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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
1eastLike OOH-AHHTwice
Like OOH-AHHTwiceplay_arrow
TWICE’s hit song that sings about a young girl’s expectations for love
2eastMagneticILLIT
MagneticILLITplay_arrow
ILLIT's new song is making waves with its Korean-Japanese mix
3eastNo More DreamBTS
No More DreamBTSplay_arrow
BTS: A Message of Dreams and Hope for Young People
4eastSHEESHBABYMONSTER
SHEESHBABYMONSTERplay_arrow
BABYMONSTER’s self-assured track
5eastFEARLESSLE SSERAFIM
FEARLESSLE SSERAFIMplay_arrow
LE SSERAFIM debut work: advancing without fear
6eastELEVENive
ELEVENiveplay_arrow
The debut song that depicts the exhilaration of romance has achieved 13 crowns
7north_eastFree FallingKANGMIN
Free FallingKANGMINplay_arrow
Kangmin’s first solo track, a sophisticated R&B pop
8south_eastGet A GuitarRIIZE
Get A GuitarRIIZEplay_arrow
RIIZE’s positive dance pop
9south_eastHEARTRISNiziU
HEARTRISNiziUplay_arrow
NiziU’s Korean debut single “HEARTRIS”
10south_eastWaveWaySAY MY NAME
WaveWaySAY MY NAMEplay_arrow
SAY MY NAME’s debut song is full of hope and its music video is hugely popular
11south_eastBlack Mambaaespa
Black Mambaaespaplay_arrow
aespa's debut song. A futuristic and grand worldview
12south_eastDistrict 9Stray Kids
District 9Stray Kidsplay_arrow
Affirming your true self in Stray Kids' debut song
13eastHOPE (WE GOT THIS!)STRITZ
HOPE (WE GOT THIS!)STRITZplay_arrow
A project to turn ordinary people into idols
14eastTug of WarV01D
Tug of WarV01Dplay_arrow
Boyd’s new song is a rock track that depicts romantic feelings
15eastIce CreamYuna
Ice CreamYunaplay_arrow
Yuna’s solo debut song Ice Cream
16eastBOOMBAYAHBLACKPINK
BOOMBAYAHBLACKPINKplay_arrow
The overwhelming appeal of BLACKPINK’s early signature songs
17eastSeven (feat. Latto)Jung Kook
Seven (feat. Latto)Jung Kookplay_arrow
BTS Jungkook’s solo song is a global mega-hit
18eastDiscordQWER
DiscordQWERplay_arrow
The debut song of a girls’ band launched by a YouTuber
19eastWE BELONG TOGETHERBIGBANG
WE BELONG TOGETHERBIGBANGplay_arrow
BIGBANG's debut song that sings of eternal love
20eastCongratulationsDAY6
CongratulationsDAY6play_arrow
DAY6’s heartbreak song, an ironic blessing
21eastCROWNTOMORROW X TOGETHER
CROWNTOMORROW X TOGETHERplay_arrow
A story of self-affirmation that turns individuality into a crown
22eastFAMOUSALLDAY PROJECT
FAMOUSALLDAY PROJECTplay_arrow
A five-member group with unconventional backgrounds; their confident message is striking.
