The 3rd Generation of K-Pop Music started in 2012 and ended in 2021. In this generation’s first year it was clear that K-pop is here to stay. Solo act Ailee together with groups Crayon Pop, NU’EST, EXO, and AOA showed what the third generation should be.

For an explanation on how we defined each generation, see: YourOnly.One’s K-pop Generations

2012

Crayon Pop

• Hangul: 크레용팝
• Fandom name: Sketchbook
• Debut: 2012-01-11 as Hurricane Pop
  • Song: Bing Bing

• Debut: 2012-07-17 as Crayon Pop
  • Song: Saturday Night

• Sample songs:
  • Dancing Queen 2.0 ¹
  • Bar Bar Bar ²
  • 히어로 (HERO) ³
  • 어이 (Uh-ee) ⁴
  • Dancing All Night (댄싱 올 나잇) ⁵
  • FM ⁶
• Bonus videos:

Strawberry Milk

• Hangul: 딸기우유
• a subgroup of Crayon Pop
• Debut: 2014-10-15 as Strawberry Milk
  • Song: OK

• Debut: 2019-09-05 as Choa & Way
  • Song: My Universe

• Wikipedia: Crayon Pop
• YouTube: 웨이랜드WayLand

Ailee

• Hangul: 에일리
• Also known as: (이예진) Amy Lee; A.Leean (North America)
• Fandom name: Aileeans
• Debut: 2012-02-08
  • Song: Heaven

• Sample songs:
  • 첫눈처럼 너에게 가겠다 (I Will Go to You Like the First Snow) ⁷ OST for Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
  • Sweater (original English) ⁸
  • Blue Bird ⁹ OST for Start-Up
• Wikipedia: Ailee

NU’EST

• Hangul: 뉴이스트
• Also known as: New Establish Style Tempo
• Fandom name: ㄴㅇㅅㅌ; L.O.Λ.E.
• Debut: 2012-03-15
  • Song: 페이스 (Face)

• Did you know?
  • NU’EST was originally part of Pledis Boys. It was split into two groups with the other named Tempest (템페스트)^{10 11} (not to be confused with Yuehua Entertainment’s TEMPEST).
    • Tempest disbanded before their debut due to the popularity of NU’EST ¹¹.
  • As Pledis Boys, they were dubbed as After School Boys.
• Wikipedia: NU’EST

EXO

• Hangul: 엑소
• Subgroups: EXO-K (Korean); EXO-M (Mandarin)
• Fandom name: EXO-L (Love)
• Debut: 2012-04-08
  • Song: Mama

• Did you know?
  • They were dubbed as the Kings of K-Pop.
  • Also known as the biggest boyband in the world.
• Wikipedia: Exo

AOA

• Hangul: 에이오에이
• Also known as: Ace of Angels
• Fandom name: Elvis
• Debut: 2012-07-30
  • Song: Elvis

• Wikipedia: AOA (group)

SKarf

• Hangul: 스카프
• Debut: 2012-08-13
  • Song: Oh! Dance

• Sample songs:
  • Luv Virus ¹²
  • Bye Bye Bye ¹³
  • Anymore ¹⁴
  • My Turn ¹⁵
  • Sunny Day ¹⁶
• Did you know?
  • SKarf was the first girl group to debut composed of Koreans and Singaporeans; and in 2013 with a Japanese member.
• Wikipedia: Skarf

2013

BTS

• Hangul: 방탄소년단
• Also known as: Bangtan Boys
• Fandom name: A.R.M.Y. (Adorable Representative MC for Youth)
• Debut: 2013-06-12
  • Song: No More Dream

• Wikipedia: BTS

2014

GOT7

• Hangul: 갓세븐
• Fandom name: IGOT7
• Debut: 2014-01-16
  • Song: Girls Girls Girls

• Wikipedia: Got7

Scarlet

• Hangul: 스칼렛
• Fandom name:
• Debut: 2014-03-06
  • Song: Do Better

MAMAMOO

• Hangul: 마마무
• Fandom name: Moomoo
• Debut: 2014-06-18
  • Song: Mr.애매모호 (Mr. Ambiguous)

• Wikipedia: Mamamoo

Lucky J

• Hangul: 럭키제이
• Debut: 2014-07-17
  • Song: Can You Hear Me?

