Among the "Top 100 Korean Popular Music Albums in the 2000s," only THESE 5 idol groups made it to the list, with representatives from the second-gen to fourth-gen eras!

EBS Space Empathy released a Top 100 list of Korean popular music albums released in the 2000s (2004 to 2023).

It was carefully curated by 11 music experts in celebration of EBS' 20th anniversary. Among hundreds of artists, only five idol groups were able to join the list.

f(x) - 'Pink Tape' (2013)

While the girl group is currently inactive, the influence and impact of f(x) is undoubtedly relentless.

According to popular music critic Jeong Byeong Wook:

"['Pink Tape'] is a work that has led many to discover a much more complex style and meaning to idol music, which was previously considered to be merely an area of universal and fragmentary taste, far from musicality or artistic quality."

SHINee - 'The Misconceptions of Us' (2013)

In the same year, SHINee also released their iconic album, "The Misconceptions of Us."

Music critic Kim Yun Ha described the album as an album that combined both capital and hard work "full of the essence of pure pop music that exploded upon impact."

She added:

"It is a work that allows the idol music to become visible from a wider and more diverse perspective. The pure joy that can be felt in idol music is reflected in both emotion and sound."

Wonder Girls - 'REBOOT' (2015)

Another second-gen girl group on the list is Wonder Girls.

In 2015, they released their 3rd and final studio album, "REBOOT."

Regarding this, Cho Hye Rim, a music content planner under PRIZM Entertainment, highlighted the legendary transition of the girl group's concept from "retro" to "band."

She highlighted how the presence and skills of the members were demonstrated in the album.

"All members participated in composing and writing lyrics, and the thoroughly and completely transformed concept and solid structure cleverly filled the album. This album seems to present a milestone for the future of many idols."

BTS - 'LOVE YOURSELF - Answer' (2018)

Among third-gen groups, Cho Hye Rim then picked BTS' "Answer" from its album series "LOVE YOURSELF." The music content planner lauded the masterpiece's ability to cater to the global market, while still giving them the taste of the Korean color and flavor.

She also cited the impact of "MIC DROP" and chose it as an idol song that "most honestly expresses the inner side behind the glamorous life as an idol."

NewJeans - 'New Jeans' (2022)

Among fourth-gen K-pop acts, NewJeans is the only team from the era and is the youngest among the five listed idol groups.

Kim Yun Ha explained why NewJeans's self-titled 1st EP was listed.

"How can we explain the magnitude of the new wind that this album, which contains only four songs, has brought to the music industry? The girls' colorful dreams, love, and friendship pour out through the dreamy electro-pop sound, and about the song 'Attention,' jt has never been fresh from the moment I first heard it until now."

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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz