Reader's Choice: Top K-pop Songs First Half of 2025

The first half of 2025 has delivered an interesting wave of K-pop hits, and your votes have spoken! From addictive debuts to comebacks that knocked it out of the park, The KpopWise community’s top picks showcase a wide and dynamic range that goes beyond the top-charting songs of well-known groups.

Leading the pack is the rookie group with a genderless concept XLOV who made a comeback within five months of debut wiht "1&Only", a track that dominated the ranks of our community with its infectious energy, followed closely by sultry fan favorites like P1Harmony’s "Pretty Boy" and ATEEZ’s "Lemon Drop." Whether you’re drawn to bold performances or soulful melodies, this year’s standout tracks so far prove that K-pop still has acts out there willing to push boundaries.

What makes this list special? It’s powered entirely by you—the listeners who stream, share, and celebrate these songs daily. The results highlight not just popularity but the deep connection between artists and fans, with surprises like rising stars such as 82MAJOR or NouerA and timeless acts like SHINee and HIGHLIGHT making their mark. The songs were title tracks and B-sides from January to the first week of July 2025. The songs are choosen in no particular order.

Let's dive in to discover which songs resonated most, and let us know if your top pick made the cut!

Editor's Top 10 picks

ARTMS - Icarus

This track soars with mythological ambition, proving that sometimes flying too close to the sun creates the most spectacular musical moments. The members serve ethereal vocals and graceful choreography that feel like they're ready to soar through the sky, making you wonder if they've actually discovered the secret to musical flight.

XLOV - 1&Only

This debut group "boldly challenges gender norms" that took the K-pop community by storm. As the first comeback track from the group, it serves up Afrobeats-influenced smoothness in a way that is as refreshing as it is boundary-breaking.

All(H)ours - GIMME GIMME

This dance track that demands your attention with the urgency of someone who knows exactly what they want and isn't afraid to ask for it. The high-energy track, much like All(H)ours other songs, reenergizes you like a quick shot of adrenaline.

The Boyz - VVV

A track hits with the triple impact its title suggests. It's the kind of song that makes you understand why The Boyz have mastered the art of turning simple concepts into absolute earworms.

STAYC - Bebe

STAYC continues their streak of creating addictively catchy hooks that lodge themselves in your brain like the world's most pleasant parasite. This track serves up their signature blend of sweet and sassy that makes you feel ready to walk the runway.

Seulgi - Baby, Not Baby

Red Velvet's main dancer proves she can carry a solo track with the same grace she brings to choreography. The playful contradiction in the title perfectly captures Seulgi's ability to be both adorably charming and devastatingly cool in the same breath.

PLAVE - DASH

Despite being "virtual" artists, PLAVE have "carved out their own niche" with music that is human and emotionally resonant. This resilient anthem races forward with infectious energy that proves sometimes the most authentic feelings come from the most unexpected sources.

ITZY - Girls Will Be Girls

Released as their 10th mini album, continuing their evolution from their confident 2019 debut style this anthem celebrates unapologetic strong femininity with the kind of gusto ITZY can deliver. It's a rallying cry wrapped in a pop song that makes being yourself sound like the coolest rebellion possible.

82MAJOR - Takeover

This track lives up to its ambitious title by actually attempting a musical coup that's so well-executed you'll willingly surrender. The young group brings enough charisma and sonic firepower to make their takeover an infectious vibe that makes you want to join their lineup.

INFINITE - Dangerous

These veterans prove that experience is the most dangerous weapon of all, and they make it look easy as they deliver a track that's both nostalgically familiar and thrillingly unpredictable. It's the kind of song that reminds you why INFINITE earned their legendary status while showing they're nowhere near ready to retire their crown.

B-sides I keep running back to:

RIIZE - Bag Bad Back

A bold reinvention of RIIZE’s sound, with lyrics by BIGONE, "Bad Bad Back" blends hypnotic basslines with razor-sharp choreography, cementing their reputation as performance powerhouses. The track’s addictive call-and-response hook and sleek production make it an instant earworm, while the lyrics while showcasing the group’s maturing charisma.

P1Harmony - Pretty Boy

A stripped-down genre-defying anthem, fusing trap beats with shimmering synths for a sound that’s both edgy and irresistibly catchy. The song’s confident lyrics and sleek vocal delivery celebrate self-assurance in a fun way.

KpopWise Readers' Choice