Top K-pop Groups From Each Generation: BTS, Girls' Generation, More [Updated 2022]
K-pop is one of the leading genres in the global music market. With this, a Korean journalist evaluated K-pop groups throughout the years and deemed these artists to be the top groups during their eras.
Find out who they are!
FIRST GENERATION
H.O.T.
H.O.T debuted in 1996 under SM Entertainment. They are considered to be the first K-pop idol group and became the model for K-pop groups to follow. The group sold over 6.4 million records in South Korea and were also commercially successful in China and Japan. They are one of the first K-pop acts to spread the Hallyu wave in Asia.
The group initially disbanded in 2001, following the contractual conflicts with SM Entertainment. In 2018, the group reunited on Infinite Challenge and subsequently held their own reunion concert.
Sechs Kies
Sechs Kies debuted in 1997 with Daesung Planning and are currently signed with YG Entertainment. The group is considered one of K-pop's first highly successful boy groups and are credited for pioneering idol fandom culture.
Sechs Kies initially disbanded in 2000 and reunited on April 2016, signing with YG Entertainment on May 2016.
S.E.S
S.E.S debuted in 1997 under SM Entertainment. Their debut album is the best-selling album by a female group in South Korea. In their early years, they were dubbed as the female H.O.T.
The group initially disbanded in 2002 after unsuccessful contract renewal negotiations, with two of the three members choosing to leave SM Entertainment.
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In October 2016, the group was confirmed to reunite for their 20th anniversary. In 2017, they released their 20th anniversary special album and have had no activities together since.
Fin K.L.
Fin K.L. debuted under DSP Media in 1998. They were considered one of the most popular K-pop groups of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Fin K.L. became inactive in 2005 after releasing "Fine Killing Liberty." They reunited in 2019 and released an album featuring their best tracks, as well as an original song titled "Just Like The Song That Remains."
SECOND GENERATION
TVXQ
TVXQ! debuted in 2003 under SM Entertainment, originally with five members. The group were top-sellers and were mainstream in both Korea and in Japan. They rose to international prominence in the late 2000s with "Mirotic," which international music critics claimed to be a staple song in K-pop.
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TVXQ has become one of Asia's most successful music acts and are referred to as "Asia's Stars" and "Emperors of K-pop." They are also Japan's best-selling foreign artists.
In July 2009, three of the five members filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment, citing unfair contract clauses. They would end up leaving the group and company, making TVXQ a duo.
BIGBANG
BIGBANG debuted in 2006 under YG Entertainment, originally with five members. They are regarded as one of the most influential artists to shape the K-pop industry and spreading the Hallyu wave internationally. They are dubbed the "Kings of K-Pop" by the media.
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Former BIGBANG member Seungri retired from the group and the industry in March 2019, following the string of scandals, such as the "Burning Sun" controversy. They now promote as four members.
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation debuted in 2007 under SM Entertainment, originally with nine members. They are one of the most prominent figures of the Hallyu wave, earning the nickname "The Nation's Girl Group." The girls debuted in the Korean, Japanese, and American markets.
Former member Jessica was dismissed from the group and company in 2014 for personal reasons. Members Tiffany, Sooyoung, and Seohyun left the company in 2015 but are still part of the group.
Wonder Girls
Wonder Girls debuted in 2007 under JYP Entertainment. Considered as one of the top girl groups in the country, Wonder Girls are the first South Korean group to enter the Billboard Hot 100 with "Nobody." They are dubbed as "South Korea's Retro Queen" as their music was influenced by music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Wonder Girls officially disbanded in 2017 after unsuccessful contract renewal negations.
KARA
KARA debuted in 2007 under DSP Media. They gained fame two years after their debut with "Honey" and went viral for "Mister" thanks to the choreography's "butt-dance." The songs following "Mister" would help establish the group within the Korean music industry and were the second-best girl group in Korea in 2010. Following their success in Korea, they expanded to Japan.
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In 2016, KARA disbanded after members' contracts expired. Though some have mentioned possibilities of a reunion, there have been no updates.
THIRD GENERATION
BTS
BTS debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. The band entered the mainstream market in 2015 and have sold over 20 million albums on the Gaon Chart, making BTS the best-selling act in South Korean history.
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They have been dubbed as the "Princes of Pop" and are regarded as one of the most influential celebrities in South Korea. They are also one of the top-earning celebrities in the world.
The group is currently leading the Hallyu wave in the West.
EXO
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During 2014-2015, former Chinese members Kris, Luhan, and Tao left SM Entertainment and the band and filed lawsuits against the agency. Lay is the only Chinese member, making the group proceed as nine members.
TWICE
TWICE debuted in 2015 under JYP Entertainment. They were formed through a survival show, created by their company and Mnet, called "SIXTEEN." The group rose to fame with "Cheer Up" and all their comebacks following have topped the charts.
Their EP, "Twicecoaster: Lane 1," was the highest-selling K-pop girl group album of 2016.
TWICE is also active in Japan and is the first Korean girl group to earn Platinum Certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
BLACKPINK
BLACKPINK debuted under YG Entertainment in 2016. Their first number one hit also happens to be their debut song, "BOOMBAYAH." The group is the highest-charting female K-pop act on both the Billboard 100 and Billboard 200.
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They are also the only K-pop girl group to top the Billboard Emerging Artists chart. BLACKPINK is also the most subscribed music group on YouTube.
FOURTH GENERATION
Stray Kids
Stray Kids debuted in 2017 under JYP Entertainment and were formed on the JYP reality show of the same name. The group originally debuted with nine members, but member Woojin left Stray Kids due to undisclosed personal reasons in October 2019. The group is now active as eight members.
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The boys have made their Japanese debut back in March 2020. They are one of the best-selling rookie acts.
TXT
TXT debuted in 2019 under Big Hit Entertainment. Their debut album peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart and the Billboard World Albums Chart, and entered the US Billboard 200 at 150, making the highest-charting debut album by a K-pop group.
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Their album's lead single "Crown" topped the World Digital Songs chart with TXT topping the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart, making them the fastest K-pop group to appear on these charts.
IZ*ONE
IZ*ONE debuted in 2018 and was formed through the Mnet survival show Produce 48. Upon their debut, they were immediately a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart.
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Their debut EP and its lead single "La Vie en Rose" charted on the Billboard World Albums and World Digital Songs chart. They have made their Japan debut.
In 2021, the project girl group disbanded.
(G)I-DLE
(G)I-DLE debuted in 2018 under Cube Entertainment. They are multinational girl group, with 3 of 6 members being from foreign countries (Yuqi from China, Minnie from Thailand, and Shuhua from Taiwan). The group was dubbed as "monster rookies" during their debut and were considered the most successful Korean girl group to not come from the big three record labels.
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Member Soyeon has been acknowledged by many for writing and co-producing their material. They have made their Japan debut.
The group gained even more recognition following their appearance on Mnet's "Queendom."
