16 Most Popular 1st Generation Kpop Groups of All Time

These early K-pop groups don’t get the credit they deserve. They weren’t just dropping catchy songs; they were building a whole movement out of thin air. 

Everybody today talks about BTS and BLACKPINK taking K-pop worldwide, but the truth is, none of that global craze would even exist without these groups.

In this article, I will introduce you to the most popular Kpop groups of the first generation, what they are doing now, and what made them iconic. 

16 Most Popular 1st Gen Kpop Groups

Note: The ranking is based on fan polls, expert commentary, and music industry retrospectives. Exact positions may vary, but groups are consistently ranked as the most popular.

Let me walk you through the top 10 Icons who defined an entire generation of Korean pop music.

Rank	Group Name	Debut Year	Notable Hits	Remarks
1	H.O.T.	1996	“Candy,” “Happiness”	Widely credited with sparking the idol group phenomenon. Huge fandom and national cultural impact.
2	Sechs Kies	1997	“Couple,” “Com’ Back”	Iconic rivals to H.O.T.; still celebrated and reunited in recent years.
3	Shinhwa	1998	“Perfect Man,” “T.O.P”	Longest-running K-pop group without lineup change. Highly respected for longevity.
4	S.E.S.	1997	“I’m Your Girl,” “Dreams Come True”	First major girl group, shaped the “innocent” idol concept.
5	g.o.d	1999	“To Mother,” “Lie”	Famous for relatable lyrics and cross-generational popularity.
6	Fin.K.L	1998	“To My Boyfriend,” “Forever Love”	Lee Hyori’s group; famous for diverse concepts and popularity with youth.
7	Baby V.O.X	1997	“Get Up,” “Coincidence”	Early girl group with strong international presence, esp. in Asia.
8	Seo Taiji and Boys	1992	“I Know,” “Come Back Home”	Pioneers who changed Korean pop culture and inspired all idol generations.
9	Turbo	1995	“Black Cat,” “Twist King”	Dance duo with multiple national hits in the mid-1990s.
10	Fly to the Sky	1999	“Missing You,” “Sea of Love”	R&B duo with strong vocals and lasting popularity in Korea.

Let’s explore each group’s iconic story and what they are doing now, along with six more 1st-generation K-pop groups.

1. H.O.T. (High-Five Of Teenagers)

Members	Moon Hee-jun, Jang Woo-hyuk, Tony Ahn, Kangta, Lee Jae-won
Years active	1996-2001, 2018-present
Status	Reunited
Signature Hits	“Candy,” “Happiness,” “We Are the Future,” “Light,” “Hope”

H.O.T. really changed the K-pop scene. They had cool dance moves, bold fashion, and fans who were obsessed (in a good way). They basically became the blueprint for idol groups.

When they broke up in 2001, fans were heartbroken—some even protested outside SM Entertainment. It was mostly contract drama and different goals.

Kangta stayed in music, and Tony became a variety show regular. In 2018, they came back together for some shows and gave their OG fans all the feels.

2. Sechs Kies 

Members	Eun Ji-won, Lee Jae-jin, Kim Jae-duck, Kang Sung-hun, Ko Ji-yong, Jang Su-won
Years Active	1997-2000, 2016-present
Status	Active (4 members)
Signature Hits	“Couple,” “Com’ Back,” “Be Well,” “Road Fighter,” “Perfect Match”

Sechs Kies was H.O.T.’s biggest rival back then. Their fans went just as hard as nowadays BLACKPINK and BTS fans go, and their music was a cool mix of dance, pop, and R&B.

They split in 2000 at the top of their game, which shocked a lot of people. There was a lot of pressure behind the scenes, and the competition didn’t help.

In 2016, they got back together under YG (minus two members). Eun Ji-won is now a TV favorite and is still making music with the group.

3. Shinhwa 

Members	Eric Mun, Lee Min-woo, Kim Dong-wan, Shin Hye-sung, Jun Jin, Andy Lee
Years active	(1998-present)
Status	Active
Signature Hits	“T.O.P.,” “Perfect Man,” “Brand New,” “Wild Eyes,” “This Love”

Shinhwa is the real definition of loyalty. Same members since day one, no lineup changes, ever. That’s pretty rare.

They took breaks for military service and solo careers, but they never disbanded. Their mix of smooth vocals and edgy style made them unique.

Today, they’re still doing music and other entertainment stuff. No matter whether young or old, fans still love them.

4. S.E.S.

Members	Sea (Yoo Soo-young), Eugene (Kim Yoo-jin), Shoo (Choi Su-young)
Years Active	1997-2002, 2016-present
Status	Reunited
Signature Hits	“I’m Your Girl,” “Dreams Come True,” “Love,” “Just a Feeling,” “Show Me Your Love”

S.E.S. were the OG girl group queens. They had that sweet, innocent image, but also played with pop, R&B, and even jazz.

Their fashion was a big deal. Teen girls everywhere copied their looks. They split in 2002 to do their own thing, no drama.

