ZEROBASEONE takes the crown as 2025’s top 5th-gen group, with RIIZE and BABYMONSTER fighting for second place in our rankings. Look, 5th gen K-pop is wild right now.
These groups aren’t messing around with the old playbook of building up slowly in Korea first. They’re going straight for global domination from day one. What’s crazy is how these artists just get social media and fan connection in ways that feel so natural.
We looked at everything from album sales to streaming numbers to figure out who’s really winning this generation, to complete a top 10 breakdown.
Which Is The Most Popular 5th Gen Kpop Group In 2025
ZEROBASEONE owns the 5th gen crown right now, no question about it. These guys smashed every record with 1.8 million first-week sales on their debut. Nobody had ever done that before.
They became the first group to hit 2 million debut album sales, which is just insane. The way they’ve kept that energy going shows they’re not just a one-hit wonder from their survival show days.
Top 10 Most Popular 5th Gen K-Pop Groups 2025
Honestly, 5th gen is cutthroat in the best way possible. Every group knows they’re competing on a global stage from debut day. The old rules of slowly building Korean fanbase first? Forget about it. These artists think worldwide from their first music video drop.
| Rank | Group | Type | Debut | Company |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ZEROBASEONE | Male | 2023 | WAKE ONE |
| 2 | RIIZE | Male | 2023 | SM Entertainment |
| 3 | BABYMONSTER | Female | 2023 | YG Entertainment |
| 4 | NewJeans | Female | 2022 | ADOR |
| 5 | TWS | Male | 2024 | PLEDIS Entertainment |
| 6 | KISS OF LIFE | Male | 2023 | S2 Entertainment |
| 7 | BOYNEXTDOOR | Male | 2023 | KOZ Entertainment |
| 8 | LE SSERAFIM | Female* | 2022 | SOURCE MUSIC |
| 9 | IVE | Female* | 2021 | Starship Entertainment |
| 10 | NMIXX | Female* | 2022 | JYP Entertainment |
The fight between these groups right now is seriously intense. Some are chasing global success while others stick to what works at home. It’s completely changing how K-pop operates. Let me break down each group for you.
1. ZEROBASEONE
These guys completely broke the game. First week sales of 1.8 million? That’s not normal for debuts. They’re the first K-pop group ever to sell 2 million copies of their debut album.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 7.4M+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Active touring |
| Achievement | First 2M debut album seller |
| Best For | Vocal harmonies |
Here’s what we love about ZEROBASEONE. They could’ve easily been just another survival show group that fades after the hype dies down. Instead, they’ve dropped four straight million-sellers. Their ballads hit different, and when they do upbeat tracks, you can’t help but move to them.
I saw them at ASEA 2025 when they won ‘Performance of the Year’ and ‘The Platinum’ award. The way they performed that night? You could feel why fans are so attached. They don’t just sing at you. They connect with you. There’s something real about how they interact with each other on stage that you can’t fake.
2. RIIZE
SM really said, “Let’s make a 5th gen group that actually feels approachable,” and RIIZE was born. Smart move, honestly.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 2M+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Expanding globally |
| Achievement | Fastest SM debut success |
| Best For | Dance performances |
You know how SM groups sometimes feel a bit too polished? RIIZE found that sweet spot where they still have that SM quality but feel like guys you could actually hang out with. Their R&B stuff doesn’t feel forced either. When they blend it into their pop tracks, it just works.
What gets us about RIIZE is their consistency. Industry’s been rough lately, but these guys keep delivering. Their fanbase isn’t just growing, it’s growing because people genuinely like spending time with their content. That’s harder than it sounds.
3. BABYMONSTER
YG’s been waiting years to debut another girl group after BLACKPINK. The pressure on these BABYMONSTER girls must be crazy, but they’re handling it like pros.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 1.5M+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Rising internationally |
| Achievement | YG’s new queens |
| Best For | Rap-vocal balance |
That classic YG sound is still there. Hard-hitting beats, killer rap sections, vocals that give you chills. But BABYMONSTER updates it for Gen Z in smart ways. They’re not trying to copy BLACKPINK, which is probably why it works so well.
Pharita’s vocals are sweet but powerful. Asa’s rap delivery hits every single time. Each member brings something different to the table. You can see why YG waited so long to find the right combination. These girls were worth the wait.
4. NewJeans
NewJeans that basically invented 5th gen as we know it. Everyone else is still trying to figure out what these girls did so right.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 3M+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Industry innovators |
| Achievement | Y2K revival leaders |
| Best For | Nostalgic concepts |
NewJeans made Y2K cool again before anyone else even thought about it. Their whole approach to music, visuals, and even how they drop songs is different. Half the industry copied their homework, but nobody’s captured that original magic yet.
The crazy part is how natural everything feels with them. Their songs don’t try too hard. Their friendship seems real, not manufactured for cameras. That effortless vibe they have? It’s actually super hard to achieve, which is why so many groups fail when they try to copy it.
5. TWS
PLEDIS found their golden boys with TWS. These guys radiate pure joy, and honestly, we need that energy right now.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 800K+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Rapid growth |
| Achievement | Fastest rookie growth |
| Best For | Feel-good music |
TWS represents everything optimistic about the 5th gen. Their music is about friendship and good times. In a world where everything feels heavy sometimes, they’re serving up pure happiness without being fake about it.
