WRITTEN BY CHERRYLLE URBANO
As we’ve observed, the K-pop industry has experienced a significant surge in popularity in America and globally in the past few years. With trends shifting rapidly, the quest for the next big hit has quickly driven the evolution of K-pop music. Although it makes me feel a bit nostalgic, we are now witnessing the rise of the fifth generation of K-pop.
This new wave of girl groups is adeptly keeping pace with trends set by their fourth-generation predecessors, such as: Le Sserafim, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, Aespa, IVE, and NewJeans. These groups embrace a mix of poppier sounds and nostalgic 2000s influences, reflecting the industry’s ongoing fascination with bubbly, girl-crush themes.
Each fifth-generation girl group brings something distinctive to the table, while remaining true to their roots. ILLIT, for example, delivers irresistibly catchy pop music like “Magnetic”, which makes you want to dance and sing. Unis, similar to ILLIT, has slightly traditional origins in survival shows, but is uniquely gaining popularity in the Philippines, thanks to their two Filipino members, Elisia and Gehlee. Kiss of Life offers a nod to third-generation music, with members debuting as adults—a rare choice in an industry that often favors younger debutants. Their recent performance, featuring a One Piece cosplay, has also attracted anime fans to their music. Baby Monster also shows a subtle connection to third-generation sounds, reminiscent of BLACKPINK, and has generated considerable anticipation. In addition, Meovv, a girl group that debuted in September 2024, seems to draw inspiration from BLACKPINK as well.
K-pop’s influence in America has grown immensely, and I’m eager to hear what’s next. There is also a positive shift in the industry as companies begin bringing in more diversity to groups to make it possible for fans to share their culture. Overall, it seems we’re on the verge of a blend of nostalgic sounds from previous generations and refreshing new music, but I expect that there are going to be welcome shifts in keeping up and creating new trends in the music industry. .
Photo Credits:
Photo One (left): Kiss of Life Kpop group. Photo sourced from their official Instagram @kissoflife_s2 and portrait artist Silhyun Hada (@sihyunhada).
Photo Two (top right): Babymonster group. Photo found on their official Instagram @babymonster_YGofficial.
Photo Three (bottom right): UNIS group. 1st single "Curious" concept photo, Glow-Z ver. 2. Photo found on their Instagram @unis_offcl.