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List of South Korean girl groups

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South Korean girl groups refer to the all-female idol groups who are part of the K-pop industry. Korean girl groups have aided in the globalization of Korean culture. The Jeogori Sisters and The Kim Sisters have been noted as the origins of South Korean girl groups, the latter being the first South Korean group to succeed in the United States.[1][2] First generation girl groups such as S.E.S. and Fin.K.L, are cited to have laid the groundwork for the Korean Wave in the 2000s.[1] In 2009, Wonder Girls' "Nobody" became the first K-pop song to enter the Billboard Hot 100.[3]

The "Golden Age of Girl Groups" refers to a significant shift in the K-pop industry characterized by the dominance of girl groups in music charts and album sales. This phenomenon gained prominence in the early 2020s, highlighted by the remarkable success of groups such as Blackpink and Twice, which became the first girl group to achieve "double million seller" status with over 2.14 million copies sold of their second full-length album, Born Pink. Other notable girl groups, including Aespa, Ive, and Illit, have also emerged as major players, achieving significant sales and chart success.[4]

Premise

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The rise of girl groups is attributed to a growing female fandom that actively supports these artists. Recent data indicates that women now represent a substantial portion of album buyers, with reports suggesting that over 73% of the purchasers of Ive's single album After Like and more than 82% of NewJeans' album buyers are female. This shift challenges previous norms in the K-pop fandom landscape, where girl groups were traditionally supported primarily by male fans.[4]

In contrast to earlier generations, which often featured girl groups with "innocent", "cute," or "sexy" concepts aimed at male audiences, contemporary girl groups are increasingly embracing themes of empowerment and independence. They showcase confident lyrics and performances, reflecting a broader societal change. Critics have noted that the modern girl groups, such as (G)I-dle, Le Sserafim, and Ive incorporate diverse musical styles and concepts, moving away from the previously dominant "sexy" image. The expansion of the K-pop industry into global markets has further influenced the rise of girl groups. This transition has resulted in a growing focus on themes that resonate with women and Generation Z, contributing to the diversification of the K-pop music landscape.[4]

Generation 1

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South Korean girl groups that debuted in 1997 to 2002, arranged in alphabetical order.

Best-selling girl groups

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Best-selling generation 1 South Korean girl groups
Group and years active Notable singles
Baby Vox (1997–2006, 2024)
  • "Ya Ya Ya" (1998)
  • "Get Up" (1999)
  • "Killer" (1999)
  • "Why" (2000)
  • "Betrayal" (2000)
  • "Doll" (2001)
  • "Coincidence" (2002)
  • "What Should I Do" (2003)
Fin.K.L (1998–2005, 2019)
S.E.S. (1997–2002, 2016–17)

Other girl groups

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Generation 2

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South Korean girl groups that debuted in 2003 to 2011, arranged in alphabetical order.