23eastEnergiticWanna One
EnergiticWanna Oneplay_arrow
11 members selected in an idol audition program
24eastHappinessRed Velvet
HappinessRed Velvetplay_arrow
Introduction to the K-pop idol group Red Velvet
25eastWHISTLEBLACKPINK
WHISTLEBLACKPINKplay_arrow
A popular idol group from the same label as BIGBANG
26eastDALLA DALLAITZY
DALLA DALLAITZYplay_arrow
ITZY’s debut song, an energetic EDM
27eastShiny Star(2020)Kyoung Seo
Shiny Star(2020)Kyoung Seoplay_arrow
Kyung Seo’s debut song gains popularity as a remake
28eastFACENu’Est
FACENu'Estplay_arrow
A song that reached number one for the first time in the sixth year since debut
29eastLATATA(G)I-DLE(gen: i-dle)
LATATA(G)I-DLE(gen: i-dle)play_arrow
A multinational girl group makes a headline-grabbing debut
30eastDream GirlsI.O.I
Dream GirlsI.O.Iplay_arrow
A popular girl group born from an audition program
31eastMAMAEXO
MAMAEXOplay_arrow
The overwhelming popularity of the global idol EXO
32eastIZNAizna
IZNAiznaplay_arrow
izna 2024 November debut song
33eastWE WOOpristin
WE WOOpristinplay_arrow
Award-winning song by the tall and beautiful Pristin
34eastI Don’t Like Your GirlfriendWeki Meki
I Don't Like Your GirlfriendWeki Mekiplay_arrow
A heartbreak song about teenage members of an idol group
35eastBack to Life&TEAM
Back to Life&TEAMplay_arrow
The powerful song by the global boy group &TEAM
36eastNAKEDY:SY
NAKEDY:SYplay_arrow
fromis_9's Seoyeon makes her solo debut with Y:SY
37eastKILL MA BO$$KIIRAS
KILL MA BO$$KIIRASplay_arrow
Breaking new standards with cowgirl-style music
38eastLost ChildIU
Lost ChildIUplay_arrow
IU’s debut song, a classic featuring a clear voice
39eastAbandonedJay Park
AbandonedJay Parkplay_arrow
An American idol, R&B solo activities
40eastVirtual AngelARTMS
Virtual AngelARTMSplay_arrow
Exploring identity in the digital age
41eastFantacyJBJ
FantacyJBJplay_arrow
An adult band from a K-POP show, with a sexy allure
42eastUhUhRESCENE
UhUhRESCENEplay_arrow
A five-member girl group that celebrates self-esteem
43eastTough Cookie (Feat. Don Mills)ZICO
Tough Cookie (Feat. Don Mills)ZICOplay_arrow
ZICO’s solo debut track features sharp, crisp rap.
44eastWISH (Korean Ver.)NCT WISH
WISH (Korean Ver.)NCT WISHplay_arrow
A moving debut song that sings of dreams and hope
45eastThe day we foughtBolbbalgan4
The day we foughtBolbbalgan4play_arrow
A popular adolescent duo with rosy cheeks
46eastWonderlandGugudan
WonderlandGugudanplay_arrow
The appeal of the idol group Gugudan
47eastSHOOT (Firecracker)CHAEYOUNG
SHOOT (Firecracker)CHAEYOUNGplay_arrow
Chaeyoung’s solo debut track—a song that exudes ambition.
48eastCRZYHAECHAN
CRZYHAECHANplay_arrow
The Appeal of Haechan’s Solo Debut Song “TASTE”
49eastNow or NeverEJel
Now or NeverEJelplay_arrow
Ijel’s debut song depicts the determination to pursue a dream
50eastCHEEKYEL7Z UP
CHEEKYEL7Z UPplay_arrow
EL7Z UP's confident new song, packed with trendiness.
51eastPerADYA
PerADYAplay_arrow
A hopeful call to adventure, an anthem of self-affirmation
52eastBomb Bomb BombMYTRO
Bomb Bomb BombMYTROplay_arrow
A fresh new wave that fuses Trot and K-pop
53eastBIRDPSY
BIRDPSYplay_arrow
PSY’s sharp dance moves and addictive songs
54eastNU SHOESTOZ
NU SHOESTOZplay_arrow
TOZ's first K-pop debut song, a positive youth anthem
55eastFREAKYUQI
FREAKYUQIplay_arrow
Yugi’s solo debut, a pop song about self-affirmation
56eastPlot TwistAtHeart
Plot TwistAtHeartplay_arrow
A fresh, unexpected kind of dance track
57eastBLUEMADEIN S
BLUEMADEIN Splay_arrow
The debut of MADE IN S's youth-themed song
58eastForbidden Midnight (Real ver.)iii
Forbidden Midnight (Real ver.)iiiplay_arrow
The debut song of a standout group that crossed over from AI
59eastRide the VibeNEXZ
Ride the VibeNEXZplay_arrow
NEXZ’s first HIPHOP × R&B hit song
