A J-POP song highly popular in South Korea [with a Korean-language cover too!]
Japanese music is gaining attention among younger generations in Korea.
Of course anime plays a role, but in recent years the influence of social media has helped people enjoy music from all over the world, regardless of country.
Through things like dance collaborations between idols and programs such as the “Japan-Korea Top Ten Show,” we can feel the growing exchange between Japanese and Korean artists, as well as the spread of J-pop and Showa-era pop.
For a long time, sales of Japanese records were restricted in Korea, but now it’s great to see them becoming popular and spreading thanks to various influences.
Let’s all enjoy the J-pop that’s so popular in Korea!
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Popular J-POP Songs in South Korea [With Korean Covers Too!] (41–50)
Perfumeeitō (COVER: haun)
Eito’s “Perfume,” which first caught fire through cover videos on social media, went on to become a massive hit in Japan.
Released in 2019, the song’s lyrics depict a narrator who knows he won’t get back together with his ex, yet finds his heart wavering whenever he catches the scent of the perfume she wears.
In Japan, it was covered by many notable figures, including Shingo Katori, Misako Uno of AAA, and the comedy duo Chocolate Planet.
In Korea, singer-songwriter Ha Eun also covered the song, and many Korean listeners—just like Japanese listeners—posted numerous singing covers online.
It’s nothing.RADWIMPS（COVER：Raon Lee）
A four-member rock band, RADWIMPS, whose songs combine arrangements that fuse pop sensibilities with complexity and lyrics offering a distinctive perspective, has won listeners across a wide range of demographics.
This track, included on the soundtrack produced for the animated film Your Name, features a poignant melody built on the yo scale and lyrics that evoke scenes from the movie, making it a memorable number.
While Zenzenzense is the best-known song from Your Name in Japan, it’s interesting that Nandemonaiya is more popular in South Korea.
It’s also widely known for being covered by many K-pop idols and consistently ranks near the top of J-pop charts in Korean karaoke.
My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS（COVER：DAY6）
The animated film Your Name, directed by Makoto Shinkai, became a huge hit not only in Japan but around the world.
Its insert song Zenzenzense by RADWIMPS also gained popularity in Korea along with the movie.
Set to a driving, exhilarating melody, the song expresses a great love that suggests we have been connected for decades, even centuries, in a way that mirrors the film’s story.
In Korea, it has been covered by the four-member band DAY6 and singer-songwriter Lee Juck, among others.
Just as in Japan, many people in Korea sang this song at karaoke.
Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!)SPYAIR
SPYAIR’s “Samurai Heart (Some Like It Hot!!),” which was used as the ending theme for the hugely popular anime Gintama’, was released in 2011 and has gained popularity not only in Japan but also in South Korea.
Gintama itself—including the original manga, the anime, and even the live-action films—has been enjoyed by many fans in Korea.
SPYAIR has performed at numerous large outdoor festivals in Korea, showcasing this song many times there as well.
Combined with the fact that it’s the theme song for a manga/anime beloved in Korea, it has thrilled many fans.
Glass Memories (The Springtime of My Life)TUBE（COVER：CAN）
This is the 15th single by TUBE, a four-member rock band whose name is among the first to come up when thinking of summer in the J-POP scene.
The song was used as the ending theme for the educational quiz show Hitachi Sekai Fushigi Hakken! Its lyrical intro, which moves from a classical opening into an emotional, tear-jerking guitar phrase, is undeniably catchy.
In Korea, it was covered in 2001 by the male duo CAN under the title “The Spring Days of My Life,” and gained attention as the theme song for the Korean drama Piano.
It’s an enduring classic that is still often heard in the Korean music scene, including live covers by SUPER JUNIOR’s Heechul.
idolYOASOBI
It became the first Japanese-language song to reach No.
1 on Billboard’s Global Excl.
U.S.
chart—a killer tune from 2023 that’s hitting fast.
As the theme song for the anime “Oshi no Ko,” it reflects the strong popularity of Japanese anime in Korea as well, and on TikTok many idols like TWICE, LE SSERAFIM, and ENHYPEN are dancing to it.
The song is packed with impact and catchy appeal.
It’s also ranking high on Korean charts for subscription services like YouTube Music and Apple Music.
Even among YOASOBI’s explosive hits, this situation is unprecedented; it looks set to sweep not only Korea but the entire world.
left-right confusionYorushika
There are tons of videos on YouTube by Korean creators like “I tried singing a Yorushika song” or “I listened to a Yorushika song.” Yorushika’s music is popular in Korea as well, and this track, Sayūmō, has charted on Korean Apple Music and Spotify.
Sayūmō refers to a phenomenon where a person can’t distinguish left from right; some say it isn’t even a specific illness.
The lyrics—along the lines of “heartbreak left me so shattered I can’t even tell left from right”—focus exquisitely on the pain of a breakup and the quiet that follows.
It’s a highly recommended song that showcases Yorushika’s delicate perspective.