Top 10 Most Popular K-Pop Boy Groups (2018)
The following boy bands are considered to be the most popular and successful in the world. Since “Gangnam Style” went viral in 2012, numerous K-pop bands have taken the world by storm! So let’s check out these top 10 most popular K-pop boy groups!
Top 10 Most Popular K-Pop Boy Groups (2018)
- BTS
- EXO
- Wanna One
- BTOB
- JBJ
- SEVENTEEN
- Super Junior
- Highlight
- SHINee
- INFINITE
Don’t forget to vote for your favorite boy group in the poll at the end of the list. If your favorite group isn’t included on the list, leave a comment in the comment section below!
1. BTS
Members: Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, Jungkook
Years Active: 2013–present
Label: Big Hit Entertainment, Pony Canyon, Def Jam Japan, Columbia
The first K-pop group to perform at the American Music Awards and win a Billboard Music Award, and the first South Korean act to reach 10 million followers on Twitter, BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys and Beyond the Scene, has put the world under the K-pop spell! They are considered to be the most tweeted about celebrity in 2017: they were liked and retweeted more than half a billion times worldwide! The band is comprised of seven members: RM, J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jin, Suga, and Jungkook. BTS blend dance-oriented K-pop with hip-hop influences; they compose, produce, and write lyrics for performances themselves.
Another trophy, my hands carry 'em
Too many that I can't even count 'em (turn it up now)
Mic drop, mic drop
Be careful of your feet, be careful of what you say
Somebody stop me, I'm 'bouta pop off
Too busy, you know my body ain't enough (turn it up now)
Mic drop, mic drop
Be careful of your feet, be careful of what you say
— BTS ("Mic Drop")
2. EXO
Members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun
Years Active: 2012–present
Label: SM Entertainment, Avex Trax
EXO was formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2011. The band made their debut in 2012 with twelve members – they were separated into two subgroups, EXO-M and EXO-K, performing music in different languages (Mandarin and Korean respectively). The K-pop boy band was considered the "most influential celebrity" by Forbes Korea Power Celebrity in both 2014 and 2015! Currently, EXO consists of nine members: Xiumin, Baekhyun, Suho, Lay, Chen, Chanyeol, Sehun, D.O., and Kai.
I’m a bit hot-tempered
I’m not very tenderhearted (I hated you)
I hated you but I want you
That’s right, my type
The heart does not lie
— EXO ("Monster")
3. Wanna One
Members: Yoon Ji-sung, Ha Sung-woon, Hwang Min-hyun, Ong Seong-wu, Kim Jae-hwan, Kang Daniel, Park Ji-hoon, Park Woo-jin, Bae Jin-young, Lee Dae-hwi, Lai Guan-lin
Years Active: 2017–present
Label: YMC Entertainment, Stone Music Entertainment, Swing Entertainment
Wanna One has been formed by CJ E&M, and it’s the second group in this list that was formed through the 2017 series Produce 101 Season 2! Wanna One has been chosen as the Best New K-Pop Act of 2017 (Billboard). With their electro-pop tracks and highly-stylized choreography garnering a lot of attention, the boy band became a top act in Korea from its very formation on Produce 101 in 2017. Even though they are planned to disband by the end of 2018, after which its members plan to focus on their solo careers, there’s still time left for the group to impress their fans. Wanna One consists of eleven members: Ji Seong, Sung Woon, Min Hyun, Seong Woo, Ji Hoon, Woo Jin, Jae Hwan, Kang Daniel, Jin Young, Dae Hwi, and Kuan Lin.
