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List of South Korean boy bands

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South Korean boy bands refer to South Korea's all-male idol groups who account for a large portion of the K-pop industry. Korean boy bands have aided in the global spread and promotion of Korean culture through their demonstrated prominence and popularity. First generation boy bands from the late 90s and early 2000s such as H.O.T., Sechs Kies, Shinhwa and g.o.d. are cited as building these foundations as the first successful all-male groups in Korea and through their participation in the first Hallyu Wave.[1] In 2007 and onward, second generation groups such as BigBang, TVXQ, Super Junior, 2PM, Shinee, Beast and Infinite continued to grow the popularity of boy bands domestically in Korea as well as globally through the second phase of Hallyu.[1] The rise of groups such as Exo and BTS in 2012 and 2013 launched the third generation of boy bands and launched K-pop to mass global appeal.[1] BTS, in particular, has attained mainstream western appeal with number one hits on the Billboard charts and multiple collaborations with global artists such as Coldplay, Nicki Minaj and Halsey. Other major boy bands to have debuted from 2012 onward include Seventeen, NCT, Tomorrow X Together, Stray Kids and Enhypen all of who continue to garner widespread attention and build K-pop's global appeal.[1]

Generation 1

Before the early 1990s, it was only solo artists doing trot. Then in 1992, South Korean music started shifting to a more hip hop-influenced sound with the debut of Seo Taiji and Boys, who used English in their songs. It was not until SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man created several groups such as H.O.T. and Shinhwa that the Hallyu Wave started. The first generation of K-pop began with the birth of the idol industry after the debut of H.O.T. in 1996 and follows the early years of K-pop and includes idol groups debuting from 1996 to 2002.

Best selling boy bands

Best-selling generation 1 South Korean boy bands
Group and years active Notable singles
g.o.d (1995–2005, since 2014)
H.O.T. (1996–2001, 2018-19)
  • "Warrior's Descendant" (1996)
  • "Candy" (1996)
  • "We Are the Future" (1997)
  • "Hope" (1998)
  • "I Yah!" (1999)
  • "Outside Castle" (2000)
Sechs Kies (1997–2000, 2016-21)
  • "School Anthem" (1997)
  • "The Way This Guy Lives" (1997)
  • "Road Fighter" (1998)
  • "Couple" (1998)
  • "Three Words" (2016)[a]
  • "Be Well" (2017)[a]
  • "Something Special" (2017)[a]
  • "Don't Look Back" (2021)[b]
Shinhwa (since 1998)
  • "T.O.P (Twinkling of Paradise)" (1999)
  • "Only One" (2000)
  • "Wild Eyes" (2001)
  • "Perfect Man" (2002)
  • "Your Wedding" (2002)
  • "Brand New" (2004)
  • "Crazy" (2004)
  • "Once in a Lifetime" (2006)
  • "Venus" (2012)[b]
  • "This Love" (2013)[b]
  • "Memory" (2015)[b]
  • "Sniper" (2015)[b]
  • "Touch" (2017)[b]

Other notable groups

Generation 2

South Korean boy bands that debuted in 2003 to 2011.

As the popular first-generation idols disbanded during the early 2000s, ballads and R&B music became mainstream in the Korean music industry again. Since 2003, singers such as SG Wannabe, Wheesung, and Buzz became very popular.

