List of South Korean girl groups
K-pop girl groups refer to South Korea's all-female idol groups who account for a large portion of the K-pop industry. Korean girl groups have aided in the global spread and promotion of Korean culture through their demonstrated prominence and popularity. Generally, they are known for their interesting concepts, catchy lyrics, point-choreography and fresh visuals. First Generation groups from the late 90s and early 2000s such as S.E.S., Fin.K.L, and Baby Vox are cited as building these foundations as the first successful all-female girl groups in Korea and through their participation in the first Hallyu Wave. In 2003 and onward, Second Generation groups such as Girls' Generation, Kara, T-ara Wonder Girls, 2NE1, 4Minute, f(x) (group), Sistar, Miss A, Girl's Day and Apink revived the popularity and consumption of girls domestically in Korea as well as globally through the second phase of Hallyu. Groups that began the generation transitional shift in the early 2012s, such as AOA and EXID helped propel that for the Third Generation with groups that debuted in 2012 onward such as Blackpink, Twice, Red Velvet, GFriend, Mamamoo, and I.O.I that have risen to distinction in recent years and helped contribute to the widespread attention and appreciation of K-pop.
Profiles
Generation 1 (1994–2002)
First generation of K-pop began with the birth of the idol industry after the debut of H.O.T. in 1996 and follows the early years of K-pop with fresh, feminine girl groups debuting, and includes idol groups debuting from 1994 to 2002.
| Group name | Duration | (Former) Members | Sub-unit groups | Debut single | Breakthrough single | Notable singles | Best-selling Korean album | Notable awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.E.S. | 1997-2002 | Eugene,
Bada, |
N/A | "I'm Your Girl" (1997) | "I'm Your Girl" (1997) | "Dreams Come True" (1998)
"Twilight Zone" (1999) "Just in Love" (2001)
|
Love (1999 Studio Album) | see also: List of awards and nominations received by S.E.S.
|
| Fin.K.L | 1998-2005 | Lee Hyori, | N/A | "Blue Rain" (1998) | "Blue Rain" (1998) | "To My Boyfriend" (1998)
"Forever Love" (1999) "Now" (2000) "You Will Never Know" (2001)
|
White (1999 Studio Album) | see also: List of awards and nominations received by Fin.K.L.
|
| Baby Vox | 1997-2007 | Shim Eun-jin,
Cha Yu-mi Jang Hyun-jung Jung Shi-woon Lee Gai |
N/A | "Hair Cut" (1997) | "Ya Ya Ya" (1998) | "Get Up" (1999)
"Killer" (1999), "Betrayal" (2000) "Doll" (2001) "Coincidence" (2002)
|
Special Album (1999 Compilation Album) | see also: List of awards and nominations received by Baby ox
|
Other notable groups
- Diva
- Milk
- Chakra
- Papaya
- Jewelry
Generation 2 (2003-2011)
Second Generation evolved in the early 2000s and saw K-pop spreading throughout Asia and beginning to be introduced to the West, especially with the slow rise of social media, and saw a diversification of concepts and genres, and includes idol groups that debuted from 2003 to 2011.
| Group name | Duration | (Former) Members | Sub-unit groups | Debut single | Breakthrough single | Best-selling singles | Best-selling Korean album | Notable awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Girls' Generation | 2007-present | Taeyeon
Tiffany Jessica (Former) |
Girls' Generation-TTS | "Into the New World" (2007) | "Gee" (2009) | "Gee" (2009)
"Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)" (2009) "Oh!" (2010) "Run Devil Run" (2010) "Hoot" (2010) "The Boys" (2011) "I Got A Boy" (2013) "Mr.Mr." (2014) "Party" (2015) "Lion Heart" (2015)
|
The Boys
(2011 Studio Album) |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Girls' Generation
|
| Wonder Girls | 2007-2017 | Ye-eun,
Hye-lim, |
N/A | "Irony"
(2007) |
"Tell Me" (2007) | "Tell Me" (2007)
"So Hot" (2008) "Nobody" (2008) "2 Different Tears" (2010) "Be My Baby" (2011) "The DJ Is Mine" (2012) "Like This" (2012) "Why So Lonely" (2016)
|
The Wonder Years: Trilogy (2008 EP) | see also: List of awards and nominations received by Wonder Girls
|
| Kara | 2007-2016 | Nicole
Youngji Sunghee |
N/A | "Break It"
(2007) |
"Pretty Girl" (2008) | "Honey" (2009)
