The 10 Best K-Pop Debuts of 2021

These powerhouse rookies — Go_U, Juhan, Jinhwa, Sya, Chris, Lutan, and Wooju — made quite an impression with their trap-rock and funk-drenched debut single “Breathe Again,” an anthemic call to keep going and break boundaries, no matter what hardships stand in your way. In addition to “Breath Again,” their debut EP, Check-In, comprises five energetic tracks that leap through soft rock, punk, and pop balladry, giving audiences a taste of their vibrant versatility. —R.C.

Girl group Lightsum made their debut with the bubblegum pop of “Vanilla,” a treat to the eyes and ears with its bright, pop-synth sound and lovable visuals. But then came along their single “Vivace,” which displayed the group’s talents. Italian for lively and vivid, “Vivace” sees Lightsum choreograph a dynamic and confident performance to support the booming, future bass house soundscape. The group’s fresh, confident concept seems to complement Lightsum’s rapper Sangah and vocalist Chowon particularly well, as they deliver strong performances. All things considered, Lightsum’s effortless switch from hyperpop to energetic deep house paints a picture of a promising and exciting future. —D.D.  

Formerly known as Liongirls and Tri.Angle,  this seven-member girl group — Songsun, Kelly, Jinha, Hyunbin, Jia, Soeun, and Mire — didn’t disappoint with their two-track debut, which features the  catchy afrobeat-moombahton dance track “Doom Doom Ta” and synth-pop B side “Loca.” The groovy music video for “Doom Doom Ta” showcases shots of the members wielding firearms and flaunting an aura of confidence, visibly unfazed while posing next to wild, predatory animals. Tri.Be has been consistent in putting out music throughout the entire year — including their debut album and a second LP, Conmigo, followed by an EP, Veni Vidi Vici, and a special winter single “Santa for You” in November. —O.M.

With their first EP, Vamos, which released on June 30, 2021, 11-member boy group Omega X instantly became one of the most talked-about new groups around. Their gruff vocals and vigorous, high-powered dance moves lifted your spirits right from the start. Omega X kept the momentum going with “What’s Going On.” Produced by AnoTHeR and Track 9, the hip-hop-based number leaps out of the speakers, presenting a fresh soundscape and powerful guitar sound. With seven tracks to their name, Omega X is currently working toward their second album, scheduled early next year. —D.D.

Mirae debuted last spring with their first EP, Killa, and a track of the same name. Comprised of Lee Junhyuk, Son Dongpyo, Khael, Park Siyoung, Lien, Jang Yubin, and Yoo Douhyun, the group received more than 10 million views for their first video, “Mirae,” and Killa was the first K-pop debut from 2021 to reach 1 million TikTok followers. The EP’s title track is an upbeat electro-house number, complete with a bass synth and a great guitar solo. The sci-fi inspired music video visualizes futuristic shots of the members performing the suave choreography and interacting with AI-powered androids, all amid glitching screens. Mirae was back in August with their chart-breaking second EP, Splash. Currently, the septet is gearing up for a 2022 release for their third EP. —O.M.

Ive made their debut late this year with the album Eleven, accompanying the release with a glamorous music video for the lead single of the same name. The dance-pop earworm strategically plays around with the tempo, dialing it up and down to keep the rhythm lively, while breathy harmonizations contrast against the hypnotic trance backdrop. “Eleven” became the group’s breakout smash, even landing on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart. The entry makes Ive the fifth South Korean girl group to appear on the chart, joining the likes of hitmakers Blackpink, Twice, Itzy and Aespa. —D.D.

Fans of BTS and Tomorrow X Together will surely be familiar with South Korean singer-songwriter and producer Adora. Over the past five years, the former Big Hit Music producer employed her musical sensibilities crafting BTS and TXT’s celebrated discography. Today, with years of unmatched experience under her belt, Adora is finally ready to break out as a solo artist. Debuting with “Make U Dance,” Adora recruited Eunha of Viviz (formerly a member of K-pop girl group G-Friend). The electronic, high-energy pop single spotlights Adora’s resonant vocal as she expresses a brutally honest outlook on life: “A story that became cruel/Happiness is all lies/The law is not obeyed.” Upbeat, quirky, and amusingly dark, Adora’s delightfully spunky performance brings in a cool breeze of youthful energy. Seeing Big Hit Music’s former superproducer take the center stage was one of the year’s most exciting moments. —D.D.

Hailing from the label that gave us the K-pop vocal powerhouse Mamamoo comes the seven-member rookie group Purple Kiss, who debuted in March with the EP Into Violet. The EP’s lead single, “Ponzona,” created a dreamy yet dark track that fused hip-hop with classical violin and piano sounds. On a lyrical front, “Ponzona” announces the group’s arrival and dreams of spreading their artistry as far as possible: “Baby, Purple Kiss on bloody top/The world stained with purple/Fall in love with me, I have made you addicted/You better know, you better know.” Considering the disparity the number of male and female groups who have a hand in the writing and recording process, it was also encouraging to see members Swan, Na Goeun, and Yuki participate on the lyrical and production front as well. —D.D.

Making their debut in December (just in time for this list), Xdinary Heroes splashed a dark, edgy brand of artistry across the K-pop scene with their pop-punk debut single, “Happy Death Day.” The song was playful and manic with just the right amount of viciousness, and utterly enthralling. There’s a freshness to their sound that simultaneously brings in the nostalgia of Blink-182 or Green Day, and they’re a perfect fit for the current 2000s emo-punk renaissance. The music video seems like a comeback rather than a debut, and the members — guitarists Gaon and Jun Han, bassist Jooyeon, drummer and leader Gunil, and keyboardists Jungsu and O.de — exude confidence and attitude in every single frame. —R.C.

No group in K-pop has embarked on a journey quite like this before, and perhaps no group ever will again. Making their debut in February with “Excalibur,” the seven members of Kingdom kicked off a concept that dives into mythology and history with a twist: Each member is said to represent a different ancient or mythological king, and tailors their concept to do their namesakes’ stories justice. According to their fandom Kingmaker, leader Dann’s stage name is inspired by King Dangun of Korea; vocalist Mujin by Emperor Jinmu, the first emperor of Japan; vocalist Louis by King Louis XIV of France; Jahan by Emperor Shah Jahan from the Mughal Empire; vocalist Arthur by King Arthur; Ivan by King Ivan IV, a.k.a. Ivan the Terrible; and youngest member Chiwoo by the mythological tribal emperor Chiyou of China. The septet also represent different elements of the Earth and mind, all evident in their music videos.

The stories of each royal are laid out as the group’s History of Kingdom album series unfolds. In 2021, the rookies dropped three albums — their debut record, History of Kingdom: Part Ⅰ. Arthur, with vocalist Arthur narrating the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table; their sophomore EP, History of Kingdom: Part Ⅱ. Chiwoo, a striking tribute to Emperor Chiyou of China; and History of Kingdom: Part III. Ivan, which outlined the dark and harrowing tale of Ivan the Terrible. All in all, it’s a whopping total of 21 songs — highly impressive for a new group. Kingdom experiments with blending traditional instrumentals with modern pop, synth, ballads, and hip-hop, pairing it with otherworldly, cinematic music videos to tremendous effect. Each record’s sound and visuals are influenced by the various concepts, shifting to reflect every king’s individual culture and story with respect, all culminating to art that pays tribute to our shared global heritage. With four albums left in the History of Kingdom saga and Dann set to take the throne next, we’re eager to see how far these seven kings will go. —R.C.