Top 10 Korean Boy Groups Fueling Global K-pop Craze

K-pop has always been a pioneering entertainment industry with widespread popularity globally, starting from its early days in the early 90s. The term 'K-pop idol' emerged in 1992 when the boy group Seo Taiji & Boys made their debut. Consisting of 3 members, the group delved into American Pop music, especially hiphop, using Korean lyrics, truly creating a sensation at that time.

Seo Taiji & Boys sparked a trend, laying the foundation for the vibrant development of the Korean entertainment music scene today. Their debut single, 'I Know,' broke records on Korean charts, and the success of this song laid the groundwork for the group's diverse music experiments, from metal to gangster-rap... quite unconventional for the Korean music scene back then. The group's music was rebellious and powerful, completely different from the Korean music of that time. Their debut song, 'Nan Arayo,' was officially released on April 11, 1992, through an MBC talent search program. Although not highly rated by judges, the song quickly became a music phenomenon, dominating the charts for 17 weeks and ushering in a new era for Korean music. Subsequent songs by Seo Taiji and Boys became influential music products that had a significant impact on the lives of young people and initiated the pop music movement in the 'land of kimchi.'

When talking about the Hallyu wave, one cannot overlook the iconic boy group - Super Junior, fondly known by fans as 'Suju.' Super Junior propelled the K-pop wave worldwide with their hit song 'Sorry, Sorry' released in 2009. The group has released and participated in the release of over 20 albums, achieving varying levels of success as the top-selling artist in terms of album sales in South Korea for 3 consecutive years.

Moreover, Super Junior showcased their fame by being the number 1 Korean boy group in the Philippines, earning three 'Gold Record' certifications for the albums 'Sorry, Sorry,' 'Bonamana,' and 'Mr. Simple.' The global fanbase was captivated and amazed by Super Junior's world tour, 'The World Tour, Super Show 5,' spanning Seoul, China, Japan, South America, and finally Europe over the course of a year. Notably, Super Junior became the first Korean male artist to perform nearly 100 concert shows worldwide - a dream-worthy achievement admired by many idol groups today.

As of now, SHINHWA is recognized as the longest-standing boy band in K-pop, often considered part of the 'first generation' alongside H.O.T., S.E.S., g.o.d, Fin.K.L, among others. With over two decades together, the men of SHINHWA have maintained their legendary status and remain idols to many fans. Through more than 20 years of dedicated activity and relentless efforts, Shinhwa has truly propelled the Hallyu wave and Korean music globally with timeless hits like T.O.P (1999), I Pray 4 U (2002), Sniper (2015)...

In 1999, their stroke of luck came with their second album T.O.P featuring the title track becoming a massive hit, causing a sensation across South Korea. T.O.P topped music charts and remains a popular song to this day. This album also helped SHINHWA emerge from the shadow of their senior group H.O.T. Following T.O.P, every song released by SHINHWA became a hit. Two years later, their third and fourth albums solidified SHINHWA as one of the top stars in K-pop. Fans began to cherish the group's songs such as Only One, First Love, Wild Eyes, Hey! Come On… Wild Eyes, with choreography that is still regarded as one of the iconic dances in K-pop.

Before their disbandment, DBSK, also formally known as TVXQ, stood as one of the idol groups epitomizing K-pop's international success. The group paved the way for the successful infiltration of K-pop into the Japanese music market. Not only that, DBSK also set records for having the largest official fan club in the world and the record for the largest-scale tour in Japan. Formed and active with 5 members, however, in July 2009, legal issues between 3 members and the management company occurred, leading to the group halting all activities. After a hiatus of 2 years and 3 months, TVXQ made a comeback with a lineup of 2 members, Yunho and Changmin, releasing the 5th album 'Keep Your Head Down,' which later topped the Gaon Chart 2 weeks after its release.

Surpassing other renowned names like Super Junior, BIG BANG,... TVXQ received the award for the 'Most Popular Asian Artist' with 48% of the votes at the 2009 Channel V Music Video Awards in Thailand. Moreover, in Japan, they earned a platinum certification for the album 'The Secret Code' and two gold certifications for the tours 'T' and 'Heart, Mind and Soul.' In early 2010, the group released the album 'Best Selection 2010' in Japan, achieving another new record with over 510,000 copies sold within a month and simultaneously securing 2 platinum awards. In 2012, after their 36th single, 'Catch Me -If you wanna-,' TVXQ became the first foreign artist to have 12 singles top the Oricon chart and also the first foreign artist to sell over 200,000 copies in the history of J-pop, breaking Elton John's record in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Among the most influential phenomena in the K-pop and global music market, BIG BANG has truly demonstrated their talent and allure as both music producers and composers of their own songs. Even in their solo activities, each member has achieved significant success. The mini-album also earned BIG BANG numerous awards at the end of 2007, including the 'Best Male Group' and 'Song of the Year' at the 2007 MNET KM Music Festival. In 2008, BIG BANG even took home the prestigious 'Daesang' award at the 17th Seoul Music Awards.

Currently, BIG BANG is the only K-pop artist to organize two grand and spectacular tours in North America. In 2015 alone, they set a new record on the Billboard 'World Digital Songs' chart, a record previously held only by PSY. Big Bang won the 'Best Worldwide Act' award at the 2011 MTV EMAs and triumphed on the Billboard 2014 'Fan Army Face-Off' stage.

