The 15 Best K-Pop Songs of 2024

My favorite tracks from a killer year for Korean pop

Welcome to a new spin on an old tradition! As some of you who know me well may know, I hosted a radio show called The K-Pop Power Hour for over five years, from September 2018 to January 2024. It began at Radio of Clark University (ROCU) where I began college and followed me to Wesleyan University’s station, WESU 88.1 FM Middletown, when I transferred colleges. I even continued the show for eight months after graduating.

Beginning in 2019, I’ve presented a year-end list of my fifteen favorite K-pop songs of the year. The fifteen number stems from the fact that this is the number of songs, plus commentary, that I could fit into an hour of radio. Although this year, I’m unshackled from the confines of radio, presenting this list purely in written form for the first time, I’m going to stick with the list of fifteen. I’ve become attached to the number; less restrictive than a top ten, but more curated than a perhaps-bloated twenty.

All in all, 2024 was a good year for K-pop. In the last few years, I’ve complained quite a bit about the fact that K-pop trends seemed to be heading in a different direction from my taste. This year, though, the tides seemed to be shifting. Many of my favorite songs of 2024 were among its most popular. Yet others, as always, came from lesser-known artists. As a whole, though, I’m optimistic about the genre’s direction, as I already feel that this is a stronger list than my last couple. I don’t claim that this list is an objective measure of which songs were the most important or impactful this year; its sole criterion is my personal taste. Let’s get into it.

15: Day6- Welcome to the Show

Release date: March 18, from the EP Fourever

Written by: Day6 members Young K, Sungjin, and Wonpil, producer Hong Ji-sang

Charting: Circle Digital Chart (Korea)- #3

“Welcome to the Show” marks Day6’s return after an uncertain period for the group, during which they were inactive due to the members fulfilling their mandatory military service. During this period, lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist Jae also left the group over issues of mental health and creative freedom. Thus “Welcome to the Show” isn’t just another single for Day6, but a bold declaration that they’ve overcome those tumultuous years, and are back stronger than ever. The song’s emotional lyrics directly address the listener, thanking them for waiting for the band and for welcoming them back to the stage. This heartfelt tone is backed up by the song’s appropriately sentimental and grand stadium-rock instrumentation, which builds from a spare introduction to an epic, rocking chorus.

14: Kiss of Life- Midas Touch

Release date: April 3, single

Written by: Mia, Ondine, Samson, Strawberrybananaclub, Jo Yoon-kyung

Charting: Circle Digital Chart (Korea)- #31

Plenty of K-pop groups have tried to channel the hard-hitting beats and slinky energy of early 00s R&B, but none better than girl group Kiss of Life on “Midas Touch.” Instrumentally, “Midas Touch” is full of exciting flourishes, from funky percussion to groovy keyboard accents to stabs of guitar. Vocally, Kiss of Life lay claim to their status as K-pop’s next big thing; beyond being skilled singers, they also convey a palpable star power, imbuing the track with a sense of fun and attitude. Despite the group being early in their career, they perform with the captivating charisma of seasoned veterans.

13: Evnne- Badder Love

Release date: June 17, from the EP RIDE or DIE

Written by: Rick Bridges, arcon, Hui Chang, Jimmy Claeson

Charting: Circle Downloads Chart (Korea)- #11

My number one K-pop song of 2023 was Golden Child’s “Feel Me,” a track I praised for its emotive rock-influenced pop sound. In 2024, it felt like this sound became a more prevalent trend. Though plenty of songs channeled this feeling, Evnne’s “Badder Love” stood out among that field, with a sound that’s both propulsive and wistful, utilizing both emo rock guitars and twinkling, dreamy synth textures. It’s an energy that captures a mood of youthful abandon, matched by its lyrics, which describe a love so strong it inspires recklessness.

12: Young Posse- ATE THAT, from the EP ATE THAT

Release date: August 21

Written by: Young Posse members Yeonjung, Doeun, and Sunhye, Kiggen, Rick Bridges, Deevan

Charting: Circle Downloads Chart (Korea)- #41

K-pop has always drawn from American hip-hop, but that’s typically meant drawing on contemporary styles at the time. Young Posse’s “ATE THAT” takes a different tact, instead standing as an over-the-top tribute to 90s rap, complete with lyrical homages to Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, and the Beastie Boys. The song’s instrumental is a rich, punchy beat that draws heavily from G-funk, with bouncy percussion, groovy bass, and fuzzy, squealing synthesizer accents. While such a track could easily fall into mere pastiche of other artists, Young Posse’s members perform with an exuberance and playful confidence that make “ATE THAT” something all its own and utterly addictive.

