guide to k-pop

Hello I am Jos, I have been a fan of K-pop for a few years now. In this post, I will explain what K-pop is and groups to check out. K-pop is short for Korean pop music, originating in South Korea. The first ever K-pop group was Seo Taiji and the Boys, active from 1991 to 1997.

In the mid 2000s, fans saw the rise of groups like Big Bang (2006), Shinee (2008) and 2NE1 (2009). In the late 2010s, groups like EXO (2012), BTS (2013), and Blackpink (2016) were gaining international popularity. There are multiple talented boy groups and girl groups that it would take hours to list them all out. For someone who is just getting into the world of K-pop, I would recommend starting with only one group.

Boy groups

Honorable mention: &TEAM

Even though &Team isn't specifically a K-pop group, they are really talented. I sound a bit biased because they are one of my ult groups. They have made two debuts, their Japanese debut in 2022 and their Korean debut in 2025.

  • Number of members: 9
  • Company: YX Labels
  • Song to listen to: We On Fire
  • My favourite song: Hotline

    • EXO

    This group is a third generation group and they have been in the industry since 2012. All the members have solo careers and are brand ambassadors.

  • Number of members: 9 (originally 11)
  • Company: SM Entertainment
  • Song to listen to: Growl
  • My favourite songs: Lotto

    • TOMORROW X TOGETHER

    TXT’s music is very diverse. Also, Yeonjun has made his solo debut. They have a documentary out on Disney+ and the intro is so cool.

  • Number of members: 5
  • Company: BigHit Music
  • Song to listen to: Magic
  • >My favourite song: Deep Down

    • Girl groups to check out

    I-DLE (also known as G-IDLE)

    I-DLE has made their mark on the K-pop industry by being the ones who drive the creative direction of their music. All the members are actively involved in what music they release. Besides group activities, all members have solo careers. Minnie has done a bit of acting in the tv show So Not Worth It.

  • Number of members: 5
  • Company: Cube Entertainment
  • Song to listen to: I DO
  • >My favourite song:Allergy

    • TWICE

    This K-pop group has made themselves stand out from the crowd due to their performances. They are one of the few K-pop girl groups with a large number of members. Most groups have 4 to 7 members.

  • Number of members: 9
  • Company: JYP Entertainment
  • Song to listen to: The Feels
  • My favourite song:ICON

    • After deciding what group you want to get into first, start watching interviews, variety shows, and stages (if you would like to). I know that groups release a ton of content to keep fans invested but it can be overwhelming at times. While you get familiar with K-pop, please remember that it’s okay to step away from it (if you need to). I feel that sometimes we get too caught up with idols and what they do.

    I hope this intro to K-pop post was helpful. Also, I am very sorry for the lack of information for the girl groups section. I'm not too deep into girl groups. I am more of a boy group stan.

    See you in the next post!