Another SM Entertainment boy group on this list, SHINee is known for its title as the 'group of records and awards.' Mainly active in Japan, the group officially debuted there in 2011 and has continuously achieved success, spreading the name of the South Korean entertainment industry worldwide. On December 26, 2010, the SHINee boys held their first solo concert, 'SHINee World,' in Tokyo, Japan, with 24,000 attendees. In 2014, the group organized its third tour in Japan, attracting over 250,000 fans. Notably, SHINee became one of the first boy groups to tour Tokyo Dome, Japan's iconic music venue, a feat admired by many other groups.

SHINee embarked on their fourth Japan tour in the first half of 2016: SHINee World 2016 `~DxDxDx~. The tour covered multiple cities in Japan, and the group successfully stepped into Tokyo Dome for the second consecutive time, as well as making their debut at Kyocera Dome. This achievement highlighted SHINee's strong presence and popularity in Japan. The tour significantly contributed to the group's revenue, making SHINee the highest-grossing SM artist in the first half of 2016.

As one of the most popular boy bands today, EXO is not only adored domestically but also holds significant fame and attraction in the international music scene. EXO rose to prominence with their debut album 'XOXO' in 2013, featuring the breakthrough track 'Growl' with its lively melody and powerful choreography. This achievement secured the group's first awards, including 'Album of the Year' at both the 15th Mnet Asian Music Awards and the 28th Golden Disk Awards. The album also became the best-selling album in South Korea for 2013, surpassing one million copies sold within 12 years, marking a remarkable milestone. Following this success, the group embarked on 'The EXO'luXion' tour, starting in North America and visiting major cities such as Dallas, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.

EXO has consistently been listed in Forbes' ranking of the most powerful celebrities in South Korea from 2014 to 2018, earning them the title of the 'K-pop Kings.' Recently, EXO made a comeback with the music video for 'Don't Fight The Feeling.' The SM Entertainment boy group secured the runner-up position in the charts, engaging in fierce competition with BTS. Beyond their musical endeavors, group members have signed advertising contracts with brands like Nature Republic and Samsung. Additionally, they actively participate in charitable activities, including Smile For U, an ongoing project by SM Entertainment and UNICEF since 2015.

Beast, now known as Highlight, gained fame with each member having individual experiences before joining and becoming part of Beast. Regarded as a group of 'recycled materials,' Beast faced challenges on their musical journey. However, with their effort and talent, Beast left both Korean and international fans astonished. The group received the 'Gold Disk' awards from Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand during the '2010 Summer CUBE Stars Party' in Seoul, South Korea. They also won the Artist of the Year (Daesang) at the Melon Music Awards and Album of the Year for the 'Fiction and Fact' album at the Gaon Chart Awards in the second quarter of 2011. The song 'Fiction' won the Daesang for 'Song of the Year' at the KBS Music Festival 2011.

In 2012, Beast organized an international tour called 'Beautiful Show' in 17 cities across 12 different countries in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Additionally, Beast left their mark with the song 'Good Luck,' which topped the Billboard charts in 2014, marking a period of fame for the group.

Known as one of the male groups with the most outstanding dance performances in the Hallyu wave, INFINITE consistently delivers captivating shows. Focusing not only on singing but also on professional dance, the group has built a significant reputation and left a lasting impression on fans. Within just two years of their debut, INFINITE held their first concert with around 8,000 enthusiastic fans. In 2012, the group released their third mini-album, and Billboard selected 'The Chaser' as the top K-pop song of the year. In 2013, INFINITE embarked on a world tour with 22 performances across Asia, North America, Europe, and Dubai. In 2015, INFINITE organized their second World Tour, truly elevating their name and the Kpop wave worldwide.

In 2016, INFINITE concluded the World Tour INFINITE Effect with an encore concert named INFINITE Effect Advance at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium in Seoul on February 20 and 21. INFINITE released their first Japanese best album, 'Best of Infinite,' on August 31. DNA/Paradise secured the top position on the Japanese Recochoku Daily Album Chart. 'Infinite Only,' the sixth single album from INFINITE, released on September 19, 2016, by Woollim Entertainment, claimed the first and 14th spots on Gaon Chart and Oricon, with sales of 135,738 copies in Korea and Japan.

BTS, formed by Big Hit Entertainment in 2010 and debuted in 2013, comprises members who are songwriters and actively involved in producing most of their music. The group officially debuted on June 13, 2013, with the debut single album '2 Cool 4 Skool.' BTS is the first and only non-English-speaking Asian artist honored as the Global Recording Artist of 2020 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and ranked 45th on Billboard's Top Touring Artists of the 2010s.

In 2017, BTS expanded into the international music market, pioneering the introduction of the K-pop wave to the U.S. market and breaking numerous revenue records. The group became the first Korean act certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the single 'Mic Drop' and the first Korean artist to top the Billboard 200 with the studio album 'Love Yourself: Tear' (2018). BTS also became the fastest group since The Beatles to achieve five chart-topping albums in less than three years. 'Love Yourself: Answer' is the first Korean album certified Platinum by the RIAA. In 2020, BTS became the first Korean artist to achieve number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200 with the Grammy-nominated single 'Dynamite,' marking the first time in chart history that a group debuted three songs at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.