photos : AGENCIES
KATHMANDU
The popularity of K-Pop is on the rise. Plenty of Korean girl groups are becoming popular each day, and have lots of fans all around the world. There are many K-Pop girl groups, but the following top 10 are considered to be the most popular K-Pop girl groups in 2019.
1. BlackPink
Years Active: 2016–present
Albums: BlackPink consists of five singles, two EPs and ten music videos. BlackPink released its first single on CD entitled Square One on August 8, 2016.
Members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, Lisa
BlackPink, also stylized as BLACKPINK, is the highest-charting female K-Pop band formed by YG Entertainment. The four-member group consisting of Jisoo, Rosé, Lisa, and Jennie, debuted in 2016. Their single "Boombayah" became their first number-one hit on Billboard World Digital Songs chart and is the most-viewed debut music video by a Korean act! In 2017, BlackPink made a strong comeback with "As If It’s Your Last” that achieved over 14 million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours!
Production Company: YG Entertainment, Avex
Associated Acts: YG Family
2. Twice
Years Active: 2015–present
Albums: Twicetagram (2017)
Members: Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, Tzuyu
Twice is the first K-Pop girl group that earned Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for both album and CD single in the same year! Formed by JYP Entertainment through the competition reality show SIXTEEN, the girl band debuted in 2015 with their mini-album The Story Begins. There are nine members: Jeongyeon, Nayeon, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, Momo, Sana, and Tzuyu. With wide recognition and popularity in the general public, Twice has been called the new/next "Nation’s Girl Group".
Production Company: JYP Entertainment, Warner Music Japan Associated Acts: JYP Nation
3. Red Velvet
Years Active: 2014–present
Albums: The Red (2015), Perfect Velvet (2017)
Members: Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, Yeri
The group with the most number-one albums on the chart that received numerous awards for music, choreography, and popularity, such as Golden Disc New Artist Award and the Mnet Asian Music Award for Best Female Group in 2017, Red Velvet. Also formed by S.M. Entertainment, the group debuted in 2014 with four members: Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy. (In 2015, a fifth member, Yeri, joined the group). Red Velvet is known for their unique concept, defined by two different images, "Red" and "Velvet". "Red" is their brighter, vivid side, whereas "Velvet" reflects their softer, more elegant concept.
Production Company: SM Entertainment, Avex Trax
Associated Acts: SM Town, SM Rookies
4. Girl's Generation
Years Active: 2007–present
Albums: Girls' Generation (2007), Oh! (2010), The Boys (2011), I Got a Boy (2013), Lion Heart (2015), Holiday Night (2017), Girls' Generation (2011), Girls & Peace (2012), Love & Peace (2013)
Members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, Seohyun
Girl’s Generation, also referred to as SoShi, or SNSD, formed in 2007 by SM Entertainment. The girl band debuted with nine members by performing their first single "Into the New World". But there are only five current members left: Taeyeon, Sunny, Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Yoona. Jessica departed from Girl’s Generation in 2014, and three more members: Tiffany, Sooyoung, and Seohyun decided not to renew their contracts with SM Entertainment in 2017. The musical style of the group is characterized as electro pop and bubblegum pop, though their sound incorporates different genres including hip-hop, RNB, and EDM. With their immense popularity, Girl’s Generation are considered as one of the most sought-out advertisers in South Korea, as the group members have the most influence over consumers.
Questionable conduct
Production Company: SM Entertainment, EMI Japan, Interscope
Associated Acts: SM Town, Girls' Generation-TTS
5. GFriend
Years Active: 2015–present
Albums: LOL (2016)
Members: Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB, Umji
Also known as Girlfriend, GFRIEND is a six-member girl group formed by Source Music in 2015. The K-Pop group consists of Sowon, Eunha, Yuju, Yerin, SinB, and Umji. Despite coming from a small company, the band won numerous 2015 female rookie awards and took first place on many music shows in 2016. It also should be noted that the pre-orders for their fourth album titled The Awakening with the title track "Fingertip" exceeded 100,000 units!
Production Company: Source Music, King Records
6. Mamamoo
Years Active: 2014–present
Albums: Melting (2016)
Members: Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein, Hwasa
Mamamoo is well known for their retro, jazz, and R&B concepts and vocal performances. They formed in 2014 with four members: Solar, Moonbyuk, Wheein, and Hwasa. The group debuted with their retro-inspired song with a funk rhythm, titled "Mr. Ambiguous" (to their first mini-album Hello) and was considered one of the best debuts of 2014. The next year they solidified their position in the K-Pop world with the album Pink Funky with the title song "Um Oh Ah Yeh". Known particularly for their funky pop songs, Mamamoo surprises the audience with a powerful pop ballad "Paint Me" (2017) that emphasizes the group’s soulful side.
