2025 was an unforgettable year, with both well-known performers making a comeback to the stage and new bands wowing us with their innovative talent. As we leap into 2026, we won’t forget about the songs that shaped our playlists throughout the last twelve months. Let’s take a look at some of the songs that defined the POP TOKKI team’s year!
ICONIK – ZEROBASEONE
ZEROBASEONE released one of their most unforgettable title tracks in 2025; “ICONIK” is a powerful release, marking the growth of the group since their 2023 debut. The song is playful yet self-assured, littered with compelling ad-libs accompanied by assertive choreography. The song succeeds in highlighting the nine members’ charms individually and as a group.
This iconic comeback achieved a grand slam on music shows with six wins. The music video is their most streamed, with over 50 million views. Anyone who hears “ICONIK” can see the growth of ZEROBASEONE since their debut, both in experimenting with their youthful sound and in establishing their confidence as a team.
JoyRide – CORTIS
CORTIS’s track “JoyRide” is a captivating slice of breezy alt-rock escapism, distinguished by a sound that feels both refreshing and deeply nostalgic. Its musical composition incorporates lyrical and catchy melodies layered with subtle pop elements, all underpinned by gentle, soothing vocals that COER (CORTIS’s fandom) often describe as warm and airy, creating an emotional yet calming vibe. The track itself features an acclaimed music video, which gained attention for its unique, reverse-time narrative and stunning New Zealand landscapes. The song stands out as the ultimate “Song of the Year” because it perfectly crystallizes the group’s “Young Creator Crew” identity, with all members participating in the songwriting and composition, injecting a genuine, unvarnished youthful spirit into the K-pop scene.
Released as a track on their record-breaking debut EP, ‘Color Outside the Lines’, “JoyRide” has contributed to CORTIS’s impressive accomplishments in 2025, including surpassing 1.06 million cumulative album sales and achieving the fastest 200 million cumulative global streams among this year’s rookie groups. The group further cemented their status as this year’s best rookie by winning the prestigious Best New Artist award at the 2025 MAMA Awards and taking home both the Rookie of the Year and Best Performance awards at the 2025 Asia Artist Awards (AAA).
Spaghetti – LE SSERAFIM ft. j-hope
“SPAGHETTI” reigns as one of the most addictive releases this year, fueled by the members’ sassy charm that you can’t get away from. In their unique LE SSERAFIM way, the track glows with personality, thanks to its punchy bassline and stylish, almost chaotic-level post-chorus. From its first note, it delightfully bursts with flavor and only intensifies with each listen. Furthermore, j-hope of BTS’ unexpected feature adds the extra spicy kick that gives the song its tasty finish.
This release marks LE SSERAFIM’s highest debut on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Global 200 to date, placing 50th and 6th on each chart, respectively. With these global milestones increasing by the second, all eyes are on them as they make their next move. Like spaghetti stuck in your teeth, this is a sure-fire track that leaves its mark whether you like it or not, and we’re eating it up!
Good Goodbye – HWASA
Expressing the beauty of goodbyes, Hwasa’s latest single “Good Goodbye” is comfort in its purest form. While break-ups are often seen in a somber light, Hwasa’s bittersweet interpretation leans into a more hopeful ending. She breaks from her usual upbeat releases, opting for a softer, more reflective approach to deliver her signature honesty. With her soulful vocals taking the spotlight, people are in for an emotional and immersive listening experience.
Despite the warm reception on release, the track reached newfound heights after Hwasa’s viral performance at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards with actor Park Jeong-min, who also featured in the music video. The pair’s endearing chemistry made waves online, sparking a trend to recreate the scene and ultimately pushing the song to the top of the charts. Alongside Hwasa becoming the only female soloist in 2025 to reach a Perfect All Kill, “Good Goodbye” made history as the first-ever No. 1 on Billboard Korea’s Hot 100.
THIS IS FOR – TWICE
The ultimate empowerment song, TWICE’s “THIS IS FOR” cheers on the baddies and girlies. The synth-pop song features a strong bass and contains elements of R&B, reminiscent of the music of the early 2000s. The chorus is chant-like, serving to uplift the listener. Its lyrics, such as its hook, “This is for all my ladies who don’t get hyped enough,” aim to celebrate barrier-breaking women, such as TWICE themselves. “THIS IS FOR” peaked at #38 on the Billboard Global 200 chart. The song was also performed by TWICE at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, in which the group was the first K-pop group to perform at the event.
Rizz – XLOV
XLOV embodied confidence and charm with their most recent title track, “Rizz.” Featured on their 1st mini album, the song uplifts one’s ability to captivate people with their charisma while also feeling self-assured in their appeal. Against the backdrop of catchy, repetitive melodies and distinctive drum beats, the members continue to push the boundaries of sexuality and gender expression through their lyrical choices and choreographies. Additionally, despite coming from a smaller company with an unconventional concept, the group continues to break records, surpassing 100 million total streams on Spotify and taking home their second Stage Champion award.
