In recent years, there’s been an exponential surge of Korean culture, also known as the ‘Korean Wave’ or Hallyu, sweeping across the Western world. K-Pop has played a fundamental part in the spread of Korean popular culture and the genre has gained a large following, particularly over the last couple of years. In this blog, we share our top 5 K-Pop groups that we can’t get enough of.
BTS
If you’re into K-Pop, or a music fanatic of any genre, it’s unlikely that you wouldn’t have come across BTS. This seven-member boy band has taken the world by storm in recent years and are definitely the biggest name in K-pop. BTS have done it all, from performing sell-out tours across the world to achieving two No. 1 albums in the US, boasting 45 million monthly listeners on Spotify to winning international accolades. In August 2020, BTS became the first all-South Korean act to top the Hot 100 thanks to their track ‘Dynamite’ and they became the first K-pop band to receive a Grammy nomination. At the 2021 American Music Awards, the group won the Artist of the Year award and became the first Asian act to win the category. Year-on-year, they keep on making history, growing their following and breaking records. In fact, they recently released their new album, Proof, in June this year. Featuring 35 new tracks, like Yet To Come, there are so many catchy tunes and definitely some of their best songs to date!
BLACKPINK
BLACKPINK is a loveable Korean girl group making quite a name for themselves in the K-Pop world. Challenging the likes of BTS, BLACKPINK they now have over 26 million streams per month on Spotify, which makes them the 110th most-listened-to artists in the world. Their most recent album, ‘The Album‘, has been a smash hit and they’re the first ever group and Korean act to have three music videos on YouTube with over one billion views. Their reputation keeps growing, particularly with eye-catching collaborations with the likes of Lady Gaga by featuring on her track ‘Sour Candy’. Their accolades are impressive, so it’s no surprise that they have so many fans out there, otherwise known as ‘Blinks‘.
Girl’s Generation
Widely known as ‘The Nation’s Girl Group’ in South Korea, Girls’ Generation were crowned the Billboard ‘Top K-pop Girl Group of the Past Decade’ in 2017 and it’s easy to see why with their fun, electro pop style which never fails to lift your spirits and get you up on your feet. Consisting of 8 members, Girl’s Generation rose to stardom with their popular debut single, ‘Into The New World’, in 2007, and have since released a number of hit albums over the past decade. In August 2022, Girls’ Generation made their comeback with their 7th album, ‘FOREVER 1’, in commemoration of their 15th anniversary and topped the iTunes Album Chart in over 30 countries.
Drunken Tiger
While lesser-known than the artists above, Drunken Tiger are one of the pioneers of Korean hip-hop. The group started out in 1999 and have won several music awards for their numerous albums. Their first album, ‘Year of the Tiger‘, caused controversy with its explicit lyrics, but their pioneering style of breaking from pop-culture norms is exactly why they are iconic. While they stopped making music in 2018, they will always be remembered as playing a pivotal part in popularising K-Pop in the late 90s and early 00s.
Super Junior
Super Junior were at the forefront of the Korean Wave of the noughties and shot to fame with the release of their best-selling single ‘Sorry, Sorry‘ in 2009. Dubbed the ‘King of Hallyu Wave’, the award-winning group have remained part of the K-Pop scene for decades and released their 10th album, ‘The Renaissance‘, in 2021. Still to this day, they have millions of monthly listeners on Spotify and keep touring the world with their numerous hits.
Discover more K-Pop bands on Spotify by listening to the K-Pop Fresh, Essential K-Pop and K-Pop Daebak playlists. Featuring big stars and emerging talents, tune in for some absolute bangers with catchy lyrics and feel-good vibes. Don’t forget to also check out the KPOPWAY radio station for K-Pop hits around the clock, with old favourites as well as newest hits from the biggest names in K-Pop. Finally, it’s worth checking out the 1theK YouTube channel for all the latest music videos, teasers and exclusive content from the biggest K-Pop stars around.
Inspired to learn Korea? Study Korean with IH London this September! Find out more about our upcoming online and face-to-face courses here.