[Special Feature] May 2025: Latest Trends Leading K-POP: The Dominance of Girl Groups and the Rise of Solo Artists!

 

 

The rapidly changing K-POP market led by 4th generation girl groups and solo artists

 

In May 2025, the K-POP market is filled with fiercer competition and new trends than ever before. An analysis of major music platforms and global charts reveals that 4th generation girl groups maintain solid influence while solo artists are increasingly standing out.

 

Girl Group Golden Age: 4th Generation Leaders Dominating Charts

 

4th generation representative girl groups including IVE, NewJeans, aespa, and LE SSERAFIM continue to stand at the center of the K-POP market, maintaining their strong performance from early this year through May. In particular, IVE's new song released last week has dominated top positions across various charts including Melon, Genie Music, and YouTube, solidifying their position as the "it-girl group."

Music critic Jung Sung-min states, "The concept diversification and solid musicality demonstrated by recent girl groups continue to expand the boundaries of K-POP. The influence of 4th generation girl groups with global fandoms goes beyond mere popularity and suggests a new direction for the K-POP industry."

 

The Rise of Solo Artists: Influence Beyond Group Activities

 

Solo artists with group backgrounds are also making notable achievements. EXO's KAI is generating fan anticipation with his upcoming solo concert 'KAION' in Seoul on May 17-18, featuring new songs and distinctive performances.

BTS's Jimin has reconfirmed his global popularity by ranking first as the "Most Popular K-POP Idol" in global fan votes for the third consecutive year. Currently focusing on solo activities, Jimin's single released last month also ranked high on Billboard charts, elevating the international status of K-POP solo artists.

An SME Entertainment representative commented, "Solo activities highlight individual artists' musical capabilities and identities that were difficult to showcase through group activities alone. This contributes to expanding K-POP's diversity."

 

New Artists' Challenges: PENOMECO, KINGDOM and Others

 

The upper ranks of charts are not exclusive to established artists. Hip-hop artist PENOMECO has gained enthusiastic support from young audiences with experimental music that transcends genre boundaries, showing strong performance in the first week of May charts. Third-year boy group KINGDOM is also expanding their domestic and international fandom with a unique worldview and solid musicality.

Industry experts evaluate that "new attempts breaking away from the existing K-POP formula are receiving positive responses, which signals diversity and sustainability in the K-POP market."

 

K-POP's Influence Expanding to Global Festivals

 

"Trendwave 2025," held at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on May 3, garnered attention as a global festival encompassing K-culture beyond K-POP. The event attracted approximately 40,000 international visitors with performances by popular idols including ENHYPEN and ILLiT, along with various Korean cultural experience programs.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism representative projected, "K-POP has now established itself as representative content of Korean culture beyond a simple music genre. Its global influence will further expand through such composite cultural festivals."

This May, the K-POP market can be summarized with three keywords: the dominance of girl groups, the distinctive performance of solo artists, and expansion as cultural content. K-POP's growth, securing both musical diversity and global influence, is expected to continue.

<© 2025 All rights reserved, reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

![The rapidly changing K-POP market led by 4th generation girl groups and solo artists]

In May 2025, the K-POP market is filled with fiercer competition and new trends than ever before. An analysis of major music platforms and global charts reveals that 4th generation girl groups maintain solid influence while solo artists are increasingly standing out.

 

Girl Group Golden Age: 4th Generation Leaders Dominating Charts

 

4th generation representative girl groups including IVE, NewJeans, aespa, and LE SSERAFIM continue to stand at the center of the K-POP market, maintaining their strong performance from early this year through May. In particular, IVE's new song released last week has dominated top positions across various charts including Melon, Genie Music, and YouTube, solidifying their position as the "it-girl group."

Music critic Jung Sung-min states, "The concept diversification and solid musicality demonstrated by recent girl groups continue to expand the boundaries of K-POP. The influence of 4th generation girl groups with global fandoms goes beyond mere popularity and suggests a new direction for the K-POP industry."

 

The Rise of Solo Artists: Influence Beyond Group Activities

 

Solo artists with group backgrounds are also making notable achievements. EXO's KAI is generating fan anticipation with his upcoming solo concert 'KAION' in Seoul on May 17-18, featuring new songs and distinctive performances.

BTS's Jimin has reconfirmed his global popularity by ranking first as the "Most Popular K-POP Idol" in global fan votes for the third consecutive year. Currently focusing on solo activities, Jimin's single released last month also ranked high on Billboard charts, elevating the international status of K-POP solo artists.

An SME Entertainment representative commented, "Solo activities highlight individual artists' musical capabilities and identities that were difficult to showcase through group activities alone. This contributes to expanding K-POP's diversity."

 

New Artists' Challenges: PENOMECO, KINGDOM and Others

 

The upper ranks of charts are not exclusive to established artists. Hip-hop artist PENOMECO has gained enthusiastic support from young audiences with experimental music that transcends genre boundaries, showing strong performance in the first week of May charts. Third-year boy group KINGDOM is also expanding their domestic and international fandom with a unique worldview and solid musicality.

Industry experts evaluate that "new attempts breaking away from the existing K-POP formula are receiving positive responses, which signals diversity and sustainability in the K-POP market."

 

K-POP's Influence Expanding to Global Festivals

 

"Trendwave 2025," held at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on May 3, garnered attention as a global festival encompassing K-culture beyond K-POP. The event attracted approximately 40,000 international visitors with performances by popular idols including ENHYPEN and ILLiT, along with various Korean cultural experience programs.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism representative projected, "K-POP has now established itself as representative content of Korean culture beyond a simple music genre. Its global influence will further expand through such composite cultural festivals."

This May, the K-POP market can be summarized with three keywords: the dominance of girl groups, the distinctive performance of solo artists, and expansion as cultural content. K-POP's growth, securing both musical diversity and global influence, is expected to continue.

 

<© 2025 All rights reserved, reproduction and redistribution prohibited>