If you know me personally and know about my music listening habits or if you have been following this blog for a year or so, you have probably noticed that I have become increasingly immersed in the world of K-Pop. This appreciation for K-Pop may not be as new as it seems. I got into the genre in high school due to a couple of Korean Friends, and sort of followed the genre until I was about 20. I can specifically remember being introduced to artists like BIG BANG and 4minute back then, then continuing to follow artists like 2NE1 and Hyuna. At some point, I kind of stopped paying attention to K-Pop, not really paying attention to the genre until I got really into BlackPink a couple of years ago. BlackPink was my reintroduction to the K-Pop world, and I have become a bigger and bigger fan of K-Pop over the last couple of years. I would not say I am an expert in K-Pop now, but I probably know a lot more about it than most of the people in my demographic at this point. If you are a big music fan in general, it is impossible to deny the rise of K-Pop over the last few years. K-Pop has become a driving force in music, with so many of its artists becoming among the biggest in the world. Just in 2023, we had BlackPink headline Coachella, and also had TXT and NewJeans perform as featured artists at Lollapalooza. In 2023, we even had two K-Pop songs reach number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100(both of which actually being solo tracks from two members of BTS, Jung Kook and Jimin). With all of that being said, I wanted to make a little list of my favorite K-Pop songs to come out in 2023(you will notice there are a couple of artists that I particularly enjoy because they are on this list multiple times). Please let me know in the comments which of these tracks you also enjoy, and also please comment the names or more K-Pop songs and artists I should check out(because I want to learn so much more about the genre)!

UNFORGIVEN – LE SSERAFIM FEAT. NILE RODGERS

Le Sserafim is known as a group that does things differently in comparison to their peers and is willing to go in directions most people would not expect a K-Pop artist to go. When I saw Le Sserafim had a song that features Funk legend Nile Rodgers on it, I immediately got excited. ‘UNFORGIVEN’ has a groovy and gritty sound that is classic and fresh at the same time. The dirty and funky bassline(provided by Nile Rodgers) that drives the melody makes it feel old-school, but the glitchiness and intensity of the beat make ‘UNFORGIVEN’ feel modern. The best thing about this song is no doubt the vocal performances, though. I love how each member of Le Sserafim provides something distinctively different to this track, making each of them stand out and making ‘UNFORGIVEN’ really pop. ‘UNFORGIVEN’ is a great song to introduce people to Le Sserafim and to K-Pop in general because of how unique a sound it has.

MOONLIGHT SUNRISE – TWICE

No list of great K-Pop songs would be complete without TWICE. They have been the most consistent superstar group in K-Pop for the last several years, coming out with new hits constantly. 2023 was no different, as near the beginning of the year they released a great EP called Ready To Be. ‘Moonlight Sunrise’ is the lead single from that EP. This is a breezy and charming Pop track with a very nice groove. The vocals on ‘Moonlight Sunrise’ are awesome, with every member of TWICE contributing to ‘Moonlight Sunrise’ in a memorable way. TWICE has been proving for a long time that they are essential when it comes to the K-Pop genre, and they continued that sentiment in 2023 with ‘Moonlight Sunrise.’

QUEENCARD – (G)I-DLE

(G)I-DLE is a group you will see multiple times on this list. In fact, expect to see me write about them frequently in the future, as they have quickly become one of my favorite groups in music overall. ‘Queencard’ was my first exposure to (G)I-DLE back when it went viral on TikTok last May, and I am so glad this was the song that exposed me to this group. ‘Queencard’ has this legendary Girl-Boss energy to it that I think is so great. (G)I-DLE is a group that embodies empowerment and positive energy, and this track expresses that tenfold. ‘Queencard’ is a fun, tongue-in-cheek Pop banger with a raucous energy that I love. It is the kind of song to play when you are trying to inject energy into a function or into yourself because of how entertaining its melody and vocals are. ‘Queencard’ was the start of a huge year for (G)I-DLE, as 2023 saw them assert themselves as driving forces in K-Pop right now.

