BTS and BLACKPINK took K-pop to new heights in the 2020s when they broke through to the mainstream and went global with their pandemic-era-defining hits. This year, an unlikely new force expanded the scene’s cultural footprint further, with Netflix sensation KPop Demon Hunters taking over our screens – and hits from its soundtrack, like ‘Golden’ and ‘Soda Pop’, dominating streaming and music charts.
But as inescapable as KPop Demon Hunters was, the last 12 months also saw lots more from the world of K-pop. There were the stunning debuts of exciting new groups such as CORTIS and Hearts2Hearts, fresh solo music by beloved veteran idols (SHINee’s Key, ARTMS’ Kim Lip, and more), as well as a well-deserved comeback story by a once-divisive girl group. Here are the songs that made 2025 a blast for K-pop.
Ziwei Puah, Associate Commissioning Editor (Music)
Words by: Carmen Chin, Daniel Anderson, George Yang, Ivana E. Morales, Mika Chen, Rhian Daly, Sara Delgado, Tamar Herman, Tássia Assis and Ziwei Puah
Credit: Big Hit Music
25. CORTIS – ‘Go!’
Taking a page out of BTS’ playbook, CORTIS are all about standing out from the crowd and being rebellious, which is perfectly encapsulated in the striking, trap-infused ‘Go!’. With lines like “we don’t need any other sign” and “soon as I see the signal, I go swish like a free throw”, CORTIS ooze unwavering confidence, letting everyone know that they’re ready to take the world by storm. GY
Credit: JYP Entertainment
24. Yeji – ‘Air’
Yeji’s solo debut was one of 2025’s most satisfying surprises. Over dark electro beats, the ITZY leader plays with the idea of being breathless and enjoying it, conveying this tension with a vulnerability that becomes more intense as the song moves toward its climax. And just when it feels like it might settle, a searing electric guitar kicks in, sending ‘Air’ into its dazzling final form. TA
Credit: WakeOne
23. izna – ‘Racecar’
A road trip under a sunset calls for a very specific set of emotions: joyful nostalgia, freedom, and days bathed in possibility. And ‘Racecar’ is the perfect soundtrack for just such an occasion. The song feels like a wave of sonic dopamine that builds until it all releases during its non-vocal chorus of magnetic synths. And just when it seems ready to relent, the production grows richer and pulls you deeper into the group’s dream-lit world. IEM
Credit: KOZ Entertainment
22. BOYNEXTDOOR – ‘If I Say, I Love You’
Buoyed by funky guitar riffs and groovy synths to conceal its woebegone lyrics, BOYNEXTDOOR’s bubbly, anime soundtrack-worthy single ‘If I Say, I Love You’ is their take on the quintessential heartbreak song. It doubles down on the boyband’s knack for telling coming-of-age narratives with boyish charm, but this time with a bittersweet undertone that makes it that much more dynamic. SD
Credit: The Muze Entertainment
21. RESCENE – ‘Glow Up’
In a trend-chasing industry like K-pop, it can be hard to establish an identity of your own – but RESCENE have sidestepped that pitfall by carving out a soft, reflective space that’s equal parts breezy, nostalgic, and electrifying. It all comes together on ‘Glow Up’, a bubbly dance-pop tune that’s contemporary enough for the mainstream, yet unique enough to be recognisably them. ZWP
Credit: Chanhee Hong
20. Balming Tiger – ‘Wo Ai Ni’ ft. Yaeji
‘Wo Ai Ni’ is a global love opus that playfully mixes Yaeji’s feathery vocals with Balming Tiger’s trademark eclectic composition, mixing alt-pop, hip-hop, electronic and indie influences. Its accompanying music video, directed by member Jan’ Qui, maximises the heartwarming energy of the chillwave track with joyful fan-submitted footage, and cameos from Balming Tiger’s and Yaeji’s loved ones. SD
