YouTube Music Reveals the Top K-Pop Songs of 2021

By Alexa Lewis Dec 10, 2021

On December 8, YouTube Music released a playlist consisting of the top K-pop hits of 2021. Keep on reading to see which songs made the top ten.

10. Oh My Girl - Dun Dun Dance

Oh My Girl released "Dun Dun Dance" on May 10, 2021, as the lead single of their eighth mini-album, "Dear OhMyGirl." "Dun Dun Dance" was highly successful in South Korea, winning three music show wins. The mini-album was also successful, peaking at number three on the Gaon Album Charts.

9. BLACKPINK - Lovesick Girls

BLACKPINK released "Lovesick Girls" on October 2, 2020, as the lead single of their first studio album, "THE ALBUM." However, despite being released in 2020, the song is still streamed by BLINKs in 2021. This is most likely because BLACKPINK did not make a comeback in 2021; instead, the members focused on their solo careers.

8. BTS - Permission to Dance

As a stand-alone single, BTS released "Permission to Dance" on July 9, 2021. The song debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, earning BTS their fifth number-one hit. Despite not performing the song on music shows, BTS won eight awards and achieved a triple crown on "Inkigayo."

7. Brave Girls - Rollin'

Brave Girls released "Rollin'" on March 7, 2017, as the lead single from their mini-album of the same name. Though released in 2017, the single saw a reverse run on the charts after a compilation video of Brave Girls performing the song for the South Korean military went viral in February 2021.

6. BTS - Dynamite

As a stand-alone single, BTS released "Dynamite" on August 21, 2020. This marks BTS's first song to be fully recorded in English. Despite being released in 2020, the song is still extremely popular. The single is considered BTS's first step into the mainstream American market.

5. IU - LILAC

IU released "LILAC" on March 25, 2021, as the second single from her fifth studio album of the same name. The song peaked at the top of the Gaon Digital Charts. In addition, IU won eight music show awards for this single. In the United States, "LILAC" peaked at number 11 on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart.

4. Lim Young Woong - My Starry Love

As a digital single, Lim Young Woong released "My Starry Love" on March 9, 2021. The song was a commercial success in South Korea. "My Starry Love" debuted at the top of the Gaon Digital Chart, remaining at the top five for four consecutive weeks. In addition, "My Starry Love" also debuted at the top of the Gaon Download Chart.

3. BTS - Butter

As a digital single, BTS released "Butter" on May 21, 2021. The song was highly successful both in South Korea and the United States. The song topped the Gaon Digital Charts and the Album Charts and the K-pop Hot 100. In the United States, "Butter" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

2. aespa - Next Level

aespa released "Next Level" on May 17, 2021, as a digital single. The song peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart, while also at number seven on the Download Chart, number 12 on the Streaming Chart and number 47 on the BGM Chart. In the United States, "Next Level" peaked at number three on the World Digital Song Sales Chart and number 65 on the Billboard Global 200 chart.

1. IU - Celebrity

IU released "Celebrity" on January 27, 2021, and served as the lead single for her fifth Korean studio album "LILAC." "Celebrity" debuted at the top of the Gaon Digital Chart and remained at the top for six consecutive weeks. In the United States, "Celebrity" peaked at number 78 on the Billboard Global 200.