NMIXX, SHINee, Jennie, KiiiKiii, ATEEZ

In many ways, 2025 proved to be a pivotal moment in the world of K-pop.

It’s hard to think about when it’s happening, but it’s clear that this year has been a transitional one. The trends are changing — truthfully, trends change at a rapid rate in the world of K-pop — and a new sound seems to be emerging as 2026 approaches.

Overall, girl groups had a genuinely impressive year. Between NMIXX’s long-overdue breakout moment with “Blue Valentine” to Jennie’s iconic “Like Jennie” to WSJN’s Dayoung making a sleeper hit out of “Body,” 2025 belonged to the women of K-pop.

That’s not to say boy groups didn’t also influence the K-pop culture of 2025. SHINee, one of K-pop’s most legendary boy groups, came out on top with their tearful and heartfelt “Poet | Artist,” a tribute to their late member Jonghyun. ATEEZ, Boynextdoor and Cortis pushed boundaries with their own standout releases.

Given the sheer number of releases in K-pop, it would be near impossible to from a pool of every single K-pop song released in 2025. For each act, all of their releases were considered, and the strongest release was picked to represent them against the rest of this year’s offering. Singles (and just one promoted B-side) were picked.

Heading into 2026, it’s time to look back at what K-pop songs shaped the ever-growing ecosystem. K-pop’s global evolution was clear throughout the 2025 releases; however, many groups opted to stick to the quintessential K-pop sound that made the industry appealing in the first place, hitting just the right note of nostalgia.

These are the 40 best K-pop songs of 2025.

• Honorable Mentions

  Trimming down to just 40 songs felt near impossible, so a few honorable mentions were surely needed. These three rising artists are on the cusp, making solid tracks that deserve greater recognition.

  “ShaLaLa” — Say My Name

  The girl group, hailing from Jaejoong’s iNKODE label, has all the ingredients to catapult them into the next level, including their dreamy, bubblegum pop sounds showcased in “ShaLaLa.” The now eight-member group gained early interest for several reasons, including their leader Hitomi, a former member of IZ*ONE and J-pop outfit AKB48. Say My Name’s next release, &Our Vibe, is slated for release later this month.

  “Rizz” — XLOV

  XLOV’s genderless concept is a groundbreaking step forward in the world of K-pop. With each recent release, the group’s popularity has grown significantly; however, “Rizz” feels like a real turning point for the four-member outfit. The song’s infectiously catchy and its choreography is tailor-made for TikTok vitality. Come this time next year, XLOV will likely have a much larger presence globally, if the past six months alone are any indication.

  “I Don’t Care” — Baby DONT Cry

  PNation, the label founded by legendary K-pop singer Psy, debuted its first girl group earlier this year, introducing the four members of Baby DONT Cry to the world. The girl group, who launched under the creative direction of Idle’s Soyeon, carried on their signature “baby rock” sound with their first comeback, “I Don’t Care.” The girl power anthem is the perfect example of pop-rock meets K-pop, and is a fun direction for the young members of the group.

• “Electric Heart” — 8Turn

  The eight-member boy group’s 2023 debut earned them a solid fanbase. In the two years since that debut, 8Turn has been steadily releasing a solid boy group discography. Their latest single, “Electric Heart,” is an incredible showcase of the group’s talent and solid case as to why K-pop fans should be paying attention to them. The refreshing summer track exudes youthful energy that will stick with listeners long after switching to the next track.

• “Shoot (Firecracker)” — Chaeyoung (Twice)

  Chaeyoung, a member of chart-topping girl group Twice, released her first studio album, Lil Fantasy Vol.1, earlier this year. The nine-track album is led by the groovy single, “Shoot (Firecracker).” The three-minute song is quite the departure from Twice’s discography, allowing the 26-year-old to explore creatively in a way she hasn’t yet been able to. It’s a solid debut, and sonically speaking, it’s perhaps the strongest Twice solo thus far.

• “All My Poetry” — Close Your Eyes

  Rookie boy group Close Your Eyes, formed through Korean music competition series Project 7, set the bar high with their debut track, “All My Poetry.” The seven-member boy group manages to find originality through the a nostalgia heavy track, setting themselves apart in today’s K-pop landscape. It’s a strong start for the group, who clearly have a bright future ahead.