11: Taemin- Horizon

Release date: August 19, from the EP Eternal

Written by: Taemin, Lee Eun-hwa, BBYO, Jeong Eun-gi, Laurent Marc Louis, R.L. King, Joa, Jacob Aaron, Noerio

Charting: Circle Downloads Chart (Korea)- #5

Known both for his work as a member of Shinee and for his accomplished solo career, Taemin has been a longtime favorite of mine, and even topped previous iterations of this list. He’s a remarkably dynamic solo performer, with work that combines the drive and sleek groove of synthwave with the dance-pop showmanship of Michael Jackson at his best. “Horizon” marks Taemin’s first release under label BPM Entertainment, having departed from SM Entertainment, the megalabel that created Shinee. Despite this new start, “Horizon” is very much of a piece with the rest of Taemin’s oeuvre, delivering a propulsive synthpop anthem with a frantic, borderline-aggressive energy in its intense chorus.

10: Dragon Pony- POP UP

Release date: September 26, from the EP POP UP

Written by: Dragon Pony members Taegyu, Sunghun, Sehyuk, and Ganghun, producer You Hee-yeol

Charting: N/A

The definition of K-pop is pretty nebulous. When I make this list, I’m mostly considering pop groups, not rock bands. However, whether it’s industry connections or a certain pop production value, some rock acts get looped into my pop list, and newly-debuted band Dragon Pony are among them. “POP UP” is the quartet’s first single, and it comes with a major co-sign: iconic singer-songwriter You Hee-yeol, who co-wrote and produced the song. “POP UP” is a raucous, exuberant pop rock track with a massive, hooky chorus, and makes for a remarkable debut for Dragon Pony. I’m extremely excited to hear what they put out next.

9: Twice- One Spark

Release date: February 23, from the EP With You-th

Written by: Kyler Niko, Earattack, Paulina “PAU” Cerilla, Lee Woo-hyun, Sim Eunjee, Melanie Fontana

Charting: Circle Digital Chart (Korea)- #126

In the decade since their 2015 debut, I’ve watched Twice go from the exciting new kids on the block to consistent chart-toppers to practically a legacy act, a shining example of longevity in the fast-moving K-pop world where acts often only grab the spotlight for a year or two. Twice’s sonic evolution has been remarkably well-executed. As the group’s members have aged from teenagers into their late twenties, they’ve traded the cutesiness of their original bubblegum pop style for a more mature energy without their music losing an ounce of energy or catchiness. Both of their singles from With You-th, “I Got You” and “One Spark” were excellent, but I have to give the latter song the edge. “One Spark” is an anthemic synthpop track buoyed by soaring vocal melodies and energetic double-time percussion that amps up the energy in the song’s propulsive chorus.

8: TAN- Hypertonic

Release date: March 28, from the album TAN W SERIES ‘3TAN’

Written by: Shinsadong Tiger, JAEJUN, Kim Jun Tae, Jacob Aaron, Jelly, Jiseong of TAN, The Hub 88

Charting: N/A

Last year, the world of K-pop suffered a major loss with the untimely death of producer and songwriter Shinsadong Tiger at the age of just 40. Born Lee Ho-yang, he was responsible for some of the most indelible K-pop hits of the 2010s, including singles for EXID, Beast, and HyunA. Lee’s final work, released a month after his death, was “Hypertonic,” a single he worked on with the boy band TAN. The single is a club-ready synth-infused dance-pop banger, chock full of hypnotic hooks and crushing beats. At the bridge, the song elevates to grandiose heights, with the instrumental unleashing for the final chorus, a cavalcade of rich synth riffs. TAN unfortunately disbanded in June, the casualty of label turmoil following a deadly DUI committed by a labelmate. Nonetheless, “Hypertonic” marks a remarkable swan song for both a legendary producer and an underrated group.