Cover me like a blanket, yeah yeah
With this endless joy, yeah yeah
When your lips are close
My heart feels like it’s about to stop
When I saw you today
The feeling of butterflies was bigger than the familiar feeling
— Wanna One ("Light")
4. BTOB
Members: Eunkwang, Minhyuk, Changsub, Hyunsik, Peniel, Ilhoon, Sungjae
Years Active: 2012–present
Label: Cube Entertainment, Kiss Entertainment (Japan)
BtoB (Born to Beat) is a boy band formed in 2012 by Cube Entertainment. The K-Pop group consists of seven members: Seo Eun-kwang, Yook Sung-jae, Lee Chang-sub, Lee Min-hyuk, Peniel Shin, Im Hyun-sik, and Jung Il-hoon. Since their debut, BtoB has received various awards: the Singer of the Year (2015, KBS Music Festival), a Ballad Award (the 25th Seoul Music Awards), and the Best Vocal Group Award (the 30th Golden Disk Awards), to name a few.
It’s always the same as last night – you turn away from me
I’m so tired of me always being the clingy one
Because to me, it was always you – I always trusted you
So every night it’s lonely, miserable, tiring
— BTOB ("Insane")
5. JBJ
Members: Roh Tae-hyun, Takada Kenta, Kim Sang-gyun, Jin Longguo, Kim Dong-han, Kwon Hyun-bin
Years Active: 2017–2018
Label: Fave Entertainment, CJ E&M
JBJ (stands for Just Be Joyful) is a project boy band managed by Fave Entertainment. The group consists of six members: No Tae Hyun, Kenta, Kim Sang Gyun, Kim Yong Guk, Kwon Hyun Bin, and Kim Dong Han. They were all contestants on the 2017 survival show, Produce 101 Season 2, and the band has been formed due to fan requests. They made their debut in October 2017 with their first mini album Fantasy.
Acting like I’m just a close friend
Like I’m just a guy friend
As I continue to linger near you
We see each other every day
But why are my cheeks getting red?
It’s weird, I can’t even talk
What’s wrong with me?
— JBJ ("My Flower")
6. SEVENTEEN
Members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, Dino
Years Active: 2015–present
Label: Pledis Entertainment
Despite the group’s name, Seventeen (also stylized as SVT) consists of only thirteen members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, Vernon, and Dino. However, sometimes, the boy band did consist of 16 members! So then what does the name Seventeen signify? It turns out that the number signifies the medium age of the members at the time of band formation! The group is divided into three teams, each with a different area of specialization: vocal, hip-hop, and performance. Moreover, they are involved in composition and production of their own choreography and discography, so they even have been given the nickname of a “self-producing” idol group. The group was formed by Pledis Entertainment in 2015.
I do not mean that.
If you ever
I'm tired.
I was worried.
I have my heart
I need you no other
You are like a summer jeh
You've been feeling
The densest point of loneliness
I can not sleep with you.
— SEVENTEEN ("Oh My")
7. Super Junior
Members: Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Kangin, Shindong, Sungmin, Eunhyuk, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun
Years Active: 2005–present
Label: Label SJ, S.M. Entertainment, Avex Trax, Media Asia, UMG
Also known as SJ or SUJU, Super Junior was formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of S.M. Entertainment. At its peak, the band comprised of thirteen members! Now it consists of seven members: Leeteuk, Siwon, Heechul, Eunhyuk, Yesung, Shindong, and Donghae. SJ gained international recognition with the release of the title song of their best-selling album, Sorry, Sorry. They were the best-selling K-pop artists for more than four years in a row! In recent years, the boy band was divided into smaller groups. Some of the group's vocalists have also branched out into acting, hosting, and presenting.
You don’t need to
Stop worrying over little things
It’s not good for your health
Grades go up and down, that’s just how it is
heung!
Performances go up and down, it happens all the time
Sometimes it’s okay to just chill and take a
break
‘Cause there’s always the right time for
everything
If you’re a guy
Drink up with your friends and forget about
it
(Alright!) Alright
If you’re a girl,
Chat it up with your friends and forget about it
— Super Junior ("Mr. Simple")
8. Highlight
Members: Yoon Doo-joon, Yong Jun-hyung, Yang Yo-seob, Lee Gi-kwang, Son Dong-woon
Years Active: 2009–present
Label: Around US Entertainment, Cube Entertainment, Universal
One of K-pop’s most well-known and loved boy bands, Highlight (formerly known as BEAST or B2ST), is a five-member group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2009 (but they established their own agency called Around Us Entertainment in 2016). The band is considered to be unique, as most of the members originally came from different agencies. It’s composed of five members: Doojoon, Junhyung, Yoseop, Gikwang, and Dongwoon. Highlight caught the attention of audiences being strong and tough – the worked their way up with their “beastly idol” image.
