The world of K-pop has undeniably revolutionized pop culture as we know it. In a landscape previously dominated by Western artists, the global stage has increasingly embraced international talents in the music realm at long last.
While K-pop officially emerged in South Korea in 1992, it wasn’t until the 2010s that the Western world finally recognized its cultural impact. The delayed acceptance of K-pop in the West ceased when EXO, BTS, and Blackpink found their way onto our charts. These groups not only achieved immense success but also paved the way for numerous emerging talents within the industry, many of whom have now gained recognition worldwide.
Similar to the Western music industry, K-pop also has an abundance of soloists in its midst. Whether they are artists pursuing independence while still part of a group or those who begin their careers as solo artists, there is a plethora of names that have reached unprecedented success. This is who they are.
15. Chungha
Unlike BIBI or IU, Chungha (born Kim Chan-mi) originally planned to debut as an idol within a group, even participating in the reality girl group survival show Produce 101 in 2016. Although she did debut within a subunit project girl group I.O.I, Chungha’s success solely blossomed from her career as a soloist, where she truly shone.
Not even a year later, I.O.I officially dissolved, marking the beginning of Chungha’s solo career with the EP Hands on Me. She went on to release three more EPs until 2019. In 2021, she made a triumphant return with her first studio album, Querencia, debuting in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 Global Album charts. In 2022, she followed up with her second studio album, Bare & Rare.
14. DEAN
DEAN, a rising R&B star also known as Kwon Hyuk, made waves in both the US and Korean music scenes. His career started in the US in 2015 with a collaboration with the Grammy-nominee Eric Bellinger. Later that year, he debuted in South Korea, teaming up with Zico and dropping his hit single “Pour Up.”
In 2016, he released his EP “130 Mood: TRBL”, but it was the 2017 album Limbo that really shot him to fame with just two tracks hitting the top charts. Since then, DEAN’s been collaborating with artists from Korea and the U.S., spreading Korean music influence worldwide.
13. BIBI
Although relatively new to the music scene, BIBI has certainly earned a spot on everyone’s ‘cool-girl vibe’ playlists. Unlike many K-pop soloists, BIBI entered the music charts unattached to any group, having a rather unconventional start. Discovered on Soundcloud in 2017 by Feel Ghood Music, two years later, she finally released her debut EP, The Manual for People Who Want to Love.
In 2021, her second EP hit shelves all over Korea, but it’s her first studio album, Lowlife Princess: Noir, and her singles that truly propelled her to fame. Her collaboration single, “The Weekend,” with 88rising peaked at 29 on the Mediabase Top 40 chart, making Bibi the first Korean female soloist to achieve this feat.
12. Hwasa
One of the idols that often goes back and forth between her solo projects and her group, is Ahn Hye-Jin, also known by her stage name, Hwasa. The vocalist of the popular South Korean girl group MAMAMOO embarked on her solo career in 2020 with the release of her debut solo EP, María, followed by her debut studio album Guilty Pleasure in 2021.
The lead singles from the EP, “Twit” and “Maria,” swiftly topped the South Korean charts upon release. The 27-year-old singer gained international fame through her contributions to MAMAMOO, earning recognition for her powerful voice with raspy undertones. This versatility makes her a master of various musical genres.
11. Jungkook
Certainly, everyone has heard a Jungkook song at some point or another, whether through his work as the main vocalist in BTS or his album and singles. Although his solo debut with the studio album Golden is very recent, it has already made history. Achieving several Billboard milestones, including topping the 200 Album Global Charts, Jungkook became the first Korean artist to do so.
If it all depended on a balanced mix of fame and talent, Jungkook would undeniably leap to the top of the list, but his solo career is still very brief. Nonetheless, his achievements in this short period are nothing to sneer at. With the single “Seven,” Jungkook had the fastest song on Spotify to reach a billion listeners, and his unique voice has even been praised by Rolling Stone, which described him as an “extraordinarily soulful tenor.”
10. HyunA
Kim Hyun-ah, known as HyunA, is a South Korean singer and rapper. She began her career in 2007 with the Wonder Girls but left soon after. In 2009, she joined 4Minute, but her solo career began only a year later with “Change,” ranking second on South Korea’s Gaon Digital chart. Her first EP, Bubble Pop! in 2011, sold over three million digital copies and featured a music video that made her the first female K-pop solo artist to reach 100 million views on a single video.
Since then, HyunA released five more EPs with Cube Entertainment and, in 2018, dropped “Flower Shower,” her first digital single under Psy’s P Nation, marking her seventh top-ten entry on the US Billboard World Digital Song Sales.
9. Jackson Wang
Jackson Wang is the only non-Korean artist on the list, but that doesn’t mean he is any less deserving of being one of the best soloists in K-pop. Originally part of GOT7, the Hong Kong-based rapper, singer, dancer, and producer founded Team Wang and launched his solo career in 2017. His first solo album, Mirrors, came out in 2019, reaching number 32 on the Billboard 200.
In 2020, Wang released “100 Ways,” a single blending English and Chinese culture. It made history as the first song by a Chinese solo act to debut on Mediabase’s U.S. Top 40 ratio chart. His fluency in Korean, English, Cantonese and Mandarin has granted Wang international acclamation, releasing singles in at least three out of the four languages.
