The 2nd Generation of K-Pop Music started in 2002 and ended in 2011 which was led by solo acts like Byul, Gummy, and Se7en; and the revival of K-pop groups by TVXQ!, SS501, and Super Junior.

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

2002

Byul

• Hangul: 별
• Debut: 2002-10-10
  • Song: 12월 32일 (December 32)

• Sample songs:
  • 내가 정말 사랑하는 사람이 있죠 (Dear My Love) ¹ OST for When the Weather Is Fine
• Did you know?
  • She married K-pop and variety show star, Haha.
• Wikipedia: Byul

2003

Gummy

• Hangul: 거미
• Debut: 2003-02-03
  • Song: 기억상실 (Memory Loss)

• Sample songs:
  • You Are My Everything ² OST for Descendants of the Sun
  • 기억해줘요 내 모든 날과 그때를 (Remember Me) ³ OST for Hotel del Luna
• Wikipedia: Gummy (singer)

Se7en

• Hangul: 세븐
• Fandom name: Lucky 7
• Debut: 2003-03-07
  • Song: 한번 단 한번 (Hanbeon Dan Hanbeon; Once, Just Once)

• Wikipedia: Seven (South Korean singer)

2004

TVXQ

• Hangul: 동방신기 (DBSK; Dong Bang Shin Ki)
• Kana: とうほうしんき (Tōhōshinki)
• Hanzi: 東方神起 (Tong Vfang Xien Qi)
• Fandom name: Cassiopeia; Big East (Japan)
• Debut: 2004-01-14
  • Song: Hug

• Wikipedia: TVXQ

Sandara Park

• Hangul: 박산다라
• Also known as: Dara; Sandy; Sandy Park; Krung-krung
• Fandom name:
• Debut: 2004 (as a solo act in the Philippines)
  • Song: 《In Or Out》

• Debut: 2009-03-27 (as a member of 2NE1)
• Debut: 2009-07-09 (as a solo act in Korea)
  • Song: 《Kiss》

• Did you know?
  • Sandara Park is dubbed as the “BoA of the Philippines” due to her immense popularity in the country; similar to how BoA is immensely popular in Japan.
  • She is considered as the standard for Korean beauty.
  • She is also known as the “Pambansang krung-krung” (“Nation’s Crazy Person”).
  • In 2004, she released her self-titled EP, with the first track 《In Or Out》, as her debut in singing.
    • Her EP is also the only album by a South Korean to be certified platinum by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry or PARI.
  • Her inspiration to become a celebrity was the K-pop boy band Seo Taiji and Boys who started the modern K-pop music in 1992.
  • In 2004, Sandara Parak joined ABS-CBN’s talent program, Star Circle Quest where she finished in second place.
    • She reportedly received half a million text/SMS votes nationwide during the final round.
  • In 2007, she and her family returned to Korea, and later in the year YG Entertainment signed her.
  • She trained under the K-pop idol industry for two years and in 2009 debut as a member of the girl group 2NE1.
    • In the same year, she also debut as a solo act in Korea.
• Authority control:
  • Discogs
  • ISNI
  • MusicBrainz
  • Wikidata
  • YourOnly.One MD: QhNACVCJLYzU76wTv
• Audio streaming:
  • Apple Music
  • deezer
  • LINE MUSIC
  • Melon
  • Spotify
  • YouTube Music
• Video streaming:
  • YouTube
• Social:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Weibo
• More:
  • Wikipedia

2005

SS501

• Hangul: 더블에스오공일
• Kana: ダブルエス ごーまるいち
• Fandom name: Triple S
• Debut: 2005-06-22
  • Song: 경고 (Warning)

• Wikipedia: SS501

Jessi

• Hangul: 제시
• Also known as: 호현주 (Jessica Ho)
• Debut: 2005-12-01 as a solo act
  • Song: 겟 업 (Get Up)

• Debut: 2006 as a member of Uptown
• Debut: 2014-07-17 as a member of Lucky J
• Debut: 2020-10-10 as a member of supergroup Refund Sisters
• Wikipedia: Jessi (musician)