Eugene became a popular actress, while Sea and Shoo stuck with music. They reunited in 2016 for their 20th anniversary. That reunion had fans feeling nostalgic like never before.

5. g.o.d (Groove Over Dose)

Members	Park Joon-hyung, Son Ho-young, Kim Tae-woo, Danny Ahn, Yoon Kye-sang
Years Active	1999-present
Status	Active (4 members)
Signature Hits	“To Mother,” “Lies,” “Road,” “Observation,” “One Candle”

g.o.d had it all, touching ballads and fun party tracks. “To Mother” hit people in the heart, and then they’d switch it up with funky songs you couldn’t sit still for.

Yoon Kye-sang left early on to act, but they never officially broke up. They stayed tight and always supported each other’s solo work.

In 2014, the other four had a major comeback, which helped kick off the ’90s idol reunion trend. They still perform together now and then.

6. Fin. K. L

Members	Lee Hyori, Ock Joo-hyun, Lee Jin, Sung Yu-ri
Years active	1998-2005, 2019-present
Status	Reunited
Signature Hits	“Blue Rain,” “To My Boyfriend,” “Forever Love,” “Now,” “White”

Fin.K.L had some powerhouse vocals and wasn’t afraid to change things up with every comeback. They were always evolving.

They never had a big breakup moment. After 2005, they each just followed their own path. Hyori especially blew up as a solo artist.

In 2019, they reunited on a variety show and even released new music. It was good to see them together again, and they are still close after all those years.

7. Baby V.O.X 

Members	Kim E-Z, Lee Hee-jin, Kan Mi-youn, Sim Eun-jin, Yoon Eun-hye, Ju So-young
Years active	1997-2006
Status	Disbanded
Signature Hits	“Get Up,” “Ya Ya Ya,” “Killer,” “Coincidence,” “Game Over”

Baby V.O.X was one of the biggest girl groups in the late ’90s and early 2000s. They were one of the first K-pop groups to get popular in China. At that time, it was a huge achievement.

Things started to change around 2004. Some members left because of disagreements. In the end, the group officially ended in 2005.

After that, Yoon Eun-hye became a well-known actress. She starred in some super-popular shows. The other members went on to do their own things too. Some stayed in music, others moved into different areas of entertainment.

8. Seo Taiji and Boys

Members	Seo Taiji, Yang Hyun-suk, Lee Juno
Years active	1992-1997
Status	Disbanded
Signature Hits	“I Know,” “Come Back Home,” “Hayeoga,” “Classroom Idea,” “Feel the Soul”

This trio totally changed the game in Korean pop by bringing in hip-hop and dance beats inspired by Western music. A lot of people see them as the starting point for what K-pop is today.

They disbanded the group in 1997, while they were still popular, which surprised fans. However, it gave each of them the opportunity to try new things on their own.

Seo Taiji went on to become a solo artist. Yang Hyun-suk started YG Entertainment and helped create groups like BIGBANG and BLACKPINK. Lee Juno made his own label and worked on new groups like Leessang.

9. Turbo 

Members	Kim Jong-kook, Mikey (original: Kim Jung-nam)
Years active	1995-2001, 2015-present
Status	Reunited
Signature Hits	“Black Cat,” “Twist King,” “December,” “Cyber Lover,” “Love is…”

Turbo was one of the OG K-pop duos that paired a rapper with a singer, and Kim Jong-kook’s super high voice made them stand out. They were crazy popular all over Asia and always brought insane energy to their performances.

After their fifth album, they ended the contract and went their separate ways. Jong-kook wanted to focus more on his solo career.

He ended up doing really well, both as a solo singer and on variety shows. Then in 2015, the duo got back together for their 20th anniversary and even dropped some new music.

10. Fly To The Sky 

Members	Brian Joo, Hwanhee
Years active	1999-present
Status	Active
Signature Hits	“Day by Day,” “Missing You,” “Sea of Love,” “You You You,” “Gravity”

This Korean-American duo brought smooth R&B vibes to the K-pop scene. They just kept getting better as they grew older. Their international background and soft, emotional vocals made them stand out from all.

They took a break after 2007 to focus on solo stuff, but never officially broke up. They’ve stayed close and still team up for Fly to the Sky music now and then. Brian mostly works in the U.S., while Hwanhee is active in Korean TV and music.

11. Deux

Members	Lee Hyun-do, Kim Sung-jae
Years Active	1993-1998
Status	Disbanded
Signature Hits	“Turn Around,” “Joy,” “Come Back to Me,” “Only You,” “Summer Night”

Deux was way ahead of their time. They were one of the first to bring real hip-hop with R&B into K-pop. Their music style was super fresh for the ’90s.

Sadly, in 1995, member Kim Sung-jae passed away under very mysterious conditions. His death shocked the whole country. That pretty much ended the group. 

Lee Hyun-do kept the name going for a bit, but Deux officially ended in 1998. Lee went on to become a top music producer, and Kim is still remembered as a big influence in Korean hip-hop.

