A Full Breakdown of K-Pop’s Five Generations

What are the generations of K-pop?

Generation 1 (1992–2003) K-pop was officially born when Seo Taiji and the Boys debuted in 1992, and the phenomenon of K-pop idols started with the debut of H.O.T. in 1996. This generation defined the catchy tunes and synchronized choreography of K-pop as we know it today. The K-pop training system was also developed during this era. Musical style: K-pop groups were often heavily influenced by American artists during this generation, and the music was usually either pop ballads or a blend of hip-hop and pop. Jesslyn agrees, noting that she hears “a lot of pop and hip-hop influences.” Biggest groups & solo artists: Seo Taiji and Boys, H.O.T., S.E.S., g.o.d., Shinwa, Fin.K.L., Sechs Kies, Rain, Seven Popular songs: H.O.T. ”Candy”; Shinwa ”Venus”; g.o.d. ”Observation”; S.E.S. “Paradise” Fan engagement: Fans mainly interacted with idols through fan clubs, which were primarily operated through the mail. Fashion: Influenced by hip-hop culture; baggy clothes Meet the wikiHow Experts Viankha Jesslyn is a K-pop idol and performer known as Via based in South Korea. She most recently began working with NA Entertainment in 2025 and is scheduled to debut in the girl group NWH:I on October 24, 2025. Anqi Xue is a professional makeup artist and color analysis expert based in Corona, CA. She specializes in American, Korean, and Japanese color analysis, makeup analysis, and Korean style makeup.

Generation 2 (2003–2012) The second generation of K-pop is often called the “Golden Age.” K-pop began to spread outside of Korea, thanks in large part to the rise of social media and streaming platforms. The first sub-units started appearing during this generation, where a few members of a larger group would team up for projects. Jesslyn notes that SHINee and Super Junior, who got their start in the early 2000s, are well-known second gen groups. Musical style: Groups began experimenting with musical styles like electro-pop, and choreography became more intricate Biggest groups & solo artists: BIGBANG, TVXQ!, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, Wonder Girls, SHINee, 2NE1, BoA, f(x) Popular songs: TVXQ! “Hug”; SHINee “Lucifer”; Girls’ Generation “Gee”; Super Junior “Sorry, Sorry”; f(x) “Electric Shock”; PSY “Gangnam Style” (this mega-hit bridged the 2nd and 3rd generations) Fan engagement: Idols became more accessible through early social media, world tours, and television appearances. Groups also began offering merchandise like collectible trading cards and promotional light sticks, which were used to identify fans at concerts. Fashion: Cutesy looks, schoolgirl uniforms and experimental, colorful styles. Jesslyn says, “The second generation is the original Y2K [fashion], but instead of the way that we do Y2K nowadays, it [was] more of like, ‘Ah, sparkles, ah, bold colors everywhere.’”

Generation 3 (2013–2019) The third generation saw K-pop explode internationally. Jesslyn says the third generation, spearheaded by very famous groups like BTS and BLACKPINK, is when K-pop became mainstream. While bands like BLACKPINK and BTS were particularly successful, many other groups were able to break into worldwide markets. Entertainment companies began investing more heavily in production quality during this era. Musical style: The music began to be influenced by a variety of genres, including techno and rock. Jessalyn mentions this is when the “girl crush concept” emerged. Girl groups like BLACKPINK had a more techno or EDM sound “with punchy lyrics and short hooks and repeating words. That's sort of what a girl crush concept is,” she says. Jesslyn says other third generation groups had a candy type of concept, like NCT or Seventeen, with a strong pop sound, and many boy groups had a darker sound to them. Biggest groups & solo artists: BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, GOT7, EXO, Monsta X, Seventeen, Red Velvet, NCT, Wanna One, Gfriend Popular songs: BTS “Idol”; Red Velvet “Bad Boy” ; EXO “Growl”; BLACKPINK “BOOMBAYAH” Fan engagement: Fans had unprecedented access to idols through social media, including chances to interact with their favorite idol (or “bias”). Companies began producing “Survival” shows where K-pop idols were chosen. Fashion: Styles became more experimental, and some groups started choosing unique looks for each member. Jesslyn says third generation fashion featured a lot of black and white striped tank tops, high buns, and oversized earrings.

