The world of K-pop — thriving and as busy as ever — had bid farewell to a year that will be remembered as a period of transition and, to some extent, establishment for rising groups that opened the so-called fifth generation.
Acts such as RIIZE, ZEROBASEONE and BOYNEXTDOOR, who appeared in the dynamic wave of 2023, began to reap the first major successes of their careers, turning their promising starts into tangible achievements. Meanwhile, newcomers such as TWS and NCT Wish captivated audiences with their youthful and upbeat spirit.
On the ladies' side, which has dominated headlines in recent years, Kiss Of Life owned the summer with "Sticky," and the word 'virality' became ILLIT's last name after the massive triumph of their debut single "Magnetic." Additionally, BABYMONSTER sent electric shocks throughout the industry with their stage presence, while the gigantic tripleS — with 24 members in its lineup — thrilled with their first full-group album, Assemble24.
However, 2024 was also relatively calm in terms of debuts, an indicator that while the fifth generation is stepping in strongly, it still needs time to develop fully. But this could change as 2025 nears because if there's one thing about K-pop, it will always be waiting for new talents who will leave their mark on posterity.
The first few months of the year will be filled with rapid activity, as major agencies like SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment have already teased their new groups, and different survival shows are entering their final phase to decide upcoming lineups. Also, proven idols are finding new paths; former Fifty Fifty members Aran, Sio, and Saena left the group following a legal dispute with their label and will re-debut as ablume.
This list may need updating soon, but in the meantime, read about the rookies — in order of their debut — who are already poised to take over in 2025.
Although QWER debuted in late 2023, the quartet was one of last year's breakthroughs, stealing listeners' hearts with pop-rock compositions drenched in J-pop flair. The quartet of Chodan, Magenta, Siyeon, and Hina are also musicians, which puts them in a different league within the crowded K-pop territory.
The group was brought together by Kim Gye-ran, a popular South Korean content creator who aimed to assemble a band via the YouTube initiative "OSHI NO GIRLS." Vibrant and full of energy, their music found a peak with "T.B.H (고민중독)," the lead single from their debut EP, Manito. The song became a success on the South Korean music charts and remained consistent in the top spots throughout the year, sparking enthusiasm for what's yet to come.
LOONA is one of the most ambitious projects K-pop has seen in recent years, but a legal dispute with their former label, Blockberry Creative, interrupted their thriving path. Such an overflow of talent fortunately didn’t get lost in the ether, as all the members found a new home, proving their potential burns above all obstacles.
Enter ARTMS, the contingent formed by JinSoul, HaSeul, Kim Lip, HeeJin, and Choerry, who teamed up with K-pop company ModHaus (also home to tripleS) to prepare for their eagerly awaited return. The rollout of four pre-debut songs culminated in the May 2024 release of their first album, DALL, led by the enticing titular single, "Virtual Angel."
The members of ARTMS might not necessarily be rookies on paper, but their reinvention will allow the audience to see them anew through a fresh lens.
NEXZ is a group with a unique identity. Formed through the sophomore season of the reality competition "Nizi Project" — the first edition launched girl group NiziU — the seven-member act is composed of six Japanese nationals and one Korean. This cross-border group dabbles with both Korean and Japanese markets to embrace a status as global artists.
NEXZ are the first boy group to debut under JYP Entertainment, six years after Stray Kids, releasing the single album Ride the Vibe. That release was later accompanied by a Japanese EP, Ride the Vibe (Japanese Ver.) / Keep on Moving. The latest addition to their catalogue is their first Korean mini album, Nallina, a five-track record helmed by the powerful lead single of the same name.
NEXZ has been steadily finding its footing by bending frontiers, making them a group you don’t want to overlook.
Since RESCENE broke into the industry last spring, they have been creating a whimsical melodic palette. It's only fitting, then, that their name — a blend of the words "scene" and "scent" — carries the mission of prescribing music that "will stay in the hearts of listeners for a long time," much like a spellbinding fragrance.
The pre-release "YoYo" gave us a sneak peek of their essence, and their debut song "UhUh" brought the full experience. However, it was "Love Attack," the main track from the group's first EP Scenedrome, that sealed the deal with a memorable instrumental and breathtaking chorus.
RESCENE checks all the boxes to soar to new heights, so we're still on time to join their journey before we get left behind.
With just three songs under their belts, MEOVV has shown the world their surging star power. The quintet — SOOIN, GAWON, ANNA, NARIN and ELLA — arrived in September with the digital single "Meow," a confident record that, coupled with their innate magnetism, results in irresistible alchemy. Follow-up track "BODY" (released in November) built on this formula, while "Toxic" balanced things out with raw vulnerability. And it paid off — they claimed the Favorite Rising Artist accolade at the 2024 MAMA Awards.
MEOVV is the first girl group emerging from THEBLACKLABEL, a music company founded by K-pop producer TEDDY and home to artists like Taeyang, BLACKPINK's ROSÉ, and Jeon Somi. Fittingly, there's been considerable anticipation surrounding their debut, with possible lineups going viral on social media every so often. But now that their talents are fully on display, all eyes are on what comes next, where expectations have relocated to them delivering a more expansive music project.
SAY MY NAME (SMN) possesses a distinctive energy that translates into a glimmering sound, and watching them perform feels like a shot of pure serotonin. Accordingly, their introduction with "WaveWay," the lead single of their first self-titled EP, is a free-spirited voyage to battle away life's monotony. "Yesterday's worries are nothing, nothing/ Falling into thrilling excitement day and night," they gleefully chant in the chorus. "Colored in dreams, dreaming, dreaming/ Ride a wave a little ride away." \
Hints about SMN's debut were shared by K-pop veteran Kim Jaejoong, who mentioned in an interview that his label, iNKODE, was preparing to launch its first group. And while some had expected it to be a boys' ensemble, it was a pleasant surprise when the girls were revealed one by one — a multinational lineup of newcomers and familiar faces who had previously competed in survival shows like "The Debut: Dream Academy" and "My Teenage Girl." Notably, the group's leader is Hitomi Honda, a former member of J-pop act AKB48 and K-pop's Iz*One.
Born from the competition program "I-LAND 2: N/a" — the same series that created ENHYPEN — izna (which means "whenever, wherever, whatever") officially joined the world of K-pop on Nov. 25 with their first mini-album, N/a. It signified the realization of unyielding dreams, the rewards of tireless effort, and a new beginning. After all, braving the limelight through a survival show is never an easy task.
Mai, Jeemin, Jiyoon, Koko, Sarang, Jungeun, and Saebi are striking performers who harness synchronized precision and honeyed vocals, unveiling a commanding presence beyond their years. A prime example is their set at the 2024 MAMA Awards, where they premiered their debut single "IZNA," alongside the B-side track "TIMEBOMB," which ends with a thrilling promise: "I'm ready to blow your mind/ The time I've been waiting for is now." These lines could very well be taken as a premonition because izna are set for great things ahead.
KickFlip
Another boy group from JYP Entertainment, KickFlip's arrival has been a long time in the making. In 2021, JYPE partnered with PSY's P Nation to launch "LOUD," a survival show that would net one boy group for each company. And while P Nation went on to debut TNX months after the program ended, JYPE's resulting team was put on hold, leaving uncertainty about their future in the air.
However, at the 2024 MAMA Awards in November, JYPE announced that its new seven-member group, KickFlip, would begin their careers in January. Joining the winners who earned a spot during "LOUD" — Kyehoon, Amaru, Keiju, and Donghyeon — are Minje, Donghwa and Juwang. As of press time, the septet has yet to release music, but they've been publishing weekly diary entries where they share their thoughts about their forthcoming debut.