I will rewrite it again,
our story will not end
I will bury fact that reality is
seeping into my skin for now
I rewrite it once again,
the start beginning with you and I smiling happily
In case you will leave me,
the background is a small room without an exit
I kiss you as if there is nothing wrong
I can’t leave your sweet presence
There is no such thing as an end for us
— Highlight ("Fiction")
9. SHINee
Members: Onew, Key, Minho, Taemin
Years Active: 2008–present
Label: SM Entertainment, Virgin, EMI
SHINee is a boy group under S.M. Entertainment with four members: Key, Onew, Taemin, and Minho. Originally a five-piece group, it has been left with only four members after the death of vocalist Jonghyun in December 2017. The boy band debuted in 2008 with their song “Replay”. Later, in 2011, a Japanese version of the single was released. Their other singles, “Juliette” and “Lucifer”, soon followed. The success of all three songs gained them the foreign artist category title of “The artist who managed to get in top 3 for 3 continuous releases since their debut”! These boys are not only considered fashion icons (they started “SHINee Trend”), but are also known for their interesting and complicated dance routines.
The shortening of my breath shortens the distance between you and me
When you say that you want to see me, it makes me hurry and I speed up some more
— SHINee ("Good Evening")
10. INFINITE
Members: Sungkyu, Dongwoo, Woohyun, Sungyeol, L, Sungjong
Years Active: 2010–Present
Label: Woollim Entertainment, Universal D
Infinite was formed in 2010 by Woollim Entertainment. Originally composed of seven members, the group has become a six-member act after the departure of Hoya. Currently, the group consists of Sungkyu, Sungyeol, L, Sungjong, Dongwoo, and Woohyun. Infinite made their first debut showcase in 2010 with the song “Come Back Again” and many other singles from their first mini-album, First Invasion. This is the boy band that is well known for making dance moves viral. Who could ever forget the dances routines in “BTD”, “Be Mine”, and “Paradise”?
I ran away, I’m getting more and more used to it
I thought the end has come like an illusion
I ruined it all
I’m in a predictable drama again
It feels like I’m just standing, I’m empty
It’s just regrets
— INFINITE ("Tell Me")Great Albums by These K-Pop Groups
Artist
| Essential Album
| Year Released
|
|---|---|---|
BTS
| "Dark & Wild"
| 2014
|
EXO
| "XOXO"
| 2013
|
Wanna One
| "1X1=1 (To Be One)"
| 2017
|
BTOB
| "Complete"
| 2015
|
JBJ
| "New Moon"
| 2018
|
SEVENTEEN
| "Love & Letter"
| 2016
|
Super Junior
| "Mr. Simple"
| 2011
|
Highlight
| "So Beast"
| 2011
|
SHINee
| "Lucifer"
| 2010
|
INFINITE
| "Top Seed"
| 2018
|
Check Out:
Which K-Pop boy band is your favorite?
Comments
sighhh svt’s name is not that bc of their average age..its 13 members + 3 units + 1 team. god do your research first.
THE BEST IS STILL GOT7 ....
where is Monsta X :(
ARMY!!! BTS is the best! :D
WHERE'S NCT??!!!!!Seriously it's the 4th best selling kpop group at the moment according to Korean Brand Reputation Center!! Please do some proper research next time.
exo is the best
Where is got 7
Guess i’m part of the 0% that supports JBJ, sigh
AGAIN ASTRO????
BTS ARMY where you at :)
We Army's purple you BTS ❤️
EXO should be in #1,tsk but its ok co'z for us (exo-l) Exo is the best.They are the KING OF KPOP.I Love their voice and moves.I LOVE EXO
#WeAreOne
I'm Army just like most of the Kboos in this comment section, but I cannot believe that everyone chose BTS over SuJu and SHINee. You idiots don't even listen to K-Pop, CLEARLY. Which is why you're all insane Kboos.
