Every year is a great year for K-Pop music, but there seems to be something extra special in the air this year. Whether it’s the highly-anticipated debuts or comebacks from K-Pop groups that fans hadn’t expected to return so suddenly, the albums that have been released so far in 2025 are an impressive collection of talent and creative passion.
Among the 10 albums listed below are iconic K-Pop solo debuts, refreshing fifth-generation releases, and tried-and-true comebacks from some of the genre’s rising stars. You might just find your new favorite album. With the latter half of the year underway, we’ll continue to see K-Pop releases that blow our minds and pull our heartstrings, but these are the best for now.
10
ETERNALT – CLOSE YOUR EYES
Released: April 2
Not all K-Pop groups born from survival shows are created equal. Some go on to become superstars while others fade into the background. CLOSE YOUR EYES, a seven-member boy group formed on the program Project 7, currently sits comfortably in the middle of that range. Their debut album, ETERNALT, is an impressive eight-track collection that immediately sets them apart.
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The image of a K-Pop boy group tends to fall somewhere between powerful and youthful. CLOSE YOUR EYES carves out a space for themselves that no one knew was missing. The introductory track invites listeners into their sonic landscape with gentle hands, and the remaining songs hypnotize with their true boy band sound and beautiful vocals.
9
PINK CRUSH – ONE PACT
Released: February 14
Since their debut in 2023, ONE PACT has mostly fallen under the radar for listeners outside their fan base. With their third mini-album, they brush themselves off and offer some of the best self-produced K-Pop in the genre. “& Heart” single-handedly proves member TAG’s production chops; it gets more impressive with each listen.
The rest of the album is boy group excellence at its finest without being overwhelmed by its identity. “B2U” bursts at the seams with excitement, the title track, “100!,” draws on the familiar influence of ’90s and 2000s boy bands, and “Never Stop” closes the mini-album with acoustic sincerity that lingers long after it ends.
8
WINTER HEPTAGON – GOT7
Released: January 20
When GOT7 announced their first group comeback in nearly three years, fans were shocked. Their wishes had finally come true in the form of WINTER HEPTAGON, the group’s most authentic release yet. Within nine tracks, they deliver every mood that a K-Pop boy group is known for with expert precision.
The title track, “PYTHON,” suggests the need to escape a lover you can’t let go, reeling listeners in with its catchy chorus and addictive choreography. What follows are seven tracks, each of which ties back to one member’s individual style and songwriting abilities, and the closer, which offers thanks to their fans who have stuck around all these years.
Altogether, this album is the perfect way to wrap up an 11-year career, allowing the members to continue pursuing their largely successful solo careers and touring ventures.
7
Fe304: FORWARD – NMIXX
Released: March 17
NMIXX is no stranger to how divisive their music is. Their debut still confuses people, but many have come around to realizing that it’s actually not the worst K-Pop song they’ve ever heard. Three years later, the girl group continues to prove themselves. Their latest mini-album, Fe304: FORWARD, places their pitch-perfect vocals at the forefront alongside impeccable production.
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“High Horse” starts the mini-album off with stunning vocal delivery and lyrics that speak to embracing who you are without considering the negative input from outsiders. “KNOW ABOUT ME,” “Slingshot,” “Golden Recipe,” and “Papillon” lean on their production in a way that elevates each to their highest potential until “Ocean” breaks everything back down to its foundation.
6
Glow Up – RESCENE
Released: February 5
RESCENE is a girl group that’s seen a promising level of success since their debut despite arising from outside the four major entertainment companies. Their latest mini-album, Glow Up, is a harmonious collection of music that encourages listeners to grow on their own terms.
“CRASH,” the mini-album’s opener, is made of the kind of girl group magic that many strive for.
“CRASH,” the mini-album’s opener, is made of the kind of girl group magic that many strive for. The rest of the tracks are addictive without feeling too repetitive. “Going on” and “Glow Up” each clock in at just over two minutes, but both feel perfectly paced and without any missing parts that many shorter K-Pop songs tend to have.
They just came back with their newest single album, Dearest, and it’s safe to say that RESCENE’s career continues to push them forward.
5
HOT – LE SSERAFIM
Released: March 14
LE SSERAFIM’s young career has already had plenty of highs and lows. Their debut in 2022 set a high bar that their first comeback completely blew out of the water, so it’s no wonder they’ve struggled to find their footing. On HOT, they came into their own with a sizzling title track that dropped just a few months shy of the summer heat.
The remaining tracks each serve as some of the group’s strongest. “Come Over” is a hip-swaying track with choreography unlike the usual flashy moves K-Pop fans are used to. “Ash” impresses with its desperate chorus delivery, while “So Cynical (Badum)” wraps everything up in a catchy package that makes listeners want to start the mini-album over from the top.
4
GOLDEN HOUR : Part.3 – ATEEZ
Released June 13
Anyone who’s heard of ATEEZ likely knows the eight-member boy group is known for their dynamic performance power. On GOLDEN HOUR : Part.3, they step into a more refreshing style without compromising their identity. “Lemon Drop” dives into the heat of summer in a way that they’ve only done a few times in the past.
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“Masterpiece” lures listeners in with an instantly recognizable introduction and sultry vocals, but “Now this house ain’t a home” and “Castle” root themselves in something more vulnerable, offering listeners solace from their troubles. In their sixth year as a group, ATEEZ continues to discover new sides of their diverse sound.
3
The Firstfruit – MARK
Released: April 7
There have been a lot of incredible solo debuts this year, but MARK of NCT delivered one of the best. The rapper is known for the many hats he wears as a member of several NCT units, but, as a soloist, he proves himself worthy of the success he’s achieved.
The Firstfruit guides listeners through everything from his childhood in Toronto to his eventual position as one of K-Pop’s biggest voices. From start to finish, the album is led by MARK’s faith and how that ties into every creative decision he’s made in his life. In an era where cohesive albums are few and far between, The Firstfruit shines.
2
No Genre – BOYNEXTDOOR
Released May 13
K-Pop’s fifth-generation is quickly overflowing with incomparable talent. Even so, BOYNEXTDOOR continues to stand out from the rest with each release. Their latest mini-album, No Genre, presents the five-member boy group in a way that strays from the typical need to tie an album down to a certain style or concept. Instead, they show listeners exactly what they’re capable of.
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“I Feel Good,” the title track, is ridiculously fun. They finally lean into the influence of Zico, their company’s CEO, and his time in one of K-Pop’s most chaotic boy groups. “123-78” is a love song that invites couples onto the dance floor. The rest of the tracks are relatively short, but pack their own unique punches nonetheless.
It’s old news by now that BOYNEXTDOOR is one of the most promising young K-Pop groups. With a discography like theirs, however, it’s important to keep harping on that point that continues to be proven year after year.
1
Ruby – JENNIE
Released: March 7
The women of BLACKPINK have taken over the airwaves and charts for the past year or so. The last of the four to step into the spotlight as a soloist is JENNIE with Ruby, her debut solo album. The pre-release singles set the bar for the album extremely high, but she blew everyone’s expectations out of the water.
Collaborations with artists like Dua Lipa and Doechii run rampant without overshadowing the artist herself. Even among some of the biggest voices in music today, JENNIE stands out every time. Her voice breaks through in heartbreaking tracks like “start a war” and “F.T.S.,” while others like “Mantra” and “like JENNIE” show that she isn’t controlled by the negativity.
After an electrifying Coachella set and with a BLACKPINK world tour on the horizon, there’s no doubt that JENNIE’s reign will continue to hold strong throughout the rest of the year.