• Wikipedia: Lucky J

Red Velvet

• Hangul: 레드벨벳
• Fandom name: ReVeluv
• Debut: 2014-08-01
  • Song: Happiness

• Wikipedia: Red Velvet (group)

WINNER

• Hangul: 위너
• Fandom name: InnerCircle
• Debut: 2014-03-01 first public performance
• Debut: 2014-08-12
  • Song: Empty; and 컬러링 (Color Ring)

• Wikipedia: Winner (band)

Lovelyz

• Hangul: 러블리즈
• Fandom name: Lovelinus
• Debut: 2014-11-05
  • Song: 어제처럼 굿나잇 (Good Night Like Yesterday)

• Wikipedia: Lovelyz

2015

GFRIEND

• Hangul: 여자친구
• Fandom name: Buddy
• Debut: 2015-01-12
  • Song: Glass Bead

• Wikipedia: GFriend

CLC

• Hangul: 씨엘씨
• Also known as: CrystaL Clear
• Fandom name: Cheshire
• Debut: 2015-03-19
  • Song: Pepe

• Wikipedia: CLC (group)

MONSTA X

• Hangul: 몬스타엑스
• Fandom name: Monbebe
• Debut: 2015-05-14
  • Song: 무단침입 (Trespass)

• Wikipedia: Monsta X

SEVENTEEN

• Hangul: 세븐틴
• Also known as: SVT
• Fandom name: Carat
• Debut: 2015-05-26
  • Song: 아낀다 (Adore U)

• Did you know?
  • They are known as self-producing.
  • Called the Performance Kings.
  • Also dubbed as the Theater Kids of K-pop.
  • And as the K-pop Performance Powerhouse.
• Wikipedia: Seventeen (South Korean band)

iKON

• Hangul: 아이콘
• Fandom name: iKONIC
• Debut: 2015-09-15
  • Song: My Type

• Wikipedia: iKon

TWICE

• Hangul: 트와이스
• Kana: トゥワイス
• Fandom name: Once
• Debut: 2015-10-20
  • Song: Like Ooh-Ahh

• Wikipedia: Twice

2016

WJSN

• Hangul: 우주소녀
• Hanzi: 宇宙少女
• Also known as: Cosmic Girls
• Subgroups: Wonder Unit; Joy Unit; Sweet Unit; Natural Unit
• Fandom name: Ujung
• Debut: 2016-02-25
  • Song: Mo Mo Mo; Catch Me

• Wikipedia: WJSN

NCT

• Hangul: 엔시티
• Also known as: Neo Culture Technology
• Fandom name: NCTzen

NCT U

• a subgroup of NCT
• Debut: 2016-04-09
  • Song: 일곱 번째 감각 (The 7th Sense); 위드아웃 유 (Without You)

NCT 127

• a subgroup of NCT
• Debut: 2016-07-07
  • Song: Fire Truck; Once Again

NCT Dream

• a subgroup of NCT
• Debut: 2016-08-24
  • Song: Chewing Gum

WayV

• Hanzi: 威神V (WayV)
• a subgroup of NCT
• Fandom name: WayZenNi
• Debut: 2019-01-17
  • Song: 梦想发射计划 (Dream Launch)

• Wikipedia: NCT (group)

I.O.I

• Hangul: 아이오아이
• Also known as: Ideal of Idol
• Debut: 2016-05-04
  • Song: Dream Girls

