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[K-POP] A Special Feature on Korean Artists’ Debut Songs: Iconic Tracks That Marked Their Start

When discussing the allure of K-pop, the artists’ dazzling debut songs are indispensable.

These tracks embody their musical identity and hopes for the future, carrying a special meaning as they color their first encounter with fans.

They also mark the moment when the hard work and dreams built up since trainee days come to fruition, and sometimes you can sense the origins of later mega-hits.

In this article, we’ll look back at the debut works of various artists active in the K-pop scene and introduce the hidden charms within each song.

As we compare them with their current activities, please enjoy tracing the trajectory of their growth.

Playlist

[K-POP] A Special Feature on Korean Artists’ Debut Songs: Iconic Tracks That Marked Their Start
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Like OOH-AHHTwice
Like OOH-AHHTwiceplay_arrow
TWICE’s hit song that sings about a young girl’s expectations for love
2MagneticILLIT
MagneticILLITplay_arrow
ILLIT, already drawing major attention since their debut song. …
3SHEESHBABYMONSTER
SHEESHBABYMONSTERplay_arrow
Shocking the world with overwhelming performance...
4ELEVENive
ELEVENiveplay_arrow
The moment I fell in love, the world started to shimmer like a kaleidos…
5FEARLESSLE SSERAFIM
FEARLESSLE SSERAFIMplay_arrow
The meaning of the phrase “IM FEARLESS” is a…
6No More DreamBTS
No More DreamBTSplay_arrow
BTS: A Message of Dreams and Hope for Young People
7District 9Stray Kids
District 9Stray Kidsplay_arrow
“This isn’t where you belong”—and yet…
8Get A GuitarRIIZE
Get A GuitarRIIZEplay_arrow
From SM Entertainment in 2023…
9Black Mambaaespa
Black Mambaaespaplay_arrow
An innovative concept where the virtual world and reality intersect...
10BOOMBAYAHBLACKPINK
BOOMBAYAHBLACKPINKplay_arrow
The overwhelming appeal of BLACKPINK’s early signature songs
11HEARTRISNiziU
HEARTRISNiziUplay_arrow
NiziU’s Korean debut single “HEARTRIS”
12WE BELONG TOGETHERBIGBANG
WE BELONG TOGETHERBIGBANGplay_arrow
I’m convinced that we’re bound by fate and can’t be apart.
13CROWNTOMORROW X TOGETHER
CROWNTOMORROW X TOGETHERplay_arrow
“You and I, though different, gather in a single dream”…
14WaveWaySAY MY NAME
WaveWaySAY MY NAMEplay_arrow
SAY MY NAME’s debut song is, wav…
15FAMOUSALLDAY PROJECT
FAMOUSALLDAY PROJECTplay_arrow
A five-member group with unconventional backgrounds; their confident message is striking.
16CongratulationsDAY6
CongratulationsDAY6play_arrow
The moment when the word “congratulations” sounds the most cruel...
17DALLA DALLAITZY
DALLA DALLAITZYplay_arrow
As an artist who expresses self-love and individuality…
18Seven (feat. Latto)Jung Kook
Seven (feat. Latto)Jung Kookplay_arrow
Jungkook, the youngest member of the hugely popular BTS...
19DiscordQWER
DiscordQWERplay_arrow
The debut song of a girls’ band launched by a YouTuber
20EnergiticWanna One
EnergiticWanna Oneplay_arrow
11 members selected in an idol audition program
21HappinessRed Velvet
HappinessRed Velvetplay_arrow
Introduction to the K-pop idol group Red Velvet
22Shiny Star(2020)Kyoung Seo
Shiny Star(2020)Kyoung Seoplay_arrow