My favourite kpop boy group is BTS cause even though i am really small to got o their comcert i ahve so amny things about them like pictures of them a bag a bracelet a necklace saying ARMY and finally a jumper i am a fan since 2015so 3 years but i really want to see them which i cant. I sometimes feel like crying an my bias is Jungkook hes my fav from all of of em´and when i heard the news saying he got stitches and he blamed himself i cried a lot i cant leave them alone it looks like a quarter of the heart is my family but the other part of my heart are them.
Okay... so my babies are at 1
I love bts
Bts is the best boy group
Yeah wheres got7??
BTS FOREVER!!!!
BTS Forever ... Saranghaee
BTS is the best and they really do deserve the first place!❤❤❤ saranghae BTS
this is inaccurate. NCT and iKON are popular than some of the groups in the list.
I m really happy about my fav !!!! EXO !! You are the best forever!!
i like bts yeahhh my heart is fluttering while i read about of bts or i watching bts performance im so..... ayieeeee go bts!!!!!!
Infinite daebak....
Apart from bts, exo and wanna one GOT7 outranks the rest by miles in terms of popularity and sales how are they not on this list...
I'm depressed that Got7 and Astro and all my other favorite kpop groups aren't here. But i'm proud of my babies that are here.
EXO always in my heart
love exo D.O kyung-soo baby
bts is my life
NCT should be here
Where is ikon...????? Even got 7 is not mentioned
Congrats to EXO! and BTS! WOWOWOWOWOWWOW! They definitely deserve it. ALL OTHER FANDOMS, don't be upset if your groups aren't on here. Maybe its because your fandom peeps don't know about this site and hasn't voted on it. SMILE PEEPS!
Guys and Girls, both Exo and BTS are AMAZING groups. There's no reason to diss any of them. Even if one single Exo L is being a dumb person and hating on another group aka BTS, don't mind them and definitely don't assume that all Exo L's are like that. Most Exo Ls wouldnt tolerate that behavior of hating other groups. Thats just not right. Lets spread love instead. EXO SARANGHAE! and I support BTS too as well as all the other kpop groups out there!
EXO EXO EXO! But I also support BTS because they are also cool.
EXO EXO EXO! Why aren't more exo l's voting on this thing.
GOT7 should be listed here!
Where is VIXX, Stray kids,and got7?
Where is VIXX? The BEST Kpop band EVER!
BTS! Always with you! Best one boy band ever! My life line
EXO saranghae
exo and bts are so cute,sexy .
EXO and BTS are my heros.
i flipping love BTS
I love BTS so much
Their imperfection's what makes them unique..... BTS!!!! FIGHTING!!!!!!!!!
Everyone talk about BTS,GOT7,NCT and EXO....But where is wannable...why everyone just like to post the negative comments...you need to have a positive thinking...and everone hava their own characters ....so,you need to accept the fate...
where is Got7?...
BTS Army
Where is got7?
for you who said got7 is way much better than bts, I am just reminding you that people have different tastes in music so how dare you compared these two great groups. But also, I agree that Got7 must be in the list, they are one of those groups who makes my heart melt aishhhh anyway, please stop it.
oh god can you guys like calm down i agree got7, nct and monsta x should be here i wanna cry but at least exo and bts are the top two this made my day :)
not fair..
where is Got7??
where is GOT777???
Wait...what? GOT7?WHERE ARE GOT7?