OMG – NEWJEANS

NewJeans burst onto the scene late in 2022 when their songs ‘Attention’ and ‘Cookie’ came out, and they truly took the world by storm when they released ‘OMG’ at the beginning of 2023. This song quickly went viral on TikTok and became one of the bigger songs in the world in the first few months of 2023, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is easy to see why ‘OMG’ became so popular, as it sounds so modern, light, and fresh. The sparkling melody that ‘OMG’ has is so intoxicating, and the complex beat(which fuses UK Garage music and Trap) makes the song stand out. The vocals on ‘OMG’ are infectious as well; the hook is an absolute earworm, and it will be stuck in my head for the next hour just because I am thinking about it. ‘OMG’ is easily one of the defining K-Pop tracks of 2023, and it makes me think that NewJeans is an artist who is going to be making big moves for a long time.

CUPID – FIFTY FIFTY

Fifty Fifty was a short-lived K-Pop group that made an extraordinary impact in their short time together. Due to the alleged mistreatment of its members, the ladies of Fifty Fifty are in a legal dispute with their record label, and the group will probably never make music again. They sure came and left with a bang, though, as their song ‘Cupid’ became one of the biggest songs on TikTok at the beginning of the year, leading to it being one of the biggest K-Pop tracks of 2023 as a whole. This is a sweet Pop track that is so catchy and fun to sing along to; it is not tough to see why ‘Cupid’ became so popular. Everything about ‘Cupid’ is bright and lovely; it has the kind of addicting energy that will get stuck in your head for hours when you hear it. Fifty Fifty may have come and gone pretty quickly, but they sure made a lasting impact with the song ‘Cupid.’

SHOOTING STAR – XG

If you have been paying attention to my blog throughout 2023, XG is a name you should recognize because of how many times I wrote about them. They are a rising all-Japanese K-Pop group that makes music pretty much exclusively in English(at least so far). As strange as this sounds, it works so perfectly. ‘SHOOTING STAR’ is a great example of the massive talent this group has. ‘Shooting Star’ has a retro Hip Hop sound that is reminiscent of artists like TLC or Destiny’s Child. As appealing and cool as the instrumental for this track is, the best thing about it is the vocal performances. All of the members have distinct and interesting vocal styles that shine through on this song and make it pop. I love all of the textures the different vocal styles on this track provide. ‘SHOOTING STAR’ was an excellent introduction to XG for me and it immediately hooked me on their music and aesthetic.

HAEGEUM – AGUST D

If you read the list of my top songs from the first half of 2023, you will recognize ‘Haegeum.’ Like I said in that write-up, I enjoyed this song so much that I had to include it on both lists. ‘Haegeum’ is not a song that is similar to anything else on this list, and its sound sticks out like a sore thumb. This is a hard-hitting and intense Trap song that is not for the faint of heart. It has a foreboding and harsh energy to it that makes me think of Trap artists like Young Nudy or Moneybagg Yo. Agust D’s(Suga of BTS, if you were not aware) vocal performance on this track is ferocious and intricate, pairing so nicely with the harsh energy that the instrumental has. ‘Haegeum’ is an awesome Trap track that shows how wide-ranging K-Pop can be and proves that Agust D is one of the better rappers of today regardless of where he is from and what he is known for.

FLOWER – JISOO

2023 finally gave up a solo project from BlackPink’s Jisoo. She is the last member of the group to make solo music, and she certainly proved that it was well worth the wait with her single ‘Flower.’ This is a delicate Pop track with a complex yet calming sound. The instrumental for this track has a hypnotic element to it which makes it so addicting. As nice as the instrumental is, Jisoo’s vocal performance on ‘Flower’ is what really makes it a great track. Her rich tone gives this song a sense of poise and power which makes it captivating. I also want to shout out the music video for ‘Flower,’ as its beautiful and epic feeling goes so well with the powerful feeling the song has. ‘Flower’ was a great solo debut from Jisoo, and it makes me very excited to see more solo music from her in the future.