Kyung Seo’s debut song gains popularity as a remake
23WHISTLEBLACKPINK
WHISTLEBLACKPINKplay_arrow
A popular idol group from the same label as BIGBANG
24Back to Life&TEAM
Back to Life&TEAMplay_arrow
The powerful song by the global boy group &TEAM
25NAKEDY:SY
NAKEDY:SYplay_arrow
fromis_9's Seoyeon makes her solo debut with Y:SY
26LATATA(G)I-DLE(gen: i-dle)
LATATA(G)I-DLE(gen: i-dle)play_arrow
A multinational girl group makes a headline-grabbing debut
27MAMAEXO
MAMAEXOplay_arrow
The overwhelming popularity of the global idol EXO
28FACENu’Est
FACENu'Estplay_arrow
A song that reached number one for the first time in the sixth year since debut
29Dream GirlsI.O.I
Dream GirlsI.O.Iplay_arrow
A popular girl group born from an audition program
30KILL MA BO$$KIIRAS
KILL MA BO$$KIIRASplay_arrow
Breaking new standards with cowgirl-style music
31IZNAizna
IZNAiznaplay_arrow
Born from “I-LAND2 : N/a”…
32WE WOOpristin
WE WOOpristinplay_arrow
Award-winning song by the tall and beautiful Pristin
33I Don’t Like Your GirlfriendWeki Meki
I Don't Like Your GirlfriendWeki Mekiplay_arrow
A heartbreak song about teenage members of an idol group
34BLUEMADEIN S
BLUEMADEIN Splay_arrow
The debut of MADE IN S's youth-themed song
35Forbidden Midnight (Real ver.)iii
Forbidden Midnight (Real ver.)iiiplay_arrow
The debut song of a standout group that crossed over from AI
36SHOOT (Firecracker)CHAEYOUNG
SHOOT (Firecracker)CHAEYOUNGplay_arrow
Chaeyoung’s solo debut track—a song that exudes ambition.
37CRZYHAECHAN
CRZYHAECHANplay_arrow
The Appeal of Haechan’s Solo Debut Song “TASTE”
38AbandonedJay Park
AbandonedJay Parkplay_arrow
An American idol, R&B solo activities
39Plot TwistAtHeart
Plot TwistAtHeartplay_arrow
A fresh, unexpected kind of dance track
40Lost ChildIU
Lost ChildIUplay_arrow
IU’s debut song, a classic featuring a clear voice
41Stay With UN.TOP
Stay With UN.TOPplay_arrow
N.TOP’s debut song expresses youth and bonds
42Virtual AngelARTMS
Virtual AngelARTMSplay_arrow
Exploring identity in the digital age
43FantacyJBJ
FantacyJBJplay_arrow
An adult band from a K-POP show, with a sexy allure
44UhUhRESCENE
UhUhRESCENEplay_arrow
A five-member girl group that celebrates self-esteem
45Tough Cookie (Feat. Don Mills)ZICO
Tough Cookie (Feat. Don Mills)ZICOplay_arrow
ZICO’s solo debut track features sharp, crisp rap.
46F GirlBaby DONT Cry
F GirlBaby DONT Cryplay_arrow
The debut song of the new group under PSY
47The day we foughtBolbbalgan4
The day we foughtBolbbalgan4play_arrow
A popular adolescent duo with rosy cheeks
48I don’t KnowA Pink
I don't KnowA Pinkplay_arrow
Into the K-pop scene, where the sexy image had been mainstream, …
49InsaneBTOB
InsaneBTOBplay_arrow
Dramatically portraying the madness and pain brought about by passionate love...
50ATHLETIC GIRLH1-KEY
ATHLETIC GIRLH1-KEYplay_arrow
Boldly, with a beauty full of confidence — co...
51ShhhKISS OF LIFE
ShhhKISS OF LIFEplay_arrow
Featuring alumni of survival audition programs and renowned composers…
52SO BADSTAYC
SO BADSTAYCplay_arrow
Hit maker Black Eyed Pilseung…
53In BloomZEROBASEONE
In BloomZEROBASEONEplay_arrow
The audition program “BOYS PLANE…
54I’m Just MeCrazAngel
I'm Just MeCrazAngelplay_arrow
