Over the past decade, Korean pop music, aka K-pop, has become a global phenomenon. Its explosion was driven by hyperconnectivity in many parts of the world, thousands of miles from Seoul, when Psy’s 2012 track “Gangnam Style” went viral. The accompanying dance took on a life of its own, paving the way for a generation of K-pop artists to inspire global pop culture and headline the world’s most prestigious festivals.
K-pop’s rise dates back to the 1990s with the arrival of Seo Taiji and Boys, a boy band trio that fused American hip-hop, dance and rock with Korean pop music. They sparked the first generation of K-pop acts, like Sechs Kies and S.E.S. In the 2000s and 2010s, groups such as TVXQ, Super Junior and BigBang made their mark. Buoyed by the advent of social media and message boards, they built fan communities throughout Asia — which in turn ignited that global “Gangnam Style” moment and launched a third global wave, led by megagroups BTS and BLACKPINK.
In recent years, the scale of K-pop’s influence has gone stratospheric. In 2023, BLACKPINK’s headline slot at Coachella, the NewJeans performance at Lollapalooza and the Stray Kids set at Glastonbury brought the sound to new Western audiences. Collaborations have fostered cross-genre innovation, too: Rosé’s “APT” with Bruno Mars, LE SSERAFIM “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife,” with Demi Lovato and Rina Sawayama; and RM’s “Domodachi” with UK rapper Little Simz, have all made an impact.
Other contemporary acts — TWICE, NAYEON, ARTMS and ATEEZ, to name a few — are incorporating R&B, hip-hop, electronic, rock, hyperpop, folk, reggaeton and more into K-pop’s quintessentially saccharine template. In the last year, G-Dragon and 2NE1 have staged comebacks and sold out tours with these evolved, multi-genre styles.
K-pop isn’t just innovating musically: Its artists are also now so influential that they’re reshaping creative industries at home and abroad. NewJeans went independent, after making headlines by advocating for autonomy in their careers. All four members of BLACKPINK have released solo music or acted in TV and film, and Stray Kids were the first K-pop artists to attend the Met Gala. And despite most members of BTS currently serving out their mandatory military service, they continue to dominate; in 2024, RM released his acclaimed second solo album, ‘Right Place Wrong Person,’ and a documentary film, ‘RM: Right People, Wrong Place.’
To highlight the evolving K-pop sound, we’ve put together a collection of tracks ranging from the aforementioned Stray Kids, NewJeans and Rosé, to groups like aespa and tripleS, solo stars like G-Dragon and XG, among others.
LISTEN TO THE K-POP'S NEXT WAVE PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW.
Rosé, Bruno Mars, “APT”
The highly anticipated collaborative single from BLACKPINK member Rosé and American pop star Bruno Mars features on the former’s 2024 debut solo album, ‘rosie.’
NewJeans, “How Sweet”
With their Y2K-style blend of R&B and pop and bilingual singing, the five-piece girl group have become standout K-pop acts. This track is taken from their 2024 album of the same name.
aespa, “Supernova”
With their cyberpunk-leaning aesthetic, girl group aespa are bringing a harder, more electronic dance sound to K-pop. This track is from their 2024 debut album, ‘Armaggedon.’
ILLIT, “Magnetic”
The lead single from their 2024 debut album, ‘SUPER REAL ME,’ this track shows the Seoul-based girl group’s sweet side.
XG, “LEFT RIGHT”
This Japanese girl group is based in South Korea, and blends their home influences into the K-pop sound. This track was covered by Jackson Wang and Ciara live at Coachella in 2023.
tripleS, “Girls Never Die”
This girl group is a unique concept: a 24-member rotating cast, based on fan participation; as they put it, “the world's first decentralized idol group.” Their most recent album is ‘<ASSEMBLE25>.’
TWICE, “One Spark”
Now 10 years into their career, this girl group is more popular than ever, with their Western dance and R&B influences. In 2024 they collaborated with Megan Thee Stallion, bringing their sound to new audiences.
KATSEYE, “Touch”
Girl group KATSEYE fuses liquid drum ‘n bass with R&B for this 2024 track, showcasing an expansive take on K-pop.
(G)I-DLE - “Klaxon”
This summery track features on the girl group’s seventh album, 2024’s ‘I SWAY.’
TWS, “Plot Twist”
Named by Billboard as the breakout K-pop boy band of 2024, this track is their debut single. Their most recent release is 2025’s 6-track album, ‘TRY WITH US.’
G-Dragon, “HOME SWEET HOME” (feat. DAESUNG & TAEYANG)
This 2024 comeback single from rapper G-Dragon features his BigBang bandmates Taeyang and Daesung, and went straight to the top of the South Korean Circle Chart on release.
Jungkook - “Seven”
Taking inspiration from UK garage MC Craig David’s cult classic track “Seven Days,”Jungkook turned this track into a bouncing summer R&B love song.
ZEROBASEONE - “BLUE”
Drawing from maximalist EDM-pop beats, this boy band makes super sweet K-pop. “BLUE” features on their 2025 6-track EP, ‘BLUE PARADISE.’Naul, “1993”
Jimin, Muni Long, JVKE, NLE Choppa - “Angel”
Another major cross-genre collaboration between K-pop (Jimin), electronic pop (JVKE), American R&B (Muni Long) and hip-hop (NLE Choppa), this track features on the soundtrack for the 2023 film “Fast X,” of the “Fast & Furious” franchise.
ATEEZ, “Ice On My Teeth”
Influenced by the hyphy style of Bay Area rap, South Korean boy band ATEEZ released this bumping track in 2024.
RIIZE, “Impossible”
On this house-inspired track, boy band RIIZE brings a sunshine vibe to K-pop. The track was released on their 2024 mini-album, ‘Riizing.’
Queenz Eye, “UN-NORMAL (English Version)”
With a midtempo groove that feels like summertime, this track from girl group Queenz Eye is another bilingual crossover moment for K-pop’s new wave.
ARTMS, “Virtual Angel”
On this 2024 track, taken from their debut album ‘DALL,’ girl group ARTMS show off their skillful blend of K-pop and hyperpop.
LIGHTSUM, “Honey or Spice”
After a hiatus, girl group LIGHTSUM returned in 2024 with this high energy dance track.
ADYA, “Per”
Girl group ADYA, short for Adventure Ya, debuted in 2023 with this single, taken from their self-titled album.
NAYEON, “ABCD”
Breaking into the K-pop industry as part of the girl group TWICE, Nayeon went solo on her 2022 album, ‘I Am Nayeon.’
ELZ7 UP, “CHEEKY”
This girl group formed through the reality TV show “Queendom Puzzle,” and released their debut album ‘7+Up’ in 2023.
ILY:1, “I ME ME MINE”
"Let’s talk about me, myself and I,” sing the six members of this girl group, which debuted in 2022
DIAWINGS, “Filter”
A mashup of the words “diamond” and “wings,” this indie rock-inspired four-piece debuted in 2018.
Yunsae, “isle of me”
Leaning into the indie folk side of the spectrum, Yunsae’s rhythmic guitar playing makes her a unique prospect in K-pop.
Nahee, “Ending”
The late Nahee, a singer-songwriter and producer, showed the tender side of K-pop on this yearning ballad.
BABYMONSTER, “SHEESH”
One of the newest girl groups in K-pop, BABYMONSTER debuted in 2024. This rapidfire track features on their 2024 EP, ‘BABYMONS7ER.’
Kep1er, “Shooting Star”
This girl group formed out of the reality competition show “Girls Planet 999,” which sought to debut a group with members from China, Japan and South Korea. Their latest release is 2025’s ‘AGAINST THE WORLD.’
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