If I Say I Love You – BOYNEXTDOOR
“IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU” took the K-pop world by storm earlier this year and solidified BOYNEXTDOOR as one of the highest-achieving 5th-generation K-pop groups. The song reached record-breaking numbers on numerous international and Korean music charts and made history as the highest-liked 5th-generation boy group song on Melon. The success is no surprise, as “IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU” reimagines what a breakup song can sound like. The track is catchy and unique in a fashion that only BOYNEXTDOOR can achieve. From the beautiful winter visuals in the music video to the strong vocals, BOYNEXTDOOR showcased all their talents with this release, marking it as the most memorable from them to many fans around the world.
Do the Dance – Illit
Illit’s “Do the Dance” is one of the most memorable girl group songs of the year, reaching over 40 million YouTube views and going viral on social media platforms both domestically and internationally. Staying true to the group’s joyous, girlhood vibe, “Do the Dance” is upbeat and playful, and touches on a mix of emotions one feels when outgrowing their youth. The song’s main message is to let go of all emotions you might be feeling and to just give in to enjoying what you are currently experiencing, letting go of concerns and embracing the moment. Paired with an exciting choreography, “Do the Dance” is fun, unique, and notable in the list of 2025 K-pop releases.
Blue Valentine – NMIXX
NMIXX’s “Blue Valentine” is a strong and bold release, making waves as one of the most unforgettable girl group songs that came out this year. The song showcases the group’s powerful vocals, and takes listeners through a perfectly built crescendo. “Blue Valentine” feels magical and cinematic, and is a standout release for NMIXX. The music video is a perfect representation of this, with colorful, vibrant scenes that capture the whimsicality flawlessly. This release is most notable because of its bridge, which foreshadows the strength of the outro with its soft wind-down full of emotion. With this release, NMIXX broke their own records on Korean charts and international charts, like the Billboard Global 200. To both K-Pop listeners and NSWER, NMIXX established their place as a resilient girl group with this song, adding a perfect addition to their discography of daring, compelling releases.
Phoenix – Stray Kids
“Phoenix” is a passionate and uplifting 2025 track from JYP Entertainment powerhouse boy-group, Stray Kids. It was released on their fourth studio album, ‘KARMA’. This album went on to make history for the group at the 2025 MAMA Awards, winning them their first ‘Album of the Year’ Daesang MAMA award. It also saw them become the first and only artist in the 70-year history of the Billboard 200 to debut at #1 with seven consecutive charting albums. Composed by 3RACHA (the group’s self-producing trio, consisting of Bang Chan, Changbin and HAN), the song is inspired by the concept of a phoenix rising up from the flames.
This powerful imagery is perfect for Stray Kids, who have always soared higher every time they have been knocked down by negativity and criticism. The thrilling, heart-pounding beat and orchestration of this track creates an exciting listening experience. Whilst its strong, hopeful message encourages listeners not to crumble under judgement and criticism, rather to use it to bounce back stronger. It truly symbolises the pride of learning to transform unfavourable karma into something good. This song and the group’s endless resilience is the perfect message for the song of the year, especially within the tough world climate we find ourselves in today.
SOUR – JUNNY
This year saw Korean-Canadian singer-songwriter and producer, JUNNY, release his genius, latest album, ‘null’. “SOUR” is the third track from this album that blends a smooth R&B groove with a self-aware balance of vulnerability and strength. The track is addictive and has a strong musical drive that really gets your adrenaline pumping. It has quickly become a solid favourite amongst fans, whilst also garnering JUNNY a lot of new attention from a wider audience. During late 2025, JUNNY carried out a highly successful European tour with the album ‘null – which featured an intoxicating live performance of “SOUR”. After his triumphs of this year, he is for sure a solo artist to keep your eye on as we head into 2026.
Bad Desire (With or Without You) – ENHYPEN
ENHYPEN’s “Bad Desire (With or Without You)” is a masterful evolution of the group’s signature dark, seductive concept, presenting a sophisticated, R&B-infused dance-pop sound often compared by critics to the sleek, beat-driven tracks of late 2000s American pop. The song is built upon a taut, hypnotic rhythm and heavy bass line, which complement the members’ cool, breathy vocal delivery and the dramatic flair of the pre-chorus. This track is a definitive “Song of the Year” because it connects their established vampire lore – exploring the passionate, all-consuming tension of a love that is “heaven or hell” – with a musically mature and technically demanding performance.
Released as the title track from their ‘DESIRE : UNLEASH’ EP, the track spearheaded the group’s massive success this year. Accomplishments include the EP achieving double-million seller status with over 2.18 million pre-orders, and the song itself becoming their highest debut on the Billboard Global 200 chart. The strength of the track contributed to ENHYPEN’s major year-end wins, including the coveted Artist of the Year (Daesang) and Fans’ Choice of the Year at the 2025 MAMA Awards.
