K-pop 2024: A Year in Review – Was It a HIT or a MISS for K-pop?

Introduction:

2024 was a year K-pop fans will never forget. With jaw-dropping returns, debut performances that made us scream, and tours that left us shook it was a rollercoaster ride of both unforgettable highs and tearful goodbyes where the industry’s evolution was impossible to ignore. From artists pushing boundaries with groundbreaking music and electrifying concerts and fans gossiping about every twist and turn in the ever-evolving style they love to collaborations that broke the internet and controversial moments that sparked endless debates, this was a year that reshaped everything we thought we knew about K-pop.

So, are you ready to dive into the juicy details? Let’s break down how the 2024 K-pop scene truly unfolded, from the events to the drama and everything in between.

Major Comebacks and Releases on the K-pop 2024 scene

It was a year of unforgettable moments for K-pop, with the scene buzzing like never before. Let’s start with Aespa whose achievements have been extraordinary. Their first studio album, “Armageddon”, released in May, and their fifth mini-album, “Whiplash”, released in October, both exceeded 1 million sales in their first week. That’s right, five consecutive million-seller milestones for these queens. “Supernova”, the title track from “Armageddon”, dominated Melon’s weekly chart for an incredible 15 weeks straight, breaking a record that had stood for over two decades. They also bagged Daesang for Song of the Year with that same track. And let’s not forget Karina’s solo hit, “Up”, and single “Whiplash”, both were holding strong in the Top 5 despite the stiff competition. Four years in, Aespa’s reign was undeniable, solidifying their status as one of K-pop’s most iconic acts.

Meanwhile, TWICE made major waves as they were approaching their 10th anniversary in 2025. They embraced a fresh identity as the Real Hot Girls, and their latest comeback, STRATEGY, featuring Megan Thee Stallion, dropped on December 6. Fans didn’t see this collaboration coming, but that’s exactly what made TWICE so unpredictable and legendary.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any bigger, BigBang’s G-Dragon proved everyone wrong. The King of K-pop made a huge impact with his long-awaited return after a seven-year break. On October 31st, he dropped his solo single “Power”, and within 24 hours, the music video racked up over 8.7 million views. The track also soared on South Korea’s Melon platform, racking up more than 83,000 unique listeners in its first hour, making it the highest for any release in 2024.

Hands down, the most buzzed-about comeback of the year was BlackPink Rosé’s solo album “Rosie”. Released on December 6, 2024, through The Black Label and Atlantic Records, it marked her first solo project since parting ways with YG Entertainment. Teaming up with a star-studded lineup, including Bruno Mars, Rosé not only co-produced but also poured her heart into writing the album. She teased us with the pre-release track “Apt,” which topped the charts, hitting #1 on the Billboard Global 200 and dominating worldwide.

Then came “Number One Girl” and “Toxic Till the End,” keeping the momentum going. Upon its release “Rosie” made history as the highest-charting album by a female K-pop soloist. Critics couldn’t get enough of its emotional depth, stellar songwriting, and effortless pop appeal. With an album like this, it’s safe to say Rosé ruled the game.

Fans also think the same as this comment mentioned:

“I think this year has had plenty of iconic songs, not just Magnetic. Supernova and Armageddon, Heya, Supersonic, and more were pretty big hits this year.”

Source Reddit

K-pop 2024 Breakthrough Artists

If you also thought K-pop bands were being overshadowed by idol groups, think again. 2024 was the year of the K-band resurgence, and no one did it better than DAY6. Their full-group comeback was nothing short of legendary, dominating the charts with hit after hit. This was their year, from becoming headliners at major music festivals to winning the prestigious Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Award at the 2024 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards in October. And just when you thought they couldn’t top themselves, they snagged their first-ever grand prize at the Korea Grand Music Awards in November and made history as the first K-band to perform at the Gocheok Sky Dome for their 2024 Christmas concert. All their concerts sold out, proving just how in-demand this band was.

“Probably because 2024 is the year of K-Bands, not K-Pop. Day6 and QWER are all the rage right now.”

Source Reddit

Speaking of buzz, let’s talk about the HYBE girl group “ILLIT”. They took the world by storm with their debut single “Magnetic,” which turned every social media platform into their personal playground. Their track, from the debut album “SUPER REAL ME”, went viral, and within no time, they amassed a global fanbase and hit a major milestone, surpassing 500 million streams on Spotify.

Meanwhile, BIBI made waves with her February release, “Bam Yang Gang,” marking a dramatic shift in her musical style and earning her the nickname “the dark IU.” And let’s not forget about Pledis’s new boy group TWS, who debuted with the track “Plot Twist” and hit over 100 million streams on YouTube within six months.

Then there’s MEOVV, the latest five-member girl group from THEBLACKLABEL. They burst onto the scene in September with their debut single “MEOW,” which didn’t exactly set the world on fire. But they quickly turned things around with their next two singles, the fierce anthem “BODY” and the emotionally charged “TOXIC.” These tracks showed their versatility, effortlessly shifting from a high-energy banger to a smooth, electro-pop anthem with universal emotional appeal.

K-pop 2024 Global Achievements

2024 was a massive year for K-pop, proving once again its global dominance.

TWICE made history as the first female K-pop artist to perform at Nissan Stadium in Japan, marking another milestone for the genre.

Meanwhile, Jungkook snagged the Best Global K-pop Song Award for “Standing Next to You,” at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on December 12, solidifying kpop’s international influence.

Stray Kids took home the Top Global K-pop Artist award by featuring Hollywood heavyweights Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in the “CHK CHK BOOM” music video, adding a unique flair to their already global reach.

Seventeen also made waves, not just in music but in social influence. They were appointed as UNESCO’s first youth goodwill ambassadors, further expanding their impact on cultural and social issues. In a surprising turn, Seventeen performed at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival, headlining the Pyramid Stage and proving that K-pop was a major force at even the most iconic Western music events.