Best-selling girl groups

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Best-selling generation 2 South Korean girl groups
Group and years active Notable singles Platinum-certified albums[5]
2NE1 (2009–15, since 2024)
—
4Minute (2009–16)
  • "Hot Issue" (2009)[a]
  • "Muzik" (2009)[a]
  • "What a Girl Wants" (2009)[a]
  • "HuH" (2010)[a]
  • "I My Me Mine" (2010)[a]
  • "Heart to Heart" (2011)[a]
  • "Mirror Mirror" (2011)[a]
  • "Volume Up" (2012)[a]
  • "What's Your Name" (2013)[b]
  • "Is It Poppin'?" (2013)[a]
  • "Gain Weight" (2014)[a]
  • "Whatcha Doin' Today" (2014)[b]
  • "Crazy" (2015)[a]
 —
After School (2009–15, 2021)
—
Apink (since 2011)
—
Brave Girls (2011–13, 2016–18, 2020–23)
—
Brown Eyed Girls (2006–15, 2019)
—
Davichi (since 2008)
  • "Time, Please Stop" (2010)[b]
  • "From Me to You" (2010)[a]
  • "Wonder Woman" (2010)[a]
  • "Don't Say Goodbye" (2011)[b]
  • "We Were in Love" (2011)[b]
  • "I'll Think of You" (2012)[a]
  • "Do Men Cry" (2012)[a]
  • "Turtle" (2013)[b]
  • "Just Two of Us" (2013)[a]
  • "Be Warmed" (2013)[b]
  • "Missing You Today" (2013)[a]
  • "The Letter" (2013)[b]
  • "Again" (2014)[a]
  • "Cry Again" (2015)[b]
  • "Sorry, I'm Happy" (2015)[a]
  • "Two Lovers" (2015)[a]
  • "White" (2015)[a]
  • "Beside Me" (2016)[a]
  • "You Call It Romance" (2016)[a]
  • "Unspoken Words" (2019)[a][e]
  • "Dear." (2019)[a]
  • "Just Hug Me" (2021)[a]
  • "Everyday Christmas" (2021)[a]
 —
f(x) (2009–16, 2019)
—
Girl's Day (2010–15, 2017–18)
  • "Twinkle Twinkle" (2011)[a]
  • "Expect" (2013)[a]
  • "Female President" (2013)[a]
  • "Please Tell Me" (2013)[a]
  • "Something" (2014)[a]
  • "Darling" (2014)[b]
  • "I Miss You" (2014)[a]
  • "Ring My Bell" (2015)[a]
  • "I'll Be Yours" (2017)[a]
 —
Girls' Generation (2007–17, 2021–22)
Kara (2007–15, since 2022)
Miss A (2010–13, 2015)
—
Secret (2009–14)
—
Sistar (2010–17)
  • "Push Push" (2010)[a]
  • "Shady Girl" (2010)[a]
  • "How Dare You" (2010)[a]
  • "So Cool" (2011)[b]
  • "Alone" (2012)[b]
  • "Loving U" (2012)[b]
  • "Give It to Me" (2013)[b]
  • "Touch My Body" (2014)[b]
  • "I Swear" (2014)[b]
  • "Shake It" (2015)[b]
  • "I Like That" (2016)[b]
  • "Lonely" (2017)[b]
 —
T-ara (2009–17, 2020–22, 2024)
—
Wonder Girls (2007–17)
—

Other girl groups

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Generation 3

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South Korean girl groups that debuted in 2012 to 2017, arranged in alphabetical order.

Best-selling girl groups

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Generation 3 South Korean girl groups that have a million-seller single on Circle Digital Chart, formerly Gaon Digital Chart.

Best-selling generation 3 South Korean girl groups
Group and years active Notable singles Platinum-certified albums[5]
AOA (2012–19)
—
Blackpink (since 2016)
Bolbbalgan4 (2016–20)[s]
  • "Galaxy" (2016)[a]
  • "Tell Me You Love Me" (2016)[a]
  • "Some" (2017)[b]
  • "Lost Without You" (2017)[a]
  • "Mohae" (2017)[a]
  • "To My Youth" (2017)[a]
  • "#First Love" (2018)[a]
  • "Travel" (2018)[b][i]
  • "Born" (2019)[b][e]
  • "Stars Over Me" (2019)[a]
  • "Workaholic" (2019)[a]
  • "Leo" (2020)[a]
 —
EXID (2012–20, 2022, 2024)
—
GFriend (2015–21, since 2024)
—
I.O.I (2016–17)
—
Mamamoo (since 2014)
—
Momoland (2016–23)
—
Oh My Girl (since 2015)
—
Red Velvet (since 2014)
Twice (since 2015)

Other girl groups

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Generation 4

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South Korean girl groups that debuted since 2018, arranged in alphabetical order.

Best-selling girl groups

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Generation 4 South Korean girl groups that have multiple platinum-certified albums from Korea Music Content Association.

