2025 K-pop Music Scene Continues with New Groups and Veteran Solos Amid Dominance of “KPop Demon Hunters” Soundtrack

The 2025 K-pop music market began with the soundtrack to Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” taking over streaming platforms and music charts. The film’s theme songs, “Golden” and “Soda Pop,” became an unstoppable cultural phenomenon, further expanding K-pop’s global cultural influence. Yet even within the “KPop Demon Hunters” craze, the 2025 K-pop scene exhibited diverse musical trends. Music critic Kim Yoon-ha and pop culture journalist Park Hee-ah reviewed this year’s K-pop releases, discussing the significance of the “KPop Demon Hunters” phenomenon, changes in Grammy awards, the role of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee, and challenges for K-pop’s future. New generation groups made their debuts on stage. The impressive debuts of rookie groups such as CORTIS and Hearts2Hearts drew significant attention. CORTIS delivered confident music in “Go!” with lyrics like “We don’t need any other signals” and “As soon as I see the signal, I move like a shot.” According to NME’s list of the 25 best K-pop songs of 2025, CORTIS was praised for being ready to dominate the world stage with trap beats, standing out from the crowd like BTS and displaying a rebellious attitude. Veteran idols also shone through their solo activities. Key from SHINee and Kim Lip from ARTMS released new solo tracks. In particular, LE SSERAFIM’s Leader Yeji’s solo debut song “Air” expressed the thrill of breathless sensation on dark electronic beats, conveying vulnerability amid tension before lifting the track to a new level with intense electric guitar riffs. It was rated as one of the most satisfying surprises of 2025. The rookie groups and their new songs showcased unique musical styles. BOYNEXTDOOR’s “If I Say, I Love You” is a pop-oriented single that hides serious lyrics behind funky guitar riffs and groovy synths, delivering a youthful narrative with a boyish charm alongside a firm ending. RESCENE created a soft, reflective yet refreshing, nostalgic, and electronic space, avoiding the trap of following trends. “Racecar” serves as the perfect soundtrack for a road trip at sunset, combining joyful nostalgia, freedom, and possibility into a dopamine-filled auditory experience. The waves created by the group’s captivating voiceless chorus releases everything as the song reaches its climax, and as the production becomes richer, it draws listeners deeper into the group’s dreamlike world. Critics and media outlets in the K-pop industry noted that beyond the “KPop Demon Hunters” phenomenon, musical diversity and creativity continue to drive K-pop’s competitiveness.