Credit: Galaxy Corporation
19. G–Dragon – ‘Too Bad’ ft. Anderson Paak.
The highlight of G-Dragon’s big comeback album, ‘Too Bad’ finds the Big Bang rapper in a state of romantic confusion. “Is this flirting? Or just bluffing?” he asks over a light-footed funk groove, before Anderson .Paak declares the person at the heart of the puzzle “too bad for me”. RD
Credit: Belift Lab
18. ILLIT – ‘Jellyous’
It’s so joyous when contemporary K-pop acts wholly embrace the kitsch and camp that made the genre’s past so special – and that’s exactly what makes ‘Jellyous’ such a standout. On the dizzying, chiptune-driven song, ILLIT merge their cheery, high-octane sound with old-school K-pop corniness to create an unforgettable, sparkling earworm for the ages. ZWP
Credit: Belift Lab
17. ENHYPEN – ‘Helium’
With its uplifting alt-rock sound, ‘Helium’ translates the lightheaded, dizzy feeling of being in love and believing anything is possible. The softness of ENHYPEN’s voices and lyrics contrasts with gritty guitar riffs and heavier beats, giving the track a bittersweet, cinematic feel. Much like love, ‘Helium’ makes you feel larger than life. TA
Credit: Paix Per Mil
16. Yves – ‘White Cat’
Yves’ solo career so far has been defined by effortlessly addictive electronic pop gems, and with ‘White Cat’, she added another entry to that growing arsenal. This time, things took a slightly surreal spin, the song’s earworm chorus finding the star sharing: “I got body made of fur / Can’t be better than tonight”. RD
Credit: Modhaus
15. ARTMS – ‘Icarus’
‘Icarus’ is ARTMS soaring upwards with unfettered force – a theatrical anthem that retells its mythic namesake not as a cautionary tale, but as a promise: that falling can remake you. Pianos gleam and strings billow as breathy vocals weave through luminous synths, forming a classical-crossover masterpiece. It stands out both as catharsis and triumph – a reminder that even after the flames subside, you can still be “reborn like a phoenix wing”. MC
Credit: SM Entertainment
14. Hearts2Hearts – ‘Style’
Hearts2Hearts bottles up all the pop-and-golden magic of summer into the carefree verve of ‘Style.’ This delightful piece is all positive energy, built upon bubblegum pop foundations, lyrics about the thrill of a youthful crush, bolstered by the girl group’s honeyed vocals. The eight-member group may sing “Baby, you make me smile”, but they’re the ones giving us butterflies. IEM
Credit: Modhaus
13. Kim Lip – ‘Can You Entertain?’
A retro-futuristic knockout that’s unreservedly sculpted for the dancefloor, ‘Can You Entertain?’ – with its deep funk basslines, sheen of nu-disco and alluring vocal performance – is an immersive, hypnotic pull that draws you in before you even realise it. Kim Lip has always been a charismatic performer, but with her first solo release in nearly a decade, she demands your fullest attention. CC
Credit: Starship Entertainment
12. Dayoung – ‘Body’
Dayoung has never been one to go down without a fight, and ‘Body’ is the result of her resilience. A flirtatious summer pop song that sparkles like sunlight at dusk, it recalls the radiant energy of K-pop summers past with a modern polish that makes it stand out in its own right. But it’s the WJSN member’s infectious passion for the stage, coupled with the track’s addictive hook, that has earned her a well-deserved spot beneath the limelight. CC
Credit: YG Entertainment
11. BLACKPINK – ‘Jump’
After several years MIA, BLACKPINK returned with panache with the club-ready ‘Jump’, which finds the ever-charismatic quartet leaping across propulsive horns and beats in hardstyle glory. There’s a visceral sense of movement as the track progresses towards the entrancing outro, as the girl group crank up the bass to earth-shattering levels to keep you on the dancefloor. TH
Credit: Starship Entertainment
10. KiiiKiii – ‘Dancing Alone’
If you could bottle the ache of bittersweet nostalgia, you’d get KiiiKiii’s ‘Dancing Alone’. The act of dancing alone becomes, in their hands, a quiet bond: tender glances, memories and unspoken understandings of friendship. Shimmering hooks and unrelenting synths that take cues from the ’80s burst at the seams, reframing solitude as something shared. And the cherry on top? Playful feel-good choreography that nails dorky dramatics meant just for your bedroom mirror. MC
Credit: Source Music
9. LE SSERAFIM – ‘Ash’
‘Ash’ feels like entering an ethereal plane that can only be found in the liminal space between dreams and nightmares. Haunting yet divine, it drifts on lustral harmonies brought to life by the quintet’s falsettos and lingering notes, one that mends pain into a virtuous metamorphosis. As the enduring girl group ascend like phoenixes, ‘Ash’ forges itself as a canticle of resilience and renewal. DA
Credit: KQ Entertainment
8. ATEEZ – ‘In Your Fantasy’