"Wanna" (2009) "Mister" (2009) "Jumping" (2010) "Step" (2011) "Pandora" (2012)
|
Step
(2011 Studio Album) |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Kara
|
| 2NE1 | 2009-2016 | CL | N/A | "Fire"
(2009) |
"Fire"
(2009) |
"Fire" (2009)
"Lollipop" (2009) "I Don't Care" (2009) "Go Away" (2010) "Can't Nobody" (2010) "I Am the Best" (2011) "Hate You" (2011) "Lonely" (2011) "Ugly" (2011)
|
2NE1
(2009 EP)[1] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by 2ne1
|
| T-ara | 2009-2017 | Jiyeon
Boram (Former) Soyeon (Former) Hwayoung (Former) Areum (Former) |
T-ara N4
QBS |
"Lie"
(2009) |
"You Drive Me Crazy"
(2010) |
"TTL (Time To Love)"
(2009) "Bo Peep Bo Peep" (2009) "Like the First Time" (2009) "You Drive Me Crazy" (2010) "Roly-Poly" (2011) "Cry Cry" (2011) "We Were In Love" (2011) "Lovey-Dovey" (2012) "Day By Day" (2012)
|
Funky Town
(2012 Reissue Album)[7] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by T-ara
|
| F(x) | 2009-2019 | Amber
Sulli (Former) |
N/A | "La Cha Ta"
(2009) |
"Nu ABO"
(2010) |
"Nu ABO" (2010) "Pinocchio (Danger)" (2011) "Hot Summer" (2011) "Electric Shock" (2012) "Rum Pum Pum" (2013) "Red Light" (2014) "4 Walls" (2015)
|
Pinocchio | see also: List of awards and nominations received by f(x)
|
| Secret | 2009-2018 | Hyoseong | N/A | "I Want You Back"
(2009) |
"Magic"
(2010) |
"Magic" (2010) "Madonna" (2010) "Shy Boy" (2011) "Starlight Moonlight" (2011) "Love Is Move" (2011) "Poison" (2012) "Talk That" (2012) "Yoohoo" (2013)
|
Moving In Secret
(2011 Studio Album)[11] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Secret
|
| After School | 2009-2015 | Nana
Lizzy Kahi |
Orange Caramel
After School Red After School Blue |
"Ah"
(2009) |
"Because of You"
(2010) |
"Because of You" (2010)
"Diva" (2009) "Bang!" (2010) "Shampoo" (2011) "Flashback" (2012) "First Love" (2013)
|
Virgin
(2011 Studio Album)[12] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by After School
|
| 4Minute | 2009-2016 | Hyun A | 2YOON | "Hot Issue" (2009) | "Muzik" (2009) | "Muzik" (2009)
"HuH" (2010) "I Me Mine" (2010) "Heart to Heart" (2011) "Mirror Mirror" (2011) "Volume Up" (2012) "What's Your Name" (2013)
|
4Minutes Left
(2011 Studio Album) |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by 4minute
|
| Sistar | 2010-2017 | Hyolyn | Sistar19 | "Push Push" (2010) | "How Dare You"
(2010) |
"Push Push" (2010) "Shady Girl" (2010) "How Dare You" (2010) "So Cool" (2011) "Alone" (2012) "Loving U" (2012) "Give It 2 Me" (2013) "Touch My Body '(2014)
|
So Cool
(2011 Studio Album)[13] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Sistar
|
| Miss A | 2010-2017 | Min | N/A | "Bad Girl Good Girl"
(2010) |
"Bad Girl Good Girl"
(2010) |
(2010) "Breathe" (2010) "Love Alone" (2011) "Goodbye Baby" (2011) "Touch" (2012) "I Don't Need a Man" (2012) "Hush" (2013) "Only You" (2014)
|
A Class
(2011 Studio Album) |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Miss A
|
| Girl's Day | 2010-2019 | Sojin | N/A | "Tilt My Head" (2010) | "Expect" (2013) | "Twinkle Twinkle" (2011)
"Hug Me Once" (2011) "Don't Flirt" (2011) "Oh! My God" (2012) "Expect" (2013) "Female President" (2013) "Something" (2014) "Darling" (2014) "Ring My Bell" (2015)
|
Love
(2015 album)[17] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Girl's Day
|
| Apink | 2011-present | Chorong
Bomi Eunji Naeun Yoo-kyung (Former) |
Apink BnN | "I Don't Know"
(2011) |
"NoNoNo" (2013) | "I Don't Know" (2011)
"My My" (2011) "Hush" (2012) "NoNoNo" (2013) "Mr. Chu" (2014) "Luv" (2014) "Remember" (2015) "Five" (2017) "I'm So Sick" (2018)
|
Pink Memory
(2015 Studio Album) |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Apink
|
| * = have at least 1 single that have sold over 1,000,000 copies ; bold = best-selling single | ||||||||
Other notable groups
- Brown Eyed Girls
- SeeYa
- The Grace
- Big Mama
- Rainbow
- Nine Muses
- Dal Shabet
- Stellar
Generation 3 (2012-2017)
K-pop saw a revival with the Third Generation that grew in the digital age with the influence of social media and resulted in the globalization of the genre. This era also saw a growth in survival programs that pushed for more competition, and includes idol groups that primarily debuted in 2012 onward.