A powerful self-affirmation song about living true to yourself
55WonderlandGugudan
WonderlandGugudanplay_arrow
The appeal of the idol group Gugudan
56RendezvousAHOF
RendezvousAHOFplay_arrow
AHOF’s remarkable rise born from a survival show
57Bomb Bomb BombMYTRO
Bomb Bomb BombMYTROplay_arrow
A fresh new wave that fuses Trot and K-pop
58I’M SO SORRY, BUT I LOVE YOUBE BOYS
I'M SO SORRY, BUT I LOVE YOUBE BOYSplay_arrow
The survival show–born BE BOYZ are heartr...
59ZOOMUSPEER
ZOOMUSPEERplay_arrow
USPEER, the junior group to OH MY GIRL, with a powerful debut track
60Now or NeverEJel
Now or NeverEJelplay_arrow
Shin, who placed third on Sing Again 3...
61CHEEKYEL7Z UP
CHEEKYEL7Z UPplay_arrow
EL7Z UP's confident new song, packed with trendiness.
62PerADYA
PerADYAplay_arrow
A hopeful call to adventure, an anthem of self-affirmation
63WISH (Korean Ver.)NCT WISH
WISH (Korean Ver.)NCT WISHplay_arrow
A moving debut song that sings of dreams and hope
64BIRDPSY
BIRDPSYplay_arrow
PSY’s sharp dance moves and addictive songs
65NU SHOESTOZ
NU SHOESTOZplay_arrow
TOZ's first K-pop debut song, a positive youth anthem
66FREAKYUQI
FREAKYUQIplay_arrow
Yugi’s solo debut, a pop song about self-affirmation
67Ride the VibeNEXZ
Ride the VibeNEXZplay_arrow
NEXZ’s first HIPHOP × R&B hit song
68POSSIBLEWATERFIRE
POSSIBLEWATERFIREplay_arrow
The debut song of choice for the members who made it through
69Click MeZion.T
Click MeZion.Tplay_arrow
Hip-hop YG singer and producer
702 MonthsUAU
2 MonthsUAUplay_arrow
Dreamcatcher three-member unit Yoohyeon and Yooyoung new song
71Freeze!Block B
Freeze!Block Bplay_arrow
Block B: Unique and talented idol(s)
72SOURPATCHHITGS
SOURPATCHHITGSplay_arrow
Girls group HITGS that captivates with freshness and purity
73TeaVVS
TeaVVSplay_arrow
VVS debut track, trap and electronic sounds
74UN VillageBAEKHYUN
UN VillageBAEKHYUNplay_arrow
The appeal of Baekhyun’s solo debut track “City Lights”
75NERDYifeye
NERDYifeyeplay_arrow
A six-member girl group that debuted in April 2025…
76All My PoetryClose Your Eyes
All My PoetryClose Your Eyesplay_arrow
JTBC's audition program 'PROJE…'
77Flip the CoinNEWBEAT
Flip the CoinNEWBEATplay_arrow
20 from BEAT Interactive…
78잠못드는 밤 비는 내리고 (Sleepless Rainy Night)Kimu Gonmo
잠못드는 밤 비는 내리고 (Sleepless Rainy Night)Kimu Gonmoplay_arrow
A heart-penetrating, rain-sound melody by Kim Gun-mo
79AirYEJI
AirYEJIplay_arrow
Edgy synth-pop melodies and power...
80The ChaseHearts2Hearts
The ChaseHearts2Heartsplay_arrow
Sensing a new era with fantastical K-pop
81Tabom (feat. Shindong)Jungseul
Tabom (feat. Shindong)Jungseulplay_arrow
Jongseul, the debut of a new generation in trot
82Don`t you know(PROD.ROCOBERRY)ZO ZAZZ
Don`t you know(PROD.ROCOBERRY)ZO ZAZZplay_arrow
An outlier that suddenly appeared in the Korean music scene…
83TrespassMONSTAX
TrespassMONSTAXplay_arrow
MONSTA X is a talented, sexy group.
84AGASSYSOOJIN
AGASSYSOOJINplay_arrow
Fusion of Eastern mystique and contemporary music
85WingsIRISÉ
WingsIRISÉplay_arrow
This work, which sings of taking flight toward a dazzling future, is Kan…
86Mama SaidKickFlip
Mama SaidKickFlipplay_arrow
The hit that KickFrip delivers with their debut…
87On The GroundROSÉ
On The GroundROSÉplay_arrow
Rosé’s solo debut song “On The Ground” is a hit.