• “Cameo Love” — TripleS

  Picking just one TripleS song to consider is quite a task, given the group’s concept of ever-evolving sub-units lends to more releases than most K-pop groups might in a given year. The group’s recent album, msnz, features all 24 members of the mega-girl group, split into four sub-units. “Cameo Love,” a dreamy, breezy single by the group’s Moon unit (Sullin, SoHyun, JiYeon, Kaede, ShiOn and Lynn) is an instant standout on the album and of the year. It’s the strongest track the — frankly underrated — girl group has put out this year.

• “Bad Desire (With or Without You)” — Enhypen

  Enhypen remains one of the most consistent boy groups promoting today. The seven-member outfit has spent the five years since their debut building an instantly recognizable sound, while still exploring new genres and styles in an exciting way. “Bad Desire” is a quintessential Enhypen song, and that in and of itself is a true compliment.

• “Rich Man” — Aespa

  The coolest girls in K-pop — Aespa, of course — opted to pivot in 2025 to a more traditional K-pop route after their legendary 2024 title track run. In the end, it worked out, as “Rich Man” serves as a reminder that Aespa has many layers, and the ability to dip in and out of different pop genres. The track is also just really catchy, so that doesn’t hurt either.

• “Blue” — Zerobaseone

  The nine-member boy group, whose permeant future still remains unclear, accomplished a real return-to-form with “Blue.” The song is reminiscent of the boy group’s iconic debut song, “In Bloom,” which is truly Zerobaseone, or ZB1 for short, at their best. The single, released in February, is one that ZB1 will likely always be remembered for.

• “Do It” — Stray Kids

  The eight-member boy group — about to wrap yet-another banner year as one of the top talents in the world of K-pop — delivered a late-in-the-year addition with their most recent single, “Do It.” The track’s as energetic as all Stray Kids songs are, however, it showcases an almost mellow side to the group that listeners haven’t heard recently. The nearly three-minute track is a welcome vehicle to show off the group’s vocal talents. “Do It” has an addicting quality, which is surely one of the reasons fans keep coming back for another listen.

• “Style” — Hearts2Hearts

  SM’s rookie girl group released a steady stream of songs in 2025 following their debut. But “Style” remains a great look into the group’s overall potential and talent. The fun and energetic track fills a much needed void in the current girl group sonic landscape. The group’s most recent single, “Focus,” was a close second in terms of their best of the year, but “Style” showcases the unlimited potential for the girl group, and it’s a direction that can, and will, take Hearts2Hearts far.

• “Thunder” — Seventeen

  For the powerhouse boy group, “Thunder” is a chance to wade into unchartered waters. The 13-member group celebrated their 10th anniversary this year, and is letting this song (and the album it hails from) be the beginning of the group’s next chapter. It’s likely the last title track with all 13 members featured for a while, as several members of Seventeen have enlisted in their mandatory military service and will continue to, so it earns its own special place.

• “Love Language” — Tomorrow x Together

  The five-member boy group’s summer anthem is one of the group’s strongest tracks in recent memory. It blends the upbeat energy of TXT’s early days with the dreamy pop sound they’ve built for themselves in recent years. After their last release, “Beautiful Strangers,” it feels like TXT is on an exciting new path sonically and artistically, which very well might lead to a big 2026 for the group.

• “I Want It” — STAYC

  The six-member girl group is one of the most consistent in the world of K-pop. STAYC has been releasing energetic and oftentimes bubblegum pop perfection since their 2020 debut and this summer track is a standout of the year. “I Want It” is a great showcase of the group’s talent — in case you forgot — and it’s just plain fun.

• “Adult Swim” — Kai

  The 31-year-old singer’s post-military enlistment return “Adult Swim” was the breath of fresh air 2025 needed. The pre-release single — on top of being nearly impossible to get out of your head — featured energetic choreography that only Kai, known as one of the best dancers in K-pop, could pull off. The groovy track is quite different than the last single he released prior to his enlistment — a delightful surprise given how well “Rover” did for the singer — and it was ultimately the right choice.

