scene.

Zion. T

Next up is Zion. T. With Zion. T, 'unique' is an understatement. His singing is extremely difficult to describe (at least for me); I sat for a good thirty minutes—maybe more—of lucubration, deeply contemplating which select set of words would best define Zion. T's none-too-typical singing style. It's odd, but odd in a pleasing sort of way. He departs entirely from the norm with his peculiar voice, delivering perfect pitch with light, airy hums and squeaky clean harmonization that is skillfully layered for your listening pleasure. 

Park Bom

Park Bom is one of the few idol singers I know very well. And I just happen to think she is gifted with powerful, distinctive vocals. Her audition tape in which she covers Faith Evans is a video that amazes me every time I watch it. How can such a strong, forceful sound ensue from such a petite creature? It's not only her voice, but also the way she sings that makes this female vocalist stand out. She sings with such bold, unreserved emotion during live shows ("It Hurts", "If I Were You", "Don't Cry", etc.), that I can't help but get the feels when I watch her perform.

Jo Hyun Ah

Jo Hyun Ah of Urban Zakapa has a singing voice and style that is hard not to fall in love with. I became acquainted with her voice mainly due to the fact that she features on countless songs that are on my playlist. I downloaded Urban Zakapa's first album just to hear more of Jo Hyun Ah. What I noticed about her is the 'pliability' of her vocals to any given genre. It is appropriate for any occasion whether it be a jazz-infused pop song (Block B's "When, Where, How"), a laidback acoustic track (Verbal Jint's "Promise, Promise"), or a modern synth-heavy hip-hop track (G-Slow's "Embrace Me").

Jin Shil

Jin Shil is a singer I just had to include on this list. Who is Jin Shil you ask? Well, if you have heard Tablo's "Bad", Primary's "Happy Ending" or are a fan of singer J.ae, you may know who I am talking about. She is a part of an electronica band called Mad Soul Child which was a bit of a surprise for me since her voice seems more fitting for an acoustic/folk group. Jin Shil has that low, throaty voice that will immediately grab your attention. Her vocals are strangely soothing and once you hear it you can't help but crave for more. Like Kim Yoon Ah's vocals, Jin Shil's voice is not one you'd encounter just anywhere.

JungGiGo

Up next is R&B/Soul singer Junggigo. Ah, JungGiGo, I remember you before your "Some" days. I believe songs such as "Cream", "Byebyebye", and "Blind" better embody JungGiGo's color. The faintly quavering, high-pitch tone he adapts when hits those notes feels akin to melting cotton candy in your ears. His voice lends the lighthearted sensation that you are treading on some fluffy substance. Or is that just me? If you wish to feel relaxed or create that chill mood, toss JungGiGo's voice in there somewhere and you will attain your objective. 

Kim Yerim (Lim Kim)

Kim Yerim is a fairly nascent singer in the K-Pop scene. Even though she is still a blossoming artist, she has captured the attention and hearts of the masses, myself included. Her soft, husky tone of singing is surprisingly mature for someone who is barely past twenty. Though her singing style is typically mellow and delicate, she manages to add character with genuine feeling that is hard even for a veteran singer to express.

Bumkey

Bumkey will be the last artist I will mention on this list. Bumkey is a name that has been familiar to me since 2010. Even then, when he was mostly featuring for bigger names to get his name out there, I've kept him under close watch since his voice left such an impression. Bumkey's soulful vocals hold that natural power to spruce up any song with much desired funk. Like Zion. T, Bumkey has a voice that is difficult to exactly describe with words. When you listen however, you are automatically drawn to it like a toddler to shiny toys (hopefully my terrible analogy didn't make you wince).

The Korean music industry is a saturated market—particularly the pop scene. Amid all the solo acts, boy bands, girl groups, duos, trios, quartets, etc., that are being pumped out at great volume, it may be quite difficult for an individual to distinguish him / herself from the crowd. Artists essentially compete with the same set of talents and concepts which makes it increasingly hard to be discerned or perceived as unique. However, these are some of the select few artists that succeeded in standing out and capturing my oft fleeting attention with their unique vocal ability. There are many more artists with distinctive voices that I didn't mention so please feel free to create your own list and share it below!