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NMIXX, ATEEZ, Jennie, Cortis and Hwasa were among the artists who released the best K-pop tracks of 2025. Getty Images (5)

From a career-best girl group anthem to a dynamic and exciting boy group debut, The Hollywood Reporter’s K-pop writer picks the 40 best K-pop songs of 2025.

December 29, 2025

In many ways, 2025 proved to be a pivotal moment in the world of K-pop.

It’s hard to think about when it’s happening, but it’s clear that this year has been a transitional one. The trends are changing — truthfully, trends change at a rapid rate in the world of K-pop — and a new sound seems to be emerging as 2026 approaches.

Overall, girl groups had a genuinely impressive year. Between NMIXX’s long-overdue breakout moment with “Blue Valentine” to Jennie’s iconic “Like Jennie” to WSJN’s Dayoung making a sleeper hit out of “Body,” 2025 belonged to the women of K-pop.

That’s not to say boy groups didn’t also influence the K-pop culture of 2025. SHINee, one of K-pop’s most legendary boy groups, came out on top with their tearful and heartfelt “Poet | Artist,” a tribute to their late member Jonghyun. ATEEZ, Boynextdoor and Cortis pushed boundaries with their own standout releases.

Given the sheer number of releases in K-pop, it would be near impossible to from a pool of every single K-pop song released in 2025. For each act, all of their releases were considered, and the strongest release was picked to represent them against the rest of this year’s offering. Singles (and just one promoted B-side) were picked.

Heading into 2026, it’s time to look back at what K-pop songs shaped the ever-growing ecosystem. K-pop’s global evolution was clear throughout the 2025 releases; however, many groups opted to stick to the quintessential K-pop sound that made the industry appealing in the first place, hitting just the right note of nostalgia.

These are the 40 best K-pop songs of 2025.

• Honorable Mentions

  Trimming down to just 40 songs felt near impossible, so a few honorable mentions were surely needed. These three rising artists are on the cusp, making solid tracks that deserve greater recognition.

  “ShaLaLa” — Say My Name

  The girl group, hailing from Jaejoong’s iNKODE label, has all the ingredients to catapult them into the next level, including their dreamy, bubblegum pop sounds showcased in “ShaLaLa.” The now eight-member group gained early interest for several reasons, including their leader Hitomi, a former member of IZ*ONE and J-pop outfit AKB48. Say My Name’s next release, &Our Vibe, is slated for release later this month.

  “Rizz” — XLOV

  XLOV’s genderless concept is a groundbreaking step forward in the world of K-pop. With each recent release, the group’s popularity has grown significantly; however, “Rizz” feels like a real turning point for the four-member outfit. The song’s infectiously catchy and its choreography is tailor-made for TikTok vitality. Come this time next year, XLOV will likely have a much larger presence globally, if the past six months alone are any indication.

  “I Don’t Care” — Baby DONT Cry

  PNation, the label founded by legendary K-pop singer Psy, debuted its first girl group earlier this year, introducing the four members of Baby DONT Cry to the world. The girl group, who launched under the creative direction of Idle’s Soyeon, carried on their signature “baby rock” sound with their first comeback, “I Don’t Care.” The girl power anthem is the perfect example of pop-rock meets K-pop, and is a fun direction for the young members of the group.

• “Electric Heart” — 8Turn

  The eight-member boy group’s 2023 debut earned them a solid fanbase. In the two years since that debut, 8Turn has been steadily releasing a solid boy group discography. Their latest single, “Electric Heart,” is an incredible showcase of the group’s talent and solid case as to why K-pop fans should be paying attention to them. The refreshing summer track exudes youthful energy that will stick with listeners long after switching to the next track.

• “Shoot (Firecracker)” — Chaeyoung (Twice)

  Chaeyoung, a member of chart-topping girl group Twice, released her first studio album, Lil Fantasy Vol.1, earlier this year. The nine-track album is led by the groovy single, “Shoot (Firecracker).” The three-minute song is quite the departure from Twice’s discography, allowing the 26-year-old to explore creatively in a way she hasn’t yet been able to. It’s a solid debut, and sonically speaking, it’s perhaps the strongest Twice solo thus far.

• “All My Poetry” — Close Your Eyes

  Rookie boy group Close Your Eyes, formed through Korean music competition series , set the bar high with their debut track, “All My Poetry.” The seven-member boy group manages to find originality through the a nostalgia heavy track, setting themselves apart in today’s K-pop landscape. It’s a strong start for the group, who clearly have a bright future ahead.

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