Super Junior

• Hangul: 슈퍼주니어
• Also known as: SJ; SuJu
• Fandom name: E.L.F. (Everlasting Friends)
• Debut: 2005-09-11 dancing to B2K (Boys of the New Millennium)’s Take It to the Floor
• Debut: 2005-11-06 their own song
  • Song: Twins (Knock Out)

• Did you know?
  • They were called the King of Hallyu Wave.
• Wikipedia: Super Junior

2006

Brown Eyed Girls

• Hangul: 브라운 아이드 걸스
• Kana: ブラウン・アイド・ガールズ
• Also known as: B.E.G.; BG; 브아걸
• Fandom name: Everlasting
• Debut: 2006-03-02
  • Song: 다가와서 (Come Closer)

• Wikipedia: Brown Eyed Girls

BIGBANG

• Hangul: 빅뱅
• Fandom name: V.I.P.
• Debut: 2006-12-21
  • Song: 눈물뿐인 바보 (A Fool’s Only Tears)

• Did you know?
  • They were called the Kings of K-Pop.
• Wikipedia: Big Bang (band)

2007

KARA

• Hangul: 카라
• Kana: カラ
• Fandom name: Kamilia
• Debut: 2007-03-29
  • Song: Break It

• Wikipedia: Kara (South Korean group)

F.T. Island

• Hangul: 에프티 아일랜드; FT아일랜드
• Also known as: Five Treasure Island
• Fandom name: Primadonna
• Debut: 2007-06-07
  • Song: Love Sick

• Wikipedia: F.T. Island

Girls’ Generation

• Hangul: 소녀시대
• Kana: しょうじょじだい
• Also known as: SNSD (Sonyeo Sidae)
• Fandom name: Sone
• Debut: 2007-08-05
  • Song: 다시 만난 세계 (Into the New World)

• Sample songs:
  • Gee ⁴
  • Genie ⁵
  • Oh! ⁶
  • Run Devil Run ⁷
• Did you know?
  • They were called as The Nation’s Girl Group.
• Wikipedia: Girls’ Generation

WONDER GIRLS

• Hangul: 원더걸스
• Fandom name: Wonderful
• Debut: 2007-09-13
  • Song: Irony

• Sample songs:
  • Nobody ⁸
  • Nobody (English) ⁹
• Did you know?
  • Their internationally hit song, Nobody (2008; 2009), is still referred to by international fans as the song which made the word “K-pop” known all over.
• Wikipedia: Wonder Girls

SUPERNOVA

• Hangul: 슈퍼노바
• Kanji: 超新星
• Hanzi: 超新星
• Also known as: 초신성 (Choshinsung); 超新星 (Choshinsei)
• Fandom name: Tinkerbell
• Debut: 2007-10-13
  • Song: Hit

• Wikipedia: Supernova (South Korean group)

2008

Davichi

• Hangul: 다비치
• Fandom name: Davichi Chord
• Debut: 2008-02-04
  • Song: 미워도 사랑하니까 (I Love You Even Though I Hate You)

• Sample songs:
  • 그대를 잊는다는 건 (Forgetting You) ¹⁰ OST for Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
  • 오늘도 그리워 그리워 (Today I Miss You Too) ¹¹ OST for While You Were Sleeping
  • 꿈처럼 내린 (Falling In Love) ¹² OST for The Beauty Inside
  • Please Don’t Cry OST ¹³ for The King: Eternal Monarch
• Wikipedia: Davichi

2AM

• Hangul: 투에이엠
• Fandom name: I Am
• Debut: 2008-07-11
  • Song: 이노래 (This Song)

• Did you know?
  • They were originally a ten-member group called One Day together with 2PM.
• Wikipedia: 2AM (band)

SHINee

• Hangul: 샤이니
• Kana: シャイニー
• Fandom name: Shawol
• Debut: 2008-08-28
  • Song: Replay

• Did you know?
  • They were called the Princes of K-pop.
• Wikipedia: Shinee

Taemin

• Hangul: 태민
• Debut: 2008-08-28 as a member of SHINee
• Debut: 2014-08-15 as a solo act
  • Song: Danger

• Debut: 2019-08 as a member of supergroup SuperM
• Did you know?
  • He was dubbed the Idol’s Idol.
• Wikipedia: Lee Tae-min

2PM

• Hangul: 투피엠
• Fandom name: Hottest
• Debut: 2008-08-29
  • Song: 10점 만점에 10점 (10 Out of 10)