Their debut numbers prove people still want that bright, positive energy in K-pop. TWS delivers it without talking down to their audience or being childish. Finding that balance isn’t easy, but they make it look simple.
6. KISS OF LIFE
KISS OF LIFE, a group that’s heavily involved in making their own music and actually succeeding at it. That’s refreshing.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 600K+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Creative leaders |
| Achievement | Self-producing success |
| Best For | R&B influences |
KISS OF LIFE writes and produces their stuff, which gives everything this cohesive feel. You can tell it’s their vision, not a committee of writers trying to guess what young people want.
Their R&B-pop fusion feels current but timeless. When I listen to their albums straight through, there’s clear growth and experimentation happening. These guys are going to keep getting more interesting as they figure out their sound.
7. BOYNEXTDOOR
KOZ really nailed the “approachable” concept with the BOYNEXTDOOR guys. They feel like the friends you actually have, not the ones you wish you had.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 700K+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Steady growth |
| Achievement | HYBE’s new favorites |
| Best For | Relatable concepts |
BOYNEXTDOOR talks about normal stuff in their music. Not everything has to be dramatic or fantasy-based. Sometimes you want songs about everyday life, and they deliver that without being boring.
Their success proves that being genuine beats trying to be the coolest or most innovative. BOYNEXTDOOR just focuses on being consistently good at what they do. That’s actually pretty smart in such a noisy industry.
8. LE SSERAFIM
The LE SSERAFIM girls bridge the gap between 4th and 5th gen perfectly. They’re not afraid to be bold, and their confidence is infectious.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 2.5M+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Global superstars |
| Achievement | Coachella performers |
| Best For | Empowerment anthems |
LE SSERAFIM’s whole “fearless” thing isn’t just marketing. Their music actually makes you feel more confident. They mix genres without caring if it’s “proper,” and somehow it always works.
What we respect about them is how they handle setbacks. Instead of letting problems break them, they use that energy to make better music. That resilience is very 5th gen.
9. IVE
IVE brings that polished elegance but updates it with modern touches that keep them current. Their music works for both casual listeners and people who analyze every beat drop.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 2M+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Established stars |
| Achievement | Post-IZ*ONE success |
| Best For | Elegant concepts |
Ex-IZONE members who somehow feel completely fresh while still being familiar. That’s a tough balance to strike.
Having industry experience before helps them a lot. They know how to make music that connects with audiences while keeping artistic quality high. That knowledge shows in everything they do.
10. NMIXX
NMIXX is JYP’s experimental group that’s finally finding its groove after some early bumps. Their journey shows that taking risks can pay off.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Album Sales | 1M+ combined |
| 2025 Status | Finding their sound |
| Achievement | JYP’s experimenters |
| Best For | Genre-blending |
NMIXX’s “mixx pop” concept confused people at first, but they’ve refined it into something that actually makes sense. Their willingness to experiment while listening to feedback shows maturity.
Sometimes, the most innovative groups need time to perfect their formula. NMIXX proves that sticking to your vision while adapting based on what works is the right approach for 5th gen success.
How We Ranked These 5th Gen K-Pop Groups
We didn’t just look at who’s trending this week. Real success in 5th gen means proving you can last and grow over time.
Here’s what we checked:
1. Album Sales: First-week numbers and total sales tell us about immediate impact and staying power. 5th gen groups are hitting numbers that used to take years to reach.
2. Digital Streaming: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube stats show global reach and repeat listening. If people aren’t coming back to your music, you’re not really connecting.
3. Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter engagement shows fan loyalty and organic growth. This generation grew up online, so social media success matters more than ever.
4. Chart Performance: Billboard, Melon, and Circle Chart positions show both Korean and international recognition. You need both to really succeed in 5th gen.
5. Global Recognition: International awards and nominations show industry respect and cross-cultural appeal. 5th gen is all about worldwide success from the start.
6. Timeframe: Groups debuting 2022-2024, data through July 2025. We focused on truly 5th-gen artists with current information.
This gives us a realistic picture of who’s actually leading their generation, not just having viral moments that disappear quickly.
Why 5th Gen K-Pop Groups Are Different: Industry Evolution
5th gen groups launch globally from day one instead of building Korean success first. They use AI music production, VR concerts, and interactive fan apps that previous generations never had.
Members run personal social media and create individual content while the group focuses on experimental sounds and flexible concepts instead of rigid formulas.
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Conclusion: ZEROBASEONE Is The Best 5th Gen Kpop Group
Looking at everything from sales to cultural impact, ZEROBASEONE clearly leads 5th generation K-pop with record-breaking achievements that keep growing.
Their debut success, consistent album performance, and ability to maintain momentum through multiple releases show what winning in this generation looks like.
RIIZE, BABYMONSTER, and NewJeans are all crushing it in their own ways, but honestly? ZEROBASEONE’s mix of insane sales and actual artistic growth puts them on top. These groups are pushing K-pop somewhere we’ve never been before, and we’re here for it.
FAQs
ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE, BABYMONSTER, NewJeans, and TWS are the main ones – basically anyone who debuted from 2022 onwards.
Not yet. These 5th gen groups are still figuring out what their era even means for K-pop.
They’re 5th gen since they debuted in 2023. The timing fits perfectly with this current wave.
5th generation’s the newest – groups debuting from 2022 to now with this global-first approach that hits different.
ZEROBASEONE owns that crown with over 7.4 million combined sales. That’s not normal for such young groups.