LIKE CRAZY – JIMIN

There are a couple of tracks on this list that I feel non-K-Pop fans(and non-chronically online TikTok users) are most likely to have heard, and ‘Like Crazy’ is one of those songs. ‘Like Crazy’ is actually the first song by a South Korean solo artist to debut on top of the Billboard Hot 100, which is an incredible accomplishment for Jimin. ‘Like Crazy’ has a modern New Wave sound that fits super well into the Pop landscape of 2023. This track has the kind of retro-yet-modern Synth-Pop sound that reminds me of artists like Dua Lipa and The Weeknd. Unsurprisingly, the thing about ‘Like Crazy’ that makes it great is Jimin’s vocals. He is known as a wide-ranging and excellent vocalist, and he exhibits that on ‘Like Crazy.’ ‘Like Crazy’ is a track that shows Jimin can be as successful a solo artist as he wants to be should BTS ever retire.

SUPER SHY – NEWJEANS

‘Super Shy’ is the second NewJeans entry on this list, as it was the group’s second song of 2023 to go viral. Like ‘OMG,’ this track took TikTok by storm, becoming one of the bigger songs on the app at the beginning of the summer. This song has an upbeat sound that is extremely entertaining and will get anyone moving their feet when it comes on. Everything about this track is so fun. The song has a bright and vibrant melody that goes perfectly with the fast retro Dance music beat. All of the vocal performances match the energy of the instrumental perfectly and add to the sweet overall feeling of the song. Like ‘OMG,’ ‘Super Shy’ was a hit for NewJeans, and it solidified them as one of the most important rising artists in K-Pop music.

DO NOT TOUCH – MISAMO

After many years of only making music as a full group, last year TWICE decided to let their members branch out and start making solo music, starting with Nayeon’s 2022 project IM NAYEON. MISAMO is the first sub-unit from TWICE to release music, consisting of TWICE’s three Japanese members Momo, Sana, and Mina. ‘Do Not Touch’ was the group’s third single from their EP Masterpiece, and in my opinion, it is the most impactful and hard-hitting song of the project. This is a Pop-Trap banger where each of the members of MISAMO demonstrates their individual vocal abilities in ways that make this song so zestful. My favorite thing about ‘Do Not Touch’ is the obvious chemistry between MISAMO’s members and how their voices bounce off of each other so nicely. ‘Do Not Touch’ is an awesome Pop Track that shows the undeniable link between MISAMO’s members, and I hope we get more music from them in the future.

COOL WITH YOU – NEWJEANS

I could not make this list without including ‘Cool With You,’ one of the tracks of NewJeans’ excellent EP GET UP. This track was not nearly as popular as ‘OMG’ or ‘Super Shy,’ but I would argue that it is better than both of those two tracks(which is saying a lot). There is something about this song that almost feels magical. The melody for ‘Cool With You’ has such an ethereal feeling, and the UK Garage-style beat adds to that feeling. ‘Cool With You’ has my favorite vocals from any NewJeans track so far; I particularly love the chorus, as it feels so floaty and mystical. ‘Cool With You’ is a super interesting and awesome track that shows how talented and diverse NewJeans can be.

DO IT LIKE THAT – TOMORROW X TOGETHER FEAT. JONAS BROTHERS

As I mentioned in the introduction paragraph, Tomorrow X Together, or TXT, had a massive 2023. Not only did they headline Lollapalooza in Chicago(one of America’s biggest music festivals) in 2023, but they also released their hit album, The Name Chapter: Freefall, back in October. ‘Do It Like That,’ which features the Jonas Brothers of all people, was the lead single from this album. ‘Do It Like That’ is a super catchy Pop-Rock track that has an attractive sound that will make anyone feel good when it comes on. Although the instrumental does feel more like something one would expect the Jonas Brothers to make rather than TXT necessarily, the vocals from the TXT members are prominent and help this song click. ‘Do It Like That’ is an entertaining and groovy Pop-Rock track that shows how eclectic TXT can be with their music.

