BTS
BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys and Beyond the Scene, has put the world under the K-pop spell! They were first K-pop group to perform at the American Music Awards and win a Billboard Music Award. The group also have five Grammy nominations to their name.
They were also the first South Korean act to reach 10 million followers on Twitter. With over 30 millions albums sold, BTS is the best-selling artists out of South Korea. Their massive international popularity has allowed them to sell out stadiums during their world tours.
BTS blend dance-oriented K-pop with hip-hop influences; they compose, produce, and write lyrics for their performances themselves. In 2022, the group announced that they would go on hiatus so that members could serve their mandatory military service. The plan is for members to focus on their solo careers and to reunite in 2025.
EXO
EXO was formed by SM Entertainment in 2011. Their idea was to have a boy band that could be promoted in both South Korea and China; the group would perform in Korean and Mandarin.
The band made their debut in 2012 with 12 members, and they were separated into two subgroups, EXO-M and EXO-K. By 2014, the group has performed as one unit. EXO has ranked in the top five most influential celebrities by Forbes Korea Power Celebrity from 2014 to 2018.
Wanna One
Wanna One was formed by CJ E&M, and it’s the second group on this list that was formed through the reality series Produce 101. Wanna One received many best newcomer awards after their debut; they were chosen as the Best New K-Pop Act of 2017 by Billboard. With their electro-pop tracks and highly-stylized choreography, this boy band quickly became a top act in Korea.
NCT
NCT (short for Neo Culture Technology) is a very popular boy group with a staggering number of members. They have a total of 23 members divided into four sub-units; NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV. Each unit promotes and performs on their own, although the whole group has united to record an album on three occasions.
NCT has been very successful in terms of albums sales. Their 2020 album, Resonance, had over two million sales within two months.
Got7
Got7 is a K-pop boy band formed by JYP Entertainment. It is composed of seven multinational members who come from the US, Thailand, South Korea, and Hong Kong. Debuting at the beginning of 2014 with the mini-album Got It?, the band gained popularity pretty fast.
This was probably thanks to having some cute members. Their performances on stage often incorporate street dancing and various elements of martial arts, so they’re never boring!