Those who said BTS should be #3 on the list cause EXO’s popularity in Korea is huge, then you said it EXO’s popularity is only huge in Korea but talk about BTS’s popularity, its worldwide, you know the word worldwide? It simply means whole world, idiot! Idiot you said it EXO is popular in Korea then what about BTS? Well talk about them they’re worldwide, you fool! You know dear hater, if you hate BTS, then just stay away and stop bothering our boys! Cause you know that you’ll just get roasted by ARMYs in the end..do you even think that us ARMYs will let you hate our boys? Well your wrong! Definitely wrong! We’ll fight for our boys no matter what! We’ll never let anyone hurt our boys! If anyone even dare to hurt our boys, you better hide before ARMYs hunt you down! We are a very very soft and kind friend but we are like a devil as an enemy or more like when someone hurts our boys! We’re gonna stick together forever no matter what happens, we’ll never leave our boys and we’ll never let anyone hurt them! NEVER!!! If you don’t want your bone to break, then don’t ever hurt our boys!
BTS is the best... BTS army...
Go go Seventeen And BTS
Who hates bts .now I hates u .i love bts
Its really crazy...i'm so sad about one thing...
OMG GOT7 IS WAY MUCH BETTER THAN BTS WHY ARENT THEY HERE BTS
You fools iKon should be here
Only EXO....., I always like this group. Especially D.O , one of the most adorable penguin in THE WORLD. Hey.... EXO !!! Keep FIGHT. All the Best for ur future journey.
BTS
BTS forever
Exo exo exo exo exo exo forever and thanks all exo l and Exo fighting
I love bts i want to become a kpop girl member when i grow up and raise $1kg amd more
Thank u for the bts in the fist all army and I love other group too and have fun.... BTS!!!fighting
Nct should be here
Exo is my life143......
It's BTS forever...the band who changed the way of My thinking, All of u will always be in my prayers ... i wish to meet u oneday but it seems to be happen difficult but not immpossible ...keep doing well✌ lot of respect,love and support for Bts .. Hardwork is the key to success and u guys prove that..!! May GOD Bless u witu all of HIS Blessings ... and u rock again and again nd forever ... Ur humblness,politeness, hard working,ability and power will bring all of u on the height of success ...All of u will remains in my tears,prayers,mind,heart and life no matter what.. So keep doing much more Success ,fame and respect is waiting for u... Stay Blessed forever✌ AMEEN
101 forever! !
Monsta X
M
O
N
S
T
A
X
EXO!
EXO!
Nothing but EXO!
I love BTS and Jungkook.And also love NCT.
BTS IS LIFE
BTS
You are in my heartbeat!!!!
Always your biggest fan!!!!
Fought for u!!?
Stand for you!!!!
Always with you!!!!
Marrry u !!!
R.M
Buttt all the lines for all members but wedding offer for r.m.only!!!!
Seee u!!!
Answer me!!!
How are u all!!!
so where's iKON??
yeah....where is bigbang?the most popular group in the world,that the world call "KING OF K-POP"
BTS are the best !!!! Iam so so so so so happy for them and for the rest of the group to ! And lets gooooooo B T S !!!!!!!!
the best group boy of kpop exoooooooo
I♥♥♥♥EXO
Where is my legend Big bang, they are consider as the King of kpop
I am reading this article and can’t believe that you didn’t involve BIGBANG. They are literally the “Kings of K-pop”. But I do love BTS, SVT, Got7 (even thought they weren’t on the list).
BTS
My inspiration
Love them.
Bts is my life
where the f*** is got7??
they are really popular
Um I think BTS would be #3. I mean they are popular but in korea exo and wanna one are HUGE, like no joke-HUGE. And I think B.A.P deserves a spot on this list-also nu'est
Wait...where is GOT7 ???
EXO, SEVENTEEN AND BTS
Multifandomers?
BTS
You're right .bts are perfect, but I love them all because everyone works hard
NCT and Stray Kids deserve a place here. Or at least just NCT, since Stray Kids is yet to become REALLY popular (they'll get there tho).
BTS is everything to me and I will always love them and always vote for them no matter what
WHERE'S SEVENTEEN ??
BTS ARMY FOREVER
BTS is my life
im sorry but wheres nct and straykids?!
My ult boy groups are day6 and vixx but i love wanna one btob highlisgh super junor and exo so it was so hard!
exooo
Go Bangtan Sonyeondan
BTS ❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣❣only BTS
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