• Wikipedia: I.O.I

HIGHTEEN

• Hangul: 하이틴
• Also known as: HighTeen
• Debut: 2016-05-25
  • Song: Grow Up

• Did you know?
  • Famous YouTuber Jessica Lee (Lee Seul; 이슬) was a member of HIGHTEEN and performed for their single “Grow Up” before she decided to go back home in the Philippines. ¹⁷

CHUNG HA

• Hangul: 청하
• Debut: 2016-05-04 as a member of I.O.I
• Debut: 2017-06-17 as a solo act
  • Song: Why Don’t You Know

• Wikipedia: Chungha

gu9udan

• Hangul: 구구단
• Also known as: gx9
• Subgroups: SeMiNa; 5959
• Fandom name: Dan-jjakn
• Debut: 2016-06-28
  • Song: Wonderland

• Wikipedia: Gugudan

Kim Se Jeong

• Hangul: 김세정
• Fandom name: Sesang
• Debut: 2016-05-04 as a member of I.O.I
• Debut: 2016-06-28 as a member of gu9udan
• Debut: 2016-11-23 as a solo act
  • Song: Flower Way

• Sample songs:
  • Baby I Love U ¹⁸
  • Warning ¹⁹
  • SKYLINE ²⁰
  • Whale ²¹
  • 화분 (Plant) ²²
  • Tunnel ²³
• Bonus videos:

• Did you know?
  • She is called by fans as God Sejeong.
  • She is also known as Queen Sejeong.
• Wikipedia: Kim Se-jeong

BLΛƆKPIИK

• Hangul: 블랙핑크
• Fandom name: Blink
• Debut: 2016-08-08
  • Song: 붐바야 (Boombayah)

• Sample songs:
  • How You Like That ²⁴
• Wikipedia: Blackpink

BULLDOK

• Hangul: 불독
• Kana: ブルドッグ
• Hanzi: 牛头犬
• Fandom name:
• Debut: 2016-10-20
  • Song: Why Not

VICTON

• Hangul: 빅톤
• Also known as: Voice to New World
• Fandom name: ALICE (Always We Love the VoICE)
• Debut: 2016-11-07
  • Song: I’m Fine; What Time Is It Now?

• Wikipedia: Victon

2017

The Boyz

• Hangul: 더보이즈
• Fandom name: The B (더비)
• Debut: 2017-10-12 first song release
  • Song: I’m Your Boy

• Debut: 2017-12-06 first album release
  • Song: Boy

• Did you Know?
  • They were formerly known as Cre.kerz.
• Wikipedia: The Boyz (South Korean band)

fromis_9

• Hangul: 프로미스 9; 프로미스나인
• Fandom name: Flover
• Debut: 2017-11-29
  • Song: Glass Shoes

• Wikipedia: Fromis 9

2018

Stray Kids

• Hangul: 스트레이 키즈
• Also known as: SKZ
• Fandom name: Stay
• Debut: 2018-01-08
  • Song: Hellevator

• Wikipedia: Stray Kids

(G)I-DLE

• Hangul: (여자)아이들
• Fandom name: Neverland
• Debut: 2018-05-02
  • Song: Latata

• Wikipedia: (G)I-dle

ATEEZ

• Hangul: 에이티즈
• Kana: エイティーズ
• Formerly known as: KQ Fellaz
• Fandom name: ATINY (ATEEZ DESTINY)
• Debut: 2018-05-18 as KQ Fellaz
  • Dancing to: Pick It Up by Famous Dex

• Debut: 2018-10-24
  • Song: 해적왕 (Pirate King)

• Wikipedia: Ateez

LOOΠΔ

• Hangul: 이달의 소녀
• Kana: 今月の少女
• Fandom name: Orbit
• Debut: 2018-08-20
  • Song: favOriTe; Hi High

• Wikipedia: Loona

We Girls

• Hangul: 위걸스
• Also known as: WeGirls
• Fandom name:
• Debut: 2018-08-31
  • Song: On Air

VERIVERY

• Hangul: 베리베리
• Also known as: VRVR
• Fandom name: VERRER
• Debut: 2018-09-21
  • Song: Super Special