88BANG!WHIB
BANG!WHIBplay_arrow
WHIB, a song that expresses the duality of love and dreams
89Summer Feeling3piece
Summer Feeling3pieceplay_arrow
Coloring the summer with their Korean debut song
90GOTCHAALL(H)OURS
GOTCHAALL(H)OURSplay_arrow
A confident track from a K-pop debut group
91LOVE ME DOASC2NT
LOVE ME DOASC2NTplay_arrow
ASC2NT's powerful debut single, a step toward a dream
92Oh My!Atlantis Kitsune
Oh My!Atlantis Kitsuneplay_arrow
New song by Atlantis Fox has arrived
93BADVILLAINBADVILLAIN
BADVILLAINBADVILLAINplay_arrow
Bad Villain’s self-expression message song
94Black OutCHANYEOL
Black OutCHANYEOLplay_arrow
EXO’s Chanyeol delivers a powerful solo track that resonates with the heart.
95Little LightDOYOUNG
Little LightDOYOUNGplay_arrow
The radiance and anguish of youth in search of hope
96Wander just a little longer (mou sukoshi dake samayotte)Heize
Wander just a little longer (Mou sukoshi dake samayotte) Heizeplay_arrow
Heize gains popularity, love song with Crucial
97SmokeJAEHYUN
SmokeJAEHYUNplay_arrow
A love song by Jaehyun from South Korea, rich in emotion.
98Feel LostJU-NE
Feel LostJU-NEplay_arrow
June’s solo debut, profound rock music
99Only OneL5ST
Only OneL5STplay_arrow
L5ST’s moving debut song, rich in emotion
100MY TYPELEE SEUNGHOON
MY TYPELEE SEUNGHOONplay_arrow
Lee Seunghoon unleashes his full solo charm in his debut EP
101UNOMADEIN
UNOMADEINplay_arrow
An inspiring song that portrays the vibrancy of youth and the poignancy of love
102MEOWMEOVV
MEOWMEOVVplay_arrow
Meov’s debut song: a shining display of confidence and individuality
103That NightMeloMance
That NightMeloManceplay_arrow
A gentle-voiced duo that rose to a hit from the indie scene
104OoWeeNOWADAYS
OoWeeNOWADAYSplay_arrow
A hopeful song that finds the light in a debut track
105FocusNew-L
FocusNew-Lplay_arrow
New-L, a confident cheer song
106It’s callSONG
It's callSONGplay_arrow
Song Yun-hyeong’s solo debut song
107I FeelSURAN
I FeelSURANplay_arrow
Suran’s powerful ballad produced by SUGA
108Run AwayTZUYU
Run AwayTZUYUplay_arrow
Tzuyu’s solo debut track, a sophisticated dance tune
109LOVE IT LIVE ITYDPP
LOVE IT LIVE ITYDPPplay_arrow
A unit formed from an audition program
110LOOP (feat. Lil Cherry)Yves
LOOP (feat. Lil Cherry)Yvesplay_arrow
Eve’s solo debut track portrays selfhood and romance.
111Donenævis
Donenævisplay_arrow
Self-Growth of a Virtual Artist
112Girls Never DietripleS
Girls Never DietripleSplay_arrow
tripleS’s moving Rookie of the Year award-winning song
113아메리카노 한잔에 빗소리채원(CLASS:y)
아메리카노 한잔에 빗소리채원(CLASS:y)play_arrow
Chaewon’s rainy-day ballad is soothing.
114THAT’S MEODD YOUTH
THAT'S MEODD YOUTHplay_arrow
The five-member girl group, Odd Youth’s de…
115Check PatternSUNGJIN
Check PatternSUNGJINplay_arrow
So-, the leader of the South Korean rock band DAY6...
116I’m Not SorryDEAN
I'm Not SorryDEANplay_arrow
Popularity of DEAN and characteristics of his musical activities
117Candy Jelly LoveLovelyz
Candy Jelly LoveLovelyzplay_arrow
A neat and cute idol group popular among men
118SixteenSamuel
SixteenSamuelplay_arrow
Solo artist from a K-pop audition
119짠쿵쾅 (JJan! Koong! Kwang!)momoland
짠쿵쾅 (JJan! Koong! Kwang!)momolandplay_arrow
BTS: Popular for their intensely addictive songs