Go in Blind – &TEAM
After three years in the game, &TEAM released their Korean debut after improving their Japanese debut and discography. “Back To Life” continues to sound like & TEAM’s iconic sound; they’ve managed to carve out for themselves a blend of pop, rock, electronic, and—above all—that recognizable nostalgic sound. The song gets off to a great start, maintains that theme with high, melodic vocals, and, of course, maintains the harmony of rap sections. With sales of over 1.13 million copies upon immediate release, this song propelled & TEAM’s success even further, making them the first international/foreign artist in history to accomplish that feat on the Haneto Album Chart. It also peaked at #1 on the Japan Billboard Hot Album charts that same week. Not only that, but this song immediately won on the Korean music show ‘THE SHOW’, marking their first ever win and encore on any music between both Japan and Korean debut.
SUPA DUPA LUV – BABYMONSTER
BABYMONSTER’s “SUPA DUPA LUV” is a captivating R&B Hip-Hop track that achieves an atmosphere of deeply felt passion by blending a minimalist beat with a lyrical, emotional melody. The song’s sound is surprisingly intimate and sophisticated, driven by gentle bass and subtle harmonies, allowing the group’s sweet, mature vocal expressions to take the spotlight.
This track stands as a “Song of the Year” contender because it showcases the group’s impressive versatility, proving their ability to convey vulnerable, heart-bursting emotions through intuitive lyrics and expressive singing. Released on their second EP, ‘WE GO UP’, the track was integral to the album’s massive success, which recorded 560,473 copies sold on the Circle Chart within just a day and a half of its Oct. 10 release. The EP’s overall high performance also led to the group winning the Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10 at the 2025 MAMA Awards.
PYTHON – GOT7
GOT7’s “PYTHON” is a dynamic and infectious track that merges a popular, accessible melody with a powerful hip-hop beat, creating a new, bolder sound for the veteran group. The song is upbeat, sophisticated and instantly catchy, using a sharp rhythmic foundation to showcase the distinct charms of all seven members. This track is a definitive “Song of the Year” because it marks their powerful reunion (their first full group effort in almost three years) while showcasing their complete artistic control, with BAMBAM composing and writing the title track and all members contributing heavily to the EP’s overall creative direction. Released as the title track from the EP, ‘WINTER HEPTAGON’, the single immediately dominated international charts. The EP hit No. 1 on the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 27 regions, while the title track “PYTHON” commanded the No. 1 spot on the Top Songs Chart in 13 regions worldwide.
ExtraL – Jennie ft. Doechii
BLACKPINK’s Jennie released her new album, ‘Ruby’ in early 2025. The album consists of the hit song “Like Jennie” as well as many collaborations. Hearing collabs between Idols and western artists is always a fun listen. However, one collab heavily showcased girl power and ultimate feminine energy. “ExtraL” featuring Grammy nominated hip hop artist, Doechii, motivated women around the world to embrace their inner strength and overall confidence. Not only was the song empowering, but the chemistry between Jennie and Doechii in the music video was unmatched. They complemented each other visually and made it known that they’re both “that girl” while encouraging others to find that same energy within.
JUMP – BLACKPINK
Released this summer, JUMP by BLACKPINK is a high-energy, dance-pop anthem. The song celebrates female empowerment and encourages carefree fun with your best pals. YG Entertainment announced that the single became #1 on the Global Top Songs chart with a total of 44,759,923 streams in its first week. This made it the biggest streaming debut of any song released in 2025 — so it well deserves its place as a song of the year. The group also carried out a highly successful stadium tour this year, where they performed this hit to thousands of Blinks. The energy bouncing around the stadium during this song was a true testament to the energy these fans give to the beloved group.
THUNDER – Seventeen
The title track of the group’s fifth album, Happy Burstday, released in celebration of their 10th anniversary. SEVENTEEN debuted this EDM dance-pop anthem through a unique performance on Seoul’s Jamsu Bridge—a special gift to Carats. As always, the track was produced by the ever-incredible duo Woozi and Bumzu, alongside leader S.Coups. THUNDER made an explosive debut at No. 7 on Melon’s Top 100 before surging to the No. 1 spot by midnight on the debut, showcasing Seventeen’s undeniable digital power. The track went on to dominate charts worldwide, topping the iTunes Top Songs chart in 13 regions and debuting at an impressive No. 7 on the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart. Backed by chart-topping performance and multiple music show wins, “Thunder” solidified SEVENTEEN’s dominance during their 10th anniversary era.
Which song shaped your 2025? Let us know on our Instagram and Twitter/X!
Featured Image Credit: Taryn R. for POP TOKKI
