From globally focused crossover hits to modern-classical compositions, which of these 11 standout releases gets your vote?
Stray Kids
JYP Entertainment
Every week, the Korean music scene delivers outstanding songs across various genres and styles, and the past week was no exception, with a heavy-hitting selection of hits with global-pop potential, emotionally stirring compositions, and refreshingly honest storytelling.
Marking major crossover moments in their careers, Stray Kids and PENTAGON‘s KINO teamed up, respectively, with fellow chart-toppers like Charlie Puth and Lay Bankz to bring two unforgettable and unexpected musical fusions that can transcend boundaries and new audiences. Meanwhile, solo stars like BAEKHO, Kim Jae Hwan and D.O of EXO are embarking on exciting sonic transformations to showcase new facets of their musical identities in this fast-paced industry. Alongside rising girl groups like ARTMS and tripleS, which set their sights on connecting international audiences, there’s also the solo sensation Lim Young Woong, who brings a modern take on classical and gospel music for the world to enjoy.
As the K-pop industry moves at a rapid pace, it’s important to pause and appreciate the innovation and diversity it offers across its different acts. Take a moment to explore these 11 new songs that embody the spirit of the scene and deserve a permanent spot on your playlist. Then cast your vote in our poll for the top of K-pop for the past week.
Of course, we absolutely love RM‘s future hit “Come back to me” — both the six-and-a-half-minute original and the radio edit. The fact that Billboard readers declared it last week’s best new release and an undeniably cool new pop song of the week tells us that music fans truly know (and love) the track. So listen through these 11 other K-pop releases for your radar now and vote below.
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Stray Kids, “Lose My Breath” feat. Charlie Puth
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Stray Kids’ first original English single “Lose My Breath” positions the four-time Billboard 200 chart-toppers for their biggest crossover moment yet. A departure from the in-your-face impact of recent singles like “LALALALA” and “S-Class,” the breezy track sees the Kids teaming up with Charlie Puth to display the super-pop powers of two artists so heavily involved in their music. SKZ’s main producing members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han wrote and composed the track alongside Puth, who is the song’s co-producer alongside Hot 100 Producers mainstay Johnny Goldstein.
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ARTMS, “Air”
Consisting of former LOONA members JinSoul, Haseul, Kim Lip, Heejin and Choerry, the newly formed ARTMS project has allowed the beloved K-pop stars to continue releasing music as soloists and via this new quintet. After LOONA’s original creative director Jaden Jeong produced new songs “Birth,” “Flower Rhythm” and “Candy Crush,” the latest shape-shifting pop cut “Air” is the fourth and final song to be released ahead of ARTMS’ debut album together Dall, out on May 31.
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Yook Sungjae, “Be Somebody”
In his first musical move since departing his longtime label home of Cube Entertainment, Yook Sungjae reminds of his poignant power with vocal delivery and storytelling in “Be Somebody.” The new single unveils a vulnerability in the actor-singer, with Sungjae’s introspective lyrics speaking to a universal journey: “”All of my life I’ve been waging this war, trying to be somebody… / I won’t go back to who I was before because you make me be somebody.” With this first single, Sungjae’s new start leaves the huge promise in sharing stories fans previously weren’t previously privy.
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Doh Kyung Soo (D.O), “Mars”
Image Credit: Courtesy Billboard Korea Embracing a transformative new chapter in his career by going by his full name professionally and releasing his first new music since establishing a one-man record label SooSoo Entertainment, Doh Kyung Soo — also known as D.O of EXO — invites fans into his world of effortless melodies and introspective lyricism. The easy-listening new track “Mars” has the markings of some of D.O’s best solo work like “I Do” from 2023, but has a newfound lightness heard throughout his new Blossom EP.
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KINO, “Broke My Heart” feat. Lay Bankz
As Lay Bankz spends her third week at No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, KINO couldn’t have planned a better time to release his new collab with the MC. The lead single off his debut solo record If this is love, I want a refund, the short-and-sweet “Broke My Heart” lets the two effortlessly and charismatically navigate heartbreak over bouncy, easy-listening production. It all indicates a promising start for the PENTAGON member who releases the track under his newly established agency, NAKED.
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HYUNJUN, “Backseat”
Originally gaining fame as a member of THE BOYZ, today HYUNJUN has established himself as an actor and singer with his lush new release “Backseat” dropping in both Korean and English, a constant throughout his unexpected R&B departure for solo music that’s included other globally focused tracks like “Let Me Down” and “VO!D.” Infusing this new track with the same undeniable allure that helped him resonate with audiences early in his K-pop idol career, “Backseat” further affirms his status as a rising star on the global stage.
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tripleS, “Girls Never Die”
tripleS is an incredibly ambitious girl group where they’ve grown into 24 total members and broken into different splinter groups for their releases since kicking off the project in 2022. For tripleS’ full-length album, ASSEMBLE24, everyone was involved. Lead single “Girls Never Die” not only boasts a must-see live performance stage with all 24 stars but tripleS ingeniously splits the song and music video, ensuring that each member gets the moment to shine in her own right.
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BAEKHO & BigOne, “Love or Die”
Former NU’EST member BAEKHO showed off his emo-rock prowess by releasing Love or Die, a collaborative EP with indie rap-rock sensation BigOne. The title track not only lets BAEKHO and BigOne seamlessly infuse their sections with each of their distinctive flair, but undergoes a metamorphosis with both EDM and unplugged renditions. Released under the esteemed K-pop producer label Prismfilter Music Group, the refreshing handling of a new single allows listeners to experience the track in different dimensions and further highlights the collaborative synergy between the pair.
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BM, “Nectar” feat. Jay Park
Image Credit: Pierre Suu/GI Realizing a dream collaboration manifested years ago, BM lets his wild side out with “Nectar” alongside Jay Park. Over the light Afrobeat-inspired production, both rappers are audibly having fun on the sexy record. Depending on your standards, it’s almost NSFW with thinly veiled metaphors (“Take you down, down, make it spread wide/ Give me one taste of your nectar”) but as the KARD member has joked in the past, he’s in the business of “adult K-pop.”
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Kim Jae Hwan, “Amaid (Prod. Dynamicduo, Padi)”
While his J.A.M (Journey Above Music) album was named one of Billboard‘s best K-pop releases of last year, Kim Jae Hwan continues to show musical excellence and versatility with his first EP this year. The former Wanna One star’s latest collection I Adore is centered around the new single “Amaid,” produced by Korea’s hip-hop legends Dynamicduo and experimental hitmaker Padi, letting KJH wade into uncharted territory with a shape-shifting gem that allows his vocals to groove and dance with an unprecedented fluidity.
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Lim Young Woong, “Warmth”
With two gorgeous new songs, Korea’s sensational powerhouse Lim Young Woong proves once again he’s a musical force to be reckoned with thanks to “Warmth” and “Home.” While both tracks showcase his unparalleled vocal prowess, the epic, gospel-tinged “Warmth” is emerging as the standout hit with a short film music video featuring actors Ahn Eun-jin and Hyun Bong-sik for an added layer of depth and emotional impact. LYW’s involvement in the lyrics and composition of “Warmth” adds an additional personal touch to the track to allow for more authentic storytelling to shine.