Generation 4 (2019–2023) Jesslyn notes that after the world-wide success of the third generation groups, the fourth generation of K-pop was a “streamlined version of K-pop” that catered more toward Western fans. The fourth generation is marked by an increased focus on international audiences. The COVID pandemic also helped bring an explosion in digital content, including online concerts and new platforms. This is a highly competitive generation, with only the best talent making the cut. Musical style: The fourth generation of K-pop featured continued experimentation with genres like EDM, hip-hop, and even classical. Biggest groups & solo artists: Stray Kids, Ateez, ITZY, TXT, (G)I-dle, The Boyz, Aespa, Enhypen, New Jeans, Le Sserafim Popular songs: ATEEZ “Guerrilla”; aespa “Next Level”; Stray Kids’ “God’s Menu”; New Jeans “OMG” Fan engagement: Social media engagement and digital content continued to expand K-pop’s fan base, and groups worked to expand their appeal to worldwide audiences. Fashion: This generation saw the rise of luxury brands endorsing K-pop. Fashion became more experimental and daring. Jesslyn says groups started creating really distinct personalities and different concepts, matching their clothing styles to their concepts. “I think aespa has one of the most distinct styles,” she says. “They have an AI or technology-based sort of concept [and] usually wear futuristic clothing.”

Generation 5 (2023–Today) There’s some debate about whether the 5th K-pop generation has already started, but most people date it to about 2023. According to Jesslyn, the K-pop bands that are debuting right now are considered part of the fifth generation. She says her girl group, NWH:I, “is going to debut in the fifth generation” on October 25, 2025. This generation is still pretty young, so it remains to be seen what the defining characteristics will be. Notably, songs seem to have a happier, nostalgic sound. Also, more groups are expanding membership to talent from around the world—meaning K-pop will continue to be increasingly international. Biggest groups & solo artists: BOYNEXTDOOR, ZEROBASEONE (ZB1), Babymonster, Xikers, ILLIT, RIIZE Popular songs: Babymonster “Sheesh”; BOYNEXTDOOR “Earth, Wind, & Fire”; ILLIT “Magnetic”; ZB1 “Iconik” Musical style: There’s a strong focus on simple, catchy tunes with the potential to go viral. Fan engagement: New groups use social media to build a fan base before ever debuting a song. Idols often participate in social media dance challenges and other events. Fashion: Y2K aesthetics are popular right now in K-pop. Professional makeup artist Anqi Xue adds, “When it comes to current K-pop makeup, it’s all about flawless, glowy skin. Colored contacts are also big right now.”

How K-Pop Generations Are Decided

K-pop generations are usually decided by fans and industry leaders. As new waves of K-pop groups emerge, fans and entertainment companies gradually begin referring to them as the next wave. Over time, that designation will take hold, becoming “official” once most fans, production companies, and media outlets come to a consensus. Unlike Western music, which is usually divided by decades, K-pop generations don't necessarily go by years. Instead, they represent shifts in the K-pop industry, like changes in the predominant musical sound or how fans and idols interact. Not everyone agrees on how the generations are divided up, so you'll sometimes see them listed with different years. There's also a debate within the K-pop community about whether the 5th generation has started. Jesslyn says fans don’t always agree on exactly when a generation begins and ends. “Sometimes they just go off of vibes because like, ‘Oh, this group has a similar vibe to third generation groups, so I guess I’ll consider them third.’ And the majority of the fans will consider them the same way.” Generations are often marked by when a defining group was formed. For example, BTS was created in 2013, which is when Gen 3 is usually considered to have started.

What is the idol training system?

Entertainment companies train young talent before debuting them as part of a group. These idols-in-training (or “trainees”) hone their singing and dancing skills, and they’re often trained in languages like English and Japanese to prepare them for media appearances. The training system was originally developed by SM Entertainment in the first K-pop generation, and now it’s a widespread part of the K-pop industry. The process of selecting trainees is often broadcast via television shows—fans vote on and campaign for their favorites, helping them feel more invested in future K-pop stars. The Big 3 are a group of entertainment companies that have been producing K-pop idols since the first generation: SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment.