K-Pop, K-pop, or Korean pop music, has taken the world by storm, and that is why we have come up with the 10 Best K-Pop Bands. It had its start in the 1990s in South Korea, where it was considered part of the youth subculture. The music is generally rooted in rock, pop, and R&B, with some hip-hop influences. K-pop has been responsible for some of South Korea’s most successful boy bands and girl groups. Some have even gone as far as to state that K-pop is now part of the global or “transnational” culture
10 Best K-Pop Bands, Ranked
Let’s check out the groups that have dominated the K-pop charts over the past years. Song recognition, cultural blending, and melodic appeal are all considered.
1. BTS
We cannot start off this list of 10 best K-pop bands without the mention of BTS. BTS, or Bangtan Sonyeondan, had their start in 2010. The group originally began as a hip-hop band, but has combined musical elements to include pop, rock, and rap. The group consists of seven members and has won many awards, including numerous American Music Awards.
2. Blackpink
Blackpink, stylized as BLACKPINK, burst onto the scene in 2016. Regarded as one of the most popular and best-selling girl groups of all time, BLACKPINK embodies the “girl crush” aspect of K-pop. This combines elements of female empowerment and self-confidence. Their Born Pink World Tour was the highest-grossing tour ever recorded by a girl group. It definitely deserves to be part of the 10 Best K-Pop Bands in history.
3. TXT
Our next K-pop band is TXT. No, TXT doesn’t stand for text or texting; it stands for Tomorrow X Together. This boy band of five members got their start in 2019. Their motto is “different people coming together under one dream, in hopes for a better tomorrow,” – and with a message like that, how could you not like them? They’ve had a number of albums out over the past five years. They took a hiatus in December 2024 and are now roaring back onto the scene in May.
4. Twice
Twice, an all-girl K-pop group featuring nine members, got their start in 2016. Their music, called bubblegum pop, is extremely catchy with total earworm melodies. Their hits like ‘The Feels’ and ‘Talk That Talk’ ensure we will be talking about them for some time to come!
5. Stray Kids
This K-pop boy band had its debut in 2018. Named after a television show of the same name, Stray Kids is known for their smart, choreographed routines, catchy songs, and polished, stylish performances. Also noteworthy: three of the members from Stray Kids additionally have their own rap project called 3RACHA.
6. New Jeans
New Jeans came sashaying (bad pun) onto the K-pop scene in 2023. Although they’re relatively new to K-pop, they have definitely made their mark. The five members have created their own image, set their own trends, and don’t always wear jeans. In fact, they often will wear schoolgirl attire when they perform. Their creativity certainly earns them a place in our best K-pop bands.
7. Seventeen
Seventeen doesn’t have 17 members, only 13. This boy band has been around since 2015. Over the past decade, Seventeen has seamlessly blended elements of hip-hop, rap, pop, with some rock. They do their own choreography and have a loyal fan base. The released ‘17-Carat’ in 2015 to high sales and packed performances. They continue to fill up South Korean venues to this day and deserve to be among the 10 Best K-Pop Bands.
8. NCT
NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, doesn’t exactly sound like a band name, but maybe a computer or technological company moniker. However, NCT, a successful K-pop boy band, got its start in 2016. If you thought 13 was a lot in the way of band members, NCT boasts 23 members! This allows them to do a lot of experimental music in the K-pop world.
9. Red Velvet
Not the delicious cake, but the K-pop band, Red Velvet, got their start in 2014. This five-member girl group is well known for their stylized performances, pop-electronica-infused songs, and a very loyal fan base. Red Velvet was recognized by Billboard’s 10 Best K-pop Bands in 2020.
10. Babymonster
Babymonster, or Baemon, is a newer group to grace our 10 best K-pop bands list. A few years building up to their formation, they solidified in 2024. The seven-member group has received numerous accolades plus multiple award nominations. They’ve had support from BLACKPINK, among other K-pop artists.
A Few Final Thoughts
A couple of other K-pop bands worthy of mention are EXO and ITZY. With many international genres of music on the rise, K-pop is one to be watched. Between brilliantly blended music, stunning choreography, and a stylized look, K-pop has cemented its place in the music of the 21st century.