Best selling boy bands

Best-selling generation 2 South Korean boy bands
Group and years active Notable singles
2AM (2008–14, since 2021)
2PM (2008–2017, since 2021)
B1A4 (since 2011)
Beast / Highlight (since 2009)
  • "Bad Girl" (2009)[c]
  • "Shock" (2010)[b][c]
  • "Breath" (2010)[b]
  • "Beautiful" (2010)[b]
  • "On Rainy Days" (2010)[b]
  • "Fiction" (2011)[b]
  • "I Knew It" (2012)[a]
  • "Midnight" (2012)[b][c]
  • "Beautiful Night" (2012)[b]
  • "Will You Be Alright?" (2013)[a]
  • "I'm Sorry" (2013)[b]
  • "Shadow" (2013)[b]
  • "Sad Movie / Kurisumasu Kyaroru no Koro ni wa" (2013)[b]
  • "No More" (2014)[a]
  • "Good Luck" (2014)[a]
  • "12:30" (2014)[b]
  • "Adrenaline" (2015)[c]
  • "Kimi wa Dou?" (2015)[c]
  • "Gotta Go to Work" (2015)[b]
  • "YeY" (2015)[b]
  • "One" (2015)[c]
  • "Hands Up" (2015)[c]
  • "Can't Wait to Love You" (2015)[c]
  • "This Is My Life" (2015)[c]
  • "Last Word" (2015)[c]
  • "Saigo no Hitokoto" (2015)[d]
  • "Stay Forever Young" (2015)[c]
  • "Butterfly" (2016)[b]
  • "Ribbon" (2016)[b]
  • "Guess Who?" (2016)[d]
  • "Freaking Cute" (2016)[c]
  • "Whole Lotta Lovin'" (2016)[c]
  • "It's Still Beautiful" (2017)[b]
  • "Plz Don't Be Sad" (2017)[a]
  • "Calling You" (2017)[b]
  • "Can Be Better" (2017)[b]
BigBang (2006–2018, 2022)
Block B (2011–18)[A]
  • "I'll Close My Eyes" (2012)[b]
  • "Nillili Mambo" (2012)[b]
  • "Very Good" (2013)[b]
  • "Jackpot" (2014)[b]
  • "H.E.R" (2014)[b]
  • "A Few Years Later" (2016)[b]
  • "Toy" (2016)[b]
  • "Yesterday" (2017)[a]
CNBLUE (since 2009)
F.T. Island (since 2007)
  • "Lovesick" (2007)[a]
  • "Thunder" (2007)[a]
  • "Until You Come Back" (2007)[a]
  • "After Love (2007)[b]
  • "Love Love Love" (2010)[a]
  • "Hello Hello" (2010)[b]
  • "Severely" (2012)[b]
  • "I Wish" (2012)[b]
Infinite (2010–2019, since 2023)
MBLAQ (2009-15)[A]
  • "Ah Yeah" (2009)
  • "Y" (2010)[b]
  • "Mona Lisa" (2011)[b]
  • "Your Luv" (2011)[c]
  • "Baby U! " (2011)[c]
  • "Scribble" (2012)[b]
  • "This Is War" (2012)[b]
Shinee (since 2008)
SS501 (2005-10)
  • "Warning" (2005)
  • "Never Again" (2005)
  • "Snow Prince" (2005)
  • "4Chance" (2006)
  • "Kokoro" (2007)[c]
  • "Distance" (2007)[c]
  • "Deja Vu" (2008)
  • "U R Man" (2008)
  • "Lucky Days" (2008)[c]
  • "Love Like This" (2009)
  • "Love Ya" (2010)[b]
Super Junior (since 2005)
Teen Top (since 2010)
  • "Clap" (2010)
  • "Going Crazy" (2012)[b]
  • "Be Ma Girl" (2012)[b]
  • "Miss Right" (2013)[b]
  • "Rocking" (2013)[b]
  • "Missing" (2014)[b]
TVXQ (since 2003)

Other notable groups

Generation 3

K-pop saw a revival with the third generation that grew in the digital age with the influence of social media and resulted in the globalization of the genre. This era also saw a growth in survival programs that pushed for more competition, and includes idol groups that primarily debuted in 2012 to 2017.

Best selling boy bands

Best-selling generation 3 South Korean boy bands
Group and years active Notable singles Million-certified albums[3]
Astro (since 2016)
  • "Baby" (2017)[h]
  • "After Midnight" (2021)[b]
  • "Candy Sugar Pop" (2022)[b]
B.A.P. (2012–19)
  • "No Mercy" (2012)[c]
  • "Warrior" (2013)[c]
  • "One Shot" (2013)[c]
  • "1004 (Angel)" (2014)[b]
  • "Excuse Me" (2014)[c]
  • "Feel So Good" (2016)[c]
  • "Fly High" (2016)[c]
  • "Wake Me Up" (2017)[c]
  • "Honey Moon" (2017)[c]
  • "Hands Up" (2017)[c]
BtoB (since 2012)
BTS (since 2013)
Exo (since 2012)
Got7 (2014)
iKon (since 2015)
Monsta X (since 2015)
  • "Hero" (2015)[c]
  • "Beautiful" (2017)[c]
  • "Spotlight" (2018)[c]
  • "Livin' It Up" (2018)[c]
  • "Shoot Out" (2018)[c]
  • "Alligator" (2019)[c]
  • "Love Killa" (2020)[c]
  • "Wish on the Sky" (2020)[c]
  • "Wanted" (2021)[c]
NCT[B] (since 2016)
NU'EST (2012-22)
  • "Nanananamida" (2017)[c]
  • "I'm in Trouble" (2020)[b]
  • "Inside Out" (2021)[b]
Seventeen (since 2015)
The Boyz (since 2017)
  • "Maverick" (2021)[b]
  • "Roar" (2023)[b]
VIXX (since 2012)
  • "Voodoo Doll" (2013)[b]
  • "Eternity" (2014)[b]
  • "Error" (2014)[b][c]
  • "Love Equation" (2015)[b]
  • "Chained Up" (2015)[b]
  • "Can't Say" (2015)[c]
  • "The Closer" (2016)[b]
  • "Hana-Kaze" (2016)[c]
Wanna One (2017-19)
Winner (since 2013)
  • "Empty" (2014)[a]
  • "Color Ring" (2014)[b]
  • "Sentimental" (2016)[b]
  • "Baby Baby" (2016)[b]
  • "Really Really" (2017)[a]
  • "Fool" (2017)[b]
  • "Love Me Love Me" (2017)[b]
  • "Everyday" (2018)[b]
  • "Millions" (2018)[b]
  • "Ah Yeah" (2019)[b]

