In 2023, K-pop saw a changing of the guard as artists and groups from a new generation of idols started to take their place at the top of the industry.
Since the group debuted in 2022, NewJeans has become a force — and musical paradigm shifter — both within the Korean and global pop landscapes. FIFTY FIFTY, of which three members had their contracts terminated following legal disputes, put out one of the biggest songs of the year, period, with "Cupid." And aespa, the four-piece outfit from SM Entertainment, has released some of the best music of their career, showing constant room for growth.
Throughout the year, I kept track of the biggest new K-pop songs — the ones that break through to new markets, inspire trends, or strike me personally as unique or compelling.
Many of these are songs that I had on repeat for months on end, but this list is a mix of global hits, tracks that make interesting (and sometimes risky) sonic choices, or that feature cutting and earnest lyricism even while dealing with well-tread themes.
These were my top picks.