8. Agust D
Min Yoongi AKA SUGA AKA August D. is one of the biggest names in the South Korean Hip Hop scene. His career started back in his hometown in Daegu, as an underground rapper, but in 2013 he debuted as the lead rapper of BTS, but that wasn’t the end of his solo career. He maintained his solo persona (Agust D.), achieving unprecedented success in the South Korean Hip Hop world.
After joining BTS, the rapper released his first self-titled mixtape “Agust D,” considered by Fuse TV as one of the Top 20 mixtapes of 2016. In 2020, he released his second mixtape “D-2,” with the single “Daechwita” peaking at number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. As one of K-pop’s most credited producers and songwriters, Yoongi’s first studio album D-Day, received a five-star rating from NME.
7. SUNMI
Lee Sun-mi, mononymously known as SUNMI, debuted in 2007 as a member of the South Korean pop girl group Wonder Girls. After leaving the group to pursue her studies in 2010, SUNMI debuted as a solo artist three years after her hiatus, releasing the EP Full Moon, and spawning the two singles on the South Korean digital charts. Her second EP released was Warning, in 2018.
Sunmi stands out in K-pop not just for her musical and dancing prowess but also for creating her unique style, often dubbed “Sunmi-pop.” While rooted in K-pop’s core genres like pop, disco, rock, and traditional Korean music, Sunmi-pop adds her distinct musical identity, setting it apart from other K-pop styles.
6. j-hope
BTS’ sub-rapper and main dancer, Jung Hoseok – also known as j-hope – is among the K-pop idols who have ventured into solo projects while still part of the group. In 2018, j-hope released his debut EP titled Hope World, which reached number 38 on the Billboard 200, making him the highest-charting Korean soloist at that time. In 2022, during BTS’ break when each member was releasing solo music, j-hope initiated the plans by dropping his first studio album, Jack in the Box.
His studio debut showcased a different musical direction, exploring grunge and R&B genres, a departure from the upbeat tunes of his previous EP and even BTS. Given his immense popularity with BTS, Jack in the Box earned Platinum certification from the Korea Music Content Association, solidifying j-hope’s position as a successful solo artist.
5. Taeyeon
Kim Tae-yeon, widely known as Taeyeon, has been a powerhouse in the K-pop industry for a decade, but for some, she remains the star vocalist from Girls’ Generation. Taeyeon has been in the music industry since 2007, and it was in 2016 that she released her first solo single, “Rain,” followed by her debut EP, Why, which peaked at the top of the Gaon Album Chart.
Since then, the singer has expanded her presence into the Japanese music scene, releasing several charting studio albums and selling over one million physical albums in 2021 alone. This achievement solidifies her position as one of South Korea’s best-selling solo artists of all time. If we were to list all her awards, that would be an entirely different article in and of itself.
4. CL
As one of the most iconic names in K-pop, CL has solidified her presence and reputation in South Korea and internationally throughout the years. CL’s name will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most influential artists in the industry. The singer and rapper debuted and rose to fame in 2009 as a member of the girl group, 2NE1, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.
Following the group’s hiatus in 2015, CL released her first solo singles “Hello Bitches” and “Lifted” in 2016, landing her a spot on the Billboard 100, becoming the first female K-pop artist to achieve this feat. Almost two years later, YG declared 2NE1’s disbandment, and following her departure from the company, CL released her first solo EP, In the Name of Love, in 2019, and then dropped her debut studio album, Alpha, in 2021.
3. TAEMIN
Lee Tae-min, also known simply as Taemin, has been a member of the popular K-pop group Shinee since 2008 and joined SuperM at its debut in 2019. The musician and dancer not only contributes to two groups but also boasts an incredibly successful solo career. In 2014, Taemin released his first EP, Ace, which enjoyed immediate success, a result not unexpected given Shinee’s popularity at that time.
The EP peaked at number one on several South Korean charts, marking Taemin’s first chart-topping achievement. In 2016, the singer released his inaugural studio album, Press It, which also secured the top spot upon its release. Following this success, Taemin went on to release three more albums: Move (2017), Taemin (2018), and Never Gonna Dance Again (2020). The latter was widely acclaimed by critics as one of the best K-pop releases of that year.
2. Psy
Many K-pop fans don’t often consider PSY a modern-day artist worthy of topping this list, but we’re here to tell you otherwise. Active since 1999, Park Jae-Sang, known as PSY, has long been one of the most successful South Korean artists, not only for his work in his home country but also for his widespread recognition worldwide. In general, no one—whether in South Korea or elsewhere—underestimates Psy’s achievements.
In 2012, his hit single “Gangnam Style” became the first video on YouTube to garner 1 billion views on the platform. The views were frozen for some years, but today it is the eleventh most-viewed video on the platform. His success was so immense that he founded his own company, P Nation, in 2013, and nowadays, he is one of the wealthiest celebrities in the country from his work as a soloist and also as a manager.
1. IU
Lee Ji-eun, known mononymously as IU, is a South Korean singer and actress. Arguably the most successful female solo artist of the past decade in the Eastern country, IU has consistently dominated the Korean charts with her contemporary sound and distinctive velvety, melodic and sweet voice.
IU gained widespread recognition following the release of “Good Day,” the lead single from her 2010 album, Real. The song received national and international acclaim, earning a place on Billboard’s “The 100 Greatest K-pop Songs of the 2010s.” With a repertoire comprising five studio albums and nine EPs, IU has emerged as the artist with the highest number of chart-topping songs, often sharing the pinnacle with BTS as South Korea’s top-charting artists.
Published: Nov 24, 2023 11:52 am