2025 was the year K-pop fans got everything they dreamed of. Long-separated groups have reunited, solo artists have broken records that seemed impossible, and the genre has proven it can dominate any stage in the world.
If you follow K-pop, you know that 2025 has been unforgettable for reasons that go far beyond the usual chart battles and music video releases.
BTS members return from military service
The most awaited moment came when all seven members of BTS completed their mandatory military service. RM and V were discharged on June 10, followed by Jimin and Jungkook the next day, and Suga finished by June 21. This marked the end of a nearly three-year wait for ARMY, the group’s devoted fan base around the world.
Jin had already been released in December 2023 and J-Hope returned in October 2024, but the fact that all members finally returned opened the door for full group activities.
In July, BTS announced plans for a new studio album due in the spring, along with a world tour that would include over 30 concerts in North America. During the waiting period, the members kept fans busy with solo projects: Jin released the album Echo and went on tour, while Jungkook became the first Asian solo artist to reach one hundred million streams for each original track
Stray Kids reach eight number one albums
Stray Kids etched their name into music history in November 2025 with their album FOUL debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking their eighth consecutive top of the standings. The result, starting with Strange in 2022, made them the first act in the chart’s 70-year history to debut their first eight albums at number one.
In addition to their chart success, Stray Kids also won the Album of the Year award at MAMA 2025 for their album Karma.
Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT” breaks records
Rosé’s collaboration with Bruno Mars, titled “APT”, became a global sensation that redefined what K-pop collaborations could achieve. The music video reached two billion views on YouTube in just 335 days, becoming the fastest K-pop video to ever reach this milestone. The song itself competed for major Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year, and dominated streaming platforms globally.
For Rosé personally, it marked her first major solo success as both a member of the group Blackpink and as a solo artist with a two billion view music video.
Hwasa gets the Perfect All-Kill for Female Solo Artist
MAMAMOO’s Hwasa gave an unforgettable performance at the Blue Dragon Film Awards with her song “Good Goodbye.” On November 30, the track got a perfect all-killmaking Hwasa the first female solo artist to accomplish this feat in 2025. A perfect all-kill means a song tops all major Korean music charts simultaneously – a rare achievement that speaks to an artist’s cultural relevance and broad appeal across demographics.
By December, Song had amassed over 400 perfect kills.
TWICE Lollapalooza Titles
On August 2, TWICE became the first female K-pop group to headline Lollapalooza in Chicago. The nine-member group performed with a live band, featuring songs from throughout their career and also playing the first live performance of “Takedown,” a track from the Netflix K-Pop animated film Demon Hunters.
Demon Hunters K-Pop becomes a Netflix hit
When Netflix released the K-Pop animated film Demon Hunters in June 2025, few expected it to become the most-watched original animated film in the platform’s history. The film, which blends K-pop culture with Korean mythology and action sequences, reached Netflix’s top 10 globally in 93 countries and amassed more than 26 million views in six weeks.
