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Hello, fellow Korean Americans!

Thank you so much for the warm support and empathy you showed for our first post.
I’ll always remember my promise that your stories will be the most important content for this blog.

Today, I’m finally here with the latest news on K-Pop that’s been setting the world on fire.
What were the biggest K-Pop trends that swept through America in the first half of 2025?
From spectacular comebacks to fresh debuts,
for those who find it hard to choose their ‘favorite,
‘ I’ve put together a list of the top five trends.

Which group are you rooting for the most?

1. Old is Gold! The Triumphant Return of 2nd and 3rd Generation Groups

This year brought a stream of joyful news that resonated with ‘old fans.’ 2025 has been a year filled with active reunions and comebacks from 2nd and 3rd generation K-Pop groups, including BTS, Blackpink, TWICE, and EXO.  

The comebacks of Blackpink and BTS, in particular, were huge successes.
They didn’t just recreate their past glory; they returned with mature, profound music that proved K-Pop’s enduring power once again.
For fans who had waited for so long, this year must have felt like a dream come true.

2. The Birth of ‘K-Animation’ Conquering the Billboard Charts

Did you know that K-Pop’s influence is now expanding beyond music into various other forms of content?
In 2025, the Netflix animated film, ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters,’ became a huge sensation.
Its soundtrack, ‘Golden,’ topped the Billboard Hot 100, the main singles chart, a historic achievement!

This phenomenon, where K-Pop meets other genres to create new synergy, truly shows the limitless potential of K-culture.
I can’t wait to see what new ‘K-fusion’ content will be born next.

3. Undisputed 4th Gen Kings: The Explosive Growth of Stray Kids

Among the 4th generation K-Pop groups, Stray Kids has shown a standout performance.
Their ‘dominATE’ tour, which ran from 2024 to 2025, drew more than 2.2 million attendees globally, proving their immense ticket power.  

Beyond the tour’s scale, they also demonstrated an overwhelming presence on various social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where they have the most followers.
As one fan commented, “No one can deny that Stray Kids is the best 4th gen group”.  

4. The ‘Hip Tradition’ Trend: Connecting Past and Present

K-Pop artists have recently been gaining a lot of attention for their reinterpretation of traditional Korean culture, a trend often called ‘hip tradition.
A prime example is Blackpink’s Jennie using a crown motif, and BTS’s Suga incorporating traditional instruments and attire in his track, ‘Daechwita’.  

This trend is creating a gateway for Korea’s beautiful traditional culture to become familiar to the younger generation worldwide.
A Korean folk fusion ensemble performed at the ‘Korea Culture Week’ in Egypt, blending traditional and modern music , suggesting that this trend is here to stay.

5. Solo Artists’ Powerful Hits: Jennie’s Unparalleled Success

Beyond group activities, the success of solo artists is another important K-Pop trend.
Blackpink’s Jennie, in particular, made a splash with her solo song,
‘Like Jennie,’ which was selected as the #1 song on Billboard’s
‘Best K-Pop Songs of 2025 (So Far)’ list.  

By achieving both high praise from critics and commercial success, Jennie has shown that she is not just a group member but an unrivaled solo artist.

So, there you have it—the top five trends that heated up the U.S. K-Pop market in the first half of 2025. What did you think?

Which trend impressed you the most?
And who is your ‘favorite’ artist or group?
Share your thoughts freely in the comments below!
We’ll be back next week with an even more exciting topic.