K-pop’s global influence reached new heights in 2024, as several artists and groups garnered major attention on year-end charts from prestigious music outlets. Despite the challenges posed by mandatory military service for some, K-pop acts like aespa, ILLIT, BTS’s Jimin and Jungkook, as well as solo artist IU, have proven their resilience and widespread appeal.
Aespa, the powerhouse girl group, had an outstanding year, releasing their first full-length album Armageddon in May. The album’s title tracks, “Supernova” and “Armageddon,” quickly captured the public’s imagination, earning top spots on numerous global charts. Supernova was ranked No. 9 on NME’s 50 Best Songs of 2024, with the outlet praising its “bouncy electro beat” and “stellar hook.” The song also topped Billboard’s 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2024. Aespa’s October release, Whiplash, further solidified their dominance in the industry.
ILLIT, the rookie group that debuted in 2024, made an impressive impact with their breakout track “Magnetic,” which reached No. 61 on the Billboard Global 200 and earned a place on NPR Music’s 124 Best Songs of 2024, the only K-pop track to do so.
NewJeans, another rising K-pop sensation, was included in the New York Times’s Best Songs of 2024 for their track “Supernatural” from their album Supernatural. The group’s “How Sweet” also landed at No. 35 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Songs of 2024.
IU, one of Korea’s most beloved soloists, had a banner year as well. She made history as Korea’s representative for Billboard’s Global No. 1 artist series and was celebrated for her prerelease single “Love Wins All” and her album The Winning, which ranked second on Billboard’s 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2024 and 25 Best K-pop Albums of 2024. IU’s global success was underscored by her largest world tour as a solo artist, solidifying her place as one of Korea’s top musical exports.
BTS members Jimin and Jungkook continued to shine despite their mandatory military service hiatus. Jimin was the only K-pop artist to make Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart with his hit “Who,” which also earned a spot on the Billboard Global 200. His track “MUSE” ranked No. 9 on the Digital Song Sales chart, and “Who” became the most-streamed K-pop song on Spotify in 2024. Jungkook also achieved notable success, ranking No. 80 on the Billboard 200 with his album Golden, while securing a spot on the Billboard Top Artist chart.
With such impressive achievements, 2024 has been a testament to the global dominance of K-pop, showcasing the genre’s continued influence and the extraordinary talent of its artists.
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