Streaming ahead | The K-pop calendar of 2025

What’s going on in K-pop in 2025?

Korean pop music, or K-pop, has continued its expansion over the past few years, and looks poised to rule 2025. Soloists and groups notched up impressive achievements last year, with Blackpink’s Rosé becoming the highest charting female artist on the Billboard Hot 100 (#5) and three Korean acts (Ateez, BTS’ Jin, and Enhypen) occupying the top 10 on the Billboard 200 at once.

With new groups debuting, fresh albums announced, tour dates dropping, and fans calculating potential concert expenses, 2025 promises a lot for the K-connoisseur.

Along with its entertainment value, K-pop incorporates unique company structures and signals an interesting expansion and demonstration of South Korea’s soft power. Its fandoms are a cultural phenomenon unto themselves. With that in mind, K-pop in 2025 may significant socio-cultural developments unrelated to the music itself.

A glimpse of this has already been seen in continuing pro-democracy protests against Yoon Suk Yeol, which have acquired a unique flavour with the participation of K-pop fans. Koreans have used lightsticks of their favourite groups as protest symbols, even as popular K-pop standards like Into The New World by Girl’s Generation (SNSD) play during rallies.

So where is the world of K-pop headed this year? We look at some significant developments expected over the course of the year.

After completing their military service, mandatory for all young South Korean men, the seven members of the group Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) will be back in action.

Kim Seok-jin (Jin), the first to enlist, and the first to be discharged on June 12, 2024, released an album in November and is keeping up variety show appearances. Jung Hoseok (stage name J-hope) was the second to be discharged in October has just announced the release of new music in March, and is preparing for a global tour.