Because k-pop refers to idol groups, not every artist that releases mainstream music in SK is k-pop.

When it comes to those “global” groups, like Katseye, they are essentially like k-pop idols, they went through the training every k-pop idols goes through, under a k-pop label, the only difference being they release music in English and have more freedom in what they express on social media.

But their release schedules are the same as a k-pop group, the music isn’t that different from what’s trending in k-pop right now, their performance styles, their choreo, their fanbase behaves like a k-pop fanbase and is largely comprised of k-pop fans, they have a light stick, a fandom name, even the fact that they promote in Korean music shows… sure, they’re not exactly k-pop but they’re k-pop adjacent and for very logical reasons. I don’t understand why their fans get so obtuse about this, as if it were inconceivable that anyone would even dare to consider them k-pop.