Who Are the Biggest K-Pop Groups of the Third Generation?

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Plus, what defines this generation of Korean music

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: October 1, 2025 Fact Checked

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Boy Groups

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Girl Groups

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3rd Gen Years

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What defines the 3rd Gen?

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The third generation of K-pop, which runs from 2012 until about 2019, is often considered the golden age of Korean music. Groups like Blackpink and BTS enjoyed global success, and the era saw groups becoming more experimental in their sound, fashion, and even how they connected with audiences. We’re taking a look at the biggest boy groups and girl groups from the third generation of K-pop, so let’s get started.

Biggest 3rd Generation K-Pop Groups

BTS
Blackpink
TWICE
EXO
Seventeen

Section 1 of 4:

Popular 3rd Gen K-Pop Boy Groups

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1
BTS BTS—short for Bangtan Sonyeondan (or Bulletproof Boy Scouts)—is arguably one of the biggest bands in K-pop history. They were produced by Big Hit Entertainment and found success with audiences around the world, even hitting #1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart.^{[1]
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Research source} BTS perfected the art of connecting with fans online, posting daily on platforms like YouTube, Weverse, and V Live.^{[2]
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- Formed in: 2013
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “Butter”; “”Dynamite”; “Permission to Dance” (co-written by Ed Sheeran); “My Universe” (with Coldplay)
- Members: Kim Namjoon (RM), Min Yoongi (SUGA), Jung Hoseok (J-hope), Kim Seokjin (Jin), Jeon Jung Kook (Jungkook), Kim Taghyung (V), Park Jimin (Jimin).
- Fandom: ARMY
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EXO EXO’s debut in 2012 is widely considered to be the start of the 3rd K-pop generation. Their debut album XOXO sold over a million copies, and the group performed at the 2019 Winter Olympics. While EXO were especially successful in Korea and China, they also landed on the Billboard chart.^{[3]
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Research source} However, tensions with their production companies and within the band have left their future in question.^{[4]
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- Formed in: 2012
- Current status: Uncertain
- Popular songs: “Growl”; “Mama”; “Monster”
- Members: Suho, Xiumin, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun^{[5]
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- Fandom: EXO-L (EXO-Love)
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GOT7 GOT7’s heavy hip-hop influence helped them create a unique sound in the K-pop landscape. Their debut EP was an instant hit, reaching #2 on Korea’s Gaon chart and landing on the Billboard World Albums chart.^{[6]
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- Formed in: 2014
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “You Calling My Name”; “Just Right”; “If You Do”
- Members: Jinyoung, Jackson Wang, BamBam, Mark Tuan, Kim Yugyeom, Choi Young-jae, Jay B
- Fandom: iGOT7 (Ahgase)
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NCT NCT (“Neo Culture Technology”) is one of the largest groups in K-pop—they have an immense cast of 24+ idols divided into four sub-units (NCT U, NCT 127, NCT DREAM, NCT DoJaeJung, and WayV). They’ve also released albums as a whole group.^{[7]
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- Formed in: 2016
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “Boss” (NCT U); “Cherry Bomb” (NCT 127); “Boom” (NCT Dream)
- Members: Johnny, Yuta, Kun, Doyoung, Ten, Winwin, Jungwoo, Mark, Xiao Jun, Hendery, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Yangyang, Chenle, Jisung, Sion, Taeyong, Jaehyun, Taeil, Lucas, Shotaro, Sungchan
- Fandom: NCTzen
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SEVENTEEN SEVENTEEN is a group with 13 members, usually divided into three sub-units. (13 members, 3 sub-units, and 1 cohesive group add up to 17). SEVENTEEN is a global sensation, with numerous albums selling over a million copies.^{[8]
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Research source} They’re still active, even with some members on hiatus for their required military service.
- Formed in: 2015
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “Super”; “HOT”; “Rock with you”
- Members: Mingyu, Yoon Jeonghan, Wonwoo, Hoshi, The8, Wooi, Joshua Hong, Wen Junhui, DK, S.Coups, Vernon, Seungkwan, Dino
- Fandom: CARAT
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MONSTA X MONSTA X was formed through the reality survival show No.Mercy. Their unique blend of pop, hip-hop, and EDM, plus their performances in both Korean and English, have helped broadentheir international appeal. They reunited recently after taking a break for members to complete their required military service.^{[9]
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- Formed in: 2015
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “Hero”; “Shoot Out”; “Love Killa”
- Members: Wonho, Hyungwon, Shownu, I.M, Minhyuk, Joohoney, Kihyun
- Fandom: MONBEBE
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iKON iKON was formed on the reality survival show Mix & Match. Their debut album Welcome Back shot to #1 on the Gaon Music Chart. They were originally under YG Entertainment, but in 2023, they signed with 143 Entertainment.^{[10]
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- Formed in: 2015
- Current status: Active/hiatus
- Popular songs: “Love Scenario”; “Killing Me”; “Rhythm Ta”
- Members: Jinhwan, B.I, Song Yunhyeong, Bobby, Kim Donghyuk, Koo Jun-hoe, Jung Chan-woo
- Fandom: iKONIC
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BTOB BTOB is short for “Born to Beat,” and this group’s steady rise to fame proved that they were, in fact, the ones to beat. BTOB was given the honor of being named ambassadors for the Korea Tourism Organization in 2018, and their album Beep Beep reached #1 on the Gaon Album Chart.^{[11]
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- Formed in: 2012
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “Missing You”; “It’s Okay”; “Pray (I’ll Be Your Man)”
- Members: Seo Eun Kwang, Lee Chang Sub, Lim Hyung Sik, Took Sung Jae, Lee Min Hyuk, Peniel Shin, Jung Il Hoon
- Fandom: Melody
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NU’EST NU’EST was already gaining attention before they ever debuted thanks to appearances in a video by After School Blue. Once they officially debuted with their 2012 track “Face,” they really took off, and even released their own reality show.^{[12]
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- Formed in: 2012
- Current status: Disbanded 2022
- Popular songs: “FACE”; “BET BET”; “INSIDE OUT”
- Members: Ren, Hwang Min-hyun, Kim Jong-hyeon, Aron, Baekho
- Fandom: Love
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Wanna One Wanna One was formed during the second season of the reality survival show Produce 1. They had a lot of success in a short time, but they disbanded when their contract ended in 2018. But even if they were short-lived, they’re an iconic part of the third generation.^{[13]
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- Formed in: 2017
- Current status: Disbanded 2018
- Popular songs: “Energetic”; “Spring Breeze”; “Boomerang”
- Members: Kang Daniel, Park Ji-hoon, Lee Dae-hwi, Kim Jae-hwan, Ong Seong-wu, Park Woo-jin, Lai Kuan-lin, Yoon Ji-sung, Hwang Min-hyun, Bae Jin-young, Ha Sung-woon
- Fandom: WANNABLE