• Sample songs:
  • Hands Up ¹⁴
• Did you know?
  • They were originally a ten-member group called One Day together with 2AM.
• Wikipedia: 2PM

U-KISS

• Hangul: 유키스
• Kana: ユーキス
• Also known as: Ubiquitous Korean International Idol Super Star
• Fandom name: Kiss Me
• Debut: 2008-08-15 first public performance for another song
• Debut: 2008-08-28 first public performance for own song
  • Song: 어리지 않아 (Not Young)

• Wikipedia: U-KISS

IU

• Hangul: 아이유
• Fandom name: UAENA
• Debut: 2008-09-18
  • Song: 미아 (Lost Child)

• Sample songs:
  • 좋은 날 (Good Day) ¹⁵
  • You & I ¹⁶
  • Beautiful Song ¹⁷
  • Blueming ¹⁸
  • BBIBBI ¹⁹
  • Celebrity ²⁰
  • Strawberry Moon ²¹
• Did you know?
  • She was dubbed Korea’s Little Sister.
  • She was also known as The Nation’s Sweetheart.
  • IU is one of few K-pop solo acts whose every track became highly popular locally and abroad.
• Wikipedia: IU (singer)

2009

Zico

• Hangul: 지코
• Debut: 2009 as a member of Harmonics
  • Song: The Letter
• Debut: 2011-04-14 as a member of Block B
• Debut: 2014 as a solo act
• Wikipedia: Zico (rapper)

AFTERSCHOOL

• Hangul: 애프터스쿨
• Fandom name: Play Girlz; Play Boyz
• Debut: 2009-01-15
  • Song: 아! (AH!)

• Wikipedia: After School (group)

2NE1

• Hangul: 투애니원
• Fandom name: Blackjack; Blackjack Nolza (Japan)
• Debut: 2009-03-27 first public appearance
  • Song: Lollipop

• Debut: 2009-05-06 first performance with own song
  • Song: Fire

• Sample songs:
  • I Don’t Care ²²
  • Kiss [^2ne1-songs-kiss]
  • Lonely ²³
• Wikipedia: 2NE1

4MINUTE

• Hangul: 포미닛
• Fandom name: 4NIA (4 Minute Mania)
• Debut: 2009-06-15
  • Song: Hot Issue

• Wikipedia: 4Minute

T-ara

• Hangul: 티아라
• Fandom name: Queens; Sweet Treasure (Japan)
• Debut: 2009-07-29
  • Song: 거짓말 (Lie)

• Sample songs:
  • Bo Peep Bo Peep ²⁴
  • Roly-Poly ²⁵
  • Lovey-Dovey ²⁶
  • 티키타카 (Tiki Taka) ²⁷
• Wikipedia: T-ara

Eun Jung

• Hangul: 은정
• Kana: ウンジョン
• Also known as: Elsie
• Debut: 2009-07-29 as a member of T-ara
• Debut: 2013 as a solo act
  • Song: Two As One

• Debut: 2015-05-07 as Elsie
  • Song: I’m Good

• Sample songs:
  • DESIRE ²⁸
  • Sweet Snow ²⁹
  • あともう少し… (A little more …) ³⁰
• Did you know?
  • She won Little Miss Korea at age 7.
• Wikipedia: Hahm Eun-jung

CNBLUE

• Hangul: 씨엔블루
• Also known as: Code Name: Burning, Lovely, Untouchable, and Emotional
• Fandom name: Boice (Blue Voice)
• Debut: 2009 early first public performance
• Debut: 2009-08-19
  • Song: Now or Never (English version)

• Wikipedia: CNBLUE

f(x)

• Hangul: 에프엑스
• Fandom name: MeU
• Debut: 2009-09-01
  • Song: 라차타 (LA chA TA)

• Sample songs:
  • Electric Shock ³¹
• Did you know?
  • They were the first K-Pop act to perform at SXSW.
• Wikipedia: f(x) (musical group)

MBLAQ

• Hangul: 엠블랙
• Kana: エムブラック
• Also known as: Music Boys Live in Absolute Quality
• Fandom name: A+
• Debut: 2009-10-14
  • Song: Oh Yeah

