In 2020, music provided solace to many during their hard times. With the South Korean pop industry blowing up across the globe, gaining the public’s attention is more challenging as many K-pop idol groups try to set their own record in the local and international scene. We want to share with you some of the most promising groups and newly-debuted K-pop artists stepping into the industry that you should definitely keep an eye on in 2021:
ENHYPHEN
ENHYPHEN was formed through the survival show ‘I-LAND’, and are the first artists from BELIFT LAB, a joint venture between CJ ENM and Big Hit Entertainment (the home of BTS and TXT). The newly debuted members Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-ki, are said to be young artists with limitless potential for growth.
ASTRO
Most of the K-pop groups have one or two members that are common fan favorites. However, you cannot have a single favorite in ASTRO. This 6-member group is amazing in every aspect of what a K-pop idol group should be. Every member is multi-talented—they act, sing, choreograph, compose, produce, and write lyrics.
A.C.E
K-pop boy group A.C.E consists of five members and debuted in 2017. The name A.C.E. stands for Adventure Calling Emotions – a message to people to have emotions that urge them to go on adventures. This group is known for experimenting with different types of music and styles, check them out and see for yourself.
Golden Child
Golden Child is a 10-member South Korean boy group under Woollim Entertainment. Bright and youthful vibes are their signature! Having 10 members with different personalities, their humor shines most when they’re all together. This group will definitely pump you up and brighten up your day with their music.
P1Harmony
These boys have it all: vocals, performances, visuals, and acting skills. FNC Entertainment produced a film to help their rookie group stand out from the dozens of groups making a debut in 2020. The group is determined about creating their own identity and music that will have an impact on the international and local market.
æspa
æspa is a South Korean girl group under SM Entertainment with both human and virtual members. The group’s name æspa is a combination of “avatar”, “experience” and “aspect”. Their debut single Black Mamba charted in a total of 95 countries.
CRAVITY
The newest K-pop boy group from Starship Entertainment made its debut last April. Cravity is a combination of the words’ ‘creativity’ and ‘gravity’, which also stands for Centre of Gravity. The group earned significant reach across Twitter and Facebook during the week of their debut album Hideout: Remember Who We Are – Season 1.
Drippin
“DRIPPIN” is a newly coined term meaning ‘trendy’ and ‘fashionable.’ Debuted under Woollim Entertainment, the group had already gained many fans because 6 out of 7 of the members previously appeared on Produce X 101. The group promises to stay true to their title by presenting a great image and performances.
WEi
The six-member group finally made their debut last October 5. WEi is made up of talented members who have already proved their individual abilities in various audition shows. Dae Hyeon and Dong Han were former members of Rainz and JBJ, respectively. Seok Hwa and Yo Han were part of X1, which disbanded in late 2019. Jun Seo and Yong Ha are former members of the boy group 1THE9 from MBC’s reality show Under Nineteen.
Have a fun K-BBQ Party with your family and friends while blasting K-pop songs for the new year!
Words by Hannah Viray
Featured image from Woollim Entertainment, SM Entertainment & Starship Entertainment
