K-Pop Idols to Watch, Part 1
The full version of this List (with images, videos, articles and/or datatables) is available at https://listjar.com/list/k-pop-idols-to-watch-other-than-bts-and-blackpink
Welcome to this K-Pop Idols to Watch, Part 1 list, authored by Jennifer and published to ListJar October 2023. We hope you enjoy it! At the time this List was published, BTS (pictured above) and Blackpink were already super well-known of course, so Jennifer elected to highlight other K-Pop groups. Those who follow K-Pop intently will feel the difference between now and October 2023 as they peruse this List: for example, the first group listed here, NewJeans, as of late 2024, has an unknown future. Things change fast in the world of K-Pop – what will the future bring? 😐😏
NewJeans
Since their 2022 debut, the 5-member girl group – consisting of Minji, Danielle, Hani, Haerin, and Hyein – steadily rose in popularity with each release. With hits like Super Shy, Hype Boy, and Attention, NewJeans took the K-Pop world by storm in record time. NewJeans’ combination of girl next door appeal, Y2K-inspired aesthetics and up-tempo bubblegum pop music upended the fierce concept trending among other K-Pop girl groups. NewJeans broke a Guinness World Record to become fastest K-pop act to hit 1 billion streams on Spotify. NewJeans announced their departure from their agency, ADOR, a subsidiary of Hybe, effective 2024-11-29. They made the decision after a year-long dispute with the agency. NewJeans accused ADOR of workplace harassment and deliberate miscommunication. Despite their success, including chart-topping hits and numerous accolades, the group decided to terminate their contract early, facing uncertainty about their future and the use of their band's name.
ON AMAZON (#ad): NewJeans Official Light Stick
ON AMAZON (#ad): NewJeans 1st EP Album Bluebook Version
ON AMAZON (#ad): NewJeans - 2nd EP Get Up [Bunny Beach Bag ver.]
Seventeen
Despite being called Seventeen, this boy group has 13 members: S. Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino. Since debuting in 2015, the group has experienced a rollercoaster of popularity but they’re now firmly at the top of their game, racking awards left and right with hits like Super, Home, and Hot. Their official fanclub is called Carat, recognizable through their diamond-shaped lightsticks at concerts.
ON AMAZON (#ad): SEVENTEEN - Face the Sun [CARAT ver.] 4th Album+Extra Photocards Set
ON AMAZON (#ad): Seventeen ;(Semicolon) Special Album
Twice
Known for their cute girlish image, Twice has been dazzling the K-Pop world since 2015. The 9-member girl group consists of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu. With their colorful aesthetics, endlessly catchy lyrics and adorable dance moves, Twice has had a phenomenal run both domestically and internationally. The group recently concluded a world tour that included a history-making stops at SoFi Stadium and MetLife Stadium, the first female K-Pop group to do so. Their official fanclub calls themselves Once.
ON AMAZON (#ad): TWICE READY TO BE 12th Mini Album
ON AMAZON (#ad): Twice - More & More (9th Mini Album)
ON AMAZON (#ad): Twice - CANDYBONG ∞ OFFICIAL LIGHT STICK
Le Sserafim
Hailing from Hybe – the same entertainment company behind BTS – Le Sserafim had garnered lots of anticipation even before their official debut in 2022. Prior to their debut, there was a significant controversy regarding one (now ex-) member Kim Garam, who was accused of school bullying. She left – and now the group is comprised of five members: Sakura, Kim Chae-won, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha, and Hong Eun-chae. And they did not disappoint! With their badass girl crush concept, Le Sserafim has truly given the world something to look at! In a short time they rocked the charts with hits like Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife, ANTIFRAGILE, and Fearless. Fun fact: the group’s name is an anagram for I’m Fearless !
ON AMAZON (#ad): LE SSERAFIM - 2nd Mini Album ANTIFRAGILE
ON AMAZON (#ad): LE SSERAFIM - Unforgiven 1st Studio Album
Stray Kids
Formed in 2018 through a reality competition, Stray Kids consists of eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. With their slick choreography and energetic music, Stray Kids immediately found huge followings at home and abroad. The group released hits like S-Class, God’s Menu, MANIAC and many more. Their fandom name is called STAY.
ON AMAZON (#ad): Stray Kids - 5-STAR [LIMITED VER.] 3rd Album
ON AMAZON (#ad): Stray Kids - MAXIDENT [GO ver.(Limited Edition)] Album
AKMU
The musician duo of siblings Lee Chan-hyuk and Lee Su-hyun debuted under YG Entertainment in 2014. With their peppy love songs and exceptional musicality, AKMU – short for Akdong Musician – immediately garnered tons of mainstream popularity. Being a purely singing-only duo with no dance choreography, their success is all the more impressive. Among their most loved tracks are Give Love, 200%, and Love Lee.
ON AMAZON (#ad): AKMU - [Puberty Part.1] 2nd Mini Album
ON AMAZON (#ad): AKMU COLLABORATION ALBUM [ NEXT EPISODE ] 1ea CD
NCT
Undeniably the group with the most members on this list, NCT is a 26-member boy group divided into six different sub-units: NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, NCT DoJaeJung, and NCT New Team. Their members consist of international cadres hailing anywhere from Japan, Thailand, to China. Among some of the most recognizable names in the group: Jaehyun, Taeyong, Mark Lee, and Haechan. With their experimental hip hop, R&B, and electropop-flavored sound, the group rules the charts and charms a legion of fans who call themselves NCTzens.
ON AMAZON (#ad): NCT Golden Age 4th Album
ON AMAZON (#ad): NCT Fan Set Merch
ON AMAZON (#ad): NCT Official Light Stick
aespa
The four-member girl group is made up of Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. With their metaverse concept and hyperpop music, the SM Entertainment group successfully broke through the ranks with their 2020 debut. With chart-topping singles like Next Level, Black Mamba, and Savage, aespa quickly establishes themselves as one of the leading idol groups of their generation.
ON AMAZON (#ad): AESPA - OFFICIAL LIGHT STICK
ON AMAZON (#ad): MY WORLD - The 3rd Mini Album
ON AMAZON (#ad): AESPA 1ST MINI ALBUM - SAVAGE Hallucination Quest Ver.
IVE
With six members – Gaeul, Yujin, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo – IVE showcased a fresh, innocent charm in their 2021 debut. Thanks to their ethereal visuals, easy listening beats and catchy lyrics exploring self love, IVE managed to be one of the rare groups from outside of the big 4 companies – JYP, SM, Hybe, and YG – to hit it big. With chart toppers like I AM, After Like, and LOVE DIVE, the group continues winning new fans all over the world.
ON AMAZON (#ad): IVE Official Light Stick
ON AMAZON (#ad): IVE - 2nd Single Album LOVE DIVE
ON AMAZON (#ad): IVE After Live 3rd Single Album
(G)I-dle
(G)I-dle along with IVE are the only two groups in this List that are not affiliated with any of the big 4 idol companies in Korea, making their achievements all the more remarkable. (G)I-dle has five members: Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi and Shuhua (a 6th member, Yujin, left in 2021). Since their 2018 launch, (G)I-dle has dazzled with hits like Queencard, Nxde, and TOMBOY. Their signature spicy and provocative image sets them apart from other recent idol groups.
ON AMAZON (#ad): HEAT (Amazon Exclusive BLAZE VERSION)
ON AMAZON (#ad): (G)I-DLE - 6th Mini Album [I feel] (POCA ALBUM Ver. - QUEEN Ver.)
ON AMAZON (#ad): (G)I-DLE Lightstick