7: Riize- Boom Boom Bass

Release date: June 17, from the EP RIIZING

Written by: Peter Wallevik, Daniel Davidsen, Ben Samama, David Arkwright, Kil Jeong-jin, ChaMane

Charting: Circle Digital Chart (Korea)- #17

Though their lineup has been marred by scandal over the removal of member Seunghan, on a musical front, Riize have been at the forefront of a rise in excellent boy group music in the last year. For much of the 2010s and early 2020s, it seemed that trends for male K-pop artists leaned towards the shouty, noisy, and beat-driven. By contrast, Riize and their contemporaries are ushering in a new wave of boy bands whose work is breezy, upbeat, and melodic. “Boom Boom Bass” packs a subtle pop-funk punch, deftly squeezing a truckload of hooks and earworms into a fun-sized track. The song builds and morphs over its brief runtime, growing with new groovy bass licks and synth stabs, with each chorus punchier than the last. It’s reminiscent of some of SHINee’s best work, while also being something wholly itself.

6: Vahn- Feeling (ft. BLKZN)

Release date: September 14, from the EP Come & Go

Written by: Vahn, Kim Myung-shin, BLKZN,

Charting: N/A

Solo artist Vahn is perhaps better known as a singer, rapper, and songwriter for the boy band NINE.i. Beyond his work with his group, though, some of Vahn’s best songwriting has been for his solo efforts, and “Feeling,” an English-language effort with a feature from American rapper BLKZN (pronounced Black Zen) might just be this past year’s most underrated banger. Vahn wholeheartedly embraces emo rock influences, blending them with spacy 80s-style stadium rock synthesizers for a grand, anthemic pop-rock track that’s propulsive and palpably emotional. BLKZN’s smooth, rich voice in the song’s second verse provides a pleasant counterpoint to Vahn’s lighter, breathier tone. The lyrics to “Feeling” are occasionally awkward, but the song’s pure sentiment and rich melody helps it transcend any stumbling blocks.

5: Rosé and Bruno Mars- APT

Release date: November 7, from the album rosie

Written by: Rosé, Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Theron Thomas, Henry Walter, Michael Chapman, Nicholas Chinn

Charting: Circle Digital Chart (Korea)- #1, Billboard Hot 100 (USA)- #5, Top 10 in dozens of other countries

I tend to consider myself a bit of a K-pop hipster. My favorite songs often didn’t top the charts. Often they didn’t even enter the charts. Which is why I’m genuinely shocked that this year, so many of my favorite songs were also among the year’s biggest hits. I have a bit of a rocky relationship with the music of Blackpink. I adore their first few singles, but felt that their output started getting repetitive, reiterating the same musical ideas to diminishing returns, a pattern I felt continued into much of the members’ early solo efforts. All that is to say, I wasn’t particularly enthusiastic for Rosé’s “APT” before its release, and was stunned when I first listened to it. The empty posturing and spare beats of so much lower-tier Blackpink material are nowhere to be heard. Instead, “APT,” an English-Korean hybrid named after a Korean drinking game, is a sweet, bouncy piece of pop rock, addictive right up to the edge of becoming annoying without getting there. “APT” is all about contrast: its chant-along hook against its melodic pre-chorus, its rhythmic pop sensibilities against its raucous rock instrumental influences, Rosé’s voice against that of her duet partner Bruno Mars. Every chorus builds upon the last, adding a new layer of vocal harmony, of instrumental intrigue, or some other delightful piece of sonic frisson that makes “APT” a perfectly crafted pop confection.

4: G-Dragon- Home Sweet Home (feat. Taeyang and Daesung)

Release date: November 22, single

Written by: G-Dragon, Teddy Park, 24, Kush, VVN, Choice37
Charting: Circle Digital Chart (Korea)- #1

Among all the exciting new releases from younger acts, 2024 also saw some returns to the stage from K-pop’s living legends. Most exciting among them was that of G-Dragon. A multifaceted, dynamic rapper and singer-songwriter and leader of iconic boy band Big Bang, it had been two years since G-Dragon’s last appearance on the musical scene, with Big Bang’s seeming farewell single, 2022’s “Still Life,” and over seven since his last solo effort. “Home Sweet Home” is a brilliant return for both G-Dragon, and, in a sense, Big Bang, with the song featuring the group’s other two remaining members, vocalists Taeyang and Daesung. Written alongside longtime Big Bang producer Teddy Park, “Home Sweet Home” is a classic-sounding dance-pop anthem, an invigorating example of exactly what Big Bang did best. While the song itself is well-written and would work well with anyone behind the mic, it’s boosted into the stratosphere by the excitement of hearing these iconic voices back in action.

