Are You Up-To-Date On 5th Gen K-pop Groups?
From Riize to BabyMonster and Illit, K-pop has entered a new generation
We’re now entering a new era of K-pop: the fifth generation. The K-pop industry is renowned for its ever-evolving landscape, constantly introducing new talent and trends that captivate audiences worldwide.
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As we step into this new chapter, fifth-generation groups are reshaping the genre with fresh sounds, styles, and personalities. These emerging groups are not only redefining what it means to be an idol but are also influencing the global music scene in unprecedented ways.
What are K-pop generations?
K-pop has undergone several transformations over the years, each marked by a distinct generation. These generations reflect shifts in pop culture trends, industry changes, and aesthetic preferences. Each generation has left a significant mark on the industry, shaping its sound, style, and global reach. While fans often debate the exact timing and membership of these generations, for this article, we’ll follow popular consensus.
Let’s decode the four generations that have shaped K-pop so far:
- First Generation: Pioneering groups like Seo Taiji and the Boys, H.O.T., Sechs Kies, and S.E.S.
- Second Generation: Iconic names such as TVXQ, Super Junior, BigBang, Girls' Generation, Wonder Girls, and 2NE1.
- Third Generation: This era saw the global expansion of K-pop with groups like EXO, BTS, Red Velvet, Twice, Got7, Blackpink, and Seventeen.
- Fourth Generation: Recent influential groups include Stray Kids, TXT, Itzy, Aespa, Ateez, Le Sserafim, Enhypen, and NewJeans.
Enter the Fifth Generation of K-pop
As the fifth generation makes its debut, a new wave of K-pop is here to enthrall fans worldwide. From vibrant girl groups to dynamic boy bands, these are the fifth-gen K-pop groups you absolutely should listen to.
KIIIKIII
KiiiKiii is a five-member girl group that debuted under Starship Entertainment with members Leesol, Sui, Haum, Jiyu and Kya. The girls debuted on March 24, 2025 with an EP Uncut Gem. The group’s name is an onomatopoeia for laughing in Korean, similar to ‘LOL’. It represents the joy and ease that the members want to create through the members.
HEARTS2HEARTS
SM Entertainment’s newest girl group, Hearts2Hearts debuted on February 24, 2025 with a dual-track debut with The Chase and Butterflies. Its name represents the group’s desire to connect with a global audience through the heartfelt messages in their music. The group consists of eight members: Jiwoo, Carmen, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-Na, Ian and Ye-On, with 18-year-old Carmen being the company’s first Indonesian idol to debut.
KICKFLIP
JYP Entertainment’s newest boy group, KickFlip, consists of seven members: Kyehyoon, Amaru, Donghwa, Juwang, Minje, Keiju and Donghyeon. The group was built through a reality competition show Loud and they made their debut on January 20, 2025 with their EP Flip It, Kick It! The group’s name references a skateboarding trick and symbolising their desire to show a rebellious and bold vibe and performance.
MEOVV
Meovv is a five-member girl group consisting of members Gawon, Anna, Ella, Narin and Sooin. The group made its debut under the Black Label (YG Entertainment’s sub-label) on September 6, 2024 as the label’s first group. The group’s name stands for “My Eyes Open VVide,” and references cats’ dual nature of being both cute and fierce- reflecting the members’ personalities and stage presence. The feline references don’t stop there, as the group’s debut single is titled Meow.
Before the group’s debut, the Meovv already had all eyes on them when photos of the girls in rehearsals were released, featuring child model and Meovv member, Ella Gross, and 21-year-old American dancer and choreographer, Bailey Sok. As a rookie group, the girls have already begun making their marks in fashion; the group are brand ambassadors for L’Oreal Paris, and Ella attending Miu Miu’s show at Paris Fashion Week.
ABLUME
After a year-long legal dispute, three members of the group Fifty Fifty (known for their hit song Cupid and OST for the Barbie movie, Barbie Dreams) have officially announced their re-debuted as the trio, Ablume. The group consists of former members Aran, Saena and Sio under Massive E&C and dropped their debut EP Wake Up on January 13, 2025. Their new name represents the girls’ desire for growth and finding a new sound.
KATSEYE
The girl group Katseye is the result of a two-year long training program that was documented on a Netflix reality competition show, Pop Star Academy: Katseye. The group was formed by a joint venture between Hybe and Geffen Records. Through the program, the sextuplet consisting of Manon, Lara, Sophia, Yoonchae, Daniela and Megan were chosen. Debuting on June 28, 2024 with their EP Soft Is Strong, its name Katseye is inspired by the gemstone cat’s eye and references the group’s diversity and international lineup.
While their status as a K-Pop group is debatable, the group follows a traditional K-style management and training (through their training under Hybe) while releasing English songs and aiming for a broad international audience. The group’s members are multi-national, coming from the USA, the Philippines, South Korea and Switzerland. The group has attended Coach’s New York Fashion Week show, and has also been featured in Fendi’s latest fashion campaign alongside model and content creator Nara Smith.
