Billboard's Jeff Benjamin has penned an editorial that asks the question: "What will it take for a group like 2NE1 or Girls' Generation to break big in the States?" He then proceeds to list down what he believes are critical areas for consideration for K-Pop girl groups looking to promote in the U.S. He argues that groups need to retain their uniqueness, let each member shine, and select the right single.

On retaining uniqueness, Benjamin laments how K-Pop girl groups that have attempted to establish a foothold in the U.S. such as Wonder Girls, Girls' Generation, and SPICA failed to gain significant traction.

"None of these promotional opportunities made much of a lasting impact compared to those groups' popularity in the East, and in retrospective, it's not hard to figure out why -- these groups felt a need to cater to the Western audience by changing what made people love them in the first place," says Benjamin.

"Wonder Girls' signature old-school sound oozed out of 'Nobody,' but the group was turned into auto-tuned robot queens for their follow-up English single, the Akon-assisted 'Like Money," he noted. "Girls' Generation was famous for huge pop hooks and bright concepts, but their English debut single 'The Boys' was a dated-sounding, chant-heavy joint that saw the squeaky-clean ninesome singing about 'getting it in.'"

But they haven't been the only girl groups to try. Most recently, B2M Entertainment's five-member group SPICA tried to burst onto the U.S. music scene with a handful of promotional events last year. "Arguably, SPICA showcased their unique colors best, but their lack of success could have been chalked up to apparently little funds or too little time spent in America after a somewhat cheap-looking music video (for SPICA's standards) and only one major TV performance," points out Benjamin.

Aside from staying true to their uniqueness, K-Pop girl groups eyeing the U.S. market should also ensure each member gets a turn on the spotlight, advises Benjamin, similar to how 2NE1 promoted its Crush album with each of the girls expressing their vivid persona and role in the group.

"Each opportunity showcased CL, Minzy, Dara and Bom in their signature looks, talking about what made them unique instead of how they could ease into the U.S. landscape," says Benjamin.

Finally, K-Pop girl groups must select a single that can appeal to stateside fans. Benjamin wonders: "Sometimes, it's as simple as making the right single selection. If Girls' Generation had hit America with a full-fledged, bright-and bubbly single (say, the effervescent "Beep Beep") as their radio track over something like 'The Boys,' would more U.S. listeners know who they are? It's at least worth thinking about."

But Benjamin isn't the only one toiling over the debate. For years K-pop fans have been mulling over the dilemma. Will a Korean girl group ever be a major hit in the U.S.?

What do you think? What K-pop groups, if any, will ultimately make their way into the U.S. market? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.