Other notable groups

Generation 4

South Korean boy bands that debuted since 2018.

This generation has had to overcome problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting economic disruption, and the transition to virtual concerts. These groups are in a situation that needs them to pioneer a wider variety of publicity methods, including the recently active online performance.[4]

Best selling boy bands

Best-selling generation 4 South Korean boy bands[C]
Group and years active Notable singles Million-certified albums[3]
Ateez (since 2018)
  • "Dreamers" (2019)[c]
  • "Limitless" (2023)[c]
Enhypen (since 2020)
  • "Given-Taken" (2020)[d]
  • "Drunk-Dazed" (2021)[d]
  • "Tamed-Dashed" (2021)[d]
  • "Bite Me" (2023)[c]
  • "Blossom" (2023)[c]
  • "Bills" (2023)[c]
Stray Kids (since 2018)
Tomorrow X Together (since 2019)
  • "9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)" (2019)[c]
  • "Drama" (2020)[c]
  • "Good Boy Gone Bad" (2022)[c]
Treasure (since 2020)

Other notable groups

Generation 5

South Korean boy bands that debuted since 2023,[5][6][7] arranged in alphabetical order.

Best selling boy bands

Best-selling generation 5 South Korean boy bands[D]
Group and years active Notable singles Million-certified albums[3]
Riize (since 2023)
  • "Love 119" (2024)[b]
Zerobaseone (since 2023)

Other notable groups


See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Indefinite hiatus.
  2. ^ The group consists of 26 members divided into six different sub-units: NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, NCT DoJaeJung, and NCT Wish.
  3. ^ Boy bands that have a million-certified albums from Korea Music Content Association.
  4. ^ Boy bands that have a million-certified albums from Korea Music Content Association.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh Number-one song on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga Top-ten song on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr Top-ten song on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an Number-one song on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart.
  5. ^ Circle Chart did not exist at that time. However, the song received 3,000,000 sales.[2]
  6. ^ Circle Chart did not exist at that time. However, the song peaked at #4 on the MIAK charts for the month of January 2004. It entered the Circle Album Chart in 2014 and peaked at #12 for the week of January 12–18, 2014.
  7. ^ Circle Chart did not exist at that time. However, the song received 4,173,225 sales.[2]
  8. ^ Top-ten song on K-pop Hot 100.
  9. ^ The song is certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Top-ten song on Billboard Japan Hot 100.
  11. ^ The song is certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Bell, Crystal (September 12, 2023). "K-Pop's Fifth Generation Is Coming. What Does That Mean?". Nylon. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "What are the top-selling singles for these K-pop groups?". SBS PopAsia. 28 February 2018. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Circle Chart Album Certifications". Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  4. ^ An, Jin-yong (June 23, 2020). <전지적 문화 시점>BTS·블핑에 도전장... '4세대 아이돌'이 온다 [<Omniscient cultural perspective>Challenge to BTS and Blackpink... '4th generation idol' is coming]. Munhwa Ilbo. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  5. ^ "5th Gen K-Pop Groups: ZEROBASEONE, Boynextdoor & More Bands on Their Way to the Top". Yahoo Entertainment. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  6. ^ "K-pop's 5th gen kicks off with boy band rush". m.koreaherald.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  7. ^ Wickes, Hanna (2024-03-14). "These Are the 5th Gen K-Pop Groups to Watch Right Now". J-14. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
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