Lastly, K-pop took center stage at Victoria’s Secret’s iconic fashion show after a six-year hiatus, with BLACKPINK’s Lisa opening the event in Brooklyn. She dazzled the crowd with performances of “Rockstar” and “Moonlit Floor,” making her mark at a star-studded event that cemented K-pop’s role in global pop culture.

K-pop 2024 Memorable Concerts and Tours

If 2024 wasn’t already K-pop’s year, it’s safe to say the genre has officially taken over. From iconic stages at Lollapalooza and Coachella to sold-out tours across the globe, K-pop groups showed no mercy in their quest for world domination.

LE SSERAFIM made their Coachella debut in 2024, but while the performance wasn’t exactly raved about, it marked a crucial moment for K-pop at international festivals. Meanwhile, ATEEZ, also making their Coachella debut, delivered a jaw-dropping set that solidified their status as one of the first male K-pop groups to take the stage there, and the fans were living for it.

Then there was TWICE, who continued their “READY TO BE” World Tour which sold out every single show from February to April. Meanwhile, after wrapping up their eighth fan meeting in July 2024, SEVENTEEN kicked off their highly anticipated tour, promising stops in South Korea, Japan, Asia, and the U.S. with Singapore, Jakarta, and Bangkok all getting surprise encore dates. But the real shocker was that neither Jeonghan nor Jun joined. Jeonghan was off to the military, while Jun was busy with an acting gig in China. Still, Jeonghan made a surprise cameo, proving that even absence can’t keep a star away. The remaining eleven members kept the tour going strong, bringing the heat wherever they went.

Stray Kids didn’t slow down with their “DominATE” tour, which followed successful performances in South Korea, Singapore, Australia, Taiwan, and Japan. The tour continued with 20 new stops across Latin America, North America, and Europe, beginning in August 2024. NCT DREAM’s “THE DREAM SHOW 3” tour, starting in May, was another smash hit, with tickets vanishing faster than the blink of an eye.

G-Dragon also made his grand return to the MAMA Awards stage in November, performing with BigBang for the first time in nearly a decade, and the fan frenzy was absolutely next level.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any bigger, KISS OF LIFE, the powerhouse girl group, launched their first-ever U.S. tour in November. Tickets sold out so fast that they had to add more dates because when K-pop goes global, there’s no stopping it.

Top K-pop 2024 Disbands

2024 was a tough year for the K-pop world, with more than a few groups calling it quits and leaving fans in shock. First up, MLD Entertainment’s boy group TFN, once dubbed MOMOLAND’s little brother, became one of the first to say goodbye. But they weren’t alone. MIRAE, VROMANCE, and JJCC followed behind, citing everything from contract expiry to individual dreams as the reasons.

But the real shocker was Cherry Bullet, the girl group we were all rooting for. FNC Entertainment dropped the bomb on April 21, announcing the end of the line for the seven-member band. Haeyoon, Jiwon, Remi, and May said goodbye to FNC, while Yuju, Bora, and Chaerin decided to go solo under the same label.

But wait, there’s more. Weki Meki made their grand exit on June 12 with their final track, “CoinciDestiny,” only to disband two months later. Fromis_9 wrapped things up with Pledis Entertainment in November, giving us one last goodbye song in December.

Amid the never-ending drama between HYBE, ADOR, and their former CEO Min Hee Jin, NewJeans made the bold move of officially parting ways with their agency. The girls shocked everyone by holding an emergency press conference to spill the tea. While they promised fans they’d stay united as a group, they also dropped the bombshell that they might have to say goodbye to the “NewJeans” name because of some messy copyright issues. And just like that, their future is uncertain.

Oh, and let’s not forget Cignature who debuted in February 2020 with nine members under C9 Entertainment, quickly making waves with five EPs and seven singles. They even snagged the Blooming Star Award at the 2023 Hanteo Music Awards. But when the member Belle joined SBS’s “Universe Ticket” and landed a spot in the new group Unis, C9 confirmed Belle would promote with Unis for the next two years, while Cignature would continue as a six-member act. However, on December 3, the label shocked fans with the news that Cignature had officially disbanded as of November 30.

Changes in K-pop Culture and Stereotypes

K-pop flipped the script, and fans were all over the changes. First, rap took its moment in the groups with more and more specializing in it, and some, like XG, even doubled down with multiple rappers. Then there was the whole vibe shift in sound. “Unforgiven” channeled spaghetti westerns, while “Eleven” took us on a wild ride with an unexpected scale. And Nxde casually referenced ‘Habanera’ from Carmen. Next, even the arrangements broke molds as “Aespa’s” “Next Level” tossed the traditional verse-chorus–bridge-chorus structure right out the window. But the real shake-up came when Rose dropped “Rosie”. Not just an album, darling, it was her diary of heartache, anger, breakups, and everything that made her 20s feel like a dumpster fire. And the world loved it. In a culture where emotions and dating were usually off-limits, Rose put it all out there, leaving everyone in awe of her raw honesty. She also brought and performed with Bruno Mars at MAMA, a Korean award show, highlighting her star power.

And the bold moves didn’t stop there. NewJeans courageously took on the dark side of the industry, speaking up about mistreatment. Meanwhile, Vcha’s KG straight-up terminated her contract with JYP USA, calling them out for exploitation. K-pop wasn’t just music, it became a change that you simply couldn’t ignore more.

Looking Ahead to K-pop 2025

All in all, 2024 was a hit year for K-pop, with quality reigning over quantity. A few standout tracks truly made their mark, leaving a lasting impact. But with such a solid year behind us, 2025 is promising to be even bigger, packed with fresh sounds and exciting moments.