After the 1st and 2nd generations of K-Pop groups successfully set a foundation for the Hallyu wave, an upsurge of K-Pop bands sprung up during the 3rd generation. The 3rd generation, which is the timeline between 2012 and 2016, comprises of top bands that are currently taking the world by storm. The is also comprised of diverse groups, including co-ed groups and more girl groups joining to compete for their share in the K-Pop entertainment industry. Here are some of the best 3rd generation K-pop groups.
1. BLACKPINK (๋ธ๋ํํฌ)
Formed by YG Entertainment, BLACKPINK debuted in August, 2016 with the โSquare Oneโ album that contained hit songs such as โBoombayahโ which was charted in US Billboard World Digital Song Sales and Koreaโs Gaon Digital Chart as well. The 4-member group consist of Lisa, Jennie, Rose, and Jisoo. BLACKPINKโs fandom name is BLINKS which denotes that their “fans start with Blackpink and end with Blackpink. The band has gained numerous international accolades, charted on international charts including the UK album chart, and even been listed on the Guinness World Records twice for the โBorn Pinkโ album. BLACKPINKโs latest โPink Venomโ album released in August, 2022 was yet another hit topping the Billboard Global 200 and ARIA Single Chart.
2. BTS (๋ฐฉํ์๋ ๋จ)
BTS is an Academy award-winning global brand that has contributed immensely to the spread of Hallyu wave and skyrocketed tourism flow in Korea. ย The band, which has become the epitome of Kpop music, consists of seven members including RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V, and Jongkook. The fandom name for BTS is A.R.M.Y. which stands for โAdorable Representative M.C. For Youthโ. BTS debuted in June, 2013 with the โ2 Cool 4 Skoolโ album. These โPrinces of Popโ have a massive international following, performed in numerous global platforms, and were even listed among 100 most influential people of the year by Times Magazine in 2019. In addition to securing international ambassadorships and endorsements, BTS has appeared in global events such as the 76th United Nations General Assembly as well as being invited to the White House in 2022. Since the groupโs โYet to comeโ track in 2022, the members are focusing more on personal projects, including Jiminโs collaboration with Taeyang. One of their members, Jin, enlisted for his mandatory military service in 2023.
3. K.A.R.D (์นด๋)
This co-ed group debuted in July, 2017 under DSP Media with the Hola Hola EP. K.A.R.D is a 4-memebr group including J.Seph, BM, Somin, and Jiwoo. K.A.R.Dโs fandom name is Hidden KARD which denotes that fans are the hidden card that completes K.A.R.D. The group is known for its funky upbeat tracks coupled with unmatchable choreography moves. Their albums have charted on international music charts, including โKARDโ album which was number 4 in Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. K.A.R.Dโs 5th โRE:โ album, released in June, 2022, gained massive reception globally, especially the โRing the Alarmโ track.
4. EXO (์์)
EXO officially debuted in 2012 under SM Entertainment as two units, EXO-K and EXO-M, which started performing as one group in 2014 with their first โXOXOโ album. Some of these Korean-Chinese band members left due to issues with the management agency. Currently, EXO is known to consist of nine members including Lay, Kai, Sehun, Xiumin, Suho, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Chen, and D.O. EXOโs fandom name is EXOL which signifies that EXO will forever love their fans since the L in EXOL stands for Love. However, although Lay announced his departure from SM Entertainment in April, 2022, he indicated that he is still part of EXO. Known for its Korean, Japanese, and Mandarin songs, EXO has gained global recognition over the years and has won various awards including 23 Daesang awards which credited them a space in the Guinness World Records book in 2018. In May, 2021, EXO released the โDon’t Fight the Feelingโ special album, in which Lay also participated.
5. GOT7 (๊ฐ์ธ๋ธ)
This South Korean band captivated the world through unique performances coupled with street dance and martial arts tricking. Formed by JYP Entertainment, GOT7 debuted on January 2014 with the Got It? EP which credited them an international following and peaked 1st on the Billboard World Albums Chart. The group consists of 7 members including Jackson, Jay B, Mark, Yugeom, Jinyoung, Youngjae, and BamBam. GOT7โs fandom name is iGOT7 which signifies that the fans love GOT7 and have their back. GOT7 is also known for their Japanese songs, especially the โAround The Worldโ single which they released under Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Despite the boy bandโs contract with JYP Entertainment expiring in January 2021, GOT7 has maintained that they are still a group only that they are currently focusing more on personal projects. The group reunited and released the GOT7 EP in May, 2022 signifying their continued presence as a band.
6. MONSTA X (๋ชฌ์คํ์์ค)
Formed through the No. Mercy reality survival program, MONSTA X debuted in May, 2014 with the Trespass EP under Starship Entertainment. After Wonhoโs departure in 2019, the group currently consists of six members including Shownu, Kihyun, I.M, Hyungwon, Minhyuk, and Joohoney. The fandom name for MONSTA X is Monbebe which can be said to denote โmy darlingโ or โmy babyโ. The 2020โs โAll About Luvโ English album ranked 7th on the Rolling Stone Top 200 and 1st on Billboard 200 confirming the groupโs massive international following. MONSTA X has won various accolades including charting on the 2010โs Billboard Social 50 ranking the group amongst the decadeโs most active artists on social networking services. MONSTA Xโs September, 2022 No Limit tour, which leader Shownu attended to show his support amid his military enlistment, reaffirmed fans why the group is still the one to beat.
