12 best K-pop groups to stan while they are still active

It is no understatement to say that Korean Pop (K-pop) has taken the world by storm. K-pop began to gain traction in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This era marked the start of ‘Hallyu‘ or the ‘Korean Wave,’ a term used to describe the increasing global popularity of South Korean culture. During this time, the best K-pop groups emerged from the pack.

Check out our list of the 12 best active K-pop groups that you should be supporting.

1. NCT (2016 – present)

Arguably and inarguably the biggest K-pop group, NCT (Neo Culture Technology) is a 25-member boy group under SM Entertainment. Introduced in 2016, NCT is divided into 6 different sub-groups: NCT U, NCT127, NCT Dream, WayV, NCT DoJaeJung and NCT Wish.

The K-pop group has won praise for their adaptability in music, vocal and rap abilities, and stage presence. Various publications have called them K-pop’s “most experimental boy band” because of the idea of having infinite members that rotate across different subunits.

Listen to NCT Dream’s Beatbox (2022), a rhythm and blues (R&B) song that showcases their youthful image and Beautiful (2021), a pop ballad that brings out each member’s strengths. If you prefer electronic dance music (EDM), give NCT U’s (Universe) Let’s Play Ball (2021) a shot. The song’s explosive bridges shine through, along with Mark’s rapping.

Best for: Listeners who enjoy experimental concepts and varied sub-units

2. Stray Kids (2018 – present)

If you are a fan of NCT’s experimental concept, another K-pop boy group you should support is Stray Kids. Managed by JYP Entertainment, the K-pop group produces noisy, experimental music blending hip-hop, dubstep, heavy metal, electroclash and dance-pop.

Their debut song District 9 (2018) is a hybrid genre combining hip-hop, rock, and EDM with bass, sirens, EDM breaks, raps, and hip-hop. God’s Menu (2020) best exemplifies the “mala” genre that the group pioneered. The genre broadly refers to strong, intense songs.

Having said that, the 8-member group’s best banger is Maniac (2022), a Middle Eastern-influenced powerful trap and electropop song. Written by Stray Kids’ in-house production team 3Racha, Maniac is about breaking free from societal norms and embracing one’s true self.

Maniac debuted at number 105 on the Gaon Digital Chart in South Korea, before climbing to number 29 in the following week. Maniac became their highest peak song on the chart.

Best for: Fans of intense, high-energy and self-produced music

3. Treasure (2020 – present)

Rounding up the “Big 3” is Treasure, a newly debuted 10-member boy group managed by YG Entertainment. Unlike their predecessors which had a hip-hop focus, Treasure offers a broader music repertoire, with sounds more in line with other conventional K-pop groups.

Known for their love singles, their must-listens include I Love You (2021) and Boy (2021). The former is an upbeat song with head bobbing and a finger heart choreography. The latter is a hip-hop track with lyrics describing a boy who tries to make a girl fall for him.

Another must-listen is the remix of their R&B B-side Darari (2022). The rock version is high on energy from start to finish, injecting a fresh liveliness into the original.

Best for: Those who prefer mainstream K-pop with youthful themes

4. Seventeen (2015 – present)

If you are a fan of Treasure’s self-produced tracks, such as Orange (2020) and MMM (2020), show your love for Seventeen too. Seventeen is a self-producing idol group, with members playing a role in songwriting, music production, and choreographing. The 13 members perform as 1 group and are divided into 3 units: hip-hop, vocal and performance.

One of Seventeen’s signature singles is Very Nice (2016). Members Woozi, S.Coups, and Vernon wrote the song alongside regular Seventeen collaborator Bumzu. Woozi and Bumzu also helped compose the song. Described by Rolling Stone as a “high-octane anthem”, the funky love song established them as pioneers of the innocent, cheerful, boy-group persona.

Best for: Audiences who value idol involvement in production

5. TXT (2019 – present)

If you are a fan of the boy-next-door concept, another male K-pop group to stan is Tomorrow X Together (TXT). Managed by HYBE Labels, the quintet’s discography has been described by NME as “bright, breezy and blissfully free from life’s worries” and “focusing more on fantasy and fun”. The lead single Crown (2019) from their debut extended play The Dream Chapter: Star, best exemplifies this youthful, playful persona.

If you prefer something heavier, listen to Good Boys Gone Bad (2023), a hardcore hip-hop song with rock elements. The production is focused and gripping, imbuing it with a rugged determination that synergises with the impactful melody. The aggressive single perfectly captures the image of a pious boy overcome by anger and loss after being heartbroken.

Best for: Fans of boy-next-door visuals with musical range

6. ITZY (2019 – present)

If you prefer a K-pop group with a refreshing take, check out the 5-member girl band ITZY, managed by JYP Entertainment. Their teen crush style is best shown by their debut single Dalla Dalla (2019), a “fusion” track with EDM, hip hop, electropop, and house elements.

