Following the news of BTS going on a break from group activities, fans are confronted with the sad reality that nothing lasts forever in the K-pop wonderland. BTS wasn’t the first group to do this, and they certainly won’t be the last. Luckily, the K-pop scene is never running out of talented idol groups that deserve to be on your bias list. Check out these eight awesome artists that you should watch out for!
Tomorrow X Together
Debuted in 2019, Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is one of K-pop’s well-rounded boy groups. From singing an energetic song like “Crown” to pop rock anthem “LO$ER=LO♡ER”, TXT knows how to own every beat and visual concept thrown at them. When it comes to dancing? Synchronicity is TXT’s second name!
Members: Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai
STAYC
STAYC is at the forefront of teen-fresh music, releasing catchy pop tracks that confidently embrace the joy of being young. The girls are on a steady rise to fame, and you can feel they’re not just here to perform or release music.
“I try to become a better person, especially for our fans who care so much. I work on becoming a better person internally, not just externally. When I look at myself, I don’t stop at this much, but continue to challenge myself to improve.” Yoon, STAYC’s vocalist, said in an interview with Elle.
Members: Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J
ENHYPEN
Formed through the survival competition show I-Land, ENHYPEN debuted at the height of the pandemic crisis — yet they’re still going strong. The K-pop scene is overrun by countless idol groups, but ENHYPEN stands out from the pack with their undeniable charisma and artistry that tackles themes like self-discovery and love.
Members: Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon and Ni-ki
CLASS:y
Fresh from their stint on the reality competition show My Teenage Girl, the girls of CLASS:y released two singles that prove why they deserve to be part of the group. Veiled with groovy beats, “Shut Down” and “Classy” can both make you want to dance and sing along. The members may be young, but you can feel them giving their all in every performance.
Members: Hyungseo, Chaewon, Hyeju, Riwon, Jimin, Boeun, and Seon-you
NCT
Although the concept of NCT as a group is somewhat different from traditional idol groups, this didn’t stop them from emerging as one of K-pop’s biggest stars. For the new K-pop converts, NCT has more than 20 members, split into four sub-units thus far: NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV — and more set to debut in the future. Despite being a spread-out group, it still works because fans can jam to a wide variety of musical genres such as R&B, tropical house, bubblegum pop, and synthpop, among others.
Members: Check out the artist profiles of NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV for the full list of members.
IVE
Playlist-worthy songs? Check! Amazing talent? Overflowing with it! Dazzling beauty? They got it! IVE is only a six-month-old girl group, but their accomplishments are something to be proud of. They have now sold more than a million album copies and got two music videos with over 100 million views each. If that doesn’t tell you these girls are destined for stardom, we don’t know what will.
Members: Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo
YOUNITE
Most boy groups release songs with heavy EDM beats or too much angst, but there are a few exceptions. Case in point: YOUNITE. The nine-member rookie boyband knows how to channel boy-next-door vibes with a smidgen of grit. Each member also has their heart-fluttering charm, so it’s quite difficult to pick a bias (a.k.a. your favorite idol in K-pop lingo).
Members: Eunho, Steve, Hyunseung, Eunsang, Hyungseok, Woono, DEY, Kyungmun, Sion
Purple Kiss
Being called the “younger sisters” of a vocally talented group like MAMAMOO is already a lot to live up to, but Purple Kiss proved they’re stars in their own right. The fierce septet is unafraid to show who they are as idols, with just the perfect balance of skillful vocalists and dancers. Still not convinced? Watch the girls slay in their latest comeback video above.
Members: Park Ji-eun, Na Go-eun, Dosie, Ireh, Yuki, Chaein, Swan
Got any group you think should be on this list? Let us know below!
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