Trendy songs in South Korea: A roundup of hit songs
These days, K-culture—centered around K-pop—has become mainstream in Japan, hasn’t it?
One of the defining elements of K-culture is surely its music.
Here, we’ll be introducing some of the latest hit songs from Korea!
We’ve picked out tracks lighting up various charts: not only songs by popular idols, but also artists with enduring support in genres like trot and ballads, as well as Japanese songs that are gaining popularity in Korea.
There are countless amazing masterpieces, so feel free to use summaries like this as a starting point and dive deeper!
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Trending songs in Korea: Hit song roundup (221–230)
HOME SWEET HOME (feat. TAEYANG & DAESUNG)G-DRAGON
A pop number from G-Dragon featuring his fellow BIGBANG members Taeyang and Daesung.
Released in November 2024, it became a hit that dominated the Korean music charts.
The song overflows with a warm atmosphere that symbolizes the bond with fans.
Blending nostalgia with freshness, its melody and lyrics—heralding G-Dragon’s return—resonate deeply.
It was originally a BIGBANG track, by the way! They gave the first performance at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, held at Kyocera Dome Osaka, which created a huge buzz.
Packed with the joy of reuniting with fans, the song also showcases the charm of BIGBANG.
POWERG-DRAGON
A new release from G-DRAGON, a member of BIGBANG who also commands strong charisma as a solo artist.
Dropping in October 2024, it marks his first solo track in about seven years.
Centered on the theme of “power,” this work portrays G-DRAGON’s career, his passion for music, and his resurgence from adversity.
With hip-hop beats and energetic rap as its hallmarks, it showcases his personal strength and influence while reinterpreting what “power” means.
The lyrics, charged with the resolve to push forward despite prejudice and criticism, also serve to empower fans.
The music video stands out with its futuristic and bold visuals.
TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak)G-DRAGON
G-DRAGON, a titan of the Korean music scene and leader of BIGBANG, released his album “Übermensch” in February 2025, his first in about 11 years and 5 months.
Featuring Anderson .Paak, the project blends the feel-good vibe of a party tune with profound messaging.
The album contains eight tracks, including “POWER” and a collaboration with his group members, “HOME SWEET HOME,” offering a distinctive soundscape woven from soulful vocals and hip-hop beats.
Marking the kickoff to his first world tour in eight years—set to open at Goyang Sports Complex—this release delivers a track that will get your heart racing in energetic moments, from night drives to parties.
Season of MemoriesGFRIEND
A song commemorating the 10th anniversary of the girl group GFRIEND’s debut was released in January 2025.
The lyrics, which reflect the group’s history and gratitude to their fans, are notable and sprinkled with phrases that recall their past signature tracks.
Included as the title track of the album “Season of Memories,” it’s an emotional piece quintessentially GFRIEND.
Fans say they can’t stop crying, and it showcases GFRIEND’s musical maturity.
KISS ME (Feat. BIG Naughty)GIRIBOY, BIG Naughty
Lately, Korean hip-hop has been gaining attention in the Japanese hip-hop scene as well.
This time, I’d like to introduce a particularly accessible and catchy track from Korean hip-hop: “KISS ME (Feat.
BIG Naughty).” It’s a collaboration between rapper Giriboy and BIG Naughty, and it samples the Boy’s Town Gang classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
Don’t know youHeize
“Things you only realize after a breakup”—that’s the theme of the heartbreak song ‘널 너무 모르고 (Don’t Know You).’ It’s a 2017 hit by R&B artist Heize, known for her refined songwriting and delicate emotional expression.
Said to be drawn from real experience, the song reflects on how she didn’t truly know her lover.
Though she tried hard while wishing for happiness, she regrets the little time they actually spent together.
The intensity of the music video is a bit frightening, but perhaps it’s a way of breaking free.
HAPPENHeize
Haze, an R&B artist known for her high-quality tracks, released this song in May 2021.
It was included on her first album after moving to P NATION, headed by the globally known PSY.
Even among her many strong releases, this one stood out as a major hit, ranking 13th on Melon’s year-end chart.
Its sound and melody, steeped in sentimental elements and a uniquely wistful atmosphere, stir emotions that are hard to put into words.
It’s a track that will likely resonate with each listener’s own sensibilities.
It captures that feeling of déjà vu—like something you’ve felt somewhere before—and traces the mysterious interplay of coincidence and destiny.
Stranger (feat. 10CM)Heize
A popular R&B artist known for her strong songwriting, Heize released this track in December 2023.
It’s the title song of her 8th mini-album, “Last Winter.” The lyrics portray a breakup, capturing the feelings of lovers who, due to small misunderstandings and a growing sense of discord, can no longer truly connect.
Deep down they want to stay together, but they keep hurting each other… In the end, they decide to part ways for each other’s sake, and the song conveys a lingering helplessness and remorse.
The emotive duet with 10cm’s Kwon Jung-yeol adds even more poignancy to the piece.
VingleVingle (Prod. R.Tee)Heize
Heize is a Korean singer-songwriter who is also active as a TV personality.
Her name is pronounced “Haze.” Although she’s juggling two careers, her ability as an artist is top-tier, and she consistently energizes the scene with stylish tracks.
Her new song is “VingleVingle (Prod.
R.Tee).” It’s a track shaped around the contemporary trend of synth-pop, with a drop that leaves a strong impact.
Kitschive
Girls group IVE.
With hits like LOVE DIVE and After LIKE, they’ve released many catchy tracks.
Among them, Kitsch stands out for its highly addictive chorus where the title repeats.
Another plus is that the non-chorus sections differ between the first and second halves, so you won’t get bored.
The poppy, bright melody lines contrast with the hook in the chorus that suddenly drops you, and the more you listen, the more that sensation becomes addictive.