60eastPOSSIBLEWATERFIRE
POSSIBLEWATERFIREplay_arrow
The debut song of choice for the members who made it through
61eastClick MeZion.T
Click MeZion.Tplay_arrow
Hip-hop YG singer and producer
62eastStay With UN.TOP
Stay With UN.TOPplay_arrow
N.TOP’s debut song expresses youth and bonds
63eastFreeze!Block B
Freeze!Block Bplay_arrow
Block B: Unique and talented idol(s)
64eastI don’t KnowA Pink
I don't KnowA Pinkplay_arrow
Apink’s unrequited love theme song
65eastInsaneBTOB
InsaneBTOBplay_arrow
BTOB’s debut song: the madness of a fierce love
66eastATHLETIC GIRLH1-KEY
ATHLETIC GIRLH1-KEYplay_arrow
H1-KEY’s debut work depicts confidence and strength
67eastShhhKISS OF LIFE
ShhhKISS OF LIFEplay_arrow
KISS OF LIFE’s debut song
68eastSO BADSTAYC
SO BADSTAYCplay_arrow
STAYC’s debut, an addictive melody
69eastIn BloomZEROBASEONE
In BloomZEROBASEONEplay_arrow
ZEROBASEONE's debut youth cheer song
70eastI’m Just MeCrazAngel
I'm Just MeCrazAngelplay_arrow
A powerful self-affirmation song about living true to yourself
71eastRendezvousAHOF
RendezvousAHOFplay_arrow
AHOF’s remarkable rise born from a survival show
72eastF GirlBaby DONT Cry
F GirlBaby DONT Cryplay_arrow
The debut song of the new group under PSY
73eastI’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...
74eastZOOMUSPEER
ZOOMUSPEERplay_arrow
USPEER, the junior group to OH MY GIRL, with a powerful debut track
75eastSOURPATCHHITGS
SOURPATCHHITGSplay_arrow
Girls group HITGS that captivates with freshness and purity
76eastTeaVVS
TeaVVSplay_arrow
VVS debut track, trap and electronic sounds
77east2 MonthsUAU
2 MonthsUAUplay_arrow
Dreamcatcher three-member unit Yoohyeon and Yooyoung new song
78eastUN VillageBAEKHYUN
UN VillageBAEKHYUNplay_arrow
The appeal of Baekhyun’s solo debut track “City Lights”
79eastAll My PoetryClose Your Eyes
All My PoetryClose Your Eyesplay_arrow
CLOSE YOUR EYES makes their debut
80eastThe ChaseHearts2Hearts
The ChaseHearts2Heartsplay_arrow
Sensing a new era with fantastical K-pop
81eastWingsIRISÉ
WingsIRISÉplay_arrow
IRISÉ’s hope-filled debut song
82eastTabom (feat. Shindong)Jungseul
Tabom (feat. Shindong)Jungseulplay_arrow
Jongseul, the debut of a new generation in trot
83eastMama SaidKickFlip
Mama SaidKickFlipplay_arrow
Conveying the importance of living true to yourself through KickFlip’s debut song
84eastFlip the CoinNEWBEAT
Flip the CoinNEWBEATplay_arrow
NEWBEAT's new song, expressing the duality of good and evil
85eastOn The GroundROSÉ
On The GroundROSÉplay_arrow
Rosé’s solo debut “On The Ground” became a hit
86eastAGASSYSOOJIN
AGASSYSOOJINplay_arrow
Fusion of Eastern mystique and contemporary music
87eastBANG!WHIB
BANG!WHIBplay_arrow
WHIB, a song that expresses the duality of love and dreams
88eastAirYEJI
AirYEJIplay_arrow
Yeji’s solo debut song, brimming with dynamism
89eastDon`t you know(PROD.ROCOBERRY)ZO ZAZZ
Don`t you know(PROD.ROCOBERRY)ZO ZAZZplay_arrow
Korean rookie draws attention with new ballad song
90eastNERDYifeye
NERDYifeyeplay_arrow
ifeye's debut song is self-affirmation pop
91east잠못드는 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
92eastSummer Feeling3piece
Summer Feeling3pieceplay_arrow
Coloring the summer with their Korean debut song
93eastGOTCHAALL(H)OURS
GOTCHAALL(H)OURSplay_arrow
A confident track from a K-pop debut group
94eastLOVE ME DOASC2NT
LOVE ME DOASC2NTplay_arrow
ASC2NT's powerful debut single, a step toward a dream
95eastOh My!Atlantis Kitsune
Oh My!Atlantis Kitsuneplay_arrow
New song by Atlantis Fox has arrived
96eastBADVILLAINBADVILLAIN
BADVILLAINBADVILLAINplay_arrow
Bad Villain’s self-expression message song
97eastBlack OutCHANYEOL
Black OutCHANYEOLplay_arrow
EXO’s Chanyeol delivers a powerful solo track that resonates with the heart.