| Group name | Duration | (Former) Members | Sub-unit groups | Debut single | Breakthrough single | Best-selling singles | Best-selling Korean album | Notable awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOA | 2012-present | Jimin
Choa (Former) Youkyung (Former) Mina (Former) |
AOA Black
AOA White |
"Elvis" (2012) | "Miniskirt" (2014) | "Miniskirt" (2014)
"Short Hair" (2014) "Like a Cat" (2014) "Heart Attack" (2015) "Good Luck" (2016) "Excuse Me" (2017) "Bingle Bangle" (2018)
|
Heart Attack
(2015 EP)[18] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by AOA
|
| EXID | 2012-present | Solji
Hyelin Dami (Former) Yuji (Former) Haeryung (Former) |
SoljiHani | "Whoz That Girl" (2012) | "Up & Down" (2014) | "Up & Down" (2014)
"Ah Yeah" (2015) "Hot Pink" (2015) "L.I.E." (2016) "DDD" (2017) "I Love You" (2018)
|
Street
(2016 Studio Album)[19] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by EXID
|
| Twice | 2015-present | Nayeon
Sana Jihyo Mina Chaeyoung Tzuyu |
N/A | "Like Ooh-Ahh" (2015) | "Cheer Up" (2016) | "Like Ooh-Ahh" (2015)
"Cheer Up" (2016) "TT" (2016) "Knock Knock" (2017) "Signal" (2017) "Likey" (2017) "What is Love?" (2018) "Dance The Night Away" (2018)
|
Twicecoaster: Lane 1
(2016 EP)[20] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Twice
|
| Red Velvet | 2014-present | Irene | N/A | "Happiness" (2014) | "Ice Cream Cake" (2015) |
"Ice Cream Cake" (2015) "Dumb Dumb" (2015) "Russian Roulette" (2016) "Rookie" (2017)" "Red Flavor" (2017) "Peek-a-Boo" (2017) "Bad Boy" (2018) "Power Up" (2018)
|
The ReVe Festival: Day 1
(2019 EP)[27] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Red Velvet
|
| Blackpink | 2016-present | Jisoo
Lisa |
N/A
|
"Boombayah" (2016) | "Whistle" (2016) | "Whistle" (2016)
"Boombayah" (2016) "Playing With Fire" (2016) "As If It's Your Last" (2017) "DDU-DU DDU-DU" (2018) "Forever Young" (2018)
|
Kill This Love
(2019 EP)[29] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Black Pink
|
| GFriend | 2015-present | Sowon
Yerin Umji |
N/A
|
"Glass Bead" (2015) | "Me Gustas Tu" (2015) | "Glass Bead" (2015)
"Me Gustas Tu" (2015) "Rough" (2016) "Navillera" (2016) "Fingertip" (2017) "Time for the Moon Night" (2018)
|
Time For Us
(2019 LP)[34] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by GFriend
|
| Mamamoo | 2014-present | Solar | Angel Line - Solar, Wheein
Rapper Line - Hwasa, Moonbyul |
"Mr. Ambiguous"
(2014) |
"Um Oh Ah Yeh" (2015) |
"Um Oh Ah Yeh" (2015) "You're the Best" (2016) "I Miss You" (2016) "Décalcomanie" (2016) "Yes I Am" (2017) "Starry Night" (2018)
|
Reality in Black
(2019 LP)[40] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Mamamoo
|
| I.O.I | 2016-2017 | Nayoung | I.O.I sub-unit | "Dream Girls" (2016) | "Dream Girls" (2016) | "Whatta Man" (2016)
"Very Very Very" (2016) "Downpour" (2017)
|
Miss Me?
(2016 EP)[42] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by I.O.I
|
| * = have at least 1 single that have sold over 1,000,000 copies ; bold = best-selling single | ||||||||
Other notable groups
Generation 4 (2018-present)
One of the characteristics of the Fourth Generation idols is that they have direct involvement in the music. This generation also has to overcome generational conflicts, example COVID-19 pandemic. In a situation that needs to pioneer a wider variety of publicity methods, including the recently active online performance.[44]
| Group name | Duration | (Former) Members | Sub-unit groups | Debut single | Breakthrough single | Best-selling singles | Best-selling Korean album | Notable awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (G)I-dle | 2018-present | Soyeon
Soojin Shuhua |
N/A | "Latata" (2018) | "Latata" (2018) | "Latata" (2018)
"Hann (Alone)" (2018) "Senorita" (2019) "Uh-Oh" (2019) "Oh My God(2020)
|
I Trust
(2020 EP)[45] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by (G)I-dle
|
| Iz*One | 2018-present | Kwon Eun-bi
Kang Hye-won Lee Chaeyeon Kim Chae-won Kim Min-ju Jo Yu-ri Jang Won-young |
N/A | "La Vie en Rose" (2018) | "La Vie en Rose" (2018) | "La Vie en Rose" (2018)
"Violeta" (2019) "Fiesta" (2020)
|
Bloom*Iz
(2020 LP)[46] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Iz*One
|
| Itzy | 2019-present | Yeji
Lia Ryujin Chaeryeong Yuna |
N/A | "Dalla Dalla" (2019) | "Dalla Dalla" (2019) | "Dalla Dalla" (2019)
"Icy" (2019) "Wannabe" (2020)
|
It'z Me
(2020 LP)[47] |
see also: List of awards and nominations received by Itzy
|
| * = have at least 1 single that have sold over 1,000,000 copies ; bold = best-selling single | ||||||||
Other notable groups
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