12. DJ DOC 

Members	Kim Chang-ryeol, Lee Ha-neul, Jung Jae-yong
Years active	1994-Present
Status	Active
Signature Hits	“Dance with DOC,” “Run to You,” “DOC와 춤을,” “여름이야기,” “My Name Is”

These guys brought raw hip-hop energy to the K-pop, and for sure, they did not hold back in their lyrics. They talked about real stuff, youth issues, society, and that gave them a unique edge.

They’ve had some ups and downs. They changed members here and there, but never really disbanded. 

They’ve continued to release music and perform. The members also do TV and business stuff now, and they’re still respected in the hip-hop world.

13. R.ef 

Members	Chae Ri-na, Go Eun-mi
Years active	1995-2001
Status	Disbanded
Signature Hits	“Heart Break,” “Farewell,” “사랑해,” “Destiny,” “First Love”

R.ef was all about high-energy dance tracks with strong electronic beats. Their performances were super tight, and a lot of girl groups took notes from their style.

They broke up in 2001 to follow their own careers. K-pop was changing faster than before, and they decided it was time to separate. Chae Ri-na moved into acting and variety shows, and Go Eun-mi started working more behind the scenes in music. They sometimes pop up for fun throwback shows.

14. Diva

Members	Vicky, Lee Min-kyung, Chae Ri-na
Years active	1997-2005
Status	Disbanded
Signature Hits	“Right,” “Boom,” “Why,” “Catch,” “Present”

Diva stood out for mixing pop and rock, and their songs were more grown-up than most girl groups back then. They had powerful vocals and weren’t afraid to be bold on stage.

They broke up in 2005 after some drama and shifting music trends. One by one, the members left to do solo stuff. Some went into acting, others stayed in music. They still show up now and then for 90s K-pop specials.

15. Roo’ra

Members	Lee Sang-min, Go Young-wook, Kim Ji-hyun, Chae Ri-na
Years active	1994-2001, 2009-present
Status	Reformed (with new members)
Signature Hits	“Three! Four!,” “Angel,” “날개 잃은 천사,” “Goodbye,” “Love Love Love”

Roo’ra was different from the start. They had both guys and girls in the group, and they brought superb two-tone and dance sound. Their style stood out in the ’90s.

They disbanded in 2001 because of personal and group issues. There were also a few scandals that didn’t help. 

In 2009, Lee Sang-min brought the group back with new members. Some of the original ones moved on, while others stayed in the industry.

16. S#arp

Members	Seo Ji-young, Oh Hye-ri, Jang Seok-hyun, Kim Dong-wook
Years active	1998-2002
Status	Disbanded
Signature Hits	“Tell Me Tell Me,” “Sweety,” “My Lips Like Warm Coffee,” “Destiny,” “Love Love Love”

S#arp was one of the first big co-ed K-pop groups, with both male and female members getting equal spotlight. They had everything from catchy dance tracks to sweet ballads.

Unfortunately, things got messy behind the scenes. There were some dating rumors and arguments, and it just got too complicated. 

They officially broke up in 2002. Seo Ji-young went solo and did really well in music and acting, while the others followed their own paths, some staying in entertainment, some moving on.

1st Generation Kpop Groups: Timeline Of Key Debuts and Events

Now, let me show you how these groups collectively shaped the timeline of 1st-generation K-pop.

1992: Seo Taiji and Boys debut, revolutionizing Korean pop with “I Know”

1993-1994: Hip-hop pioneers Deux and DJ DOC establish underground credibility

1995: Turbo debuts, perfecting the dance duo format with massive hits

1996: H.O.T. debuts under SM Entertainment, creating the idol group template

1997: Girl groups S.E.S., Sechs Kies, and Baby V.O.X debut, establishing intense competition

1998: Shinhwa and Fin.K.L debut, diversifying the idol landscape with unique concepts

1999: g.o.d. and Fly to the Sky debut, adding emotional depth and R&B sophistication

2000-2001: Peak rivalry period with legendary concerts and chart battles before many groups disbanded

How Idol Culture Evolved By 1st Generation Kpop Groups

These pioneering groups didn’t just make music, they created an entire cultural ecosystem that defined modern K-pop.

The 1st generation established the trainee system, synchronized choreography, official fan club colors, and carefully managed idol images. 

They introduced concepts like designated visual members, color-coded fandoms, and systematic music show promotions that became industry standards.

Related Reads:

• Kpop Vs Pop
• What Does Debut Mean In K-Pop

Conclusion: H.O.T. Is The First Ever And Most Popular K-Pop Group of 1st Generation

Groups like S.E.S., g.o.d, Seo Taiji & Boys, and of course, H.O.T. didn’t have a playbook. No formulas, no trends to follow. Just pure energy and wild creativity. 

They experimented, made bold moves, and in doing so, they built the foundation for what K-pop has become today. They didn’t just make music; they made history.

Which 1st gen group has your heart? Drop a comment and let’s give these legends the love they deserve.

FAQ