• “R U OK?” — Ifeye

  Girl group Ifeye was a standout of the 2025 KCON L.A.’s crop of rookies, standing high above the rest with their strong performance skills. The six-member group, from Hi-Hat Entertainment, debuted in April and had their first comeback over the summer, with “R U OK?” serving the title track. It’s unique, youthful and a great addition to this year’s musical offerings. If “R U OK?” is any indication, big things are in store for Ifeye in 2026.

• “Jump” — Blackpink

  The biggest girl group in the world have been busy creating four successful solo careers, a genuinely impressive feat that’s by no means easy. Blackpink reunited for “Jump” — the group’s first release in nearly three years — ahead of their 2025 Deadline world tour. The dance-pop didn’t disappoint — it clicks on the first listen — and it’s quickly become a staple in the group’s discography. If you found yourself around Seoul this summer, “Jump” was unavoidable, playing on a loop throughout Myeongdong storefronts and beyond. As the group seemingly moves further into a solo-first model, full group songs will always hold a special place in the hearts of fans around the world.

• “White Cat” — Yves

  The 28-year-old singer continues to make some of the most compelling music in K-pop, releasing a slew of refreshing and out-of-the-box tracks in the years since Loona’s end. Yves’ collaboration with PinkPantheress “Soap” certainly pushed her further into the global pop scene, but the track “White Cat” felt like the clear standout of the year. It’s so completely Yves — a rarity in music at the moment — and is a great example of an artist figuring out what works for them and digging into that space creatively. “White Cat” is truly Yves at her best.

• “Only cry in the rain” — Chuu

  Much like her fellow former Loona member on this list, Chuu has firmly found her place sonically as a soloist. The 26-year-old’s latest single, “Only cry in the rain,” is a wonderful moment for the singer to stick to the sound she’s found for herself, while still offering a softer, more reflective track. The melodic pop track is dreamy and exudes nostalgia, to the point where it feels wrong to hear the song outside of the coming-of-age music video setting. Chuu has the reputation of being one of the nicest people in K-pop, but she’s also perhaps one of the most underrated K-pop talents in terms of the quality and consistency of her solo releases. Here’s to hoping 2026 brings more spotlight there with the release of her first studio album, XO, My Cyberlove, set to be released next month.

• “Hot” — Le Sserafim

  The five-member girl group hailing from Hybe’s Source Music is constantly evolving — a perfect example is the range in releases in 2025 from the experimental “Spaghetti” and captivating “Hot.” It was tough to even select their best track of the year — given how different the sounds are — but “Hot” proves to be a song that will likely define Le Sserafim’s sound for years to come.

• “Bloom” — Rescene

  There’s a subset of K-pop fans that vocally long for the “old days” of girl groups but often find themselves only looking at artists from major labels. Everything those fans might want is absolutely out there thanks to groups like Rescene. The five-member outfit has steadily become one of the most promising artists in all of K-pop since their 2024 release. “Bloom,” their latest single, feels like a throw back to soft, bubblegum pop of days past, with a 2025 twist. Rescene’s long overdue for a big break moment, and “Bloom” just pushes them further in that direction.

• “Killin’ It Girl” — J-Hope

  When BTS announced that they would begin enlisting in the military and would be releasing solo music throughout that period — in case you’ve been living under a rock, they’re thankfully back — it seemed clear what direction each member would take. However, J-Hope, who had one of the biggest solo discographies before that time, came out of left field with a new direction in his truly spectacular 2025 releases. “Killin’ It Girl” is a notch above the rest of recent solo releases, becoming a true moment in K-pop in 2025. It’s also just damn catchy.

• “Crzy” — Haechan (NCT)

  For his solo debut, one of NCT’s most valuable players channeled his inner Justin Timberlake, resulting in the superb single, “Crzy.” The 25-year-old’s distinct vocal tone has helped shape NCT 127’s and NCT Dream’s discographies for years, but it was wonderful to see Haechan get the chance to shine all on his own. Everything about the release fit the singer well down to the styling and choreography.