7. MAMAMOO (๋ง๋ง๋ฌด)
With over 40 awards and 161 nominations, this girl band has maintained its competitive edge through the years. Formed by RBW, MAMAMOO made an official debut in June, 2014 with the โMr. Ambiguousโ single. This Jazz and R&B band consists of four members including Hwasa, Whee In, Moon Byul, and Solar. MAMAMOOโs fandom name is MooMoo which comes from the group nameโs last syllable and signifies the bandโs adorable and cute nature. Most of MAMAMOOโs songs have been listed in international charts, including the Billboard World Digital Songs chart. MAMAMOOโs Min On EP alongside its lead single โIllellaโ, released in October, 2022, has thrown the fans into a frenzy even as they await for more hits from this talented group.
8. Red Velvet (๋ ๋๋ฒจ๋ฒณ)
Known for its genre versatility, including hip hop and ballad, Red Velvet is another 3rd generation K-Pop group that has been creating ripples in the entertainment world. Before Yeri joined in 2015, Red Velvet had officially debuted with 4 members, including Irene, Seugli, Joy and Wendy with the โHappinessโ single. Red Velvetโs fandom name is Reveluv which denotes that meaning that fans love the girls. Red Velvet has been listed twice in the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity and multiple times in the Billboard chart. Red Velvet was named the 5th most streamed K-Pop artist as of February, 2020 on Spotify.
9. DAY6 (๋ฐ์ด์์ค)
DAY6โs entry into the entertainment industry was a success since its debut act, The Day Ep, ranked 2nd on Billboard World Album Chart a week after release. This pop band debuted in September, 2015 under JYP Entertainment and currently consist of four members including Young K, Wonpil, Sungjin, and Dowoon. DAY6โs fandom name is My Day which means that DAY6 and their fans are important to each other because they fill up each other’s day. The unique fact about this band is that all its members contribute towards the writing composition and production of the groupโs songs. This award-winning group has reigned in both domestic and international music platforms including ranking 14th on Billboardโs The 25 Greatest K-Pop Albums of the 2010: Staff List. DAY6 renewed their contact with JYP Entertainment in September,2022 confirming their continuation in the K-Pop industry.
10. TWICE (ํธ์์ด์ค)
Birthed through the Sixteen television program, TWICE debuted in October, 2015 with The Story Begins EP under JYP Entertainment. The group comprises of nine members including Nayeon, Chaeyoung, Momo, Tyuzu, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, and Sina. TWICEโs fandom name is Once which denotes that if the fans love the group even โonceโ, the girls will repay them with “twice” their love. The 2016โs award winning โCheer Upโ and โTTโ singles gave TWICE a massive domestic and international following. TWICE became the 3rd female Korean female act to be listed in Canadian Hot 100; in addition to listing in the US and UK chats as well, and the highest-selling K-Pop girl group as of 2020. The groupโs โWhat Is Love?โ and โSignalโ singles, whose choreography and visuals are off the charts, also credited the group more following. TWICEโs pre-release English single โMOONLIGHT SUNRISEโ that was released in January, 2023 ranked 84th on the Billboardโs Hot 100 chart.
11. B.A.P (๋น์์ดํผ)
Known for their exciting and edgy concept, B.A.P debuted in January, 2012 with the โWarriorโ single under TS Entertainment. B.A.P lived up to their name which is an acronym for โBest Absolute Perfectโ by oozing perfectionism in all their musical pieces. ย The band originally consisted of six members including Himchan, Bang Yongguk, Daehyun, Jongup, Youngjae, and Zelo. B.A.Pโs fandom name is BABY, acronym for ‘Baby Always Behind You’, which denoted that fans would always cheer for and support the boy band. B.A.P is well known for the โOne Shotโ and โPowerโ singles. The band disbanded in 2019 after all the membersโ contracts with TS Entertainment expired. Nonetheless, the members hinted a reunion which the fans are eagerly awaiting.
—- Karen Mwenda
ย
#ThirdGenerationKPOPGroups #kpop #kcrush #koreanmusic #ThirdGenKPop #kcrusharticle #BlackPink #BTS #KARD #EXO #BAP #MonstaX #GOT7 #MamaMoo #RedVelvet #Day6 #Twice #kpopgroups #kpopidol #kpopfandom #BestAbsolutePerfect #BabyAlwaysBehindYou #BLINKS #ARMY #BTSARMY #Monbebe #MyDarling #AdorableRepresentativeMCForYouth #EXOL #HallyuWave #HiddenKard #MooMoo #Reveluv #YG #JYP #TwiceOnceFandom #iGOT7 #DSP #SMEntertainment #StarshipEntertainment #RBW #DAY6MyDay
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I wish to God B.A.P would get back together for a reunion tour and maybe even release new music! However, Himchan was convicted of sexual assault, so we probably won’t see him ever again in the entertainment industry, sadly. I actually don’t believe he is guilty. He tried to take his life because he felt like it was going down the drain. Some people say he tried because he was guilty and knew he was going to jail, but I think it was the opposite. Could you imagine if you have an entire country against you claiming you did something you didn’t do? I would probably try to end my life as well. Plus, the girl’s story kept changing. I’m not one of those ridiculous K-pop stans who thinks their idols can do no wrong. Himchan isn’t even a bias wrecker for me. I just couldn’t stand the sad look on his face when he was explaining his side of the story. He thought they both had feelings, and he thought it was consensual. I mean, it does look like a triple date when you have exactly three girls and three guys. I feel like this woman did this in order to not shame her family, for clout, or just to ruin someone’s life she doesn’t like. If her story stayed straight and narrow the entire time, I would believe her. Hell, I believed her when she first told her story. But after the first and second changes, I was done. I wish he had been found not guilty so that he could come back with the group, but it looks like it’s going to be ot5 from now on ๐ข
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