‘In Your Fantasy’ is a saucy, steamy, bewitching ritual where ATEEZ embody their inner Christian Grey in order to fulfil the listener’s darkest dreams: “Yeah, I know what you into / Baby got a type / Yeah, I could be gentle / But that ain’t what you like,” Yunho sings in the opening verse. The boyband are in control – even if they want you to think otherwise – and by the time they whisper “I’ll set you free from your sanity”, it’s already too late. TA
Credit: JYP Entertainment
7. NMIXX – ‘High Horse’
An elegant trip-hop track built around a deceptively simple piano melody, ‘High Horse’ is driven by the harmonious, powerful voices of the girl group’s six members as they shift between soft balladry to lilting deadpan to rousing belts that stir the soul. NMIXX’s name represents their ability to blend different styles of music to create something unique, and ‘High Horse’ is a masterwork of their craft. TH
Credit: Choi Creative Lab
6. H1-KEY – ‘Summer Was You’
H1-KEY have long incorporated diverse sounds into their discography, from synthpop, to dance-pop, to hip-hop. But with ‘Summer Was You,’ the quartet take an edgier approach with a math rock-inspired sound that’s as electric as it is sunny and upbeat, with lyrics about footprints in the sand and bright stars in the night sky instilling a sense of warm nostalgia. Coupled with a soaring and infectious chorus, ‘Summer Was You’ is one of H1-KEY’s best songs to date. GY
Credit: SM Entertainment
5. Key – ‘Hunter’
Key, K-pop’s king of the retro and the eccentric, thrives on unconventionality – and the Michael Jackson-inspired ‘Hunter’ proves he truly does have the Midas touch. In it, the SHINee singer is possessed by a sense of urgency as he sings about a love so irresistible that the chase consumes him. “You, who came with a starving gesture / It’s unavoidable / Lemme feed your soul, baby,” he declares over an insistent, synth-driven beat. It’s raw, electric and timeless, just like Key’s artistry. IEM
Credit: Cho Gi-Seok
4. Jennie – ‘Like Jennie’
It may be brazenly braggadocious to centre an entire song around your own name, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Jennie. On ‘Like Jennie’, a raucous masterclass in girlbossing, the BLACKPINK singer marks her spectacular emergence as a solo star. The production meshes Brazilian funk’s relentless drive with metallic thrums of kinetic energy, with listeners emboldened to claim their own slice of Jennie’s untouchable cool to become their most uncompromising selves. DA
Credit: Hi Hat Entertainment
3. ifeye – ‘r u ok?’
Among the pool of this year’s K-pop newcomers, ifeye are shaping up to be one of the most enthralling to watch. The six-piece have wasted no time establishing a strong presence with their willingness to push boundaries. At the forefront is ‘r u ok?’, a dynamic soundscape cemented in future house, but enhanced through its diverse range of influences from South Asian bhangra drums and light reggaeton grooves to punchy Latin pop. If the song’s lyrics about an impending hurricane are any indicator, the whirlwind momentum surrounding ifeye is only just beginning. CC
Credit: Netflix
2. HUNTR/X – ‘Golden’
Few songs can boast of shaking up the world quite like ‘Golden’ has. With EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami providing the singing voices for fictional trio HUNTR/X, Netflix have found the perfect pop formula: glossy K-pop production, strong vocal layering and an anthemic hook. In just a few short months, ‘Golden’ has become a chart-topping phenomenon for the ages and for all ages, while somehow having resisted the curse of being reduced to passing virality. Though it garnered multiple Grammy nominations for 2026, including the coveted Song of the Year, ‘Golden’ doesn’t need awards to prove it has struck gold. SD
Credit: JYP Entertainment
1. NMIXX – ‘Spinnin’ On It’
NMIXX have had one hell of a year, topped by their gleaming capstone of a debut album, ‘Blue Valentine’. But it’s ‘Spinnin’ On It’ that stands as the record’s emotional cornerstone, the moment their signature genre-mixing adrenaline collides with sharpened instincts.
A stupidly catchy bass riff with R&B sway pulls you in instantly before the production snaps into a lithe call-and-response structure that ricochets between bruised pleas and full-tilt intensity. That restless push-and-pull mirrors the song’s core confession: spinning around a stormy love wild enough to cast someone as both “hero and villain”.
It’s an emotional whiplash that only NMIXX could’ve polished into the year’s most exhilarating pop spectacle, fanned by their undeniable vocal firepower. They may insist they’re “so done with love”, but the joke’s on us – we’re the ones falling harder and harder with release. MC
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