• “Burning Up” — Meovv

  The Black Label’s first girl group keeps climbing higher, each new release more exciting than the last. “Burning Up,” the latest in that string of releases, fits Meovv perfectly. Each release has allowed the five members of the girl group to carve out their own space as individual performers as well, not an easy task, while still proving they work well as a unit. Meovv is one of the most exciting acts currently active, and it’s highly likely they’ll find their global profile is one or two releases away from exploding.

• “Countdown” — TWS

  When Pledis Entertainment’s latest boy group burst onto the scene, K-pop fans, and even casual listeners, were enthralled. In the nearly two years since, TWS has proven they posses a staying power that’s becoming more uncommon in the ever increasing K-pop landscape. “Countdown” feels most reminiscent of the sound that propelled them into early success. It’s refreshing and youthful, two words that perfectly describe the six-member boy group.

• “Maybe Tomorrow” — Day6

  Including the four-member band feels controversial only in the sense that it begs the question — Is Day6 a K-pop group? Hailing from K-pop giant JYP, Day6 stands alone on this list as the only true band. Their profile in Korea has exploded in recent years, for good reason. “Maybe Tomorrow” is a stunning display of talent, and it’s nearly impossible to listen to it just once. Whether or not the band quite fits the K-pop mold, they’ve more than earned a place as one of the best songs of the year.

• “Pretty Boy” — P1Harmony

  This list is strictly for singles, and while including “Pretty Boy” is a bit of a technicality, it wouldn’t be complete without it. The P1Harmony promoted B-side is downright addicting. It’s a fan favorite, as it should be. It’s also a great blueprint for the six-member boy group’s path forward. Their latest English language release Ex proves that they took notes on the success of this track.

• “Rebel Heart” — IVE

  The six-member outfit is one of the most successful K-pop groups in recent history. They’ve dominated charts in Korea since their debut and filled arenas in the U.S. during their first tour stateside. “Rebel Heart” is IVE at their best. The pre-release track showcases the group’s vocal range and serves as a great example of why they work so well as a group. It should be remembered as a quintessential IVE track alongside hits like “Love Dive” and “I Am.”

• “My First Love Song” — Kickflip

  Rookie boy group Kickflip has shown great potential, best exemplified through their single, “My First Love Song.” Imagine if 5 Seconds of Summer released a K-pop song, that’s the space “My First Love Song” finds itself in. Complete with a slew of gang vocals, the song is the perfect soundtrack for a sunny drive with the windows down.

• “This Is For” — Twice

  Ten years in, and Twice shows no signs of slowing. With the explosion of KPop Demon Hunters, Twice’s 2024 year-end track “Strategy” saw a bump in global play, but their follow-up “This Is For” was their best song of the year. Fitting with the group’s overall vibe, the girl power anthem is exactly what we needed this year. In the words of Twice: “This is for all my ladies who don’t get hyped enough / If you’ve been done wrong, this is your song so turn it up.”

• “Chest” — JustB

  Perhaps the most underrated group in K-pop, JustB remains one of the only artists in the space to understand and perfectly execute the hyperpop genre. “Chest” is hands down one of the best songs of 2025, mixing electronic beats with the group’s unique vocals. The song speaks for itself and should serve as inspiration for other groups to experiment and try new genres in a meaningful way.

• “Not Cute Anymore” — Illit

  “Being cute doesn’t define who I am. There’s a lot more to me than that,” Illit declares at the start of their music video for “Not Cute Anymore.” The five-member girl group has become known for its cutesy and often dreamy pop tracks but “Not Cute Anymore,” both sonically and in concept, stands as a firm declaration that there’s more to Illit than meets the eye. It’s the perfect way to age up the group’s sound and vibe as they grow older, while still feeling like a good fit for a mostly young group.

• “Go!” — Cortis

  BigHit’s latest boy group burst onto the scene with the catchy and exciting “Go!” The young group is heavily involved in the creation of their music, which is likely why it stands out amongst the rest as feeling authentically youthful. “Go!” was another cultural moment for K-pop in 2025, and it’s exciting to envision where Cortis will go from here.