SEVEN – JUNG KOOK FEAT. LATTO

Similar to ‘Like Crazy,’ ‘Seven’ is one of the songs from this list I would most expect non-K-Pop fans to know, as it went number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It is not difficult to see why this song became so insanely popular, as it is just straight-up so good. ‘Seven’ is an upbeat and lively summer Pop anthem that anyone can jam out to. I like the tropical feeling of the instrumental, as it makes me think of driving around on a summer night with some friends, which is a great feeling. The vocals from Junk Kook and Latto on this track are excellent. Jung Kook shows his range as a singer, while Latto’s harsher tone gives the track texture. ‘Seven’ was a massive hit that proved, Jung Kook, like ‘Jimin,’ can be just as successful without BTS as he is with them.

FAST FORWARD – JEON SOMI

Jeon Somi is the only K-Pop solo artist in this list who is not a member of another major K-Pop group. Unlike the other solo artists here, she was able to cultivate her following on her own, instead of inheriting fans from the overarching group she was a part of(this definitely shows how talented and appealing she is compared to some of her peers). ‘Fast Forward’ was the lead single off of her 2023 EP ‘Fast Forward.’ This song has the energy of the Electro-Pop music that became big in the early 2010s. The first artists I thought of when I first heard this one are Lady Gaga and Charli XCX. This song has a bit of a darker and more mature feeling to it that makes it stick out. ‘Fast Forward’ has a super energetic sound that would be perfect to play during any outside-the-box fashion show. With ‘Fast Forward,’ Jeon Somi cemented herself as one of the most important solo artists in K-Pop today.

CLOSER – JIHYO

Not long after MISAMO became the first sub-unit of TWICE to release music, Jihyo became the second member of the group to release solo music. Although ‘Closer’ is not the lead single from her debut EP ZONE, it is definitely the song that hit me the most. This is a song that shows Jihyo’s range as an artist, as it has a sound I would not expect from a K-Pop artist. ‘Closer’ has a beat that resembles Reggaeton music; I could see an artist like Karol G or Becky G using this instrumental. Jihyo sounds very natural in this song, though, riding the instrumental smoothly and proving there is no limit to the kind of music she can make. I hope Jihyo releases more solo music soon, and I hope she continues to expand her horizons as she did on ‘Closer.’ 

BLUE – V

Like so many other members of BTS did in 2023, V released his own solo EP called Layover in September. This is probably the most interesting and unordinary project by any K-Pop artist released in 2023; in fact, it is one of the most unique projects I heard in 2023, period. According to Spotify, ‘Blue’ is the least popular song from Layover, but it is the one that resonated with me the most. This song has a Jazzy R&B/Hip Hop sound that feels classic yet new; it reminds me of the kind of music Mac Miller was making at the end of his career, which is some of my favorite music to come out in the last few years. V’s sultry, deep tone fits this instrumental so nicely, giving the song a cozy feeling that I thoroughly enjoy. I hope I get to hear more music from V soon because he proved he can be a special solo artist with ‘Blue.’

FLIP IT- (G)I-DLE

Seeing as  (G)I-DLE has quickly become my favorite K-Pop group, it is unsurprising that I have multiple songs from them on this list. After dominating the first half of 2023 with their EP I feel,  (G)I-DLE came back in the second half of 2023 with an all-English EP called HEAT. Now, in my opinion, every song from this EP is great, but one of the most impactful ones to me is ‘Flip It.’  (G)I-DLE’s leader and main producer Soyeon has always shown an affinity for classic Hip Hop music, and this shines through on ‘Flip It.’ This track has a sound that makes me think of some of the biggest Trap music from the late 2000s. When I hear ‘Flip It,’ I think of music by artists like D4L or Crime Mob(which is really cool to hear from a K-Pop group who would have no affiliation with that music). All of the performances on ‘Flip It’ are vivacious and potent, matching the hot-blooded energy of the instrumental. ‘Flip It’ is a song that shows how eclectic  (G)I-DLE can be, and I can not wait to hear them try this sound again in the future. 