Best-selling generation 4 South Korean girl groups
Group and years active Notable singles Platinum-certified albums[5]
(G)I-dle (since 2018)
Aespa (since 2020)
Babymonster (since 2023) "Sheesh" (2024)[a]
Illit (since 2024) "Magnetic" (2024)[b][v]
Itzy (since 2019)
Ive (since 2021)
Iz*One (2018–21)
Kep1er (since 2022)
Le Sserafim (since 2022)
NewJeans (since 2022)
Nmixx (since 2022) —
STAYC (since 2020)

Other girl groups

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga gb gc gd ge gf gg gh gi gj gk gl gm gn go gp gq gr gs gt gu gv gw gx gy gz ha hb hc hd Top-ten song on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart, formerly Gaon Digital Chart.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn Number-one song on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart, formerly Gaon Digital Chart.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an The song is certified Gold in streaming, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[8]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk Top-ten song on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak The song is certified Platinum in streaming, by the Korea Music Content Association.[12]
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z The song is certified Gold in physical sales, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[6]
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Number-one song on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart.
  8. ^ Since Son-yoona's departure from the group in 2018, Kim Hyo-jin promotes as 2NB as a solo act.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j The song is certified Platinum in download, by the Korea Music Content Association.[11]
  10. ^ a b c d e The song is certified Gold, by the Recording Industry Association of America.
  11. ^ The song is certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association; Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, France's Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique, and the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry; and Silver by the British Phonographic Industry.
  12. ^ The song is certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association, and the Recording Industry Association of Japan; Gold by France's Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique, Portugal's Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa, and the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry; and Silver by the British Phonographic Industry.
  13. ^ The song is certified 2× Platinum by Music Canada; Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association, and the Recording Industry Association of Japan; Gold by France's Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique, Portugal's Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa, and the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry; and Silver by the British Phonographic Industry.
  14. ^ a b c Top-ten song on the Billboard Global 200.[9]
  15. ^ The song is certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association and Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, Music Canada, and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
  16. ^ The song is certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, and Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.
  17. ^ a b c Number-one song on the Billboard Global 200.[9]
  18. ^ a b The song is certified Platinum by Music Canada, and Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association and the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  19. ^ Since Woo Ji-yoon's departure from the group in April 2020, Ahn Ji-young promotes as Bolbbalgan4 as a solo act.[7]
  20. ^ a b c d Top-ten song on the K-pop Hot 100.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j The song is certified Platinum in physical sales, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[6]
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v The song is certified Platinum in streaming, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[8]
  23. ^ The song is certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[6]
  24. ^ a b c d e f The song is certified Silver in streaming, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[8]
  25. ^ The song is certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[8]
  26. ^ The song is certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan
  27. ^ Formerly known as Elris.
  28. ^ a b c d Top-ten song on the Billboard Global 200.[10]
  29. ^ Formerly known as LimeLight.
  30. ^ Originally a sub-unit group of Loona in 2017.

References

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  1. ^ a b Park, Jin-hai (May 22, 2018). "History of Korean girl groups revisited". The Korea Times. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "A Brief History of K-pop". Los Angeles Film School. April 7, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Bell, Crystal (May 24, 2022). "2NE1 to BlackPink: How K-Pop's Girl Groups Took Over The World". Nylon. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Jo, Yu-bin (October 8, 2022). "'걸그룹 전성시대'가 시작됐다" [The 'Golden Age of Girl Groups' Has Begun]. Sisa Journal (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Circle Chart Album Certifications". Circle Chart. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Certifications Search – Gold Disc" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 11, 2024. Note: To retrieve album certifications, type in the group's name in the box "アーティスト" and click the "検索" button
  7. ^ Yeon-soo, Kwak (April 3, 2020). "Woo Ji-yoon quits K-pop duo BOL4". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Certifications Search – Streaming" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved October 29, 2024. Note: To retrieve song certifications, type in the group's name in the box "アーティスト" and click the "検索" button.
  9. ^ a b c "Blackpink | Biography, Music & News | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "NewJeans | Biography, Music & News | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Certification - Download". Circle Chart. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "Certification - Streaming". Circle Chart. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
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