98eastLittle LightDOYOUNG
Little LightDOYOUNGplay_arrow
The radiance and anguish of youth in search of hope
99eastWander 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
100eastSmokeJAEHYUN
SmokeJAEHYUNplay_arrow
A love song by Jaehyun from South Korea, rich in emotion.
101eastFeel LostJU-NE
Feel LostJU-NEplay_arrow
June’s solo debut, profound rock music
102eastOnly OneL5ST
Only OneL5STplay_arrow
L5ST’s moving debut song, rich in emotion
103eastMY TYPELEE SEUNGHOON
MY TYPELEE SEUNGHOONplay_arrow
Lee Seunghoon unleashes his full solo charm in his debut EP
104eastUNOMADEIN
UNOMADEINplay_arrow
An inspiring song that portrays the vibrancy of youth and the poignancy of love
105eastMEOWMEOVV
MEOWMEOVVplay_arrow
Meov’s debut song: a shining display of confidence and individuality
106eastThat NightMeloMance
That NightMeloManceplay_arrow
A gentle-voiced duo that rose to a hit from the indie scene
107eastOoWeeNOWADAYS
OoWeeNOWADAYSplay_arrow
A hopeful song that finds the light in a debut track
108eastFocusNew-L
FocusNew-Lplay_arrow
New-L, a confident cheer song
109eastIt’s callSONG
It's callSONGplay_arrow
Song Yun-hyeong’s solo debut song
110eastI FeelSURAN
I FeelSURANplay_arrow
Suran’s powerful ballad produced by SUGA
111eastRun AwayTZUYU
Run AwayTZUYUplay_arrow
Tzuyu’s solo debut track, a sophisticated dance tune
112eastLOVE IT LIVE ITYDPP
LOVE IT LIVE ITYDPPplay_arrow
A unit formed from an audition program
113eastLOOP (feat. Lil Cherry)Yves
LOOP (feat. Lil Cherry)Yvesplay_arrow
Eve’s solo debut track portrays selfhood and romance.
114eastDonenævis
Donenævisplay_arrow
Self-Growth of a Virtual Artist
115eastGirls Never DietripleS
Girls Never DietripleSplay_arrow
tripleS’s moving Rookie of the Year award-winning song
116east아메리카노 한잔에 빗소리채원(CLASS:y)
아메리카노 한잔에 빗소리채원(CLASS:y)play_arrow
Chaewon’s rainy-day ballad is soothing.
117eastTHAT’S MEODD YOUTH
THAT'S MEODD YOUTHplay_arrow
Odd Youth's debut song, themed around youth and friendship
118eastCheck PatternSUNGJIN
Check PatternSUNGJINplay_arrow
DAY6's Sungjin makes solo debut
119eastI’m Not SorryDEAN
I'm Not SorryDEANplay_arrow
Popularity of DEAN and characteristics of his musical activities
120eastCandy Jelly LoveLovelyz
Candy Jelly LoveLovelyzplay_arrow
A neat and cute idol group popular among men
121eastTrespassMONSTAX
TrespassMONSTAXplay_arrow
MONSTA X is a talented, sexy group.
122eastSixteenSamuel
SixteenSamuelplay_arrow
Solo artist from a K-pop audition
123east짠쿵쾅 (JJan! Koong! Kwang!)momoland
짠쿵쾅 (JJan! Koong! Kwang!)momolandplay_arrow
BTS: Popular for their intensely addictive songs