PUPPET SHOW – XG

Considering how much love I showed them throughout the year, I could not make this list and only include one song by XG. After starting the year with their excellent singles ‘SHOOTING STAR’ and ‘LEFT RIGHT’(which I did not mention but did come out at the same time as ‘SHOOTING STAR’ and is just as good), XG released an EP called NEW DNA near the end of September. This whole EP is very good, but my favorite track off of it is ‘PUPPET SHOW.’ This is a glitchy, futuristic-sounding track that sounds like it came straight out of some cyberpunk club in 2050. As intricate and distinctive as the instrumental is, my favorite component of ‘PUPPET SHOW’ is all of the excellent vocal performances. All of the members of XG add something special and noticeable on ‘PUPPET SHOW,’ taking the exciting energy this track has over the top. ‘PUPPET SHOW’ is a great track that shows the diversity in XG’s artistry, and it makes me so pumped to see what they do next.

BADDIE – IVE

Out of all the artists I wrote about in this list, I would say that I know the least about IVE. Whereas I was able to dive into the backstory and learn more about all of these other artists, IVE kind of hit me out of nowhere when their song ‘Baddie’ went viral a couple of months ago. If they have more music like this, I need to look into IVE and see what they are about, because this track is a hit. ‘BADDIE’ is a powerful Pop-Trap banger that will get stuck in your head as soon as you hear it. It has a cheeky energy to it that makes it light and fresh and has an infectious sound that will make anyone want to dance around their room when it comes on. I have to admit that I do not know nearly enough about IVE, because if they are making songs like ‘Baddie,’ they are definitely someone I need to be paying attention to.

PERFECT NIGHT – LE SSERAFIM

‘Perfect Night’ is the second song from Le Sserafim that I have here, and I have to say that it is easily one of my favorites on this list. Although this song was only released as a promotional track for the game Valorant, it has taken TikTok by storm over the last few months. ‘Perfect Night’ is a blissful and energetic Pop song that is a total earworm. It is the kind of sweet Pop track that will get stuck in your head as soon as it comes on. When compared to ‘UNFORGIVEN,’ this song is delicate and soft. This shows how eclectic Le Sserafim can be with their music, which makes me think they are going to make a massive impact for a long time. ‘Perfect Night’ exhibits a softer side to Le Sserafim’s artistry that I am excited to see more of in the future.

SOMEBODY – JUNG KOOK

‘Somebody’ is my second entry on this list off of Jung Kook’s debut solo album GOLDEN, which shows how much I appreciate that album. If you read my list of my favorite overall songs from the second half of 2023, you know how much I enjoy ‘Somebody.’ This is yet another song on this list that I had to include on both lists. ‘Somebody’ has a futuristic House music sound that I dig so much. The darker and deeper sound of the instrumental makes Jung Kook’s vocals so colorful and bright. This makes ‘Somebody’ such an all-encompassing listen. It is easy to see that Jung Kook is a phenomenal solo artist, and I am excited to see him make more music like ‘Somebody’ in the future.

I WANT THAT – (G)I-DLE

Like ‘Haegum’ and ‘Somebody,’ ‘I Want That’ by (G)I-DLE is the third song I had to include on my regular Top songs of the year list and my K-Pop top songs of the year. ‘I Want That’ was the second single from  (G)I-DLE’s HEAT, and it is a song I have been hooked on since the second I first heard it. I still listen to this one multiple times daily, and it is easily one of my favorite songs from 2023 overall. ‘I Want That’ is a rowdy and bold track with an intense Industrial House sound that I love so much. This song has an intense and futuristic sound that makes pop in a major way. The vocal performances on this track are just as vigorous as the instrumental. The way the vocal styles of each  (G)I-DLE member contrast with one another makes this song so layered and complex. ‘I WANT THAT’ is a hot-blooded banger that matches the bold energy that  (G)I-DLE has as a group. I hope they make more music like this in 2024.