Top 10 Greatest K-Pop Collaborations

This song brings together two idols known for their talent as vocalists, and the result is a dreamy jazz track we promise you won’t want to wake up from. One of the few cross-company collaborations between SM and JYP artists, EXO’s Baekhyun joins MISS A’s Suzy for a romantic duet with vintage charm. After debuting atop the Gaon digital chart, the single would go on to sell more than one million digital downloads. From winning Best Collaboration at the 2016 MAMAs to collecting multiple Golden Disk Awards, the song’s reception was far from sleepy.

Four of the most iconic Korean female soloists joined forces to debut this unofficial girl group. The Refund Sisters’ name plays off the group’s diverse age range, but they all have one thing in common: they’re all known for refusing to let society’s expectations hold them back. The group features Kpop icon Lee Hyori, who first debuted with girl group Fin.K.L in 1998, and Uhm Jung-hwa, a successful soloist who’s known as the “Korean Madonna.” They’re joined by Jessi, a female rapper with over a decade in the industry under her belt, and Hwasa, a breakout soloist from girl group MAMAMOO. Together, they send a clear message with this unapologetic female anthem: iconic is ageless.

As Kpop has grown into a worldwide phenomenon, it’s opened the doors for an array of multicultural collaborations. Kpop legends Super Junior have said they want to be “pioneers of the world coming together with music,” and their collaboration with Latin soloist Leslie Grace is proof. The trilingual track made history as the first Kpop song to break onto Latin charts, and the music video has accumulated over 100 million views. The collaboration might seem surprising, but when Kpop’s catchy charm is translated onto a driving Latin beat, you can’t help but dance along.

You might not expect a collaboration between laid back rapper Snoop Dogg and high-energy hit machine PSY to make any kind of sense. In fact, maybe it doesn’t but that’s exactly what makes this song so memorable. In typical PSY style, “Hangover” is helplessly fun, upbeat, and an absolutely massive hit. The song charted internationally and the music video has over 300 million views. It was even used in the hit film “Black Panther.” Believe it or not, this wasn’t Snoop Dogg’s only Kpop crossover. He’s also worked with Girls Generation, Monsta X, and BTS.

In 2018, 4Minute’s HyunA and Pentagon’s Dawn shocked the world when they revealed they’d been in a two-year-long secret relationship. The controversy led to both of the performers pursuing solo careers, but they came together in 2021 to release their joint EP “1+1=1.” The title track perfectly captures their unique chemistry; it’s a love song that’s sexy, playful, and upbeat. The bright and colorful music video has more than 120 million views, and the infectious tune even won an Asian Pop Music Award for Best Collaboration. Together or apart, we can’t wait to see what this Kpop it-couple does next.

This star-studded collaboration earned praise for its honest lyrics and heartfelt melodies. The song became IU’s sixteenth single to top the Korean charts, and the music video was the soloist’s first to reach (and far surpass) 100 million views. While both IU and G-Dragon have mastered the art of large-scale pop hits, this collaboration feels personal and sincere. G-Dragon sets their celebrity status aside when he refers to IU by her name, Jieun, in his rap verse, giving the song a sense of intimacy. The impactful 2017 release would go on to become the fourth highest selling song in South Korea that year.

One of the first Kpop groups to focus on American promotions, the Wonder Girls became the first Korean Act to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009. After their breakthrough into the US market, the group was featured in the TeenNick movie “The Wonder Girls.” To promote the movie, they released “The DJ Is Mine,” an all-english collaboration with their US costars the School Gyrls. The film also introduced “Like Money,” and the Wonders Girls would later release the song as a collaboration with American rapper Akon. It made its way onto top 40 stations, climbed charts, and continued to fuel the girl group’s rising popularity in the US.

The beauty of music collaborations is that they open up artists to new styles and genres. In this TXT title track, the 4th generation Kpop icons branch out in a more grungy, pop rock direction. Rising star Seori’s vocals bring a unique emotional depth to the doomed love song, and the boy group’s very first collaboration blew up on social media. The punk-inspired take on heartbreak quickly became TXT’s highest charting single on the Billboard charts. Since its release, the track has also been remixed multiple times for features by Japanese singer Ikuta Lilas and Korean rappers pH-1 and Woodie Gochild.

Neither Suga or IU are strangers to collaborations. The BTS member has written and produced music for artists around the globe, and soloist IU has collected an impressive lineup of artist features. So, when the two songwriters joined forces, the result was destined for success. Blending their different musical styles over their shared experiences as 28-year-olds, the result is an earnest and ear-catching hit. “Eight” became IU’s first song to debut at number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart, and the single would go on to be certified Platinum in Korea.

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

“Selfish” (2018), Moonbyul feat. Seulgi
An Upbeat Girl Crush Duet

“Chicken Noodle Soup” (2019), j-hope feat. Becky G
The BTS Member’s Bilingual Track with International Flavor

“HONEY BEE” (2017), Hani, Solar, & Luna
A Jazzy Girl Group Crossover

“Kiss and Make Up” (2018), BLACKPINK & Dua Lipa
The Girl Group’s Iconic First Collaboration

“Boy with Luv” (2019), BTS feat. Halsey
A Record-Breaking Radio Hit

Believe it or not, this collaboration was girl group 2NE1’s very first introduction to the world. After they were teased as the up and coming “female BIGBANG,” the group made their unofficial debut alongside their male seniors. Though the song was produced for a Korean phone advertisement, the resulting hit was more than just a catchy commercial jingle. “Lollipop” reached more than three million digital downloads, and to this day, the single is one of the only official collaborations between male and female idol groups. From the opening refrain, BIGBANG and 2NE1 prove they’ve been trendsetters from the start, and we can’t get enough of this iconic dose of YG family nostalgia.