In 2022, K-pop was defined by women. From early spring hits like (G)I-dle’s "Tomboy" and IVE’s "Love Dive," to BLACKPINK topping the Billboard 200 albums chart and then embarking on the largest world tour for a K-pop girl group, there was no shortage of achievements or great music for K-pop's leading ladies.
Renowned names like TWICE, Mamamoo, ITZY and Red Velvet thrived with new releases, festival appearances, and international tours. Soloists made exciting comebacks — as with artists from BoA, Chung Ha, and Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon — or through long-awaited debuts, like former Iz*One members Chaeyeon and Yena, Red Velvet’s Seulgi, TWICE’s Nayeon, and many others.
2022 was also the year where legends such as Girls’ Generation, KARA and EXID returned after being inactive for years, instilling a breath of fresh hope in an industry where so few women thrive past their mid-20s. While these changes take time, hopefully their steps will open doors to a different future.
But among countless highlights and broken records, 2022’s crowning jewel has to be the solid collection of girl groups it debuted into the world. Each overflowing with potential and unique flair, GRAMMY.com rounded up 10 names — in order of debut — that are defining how K-pop will sound and look in 2023 and beyond.
Billlie
Debuting at the tail end of 2021, this septet from Mystic Story Entertainment built a peculiar niche right from the start. As it’s written on the cover of their first EP, the Billage of perception : chapter one, "we sing of the mysterious, hidden, and even dangerous B-side." Their lore features multiple dimensions in both real and dream worlds, but centers on figuring out what happened with a fictional girl named Billlie Love.
Much like their narrative, Billlie’s songs are marked by unusual titles ("M◐◑N palace" or "Mcguffins \~ Who's the Joker?" come to mind), quirky soundscapes, and eloquent performances. Early this year, main dancer Tsuki went viral for her fancam performing "GingaMingaYo (the strange world)" — which shows a small glimpse of how mesmerizing they can be.
IVE
Just five days shy of their first anniversary, IVE made history, winning a Daesang (grand prize) for Best Song of the Year at the 2022 MelOn Music Awards for their single "Love Dive." The achievement placed them as the third fastest girl group to win their first grand prize.
"Love Dive," which dominated South Korean charts for months, is a prime example of the "chaebol crush" concept that IVE crafted for themselves: girl crush, but with a hint of royalty. Hailing from Starship Entertainment, the six-member group — which includes Wonyoung and Yujin of Iz*One fame — was one of the biggest sensations of 2022, and are certainly ready to multiply that success in the following years.
Kep1er
Formed last year through Mnet’s survival show Girls Planet 999, Kep1er inaugurated 2022 with debut single "WA DA DA" on Jan. 3, 2022. Its nine members come from different backgrounds and countries (South Korea, China and Japan), but together they form a K-pop Megazord of sorts. Although their style is often bold and loud, their b-sides prove they can work with softer and sultrier styles just as well.
Kep1er is set to disband sometime in July 2024, but don’t cry — in addition to the bops yet to come, temporary groups in K-pop are often fundamental in shaping the next generation of idols (just look at how many former Iz*One members are mentioned on this list). That said, even if Kep1er’s sound isn't much to your taste, you’re better off learning the names of some of K-pop’s future leaders.
NMIXX
The latest girl group off JYP Entertainment — home to titans like TWICE and ITZY — NMIXX debuted in February 2022 with the divisive "O.O." Bringing together multiple tempo changes, soaring chants, rock guitars and a handful of onomatopoeias, the attention-grabbing tune challenged perceptions about what makes a good song.
They confidently call their sound "MIXXPOP," and repeated its profuse nature in September’s theatrical "Dice," to much commercial success. But for those who still aren’t convinced, the sextet has also proven versatility to spare in the unstoppable beats of "Tank," the sweet joy of "Funky Glitter Christmas," and in a show-stopping cover of Seventeen’s "Aju Nice" at KCON 2022 L.A.
LE SSERAFIM
"What you lookin’ at?" LE SSERAFIM ask in their polished debut "Fearless," but the truth is that it was hard not to look at them in 2022. They were the first girl group to debut under HYBE, the entertainment label of groups like BTS, TXT, and ENHYPEN. Adding to the expectation, popular names such as Sakura and Chaewon from Iz*One and Mnet’s "Produce 48" contestant Yunjin also figured in the lineup.
While the anticipation was high, there was no better group to weather these challenges. With a name composed by an anagram of the phrase "I'm fearless," LE SSERAFIM proved that their core is made of steel and flawless releases. If "Fearless" showed what they came for, October’s neo-perreo-influenced "Antifragile" consolidated the quintet as a bold, blazing force to be reckoned with.
CLASS:y
Another girl group formed through a survival show — MBC’s "My Teenage Girl" — CLASS:y debuted in May with the ambitious "Shut Down." The track steamrolls with classic Indian instruments and relentless tempo, proving that while CLASS:y might be lesser known than their peers, they are just as talented.
The full range of their skills is on display during live performances. Radiating confidence beyond their years, they tackle styles that range from Latin-inspired mid-tempos to bouncy bangers meant to stick in your mind for days.
NewJeans
For months, it was rumored that another girl group from HYBE would be debuting under the wings of their subsidiary label, ADOR. However, no one expected their debut to be as groundbreaking as it was. NewJeans dropped "Attention" out of the blue in late July — no teasers beforehand, no info about the members, nothing.
It worked. The release gained over 1.3 million YouTube views in less than 24 hours. Following suit came music videos for all three other tracks off their exquisite self-titled EP, including 2022’s darling summer hit, "Hype Boy." With impeccably chill vibes and an aesthetic filled with Y2K nostalgia, NewJeans were one of 2022’s biggest, most rewarding surprises.
CSR
Formed entirely by 17-year-olds, CSR debuted in the summer with a kind of sound that seemed to be forgotten in recent K-pop. Bringing back memories of groups like GFRIEND and Lovelyz, these rookies' sugary, synth-filled slice of pop effortlessly stood out.
CSR’s first single "Pop? Pop!" is layered with surprises and unfaltering hope — motifs that are repeated throughout their whimsical EP Sequence: 7272 — but it was November’s fizzy "♡TiCON" that got them their first music show win on KBS’s Music Bank, settling the group as ones to watch in 2023.
mimiirose
Although YES IM Entertainment is a newly established company, its CEO is none other than Im Chang-jung — a singer-songwriter and actor known in South Korea for being "the original multi-entertainer." That said, it makes sense why mimiirose left an impression right off the gate with September’s "Rose."
Boasting confident vocals over Middle Eastern-inspired chords, "Rose" offers a fair display of their charms, with special remarks to rapper and former Girls Planner 999 contestant Yoon Jia. The two other tracks off their single album Awesome don't disappoint either. With the tropical house of "Lululu" and the trickling synths of "Kill Me More," mimiirose are primed as self-assured performers with unyielding potential.
Fifty Fifty
Under newcomer label ATTRAKT, Fifty Fifty debuted on Nov. 18 with a strong first EP, The Fifty.
Throughout its four dazzling tracks, the quartet displays various colors and a vocal maturity that is both hard to find and crucial to have. "Tell Me" starts the journey in what could be the perfect indie movie soundtrack, moving swiftly to the synthpop of pre-release "Lovin’ Me" and title track "Higher." By the time that edgy closer "Log In" arrives, you are already sold on Fifty Fifty’s magical appeal.
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