3: Kep1er- Shooting Star

Release date: June 3, from the album Kep1going On

Written by: Kevin D, Im Su-ran, Lee Seu-ran, Dayeon of Kep1er, Ddank, Zamun, Livy

Charting: Circle Downloads Chart (Korea)- #12

If I gave out a “Most Improved” award for K-pop acts, Kep1er would undoubtedly be this year’s winner. I’ve rooted for the group since the beginning when they were formed on the reality competition program Girls Planet 999, and they piqued my interest by including Huening Bahiyyih, the sister of Tomorrow X Together’s Huening Kai, as well as Choi Yujin, a former member of CLC, a group I loved, in their lineup. Much of their early discography, though, didn’t connect with me at all. “Shooting Star” blows their past material out of the water, delivering a soaring, ethereal pop sound that effectively conjures the space imagery evoked by both the song’s title and the group’s name. The track makes stellar use of contrast, opening its first chorus by pulling away the track’s instrumental to a sole vocoded vocal track, before exploding in a shimmering burst of pop grandeur, with propulsive double-time percussion, stadium-sized guitar chords, and a rich array of glittering synth tones. The song’s lyrics are imbued with a wistful, emotional tone, given metatextual weight from the knowledge that this was to be Kep1er’s final release with its full original lineup, before members Yeseo and Mashiro departed after the expiration of their initial contract.

2: TWS- hey! hey!

Release date: June 5, from the EP Summer Beat!

Written by: Wasurenai, Glenn, Choi Bo-ra, Song Ji-yu, Jang Min-woo, T-SK, Heon Seo, Anchor, YouthK, Jeon Jin

Charting: Circle Digital Chart (Korea)- #1

Making their debut right at the beginning of 2024, the boy band TWS (pronounced “two-us,” an abbreviation for “24/7 with us”) had an absolutely stellar year, putting out hit after hit. They’ve been at the forefront of a brighter, more upbeat, more melodic wave for K-pop, establishing a signature style they dub “boyhood pop,” a sound that imbues youthful free-spiritedness into breezy, energetic pop songs. In some ways, TWS feel like the male descendents of GFriend, who similarly brought a fresh energy to immaculately crafted pop songs. I was genuinely debating which of TWS’s many singles this year to put on this list, but ultimately, “hey! hey!” stands out as their peak. The song is relentlessly energetic, injecting a healthy dose of rock guitar into its pop framework. Most excitingly, in an era of short, bridgeless songs made for streaming in snippets on TikTok, “hey! hey!” has an excellent bridge that elevates the song to another level. If they’re able to maintain remotely this level of musical quality into their second year and beyond, TWS may be my favorite K-pop act to debut in years.

Honorable Mentions

Yena- Nemonemo

Moon Byul- Is This Love?

Cravity- Love or Die

1: aespa- Supernova

Release date: May 13, from the album Armageddon

Written by: Kenzie, Paris Alexa, Dem Jointz

Charting: Circle Digital Chart (Korea)- #1, Hong Kong Billboard Chart #1, Taiwan Billboard Chart #2

With a sci-fi inspired sound that embraces cyberpunk aesthetics and grand, synth-heavy music, aespa have established themselves as among the definitive K-pop acts of the 2020s. “Supernova” is the aespa experience distilled into a single track, showcasing everything the group does well: intense production with pounding bass and scuzzy synth lines, performances that serve both vocal firepower and fierce attitude, and hook after hook. Written by Kenzie, a long time hitmaker for the mega label SM Entertainment, “Supernova” harkens back to past glories for the label and its distinctive “SMP” style of epic, powerful dance-pop, while also being wholly fresh, contemporary and even futuristic in its outlook. It’s a personality-packed dance floor anthem that plays like the cyborg cousin to Charli xcx’s Brat. “Supernova” was one of the biggest hits of 2024, if not the defining song of the last year in K-pop. While that rarely translates to enjoyment on my end, with “Supernova,” I completely understand the hype. It wasn’t just a song, it was a cultural moment.