TWS
Standing for “Twenty-Four-Seven With Us,” TWS debuted on January 22, 2024 under Pledis Entertainment, a Hybe sub-label. TWS is Pledis Entertainment’s first boy group since Seventeen’s debut in 2015. The group consists of six members, Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin, and debuted with their mini album, Sparkling Blue.
XIKERS
Xikers debuted under KQ Entertainment on 30 March, 2023 with ten members: Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Yujun, Hunter and Yechan. Xikers is KQ Entertainment’s second group since Ateez’s debut in 2018. Their name combines "x" for coordinates and "hikers" for travelers and represents the boy’s journey through space and time. The group made their debut with their mini album, House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing.
RIIZE
SM Entertainment's newest boy group, Riize, made their debut on September 4, 2023, with the single album Get A Guitar. The group's name, a fusion of "Rise" and "Realize," embodies their ethos of growth and the pursuit of dreams, showcasing the members' resilience and potential in the K-pop industry. Riize consists of seven members: Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee, and Anton, although member Seunghan is currently on hiatus. The boys are also ambassadors of Louis Vuitton.
BADVILLAIN
Badvillain is a promising addition to the 5th generation of K-pop, consisting of seven members – Emma, Chloe Young, HU’E, INA, YunSeo, Vin, and Kelly – under BPM Entertainment. They burst onto the scene on June 3, 2024, with their debut single album Overstep. The group’s name combines “Bad” (short for “Be Aggressive for Desire”) and “Villain,” symbolising their fierce determination and singular focus on their goals.
Alternately known as BV (Born to be Visionary), the group embodies limitless potential and a fresh perspective, positioning themselves as new heroes on stage pursuing dreams and aspirations. The members bring diverse talents with strong stage presence and experience – Emma, for example, previously participated on Street Woman Fighter in the dance crew, WANT, while both HU’E and YunSeo were former contestants on the survival show, My Teenage Girl.
BABYMONSTER
Also known as Baemon, BabyMonster is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment through the reality show Last Evaluation in 2023. The group includes seven members: Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora, and Chiquita. Last Evaluation featured judges such as founder Yang Hyun-Suk, Lee Su-Hyun of AKMU, and Kang Seung-yoon of Winner, who assessed and ranked the members throughout the show. Earlier this year, Adidas revealed a campaign for its Samba, Gazelle, and Spezial, which was fronted by the girls and reportedly sparked an immediate surge of interest from K-pop enthusiasts worldwide.
KISS OF LIFE
Kiss of Life, or KIOF, is a four-member girl group under S2 Entertainment that garnered significant attention even before their debut. The members are Julie, Natty, Belle, and Haneul. Belle, the daughter of veteran Korean singer Shim Shin, previously worked as a songwriter for SM Entertainment. Natty participated in the reality survival shows Sixteen and Idol School, making it to the final episodes but not the final line-ups of Twice and Fromis 9. She debuted as a soloist in 2020 with the single album Nineteen. Julie trained under The Black Label, a YG Entertainment sub-label, from 2017 to 2020.
Kiss of Life debuted on July 5, 2023, with the EP Kiss of Life. According to S2 Entertainment, the group's name signifies their aim to "breathe new life into the music industry with their music and charm," focusing on themes of adolescence and young adulthood.
BOYNEXTDOOR
BoyNextDoor, a six-member boy group under Zico’s KOZ Entertainment, debuted with their single album Who! on May 30, 2023. The group aims to connect with listeners through relatable and sincere music, and their name reflects a casual, approachable image akin to the "boys next door."
ZEROBASEONE (ZB1)
Zerobaseone, a nine-member boy group created through Mnet's competition show Boys Planet, is managed by WakeOne. The members are Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Sung Han-bin, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook, and Han Yu-jin. The boys debuted on July 10, 2023, with the EP Youth in the Shade. The group is set to remain active for two years and six months.
ILLIT
Hybe's new girl group, Illit, was formed by Belift Lab, a sub-label of Hybe, through the 2023 JTBC survival competition show R U Next?. The name "I'll-It" was introduced during the live broadcast of the final episode of the show, representing the members' ability to act and make decisions independently. The group consists of five members: Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha. They debuted on March 25, 2024, with the EP Super Real Me and the single Magnetic. Additionally, the group was the face of Acne Studios' Spring Summer 2024 campaign.
XODIAC
A nine-member boy group under One Cool Jacso Entertainment, Xodiac debuted with the digital single Throw A Dice and was introduced to the public via a unique concept with their web drama MV series Roommate. With more digital singles and an album release planned, watch this space for more to come. In the fashion world, the group collaborates closely with the Italian label Emporio Armani.
PLAVE
Plave differs from the rest of the groups on this list, for they’re not just a fifth-gen K-pop group – they are a virtual boy band. Formed by Vlast, the group consists of five members: Yejun, Noah, Bamby, Eunho and Hamin. The name, Plave, combines "Play" and "Reve" (Dream), symbolising their vision of creating a new space to achieve their dreams. Plave officially debuted on March 12, 2023, and held its first fan concert on April 13-14, 2024, at the Olympic Hall in Seoul, South Korea.
This article first appeared in Her World