Section 2 of 4:

Popular 3rd Gen K-Pop Girl Groups

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1
Blackpink Blackpink is one of the most popular Korean groups of all time, and they were the first K-pop girl group to hit 1 billion views on YouTube. They’ve collaborated with artists like Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, and Selena Gomez, and were the first female K-pop group to perform at Coachella.^{[14]
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- Formed in: 2016
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “DDU-DU DDU-DU”; “How You Like That”; “Kill This Love”; “BOOMBAYAH”
- Members: Lisa, Jennie, Rosé, Jisoo
- Fandom: BLINK
2
TWICE TWICE was created through the survival show SIXTEEN, and they debuted in 2015 with their EP The Story Begins. Over time, they steadily built up their fanbase, and their first English single “The Feels” landed on the Billboard Hot 100. More recently, they appeared on the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack.^{[15]
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- Formed in: 2015
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “CHEER UP”; “Strategy” (feat. Megan Thee Stallion); “What is Love?”; “TAKEDOWN”
- Members: Minatozaki Sana, Momo, Nayeon, Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Tzuyu, Mina, Dahyun
- Fandom: ONCE
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Red Velvet Although Red Velvet originally launched as a four-person group, the team quickly grew to 5 with the addition of Yeri. Their name refers to the two sides of the group’s style: red for their bold image and velvet for their classier side. ^{[16]
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- Formed in: 2014
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “Psycho”; “Red Flavor”; “Bad Boy”
- Members: Irene, Yeri, Wendy, Seulgi, Joy
- Fandom: ReVeluv
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MAMAMOO MAMAMOO hit the K-pop scene with a unique blend of R&B, pop, and jazz. Their one-of-a-kind music stands out even more because most of it was written by the band. Their powerful vocals and versatile sound helped earn them fans world-wide, and they’ve had a number of successful albums.^{[17]
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- Formed in: 2014
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “Décalcomanie”; “Um Oh Ah”; “Mr. Ambiguous”
- Members: Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein, Hwasa
- Fandom: MOOMOO
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GFriend GFriend was formed by Source Music in early 2015. Their hook was lilting, innocent lyrics, string-filled melodies, and hard-hitting choreo. They gained worldwide attention after performing their song “Rough” at double-speed while still performing the complex choreography with their standard precision, and their success continued through the group’s indefinite hiatus, announced in 2021..^{[18]
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- Formed in: 2015
- Current status: Disbanded/Indefinite hiatus
- Popular songs: “Rough”; “MAGO”; “Me Gustas Tu”
- Members: Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB, Umji
- Fandom: Buddy
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Momoland After being created as part of the survival reality show Finding Momoland, Momoland released a steady string of EPs and mini-albums. But they really exploded onto the scene with the fun, catchy single “Bboom Bboom” from th ir third mini-album Great!^{[19]
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- Formed in: 2016
- Current status: Disbanded/hiatus
- Popular songs: “Bboom Bboom”; “BAAM”; “Wrap Me In Plastic” (with Chromance)
- Members: Nancy, Yeon Woo, JooE, Daisy, Taeha, Ahin, Lee Hye-bin, Jane
- Fandom: Merry-Go-Round
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OH MY GIRL OH MY GIRL (sometimes written as OMG) originally debuted in 2015 as an 8-person group. They steadily released new music, but didn’t find significant success until their 2020 album Nonstop. Shortly afterward, their single “Dun Dun Dance” hit #1 on the Gaon Digital Chart.
- Formed in: 2015
