[2026] J-POP songs popular in South Korea [with Korean covers 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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[2026] J-POP Songs Popular in South Korea [With Korean Covers Too!] (41–50)
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.
[2026] J-POP Songs Popular in South Korea [With Korean Covers Too!] (51–60)
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.
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.
InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE
The song released in July 2019 as the opening theme for the anime Fire Force exploded in popularity in South Korea under the title “불꽃소방대 OP.” Right after the anime began airing, Korean otaku forums were buzzing with comments like “the view count is insane,” and the track quickly secured its place as a staple anisong.
Videos featuring Korean translations of the lyrics and pronunciation guides were uploaded one after another, and the song even charted in the Japanese-song rankings at noraebang.
It has become established as a “singable J‑pop” hit to the point that its selection numbers are widely known for both TJ and Kumyoung.
Its driving guitar sound and fiery, flame-inspired message captured the hearts of Korea’s younger generation, and at the group’s first Seoul concert in February 2025, the venue turned into a massive sing-along.
It continues to be loved not only by anime fans but also as an entry point to discovering Mrs.
GREEN APPLE.
Because I like you.Yuika
A bittersweet love song about mutual but unspoken feelings, based on an experience from the artist’s first year of high school.
Released by Yuika in 2021, it gained support among younger generations through social media.
It topped Spotify’s viral charts in places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Russia, and Thailand.
In 2025, it even appeared on South Korea’s YouTube charts, showing its enduring popularity beyond Japan.
The lyrics, which honestly express down-to-earth emotions, capture a page of youth that anyone can relate to.
I thought about killing myselfamazarashi (COVER: Chansop by BTOB)
A rock band from Aomori Prefecture, amazarashi takes its name from a powerful idea: “We liken the sadness and pain that fall upon us in everyday life to rain; though we are exposed to the downpour, we still want to sing about the ‘even so.’” The song was originally written for the female singer Mika Nakashima, but amazarashi’s self-cover version has also drawn significant attention.
In Korea, it became a hot topic when top artists well-known in Japan, such as Jaejoong and BTOB’s Changsub, covered it.
This is a number that shows how a message—lyrical yet brimming with inner heat—can transcend borders and be felt, even when the country is different.
Sonnet of the Clownsadamasashi (COVER: Utagokoro Rie)
A cover version in which Rie Kagokoro sings, with deep emotion, the masterpiece Masashi Sada released to the world in 1980 as the theme song for the film “Tobe Ikarosu no Tsubasa” (Fly, the Wings of Icarus).
When she performed it on MBN Korea’s 2024 music program “Korea-Japan Song King Battle,” the video—under the Korean title “어릿광대의 소네트” (Sonnet of the Clown)—surpassed 9 million views, drawing reactions so strong it was said “the entire nation wept.” Officially released in April 2025 as the opening track of the album “SONGS,” it also came out in a sing-along version with Korean and romanized subtitles.
The poignant yet gentle tale of a protagonist who becomes a clown to make a loved one smile is deeply moving.
With a rich, powerful voice and delicate nuance, her singing conveys emotion even to those who don’t understand the lyrics.