According to a survey conducted by Star News and research firm Gallup Korea from August 19 to 23, targeting 1,052 men and women aged 19 to 69 nationwide, Girls’ Generation and BLACKPINK secured the top spot with a 42% vote share in the poll for the “Most Loved K-pop Girl Group (debuted in the 21st century)” (with 2 multiple-choice options).
Girls’ Generation, who debuted in 2007, celebrated their 17th anniversary this year. Despite the influx of numerous idol groups, they have long been recognized as a ‘representative K-pop girl group,’ receiving support across all ages and genders. The group received the highest votes among those in their 30s (47%) and 60s (46%).
Known as the iconic second-generation girl group, Girls’ Generation is considered a key driver of the K-pop wave. Their debut song, “Into the New World,” remains a popular competition song on audition shows, and the group is still viewed as a “textbook” for aspiring idols. They also achieved nationwide popularity with hits like “Oh!”, “Gee”, and “Genie”, even sparking trends like skinny jeans.
In addition, Girls’ Generation became the first idol group to top annual charts in both digital and physical album sales. While the members have pursued solo activities in various fields, they celebrated their 15th anniversary in 2022 with the release of the full album “FOREVER 1.” Recently, they hinted at future group activities, exciting their fans as they mark 17 years since their debut.
BLACKPINK also showed strong performance across all demographics, proving their status as the world’s largest girl group. Their fan base was particularly strong among those in their 40s (47%) and 50s (48%).
As a representative third-generation girl group, BLACKPINK has achieved remarkable success not only in Korea but also internationally, with records on U.S. Billboard, UK Official Charts, and Japan’s Oricon. They are known for having the highest tour revenue among girl groups in history. Starting with their debut song “Whistle,” BLACKPINK has consistently produced hits like “Boombayah,” “As If It’s Your Last,” “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” and “Kill This Love.” They also became the first K-pop group to perform at Coachella, elevating their status to global stars.
BLACKPINK also became the first K-pop artist to achieve over 2 billion views on music videos for “DDU-DU DDU-DU” and “Kill This Love,” and they were the first girl group to achieve double million-seller status. The group recently renewed their contract with YG Entertainment for group activities, while pursuing independent careers through their own labels, demonstrating their influence across various fields, including music, acting, and entertainment.
Coming in third with 25% of the votes was NewJeans. Debuting in July 2022, NewJeans quickly rose to prominence with their hits “Attention” and “Hype Boy,” dominating both domestic and international charts. Their retro-inspired style, featuring genres like hip-hop, old-school, and new jack swing, particularly resonated with people in their 30s and 40s. In the survey, they garnered 25% from those aged 19–29, 23% from those in their 30s, 30% from those in their 40s, and 28% from those in their 50s.
Despite being a relatively new group, NewJeans has already won numerous awards and established themselves as a leading fourth-generation girl group. They recently sold out a 50,000-seat concert at Japan’s Tokyo Dome and are planning a world tour in 2025, bringing their energetic performances to fans worldwide. Following in the footsteps of Girls’ Generation and BLACKPINK, NewJeans is quickly becoming a pop culture phenomenon.
Other groups that made the top rankings included Wonder Girls (21%) in 4th place, TWICE (13%) in 5th, 2NE1 (10%) in 6th, IVE (7%) in 7th, and aespa, KARA, and Red Velvet tied for 8th with 5%. Apink, MAMAMOO, and SISTAR tied for 11th place (4%), while T-ara and (G)I-DLE were 14th (3%). Brown Eyed Girls and 4Minute tied for 16th place (2%), followed by f(x), Miss A, and SECRET at 18th (1%).
Source: Naver