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “Dolphin”; “Nonstop”; “Dun Dun Dance”
- Members: Arin, YooA, Mimi, Seunghee, Yubin, Hyojung, Jiho
- Fandom: Miracle
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I.O.I. I.O.I was formed during the first season of the survival reality series Produce 101. They’re considered a temporary group—they only worked together for about a year before disbanding.^{[20]
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Research source} But many of the members went on to have successful careers, and the survival reality concept really took off thanks to their successful season.
- Formed in: 2017
- Current status: Disbanded
- Popular songs: “Very Very Very”; “DOWNPOUR”; “I Love You, I Remember You”
- Members: Zhou Jie Qiong, Lim Na Young, Kim Chung Ha, Kim Se Jeong, Kang Mi Na, Choi Yoo Jung, Kim Do Yeon, Yoo Yeon Jung, Kim So Hye, Jung Chae Yeon, Jeon So Mi
- Fandom: IDOL
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EXID EXID (which stands for “Exceed In Dreaming”) gained international fame in 2014 after a viral fancam moment featuring member Hani dancing to the song “Up & Down.” It was a breakout moment for EXID, who had been releasing music since 2011. The group capitalized on the attention with a successful tour and more singles.^{[21]
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- Formed in: 2011
- Current status: Indefinite hiatus
- Popular songs: “Up & Down”; “Ah Yeah”; “Hot Pink”
- Members: Hani, Solji, Elly, Hyelin, Jeonghwa
- Fandom: LEGGO
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(G)I-dle/I-dle Originally formed in 2018 as (G)I-dle, this successful group rebranded as I-dle in 2025. I-dle is known for their confident songs and strong, empowering messaging—much of which is written by the group members. They’ve released songs in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese, and still enjoy continued international success.
- Formed in: 2018
- Current status: Active
- Popular songs: “Latata”; “Nxde”; “Oh my god”
- Members: Soyeon, Minni, Yuqi, Miyeon, Shuhua
- Fandom: Neverland

Section 3 of 4:

When does the 3rd Gen start and end?

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Most people date the 3rd generation from 2012–2019. The third generation is generally considered to have started with EXO’s debut in 2012. Not everyone agrees when this generation officially ends—opinions range from late 2017 to 2019. But many groups through 2019 are still considered 3rd generation.^{[22]
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- Some people consider PSY’s international smash hit “Gangnam Style” to be the beginning of the third generation, but others see it as the end of the second generation.

Section 4 of 4:

What defines the 3rd Gen?

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The 3rd gen is defined by increased fan engagement and worldwide reach. During the third generation, the prevalence of social media and streaming platforms made it easier than ever for K-pop groups to find fans around the world. Groups like BTS and Blackpink found huge success in international markets. This expanded reach is evident in a number of the trends that are common to the third generation.^{[23]
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- Concepts: Groups began showing more creativity in their concepts, sometimes even embracing a different style for each “era” (usually centered around album releases)
- Production values: With increasing pressure to make a splash on the world stage, production companies began spending more money on live shows, music videos, and styling for their idols.
- Fan engagement: Groups post to social media regularly—sometimes daily. This gives fans unprecedented access to their favorite idols (known as “biases”) and creates a sense of community between fans and groups.
- Diversity in styling: Fashion, hair, and makeup became more diverse, with idols having more freedom to express themselves. Androgynous styles, bold hair colors, and luxury wear became the norm.
- Merchandise: While branded merchandise appeared in the 2nd generation, the use of photocards and light sticks became widespread during the 3rd generation.