Top 10 Best K-Pop Girl Groups of the Fourth Generation

With nine members from South Korea, Japan, and China, this group was formed through “Girls Planet 999”, a reality competition show that began with 99 contestants from the three countries. Despite several delays, Kep1er formally burst into the world of K-pop at the beginning of 2022 with their energetic debut single, “Wa Da Da.” Their television presence continued with an appearance on “Queendom 2”, as they battled against five other girl groups by releasing their singles simultaneously. Granted, their reported two-and-a-half year contract is short in comparison to the traditional seven years of activity that most groups sign on for. But with multiple EPs and singles like “Up!” and “Giddy,” Kep1er continues to impress.

Black Eyed Pilseung, the duo best known for producing hits such as Twice’s “TT” and “Cheer Up”, debuted their first girl group in 2020. STAYC, which is short for “Star to a Young Culture”, went on to deliver several unforgettable songs, like “So Bad”, “ASAP”, and “Stereotype”. The group’s bright, uplifting concept, which their producers call “teen fresh,” permeates their visual and vocal style. Indeed, it surely brings confidence to their young fans! This six-member group never fails to please by utilizing their diverse vocal styles, especially with J’s deep-toned voice and Si-eun’s high notes.

About three years after JYP Entertainment’s success with Itzy, this experimental group debuted in 2022. With hits such as “Dice”, and “Love Me Like This”, NMIXX is known for their dynamic dance style, genre-bending songs, and strong vocals. They even go the extra mile to show off their live singing abilities in dance practice videos. Their first single, “O.O”, was a surprising yet interesting medley of genres. The song offered many opportunities for the group’s vocal line to belt out high notes and challenged its members to keep up with difficult choreography. Their exploration of genre continued with the more recent album, “A Midsummer Nmixx's Dream”, which shows off delightful pop and house rhythms.

This group’s “chaebol crush” concept—which combines girl power confidence with posh aesthetics—comes out in elaborate music videos, romantic songs of self-love, and high-end fashion. Following Iz*One’s disbandment in 2021, fans waited to see where the 12 members would end up. Soon, Yujin and Wonyoung, along with four girls not from that group — Gaeul, Rei, Liz, and Leeseo — became IVE. Their first single, “Eleven,” won “Show Champion” just one week after their debut, and earned the record for one of the fastest wins by a girl group. Their success persists as their single, “After LIKE”, received the most music show wins for 2022. Plus, all three of their first single albums and their debut studio album peaked at number 1 in Korea.

In 2018, 12-member group Iz*One broke a series of records with their first EP “Color*Iz” and its “La Vie en Rose” single. Indeed, they received a win from “M Countdown” just 10 days after their debut and garnered over 4.5 million views in the first day of the music video’s release. They continued to make waves afterwards, but after roughly two and a half years of activity, the group disbanded. This was despite a fan initiative that raised one billion South Korean won to prevent the end of the contract. This led to solo careers for several members as well as the formation of groups like IVE and Le Sserafim. Still, Iz*One will always be beloved.

In an out-of-the-box introduction in the summer of 2022, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein gave us the music video for “Attention” without doing any traditional press beforehand. Since then, their popularity has only grown. Their work explores a wide variety of dance styles and groovy, nostalgic music genres such as UK garage, pop, and R&B. Many tracks even include writing credits from the girls. Plus, in just about one year of activity, each member has been recognized as an ambassador for fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci. And that’s saying nothing of their brand deals. Despite their constant presence in the K-pop industry, NewJeans never fails to look carefree and effortlessly cool in their process and performances.

Through singles like “Dalla Dalla”, “Icy”, and “Wannabe”, Itzy made a point to stand out from the crowd with their confident message of being different and loving yourself. They also earned what’s known as a “Rookie Grand Slam,” a first for a K-pop girl group. They did this by winning a Best New Artist prize (or its equivalent) at the genre’s 5 major award shows. And as you can imagine, there’s no shortage of tunes and albums to enjoy. Whether the girls are together or doing solo projects, they always deliver. Embarking on their first world tour in 2022, Itzy has continued to deliver powerful, catchy songs and memorable performances.

With hit singles like “Fearless” and “Antifragile”, Le Sserafim is the image of determination and confidence. The group’s highly anticipated lineup has a history with “Produce 48”, as Yun-jin was a contestant on the program while Sakura and Chae-won went on to join Iz*One. Unique talents such as Kazuha’s professional ballet skills and Yun-jin’s opera experience shine through in Le Sserafim’s live performances, and their music already resonates far and wide. The group has received various nominations and wins for awards for Rookie of the Year. Fans are always looking forward to more upbeat, funky songs from Le Sserafim, especially after “Unforgiven” featuring Nile Rodgers.

Six years after Red Velvet’s introduction to the industry, SM Entertainment debuted Aespa in 2020 with four members: Karina, Winter, Ningning, and Giselle. Aespa stands out with a futuristic concept, complete with technological features such as Naevis, the group’s personified AI system, and SYNK, the connection between the members and their avatars. Although their music is experimental, it is grounded in the members’ strong vocal and rap abilities. Their global cultural impact is also undeniable. Their many, many awards speak for themselves, as they’ve won everything from Circle Chart to Golden Disc to Korean Music Awards. They’ve also performed at Coachella, contributed to the “Tetris” movie soundtrack, and partnered with Chopard jewelry. What can’t they accomplish?

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

EVERGLOW
This Group Shows off a Tough, Dark Concept with EDM Tunes

fromis_9
Girls From “Idol School” Creating Funk-Inspired Music

LOONA
A 12-Member Group with a Complex Universe Concept

Purple Kiss
Lavender Ladies with Producing, Songwriting, & Composing Credits

Billlie
This Girl Group’s Works Center on Mysterious Lore About a Fictional Childhood Friend

With members from South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Thailand, these trailblazers of the fourth generation have been pleasing fans with hit after hit. Listeners can count on songs to deliver hard-hitting raps and fascinating vocals. But prepare to also be surprised: these girls can embody every concept, from dark and badass to cute and girly. Soyeon, the leader and main rapper, is also incredibly involved, taking charge of the creative writing and producing process for much of the group’s catalog. And it’s clear she works to highlight each of the members’one-of-a-kind vocal qualities. With songs covering topics such as body positivity, love, and success, (G)I-DLE has a unique ability to capture the female experience through their music.

Did we include all of your fourth-gen ults? Let us know about your favorite debut songs in the comments!