K-pop, which is an abbreviation for “Korean Popular Music”, is arguably South Korea’s pride in the entertainment industry and is valued by fans and music enthusiasts all over the world. The impact that K-pop has made in changing how the world sees and hears Asian music is undeniable – with every bop that they churn out, the world seems to grow fond of K-pop, and it is evident how it almost always earns a spot on the top charts.
From Seo Taiji and Boys in the ’90s to today’s BTS or EXO, it is clear that K-pop groups consist of artists and performers who excel in their craft. But male K-pop groups aren’t the only ones that are dominating the charts; women have also championed K-pop’s global recognition, most especially in recent years as more and more girl groups are making their marks in the music industry.
If you’re enthusiastic about all-things K-pop and want to listen to the next best thing, you’ve come to the right place because we have gathered 3 of the best female K-pop groups that deserve to land a spot on your stan list (provided you haven’t already heard about them).
1. Blackpink
When you’re talking about female K-pop groups, you can’t miss out on Blackpink. This girl group is often referred to as the most established in the history of K-pop as they are a hit not just in Korea and its neighbouring countries, but in the west as well! While most K-pop girl groups project a seemingly “cute” personality, take Blackpink differently because they prefer to make themselves look powerful and fierce, which is a far cry from what people are used to in K-pop.
Jennie, Jisoo, Rose, and Lisa have gone through years of intense training before making their breakthrough debut with the EP “Square One” back in 2016. Unlike most groups, Blackpink has elevated to global domination, earned millions of album sales and billion views for their music videos in as little as 5 years! And if that’s not enough, their most recent album “The Album” is considered to be the best-selling album by a girl group in K-pop history.
Outside of making more hit music, each member of Blackpink is also busy doing individual projects and modelling for big luxurious brands such as Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel. Now, aren’t they a force to be reckoned with?
2. Twice
Consisting of 9 talented members, Twice is easily JYP Entertainment’s best-selling girl group, standing as a living (and dancing) proof that women are more than capable of succeeding in a competitive industry dominated by men. The survival-elimination reality show “Sixteen” is to be credited for forming Twice way back in 2015.
Hailed as the “nation’s girl group”, Nayeon, Momo, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu quickly rose to fame because of their catchy music and viral choreography. As a matter of fact, they were able to put out 5 full-length studio albums, 3 compilation albums, 4 reissues, 11 EP’s, 28 singles, and 9 promotional singles – all within its 6 years of being a hit in the K-pop industry.
Originally known for their bubblegum-type of music, cheerful tone and package, Twice has since transitioned to more serious and sexier concepts. So if you’re looking for a female K-pop group that can do the “cute” and “girl crush” personas simultaneously, you should definitely add Twice to your list on Spotify.
3. Red Velvet
To cap the three best female K-pop groups to grace the global music industry is SM Entertainment’s Red Velvet. What started as a 4-member group back in 2014 now consists of 5 powerful female leads – Irene, Wendy, Seulgi, Joy, and Yeri, who is the group’s maknae or youngest member.
While they were originally established in 2014, they debuted for a second time a year later with “Ice Cream Cake”. This mini-album contained the lead single that hoisted them to K-pop superstar status. As they are approaching their 7th year as a group, they have already sold over 1.17 million copies of their albums all around the world and won various accolades dedicated to their music, performances, and fame.
In terms of vocal prowess, many would agree that Red Velvet has the best voices among the other girl groups – “Psycho”, their 2019 single earned praise and positive reviews from music critics, calling it a masterpiece that is haunting but catchy and structured. Whether you’re looking for sweet bubblegum pop earworms or edgier dark hits, you can count on Red Velvet.
Conclusion
Regardless of what country you live in, K-pop most probably has a spot on the hottest hits, a respectable one at that. In an industry that is mainly dominated by men, female K-pop groups are changing the game by consistently releasing music that the world appears to play on loop.
If you’re looking into getting into K-pop or appreciating it more without having to rely on lyric translations, consider enrolling on a Korean language course. At Sejong Korean Language School, we have one of the best teaching methods and team of experienced teachers that will deepen your appreciation for both the Korean language and vibrant culture!