• “Summer Was You” — H1-Key

  The summer K-pop song of 2025, “Summer Was You” is near sonic perfection. The breezy and bright H1-Key song should be on the playlist of any K-pop fan. “Summer Was You” sounds like it was made to be played during the montage of a summer movie and demands to be played at full volume. H1-Key is another underrated gem in the world of K-pop and a release from them should never be missed.

• “Good Goodbye” — Hwasa

  Hwasa’s musical evolution as a soloist has shown the world many different sides of her, but her recent release, “Good Goodbye,” is in a league of its own. A refreshingly vulnerable and honest track, the 30-year-old, a co-writer, opened up about the realities of breaking up with someone you love. “Goodbye will hurt me, but I’ll let the teardrops fall / Even if I break in regret, I’ve loved us after all / Goodby-y-ye,” she sings on the song. The live performances of the song, showing Hwasa in different stages of getting over this lost love, only elevate the song.

• “Body” — Dayoung (WJSN)

  Perhaps one of the most unexpected hits of the year, “Body” is the perfect example of an artist knowing what their sound should be and fighting to get it. WSJN’s Dayoung is perfectly suited for this buzzy and trendy pop track; it’s also nothing like what most would’ve expected her to release. Seeing a performer truly love what they do — and thrive while doing it — is exciting. If this song had been released even a month earlier, it would’ve hands down been the big K-pop song of the summer.

• “If I Say, I Love You” — Boynextdoor

  As one of the most compelling boy groups performing right now, Boynextdoor has seemingly made it their mission to dip their toes in as many genres as possible. “If I Say, I Love You,” released in early 2025, is the boy group at its best. It understandably became one of the most successful K-pop songs in Korea this year. Boynextdoor remains a group to watch.

• “In Your Fantasy” — ATEEZ

  The KQ Entertainment boy group has built a career on reinvention and their first English-language track, “In Your Fantasy” is no different. The sultry track showcases ATEEZ’s ability to seamlessly blend eight unique voices together. Hongjoong, the group’s captain, has the standout moment of the track with his second verse rap, but the song truly allows each member of the group to shine — fitting as the single for an album that featured a solo song for each member. ”In Your Fantasy” is the group’s highest charting track on the Billboard Hot 100 to-date. As always, we’ll be waiting in suspense to see what the group will do next.

• “I Do Me” — KiiiKiii

  Perhaps the most dynamic girl group debut of the year, “I Do Me” is pop perfection. KiiiKiii, Starship Entertainment’s latest girl group, surprise dropped the track ahead of their official 2025 debut. The etherial nature of the song elevates it to one of the best of the year. “I Do Me” will be one that K-pop looks back on as a distinct shift in the sonic landscape for the industry.

• “Like JENNIE” — Jennie (Blackpink)

  The Blackpink member’s first studio album was well worth the wait. The album’s lead track, “Like JENNIE” is a reminder of why Jennie has long been K-pop’s IT girl. The song’s electric and frankly iconic — there are very few singers that can pull off a chorus of “Who wanna rock with Jennie? / Keep your hair done, nails done like Jennie / Who else got ’em obsessed like Jennie?” but she certainly does.

• “Poet | Artist” — SHINee

  The legendary boy group’s return was special for many reasons but none more than the fact the song, written by late member Jonghyun, serves as a heartfelt tribute to their fellow group member. The song, which gets its name from Jonghyun’s first studio album, was written and composed by the singer for the group and features vocals from his guide track. It’s hard to think of a more powerful moment this year than hearing his voice on a new song after all these years — a seemingly cathartic release for the members of SHINee and their longtime fans.

• “Blue Valentine” — NMIXX

  There was no question — “Blue Valentine” was hands down the best K-pop song of 2025. NMIXX has built themselves a diverse and eclectic discography but “Blue Valentine” finds the perfect sweet spot of synth and guitar to create one-of-a-kind track. Unsurprisingly, the song gave the six-member girl group their long overdue moment of domestic success, topping the charts in Korea. There’s no one in K-pop consistently releasing exciting and genre-bending music like NMIXX. They’re a true beacon of light for the genre.