• Wikipedia: Verivery

IZ*ONE

• Hangul: 아이즈원
• Kana: アイズワン
• Fandom name: WIZ*ONE
• Debut: 2018-10-29
  • Song: La Vie en Rose

• Wikipedia: Iz*One

2019

Cherry Bullet

• Hangul: 체리블렛
• Fandom name: Lullet (Love, Unique, Light, Laugh, Everlasting, Treasure)
• Debut: 2019-01-21
  • Song: Q&A; Violet

• Sample songs:
  • Really Really ²⁵
  • Aloha Oe ²⁶
• Wikipedia: Cherry Bullet

ITZY

• Hangul: 있지
• Fandom name: MIDZY
• Debut: 2019-02-12
  • Song: Dalla Dalla

• Wikipedia: Itzy

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

• Hangul: 투모로우바이투게더
• Kana: トゥモローバイトゥギャザー
• Also known as: TXT
• Fandom name: M.O.A. (Moment Of Alwaysness)
• Debut: 2019-03-04
  • Song: Crown

• Wikipedia: Tomorrow X Together

SuperM

• Hangul: 슈퍼엠
• Debut: 2019-10-04
  • Song: Jopping

• Did you know?
  • They are called as The Avengers of K-pop.
• Wikipedia: SuperM

2020

Weeekly

• Hangul: 위클리
• Fandom name: Daileee
• Debut: 2020-06-30
  • Song: Tag Me (@Me)

• Did you know?
  • Their temporary name was FAVE GIRLS, then PlayM Girls. It wasn’t until 2020-05-11 they finally settled on Weeekly.
• Wikipedia: Weeekly

SSAK3

• Hangul: 싹쓰리
• Debut: 2020-07-25
  • Song: Beach Again

• Wikipedia: SSAK3

TREASURE

• Hangul: 트레저
• Fandom name: Treasure Maker
• Debut: 2020-08-07
  • Song: Boy

• Wikipedia: Treasure (band)

WEi

• Hangul: 위아이
• Fandom name: RUi (루아이)
• Debut: 2020-10-05
  • Song: Twilight

• Did you know?
  • Their project name was OUIBOYS.
• Wikipedia: WEi

Refund Sisters

• Hangul: 환불원정대
• Debut: 2020-10-10
  • Song: Don’t Touch Me

• Wikipedia: Refund Sisters

P1Harmony

• Hangul: 피원하모니
• Also known as: P1H
• Debut: 2020-10-28
  • Song: Siren

• Wikipedia: P1Harmony

STAYC

• Hangul: 스테이씨
• Also known as: STAr to a Young Culture
• Fandom name: SWITH
• Debut: 2020-11-12
  • Song: So Bad

• Sample songs:
  • ASAP ²⁷
  • STEREOTYPE ²⁸
• Did you know?
  • They were originally known as High Up Girls.
• Wikipedia: STAYC

æspa

• Hangul: 에스
• Fandom name: MY
• Debut: 2020-11-17
  • Song: Black Mamba

• Sample songs:
  • Dreams Come True ²⁹, a remake of S.E.S.’s cover of Rakastuin mä looseriin ³⁰ by Finnish girl group Nylon Beat ³¹.
• Wikipedia: Aespa

ENHYPEN

• Hangul: 엔하이픈
• Kana: ンハイプン (Enhaipun)
• Fandom name: ENGENE
• Debut: 2020-11-30
  • Song: Given-Taken

• Wikipedia: Enhypen

2021

EPEX

• Hangul: 이펙스
• Also known as: Eight Apex
• Fandom name: ZENITH
• Debut: 2021-06-08
  • Song: Lock Down

• Wikipedia: Epex

IVE

• Hangul: 아이브
• Fandom name: DIVE
• Debut: 2021-12-01
  • Song: Eleven

• Wikipedia: Ive (group)