Critics praised Dalla Dalla for its empowering anthem and lyrics. The feisty song helped the quintet to score one of the biggest Billboard debuts for a new K-pop act in years. Dalla Dalla entered at number 3 and peaked at number 2 on the World Digital Song Sales chart.

The group replicated their success with Icy (2019) from their extended play It’z Icy. The energetic summer song, which tells of the quintet’s ambitions and love for music, shares similar meanings as Dalla Dalla. But unlike Dalla Dalla, it has a more upbeat, festive air.

Best for: Listeners drawn to confident, empowering girl-group anthems

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7. Everglow (2019 – present)

Another K-pop group that has adopted the “girl-crush” concept is Everglow, managed by Yuehua Entertainment. The girl group has garnered acclaim for its unique EDM-trap-inspired synth-pop sound. Korean media called them the “ultimate performance boss”.

Billboard named their hater-dissing track La Di Da (2020) the best K-pop song of 2020. A retro-inspired electropop song that combines various elements from the ’80s, including cheerleader chants and strong synthesisers, its synth-pop composition screams girl boss.

Best for: Fans of performance-driven, girl-crush concepts

8. aespa (2020 – present) 

Known for popularizing the metaverse concept and hyper-pop music in K-pop, aespa is a 4-member South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. Aespa debuted on 17 Nov 2020, with the high-energy electropop single Black Mamba (2020). In a remarkable feat, the song achieved the most number of views in 24 hours for a K-pop group’s debut video.

A continuation of their story from their debut single Black Mamba, aespa’s second single, Next Level (2021), is similarly an electronic dance-pop song, but with hip-hop elements.

Next Level peaked at number 2 on the Circle Digital Chart and won the Grand Prize for Song of the Year at the 19th Korean Music Awards. Talk about being on a whole other level.

Best for: Listeners interested in futuristic concepts and hyper-pop

9. BLACKPINK (2016 – present)

Punching above their weight, BLACKPINK is a 4-member K-pop girl group managed by YG Entertainment. The group’s name reflects two dissimilar sides of their musical persona—their strong and intense “black” side and their cheerful and dynamic “pink” side. They have a huge fanbase, resulting in publications calling them the “biggest girl group in the world”.

Their earliest hits include the catchy As If It’s Your Last (2017) with its retro-oriented chorus. Another must-listen is Whistle (2016). It incorporates a drum and bass beat as well as various instrumentations, including a heartbeat and whistles, hence alluding to its name.

Best for: Fans of globally recognised, high-impact girl groups

10. Red Velvet (2014 – present)

Like BLACKPINK, Red Velvet’s name takes inspiration from 2 contrasting musical personas. Their predominantly-pop “red” side explores electronic and funk music. On the other hand, their “velvet” aspect focuses on ’90s-influenced R&B with elements of ballad and hip hop.

Managed by SM Entertainment, the quintet has produced numerous hits. These include Bad Boy (2018), a hip-hop-influenced R&B love number with a synth melody and a heavy bass.

Music critics heaped praise onto Bad Boy. They lauded its vocal production and Red Velvet’s “lush contemporary R&B-meets-pop” sound. Billboard also included it in its list of 100 Best Songs of 2018 on top of coming in first in their ranking of 20 Best K-pop Songs of the Year.

Best for: Audiences who enjoy versatility between pop and R&B

11. TWICE (2015 – present)

TWICE, managed by JYP Entertainment, is undoubtedly one of South Korea’s best-known female K-pop groups. Honorifically dubbed the “Nation’s Girl Group”, the 9-member unit has produced many chart-topping songs.

These include Cheer Up (2016), which charted at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart and became the best-performing single of the year. It also won “Song of the Year” at the Mnet Asian Music Awards. Their next single, TT (2017), topped the Gaon music charts for 4 consecutive weeks. Their point choreography for both songs also became dance crazes.

Best for: Fans of catchy choruses and upbeat choreography

12. i-dle (2018 – present)

If you are tired of listening to the same tried-and-tested tunes from the Big 3 agencies, the K-pop group that you should be stanning is i-dle. The quintet is noted for its versatility and for smashing stereotypes as a self-producing K-pop idol act under Cube Entertainment.

Described as confident and sensual, i-dle’s fanbase comprises largely females. This could be because their music mostly navigates feminine themes of self-love, female empowerment and self-acceptance. One example is their recent song Queencard (2023).

Many publications ranked the song among the best releases of 2023. They lauded its emancipating, cheeky lyrics and its musical composition. The K-pop song has inklings of rock and roll influence, a heavy bassline and electronic elements that harken to the 2000s.

Best for: Listeners seeking self-produced music with female-centric themes

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