The year 2025 has proven to be a complex and transformative period for K-pop, marked by both groundbreaking musical achievements and significant industry challenges. From veteran groups embarking on global tours to emerging artists making bold statements, the genre continued its dynamic evolution, even amidst legal disputes and cultural controversies.
Key Takeaways
- K-pop in 2025 saw a mix of veteran artists touring and new groups debuting.
- Legal issues affected major groups like NewJeans, while others faced accusations of cultural appropriation.
- Bain of JUSTB and Cocona of XG made courageous public statements about their LGBTQ+ identities.
- Hwasa's "Good Goodbye" achieved a "perfect all kill" on domestic charts, signaling a major solo success.
- NMIXX was recognized for consistently releasing high-quality, fully-formed tracks throughout the year.
A Year of Shifting Landscapes and New Voices
K-pop in 2025 navigated a landscape filled with both triumphs and tribulations. While some of the biggest global hits, such as "Golden" and "Gabriela," blurred the lines of what is traditionally considered K-pop, the core industry continued to innovate. Major groups like BTS saw members conclude their military enlistment, leading to a period of group inactivity, while fourth-generation sensation NewJeans dealt with ongoing legal disputes.
Despite these challenges, the year showcased the genre's resilience and diversity. Veteran acts including SuperJunior, G-Dragon, TWICE, and Blackpink released new music and embarked on extensive tours. Simultaneously, new groups like KickFlip, Hearts2Hearts, Baby Dont Cry, XLOV, and CORTIS made significant debuts, injecting fresh energy into the scene.
Fact: Veteran Presence
Numerous veteran K-pop artists, including SuperJunior, G-Dragon, TWICE, Blackpink, Seventeen, Stray Kids, and Taeyeon, released new music or toured in 2025, demonstrating the enduring appeal of established acts.
Controversies and Cultural Conversations
The year was not without its share of controversies. AllDay Project, a co-ed group, faced criticism for cultural appropriation by member Tarzzan, impacting their chart performance. Kiss of Life, an anticipated breakout group, saw their international fandom decline after a racist birthday livestream incident.
These events highlighted ongoing discussions within the K-pop community regarding cultural sensitivity and accountability. The industry continues to grapple with its global reach and the diverse expectations of its international audience.
Breaking Barriers: LGBTQ+ Visibility
In a significant and courageous move for the Korean entertainment scene, two artists publicly came out. Bain of the boy group JUSTB announced he was gay during a concert in Los Angeles in April. He later expressed hope that his story would help create a more accepting space for future artists.
"I hope that by sharing my story, I can help create a space where future artists don’t feel like they have to hide who they are."
Bain of JUSTB
Earlier in December, Cocona, a member of the Korea-based J-pop group XG, came out as transmasculine and non-binary. These public declarations are rare and highly significant in a region where being queer remains stigmatized, offering powerful moments of representation and advocacy.
Context: LGBTQ+ in K-pop
Publicly coming out as LGBTQ+ remains uncommon in the highly conservative Korean entertainment industry. The declarations by Bain and Cocona represent a notable step towards greater visibility and acceptance for queer artists in K-pop and J-pop.
Top Musical Achievements of 2025
Despite the ups and downs, 2025 delivered an impressive array of musical talent across various genres and generations. Here are some of the standout tracks:
- HWASA: "Good Goodbye": This MAMAMOO soloist achieved a "perfect all kill" across domestic music charts, a first for a female soloist in 2025. The song, co-written and composed by Hwasa, explores the complex emotions of a breakup with a unique, unhurried tone. Its viral performance at the Blue Dragon Film Awards cemented its status as a major hit.
- NMIXX: "PODIUM": NMIXX consistently delivered high-quality, fully-formed tracks. "Podium," a tri-lingual B-side from their album Blue Valentine, epitomized their success with its celebratory harmonies and empowering lyrics. The group's ability to produce one stellar track after another made them one of the year's most consistent acts.
- KEY: "HUNTER": SHINee member Key's retro horror-pop track showcased dynamic dance elements and a unique lyrical concept that flipped the traditional hunter-hunted dynamic. Its energetic synth-pop chorus and husky whispers made it a standout.
- fromis_9: "LIKE YOU BETTER": Reforming as a quintet, fromis_9 proved their mastery of seasonal K-pop with this Carly Rae Jepsen-esque bop. "Like You Better" captured the essence of summertime romance with breezy synths and upbeat guitar.
- WOODZ: "I’ll Never Love Again": Following his military service, Woodz released this powerful rock ballad. The song, a testament to rebirth despite its tormented subject matter, showcased Woodz's dramatic vocal range and emotional depth.
Diverse Sounds and Emerging Trends
The year also saw a wide range of musical styles gaining traction. JUSTB's "CHEST" embraced hyperpop with immersive synths, while QWER's "Be Happy" offered a dose of sonic serotonin with its J-pop and J-rock inspired sound. P1Harmony, an underrated boy group, explored rock influences with "Dancing Queen," diverging from their usual hip-hop and R&B focus.
GOT7 made a strong comeback after three years with "PYTHON," a trap-driven pop song co-written by BamBam. Bibi's "Scott and Zelda" offered a sensual, retro-pop track, showcasing her unique position outside traditional idol spaces. Rookies XLOV debuted with a "genderless" concept, highlighted by the Afrobeats-driven "1&Only."
Statistic: "Perfect All Kill"
Hwasa's "Good Goodbye" became the first song by a female soloist in 2025 to achieve a "perfect all kill" across all major domestic music charts and shows in Korea.
Solo Ventures and Group Dynamics
Solo artists continued to make a significant impact. Jin of BTS released his EP Echo, with the B-side "Background" allowing him to showcase his emotive tenor in a Korean-language ballad. G-DRAGON returned after a seven-year hiatus with "DRAMA," a minimalist piano pop-ballad that revealed a powerful vulnerability.
Group dynamics also played a crucial role. ILLIT's "Do the Dance" blended onomatopoeic scatting with a French house beat, while KickFlip's "My First Love Song" contributed to K-pop's tradition of first love stories with exuberant synths and guitar. CORTIS, a breakout rookie group, found power in quiet moments with "Lullaby," a minimalist track featuring acoustic guitar and chanted vocals.
Seventeen's subunit BSS, composed of Seungkwan, DK, and Hoshi, delivered infectious enthusiasm with "CBZ (Prime Time)," a swing-inspired track with retro keys. Rookie girl group izna, despite internal changes, impressed with "Racecar," a synth-pop track about youthful dreams. Yeji's "Air" marked a strong solo debut for the ITZY leader, combining an upbeat groove with powerful vocals.
H1-KEY continued to provide comfort and solace with their math rock-inspired track "Summer Was You," a guitar-led song about the simple joys of the season. The diversity in releases underscored K-pop's ongoing evolution and its ability to captivate audiences worldwide through both established acts and rising stars.