Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Aug 04, 2025

7 New K-Pop Stars to Listen to Now

7 New K-Pop Stars to Listen to Now

From StayC to ENHYPEN, we meet the most exciting new names in K-pop.

BTS and BLACKPINK still rule the K-pop roost, but competition within South Korea’s pop industry is both gruelling and fierce, with a group debuting (seemingly) every other week.

So, when ENHYPEN (part of the Hybe family, alongside BTS) made their much-awaited first comeback on April 26 via a live-streamed press conference with new single “Drunk-Dazed,” they rather aptly called the music landscape a “battlefield,” noting that between the latest groups (known as the K-pop’s fourth generation of idols) there is a war to be the hottest and the best.

The fourth generation includes groups such as Stray Kids, ITZY, ATEEZ, and TXT, all of whom debuted after 2018 and have already achieved significant success across the globe. They’ve been joined by a slew of rookie idols looking to make their own mark on the world of music.

Here are seven of the best new K-pop stars you need to listen to right now.

1. StayC


Members: Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J
Debuted: November 2020



Korea’s “idol” music, with its progressive-pop values, has long emphasized saturated colors, glitchy synths and tweaked-out vocals, lending a sense of euphoria to its millions of fans. StayC’s debut single, “So Bad,” arrived with a bubblegum-pink bang, its traditional fly-high pop chorus beefed up with club bass and twitchy flourishes that sound like the voice message button on South Korea’s messaging app KakaoTalk being repeatedly and impatiently pressed.

They were an instant hit, and their EP, Staydom, made them the rookie girl group with the highest first-week sales of 2020 to 2021. When you’ve got Black Eyed Pilseung (South Korea’s celebrated songwriting/production duo) as your CEO and producer, prepare to expect the unexpected.

2. P1Harmony


Members: Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul, and Jongseob
Debuted: October 2020



A much-debated topic over the past few years has been idol “noise music.” Loosely categorized by fans as disjointed K-pop, it contains ultra-heavy electronic beats (often influenced by rave culture) and mechanical sounds, for example, Red Velvet’s “Zimzalabim” (2019). P1Harmony’s second single, “Scared,” sits in the middle of this divisive genre, but it’s where you really sense their bigger potential. Alongside the clanging metallic hook, they deliver a rallying call for self-belief to outsiders. Their latest EP, Disharmony: Break Out, is wall-to-wall social observations, and a must-listen for those who like their K-pop loud, high-energy and defiant.

3. Aespa


Members: Karina, Giselle, Winter and NingNing
Debuted: November 2020



Aespa are SM Entertainment’s first new girl group since 2014, and excitement reached fever pitch for their debut single, “Black Mamba” (2020), whose simple “Aya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya” hook embedded into the brain with frightening ease. Their visual concept is rooted in digital art, AI and virtual reality: Aespa contains four human members and four virtual ones. How the two sets of girls interact with each other, and potentially their fans, was demonstrated through a short video called “My, Karina,” but with only two tracks thus far released, we’re yet to see SM’s tentpole ideas (and Aespa’s storyline) in action. “Black Mamba” has racked up a staggering 141 million views in just five months, however, so there’s clearly no shortage of fans waiting for that moment.

4. ENHYPEN


Members: Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-Ki
Debuted: November 2020



Having formed through survival show I-Land, a joint venture between K-pop giants Big Hit (now Hybe) and CJ E&M, ENHYPEN amassed a huge fanbase before their debut EP, Border: Day One, had even dropped in November 2020. Their producer, Wonderkid (a.k.a. Kim Tae Yun), has delivered psychedelia and tinges of rock to their 2021 EP, Border: Carnival (which has notched up a staggering 400,000 pre-orders), putting down the bedrock to enhance ENHYPEN’s biggest strength: their stage performances. New single “Drunk-Dazed,” with its complex, demanding choreography, is well worth watching again and again and again.

5. Purple Kiss


Members: Park Ji-eun, Na Go-eun, Dosie, Ireh, Yuki, Chaein, and Swan
Debuted: March 2021



Two warm-up singles-the unapologetically ballsy rock of 2020’s My Heart Skip A Beat and R&B-pop of “Can We Talk Again” (2021-showed off the group’s range, while single “Ponzona” (2021) added yet another dimension to Purple Kiss. The track fused K-pop’s stalwart ‘girl crush’ concept with lashings of Billie Eilish and the darker, edgier feel of fellow K-Pop group (G)I-DLE.

No matter what you call this process-a jumble, a fusion, a melting pot-K-pop’s ability to create a coherent, engaging tapestry of sights and sounds from a dozen pop-culture references never fails to astound. Though one can never predict K-pop’s breakout acts from smaller agencies, by matching this alchemy to a group such as Purple Kiss whose presence can be felt even through a laptop screen, you may well be looking at the next big thing.

6. Weeekly


Members: Soojin, Jiyoon, Monday, Soeun, Jaehee, Jihan, and Zoa
Debuted: June 2020



It takes a strong will to resist Weeekly’s 2020 debut, “Tag Me (@Me),” with its brat-pop cuteness, which, like all good K-pop, marries a dozen styles including a wistful bridge and hyperactive outro. One of the industry’s advantages is that everyone is catered for, from gothic to candy-colored, hip-hop to balladry, serious to sentimental, and Weeekly-who nabbed the New Artist of the Year award at South Korea’s Melon Music Awards 2020-have released three EPs (2020’s We Can and We Are, and 2021’s We Play) that sparkle with some truly wholesome fare, particularly on B-sides “Top Secret,” “Butterfly” and “Lucky.” If your taste leans towards fizzy escapism, allow Weeekly to whisk you away.

7. WOODZ


Member: WOODZ (a.k.a. Cho Seung-youn)
Debuted: with UNIQ in 2014, X1 in 2019, as WOODZ in 2020



After years of bouncing from group to group, Cho Seung-youn found firm footing on his own as WOODZ, releasing 2020’s earworm “Love Me Harder.” His debut EP, Equal (2020), was a heady spin through perhaps too many styles and sounds, but on the second EP, 2020’s Woops!, he struck a groove with warm, acoustic-led pop-rock. His latest single, “Feels Like” (2021), is, arguably, his best. Breathy and seductive with treacly guitar riffs, this is WOODZ creatively pushing himself to the point where he sounds like no one else in K-pop’s current climate, and that alone demands attention.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
×