Production Company: RBW
Associated Acts: Esn
7. EXID
Years Active: 2012–present
Albums: Street (2016)
Members: Solji, LE, Hani, Hyelin, Jeonghwa
EXID (short for "Exceed in Dreaming"), is a girl group under AB Entertainment with five talented members: LE, Soliji, Hani, Hyerin, and Jeonghwa. The band made their debut in 2012 with the single "Holla" but it was not until 2014, that the group gained popularity with the hugely successful single "Up & Down". At the beginning of 2017, EXID released the second Chinese single "Up & Down" and removed the original one from their YT channel.
Production Company: Banana Culture Entertainment, AB Entertainment
Associated Acts: C-Clown, Shinsadong Tiger, Bestie
8. F(x)
Years Active: 2009–present
Albums: Pinocchio (2011), Pink Tape (2013), Red Light (2014), 4 Walls (2015)
Members: Victoria, Amber, Luna, Krystal
One of the few internationally recognized k-pop groups, this four-member girl group under SM Entertainment consists of four members: Victoria, Amber, Luna, and Krystal. F(x) is considered to be a multinational group since it's composed of members from South Korea, China, and the US. The band makes dance-oriented pop music and wins favorable responses in terms of their experimental concepts presented through every song they have released.
Production Company: S.M. Entertainment, Avex Trax
Associated Acts: SM Town
9. Girl's Day
Years Active: 2010–present
Albums: Summer Party (2014), Girl's Day Party in Zepp (2012), Winter Party (2014), Autumn Party (2015)
Members: Sojin, Yura, Minah, Hyeri
Girl’s Day formed in 2010 with five members but currently consists of only four: Sojin, Yura, Minah and Hyeri. In 2017, Dream Tea Entertainment, under which the gorgeous girl group was formed, revealed that Girl’s Day was set to comeback after almost a two-year break during which its members focused on their solo activities. On the day of their comeback, the music video for I’ll Be Yours was released and hit more than 2 million views in just 24 hours (on 1theK’s YouTube channel)!
Production Company: Dream Tea Entertainment (South Korea), Kiss Entertainment (Japan)
10. Apink
Years Active: 2011–present
Albums: Une Année (2012), Pink Memory (2015), Pink Revolution (2016), Pink Season (2015), Pink Doll (2016), Pink Stories (2017)
Members: Park Cho-rong, Yoon Bo-mi, Jung Eun-ji, Son Na-eun, Kim Nam-joo, Oh Ha-young
Apink is one of the most popular South Korean groups composed of amazingly talented and beautiful members. Formed by Plan A Entertainment, it’s a six-member group: Chorong, Bomi, Eunji, Naeun, Namjoo, Hayoung (the seventh member, Yookyung, left the group in 2013 to focus on her studies). Apink achieved great success and recognition not only in Asia – the group made its way to Japan (they released their Japanese album, Pink season), Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Taiwan and also toured North America (they became the first K-Pop girl group to do it since 2012).
As k pop is creating a big fandom in the hearts of people. A few high schoolers, who have finished their exams and are eagerly waiting for their results answered a few question about what made them get into the emerging fandom.
1. Which is your favorite kpop girl band?
2. What attracted you in liking the band?
1. Anuska Gurung
My favorite girl band is BlackPink. I am an official blink.
The way they do everything in a very cute and funny way. Actually everything they do makes me fall in love with them.
2. Smriti Shrestha
I don’t listen to kpop much but I really like Girls Generation’s music.
It was random but amazing recommendation by YouTube I must say the music, the music of girls generation.
3. Surena Maharjan
I am not an official fan but Mamamoo really attracted me.
Their songs are really entertaining and soothing.
4. Smita Sapkota
I am a once. Twice got me into kpop.
The cute concept they show. Especially the way they simplify things is what I like about them.
5. Pasang Magar
I am ReVeluvs. Red Velvet is a girl crush to me.
The dark and good side they show with each album is what I like about them. They really know how to grab the viewers' attention.
6. Sanskriti Khadgi
I am MeU. I really am a huge fan of F(x).
The boldness and the way they portray every performance in an energetic way is what I really like about them.
7. Anusa Adhikari
I love Girl’s Day.
I love the way they kill off every concept they take.
8. Kriti Maharjan
I love EXID.
EXID’s comeback music made me look up to them.