• Wikipedia: MBLAQ

Rainbow

• Hangul: 레인보우
• Fandom name: Rain-nous
• Debut: 2009-11-12
  • Song: 가십 걸 (Gossip Girl)

• Wikipedia: Rainbow (girl group)

2010

ZE:A

• Hangul: 제국의 아이들
• Also known as: Children of Empire
• Fandom name: ZE:A STYLE
• Debut: 2010-01-07
  • Song: Mazeltov

• Wikipedia: ZE:A

SISTAR

• Hangul: 씨스타
• Fandom name: Star1
• Debut: 2010-06-03
  • Song: Push Push

• Wikipedia: Sistar

Hyolyn

• Hangul: 효린
• Also known as: 김효정 (Kim Hyo-jung)
• Fandom name: BAE
• Debut: 2010-06-03 as a member of SISTAR
• Debut: 2013 August as first solo act
  • Song: 미치게 만들어 (Crazy of You) OST for Master’s Sun

• Debut: 2013-11-26 first solo album
  • Song: Lonely

• Sample songs:
  • Always ³² OST for Live Up To Your Name, Dr. Heo
  • I Miss You ³³ OST for Uncontrollably Fond
  • Good bye ³⁴ OST for My Love From the Star
  • Let It Go ³⁵ OST for Frozen (Hangugeo)
• Wikipedia: Hyolyn

INFINITE

• Hangul: 인피니트
• Fandom name: Inspirit
• Debut: 2010-06-09
  • Song: Come Back Again

• Wikipedia: Infinite (band)

miss A

• Hangul: 미쓰에이
• Fandom name: Say A
• Debut: 2010 sometime before or around March, as Chinese Wonder Girls
• Debut: 2010 March, as a 3-member group miss A
  • Song: Love Again (original in Chinese)

• Debut: 2010-07-01, as a 4-member group miss A
  • Song: Bad Girl Good Girl

• Sample songs:
  • Love Again ³⁶
  • 다른 남자 말고 너 (Only You) ³⁷
• Did you know?
  • Bad Girl, Good Girl was the first debut song to reach number one in the Gaon Digital Chart.
  • They were the fastest girl group to take the number one spot in a music show (KBS Music Bank).
  • Bad Girl, Good Girl was the number 1 song in Inkigayo for four straight weeks, breaking the record set by Girls’ Generation.
  • Originally marketed as the “Chinese Wonder Girls”.
• Wikipedia: Miss A

Suzy

• Hangul: 수지
• Also known as: 배수지 (Bae Su Ji)
• Fandom name: Sueweeties; Suzyholic
• Debut: 2010 March as a member of miss A
• Debut: 2017-01-16 as a solo act
  • Song: 행복한 척 (Pretend)

• Sample songs:
  • Yes No Maybe ³⁸
  • 다른 사람을 사랑하고 있어 (I’m in Love with Someone Else) ³⁹
  • 나를 잊지말아요 (Don’t Forget Me) ⁴⁰ OST for Gu Family Book
  • Ring My Bell ⁴¹ OST for Uncontrollably Fond
  • I Love You Boy ⁴² OST for While You Were Sleeping
  • 듣고 싶은 말 (Words I Want To Hear) ⁴³ OST for While You Were Sleeping
  • My Dear Love ⁴⁴ OST for Start-Up
• Did you know?
  • She is also known as The Nation’s First Love.
• Wikipedia: Bae Suzy

Girl’s Day

• Hangul: 걸스데이
• Fandom name: Dai5y
• Debut: 2010-07-07
  • Song: 갸우뚱 (Tilt My Head)

• Sample songs:
  • 나를 잊지마요 (Don’t Forget Me) ⁴⁵
  • 기대해 (Expectation) ⁴⁶
  • 썸씽 (Something) ⁴⁷
• Wikipedia: Girl’s Day

G.NA

• Hangul: 지나
• Fandom name: G.NI
• Debut: 2010-07-05
  • Song: 애인이 생기면 하고 싶은 일 (Things I Want to Do When I Have a Lover)

• Wikipedia: G.NA

BéBé Mignon

• Hangul: 베베 미뇽
• Debut: 2010-09-06
  • Song: 키도 작고, 예쁘지 않지만… (Even Though I’m small and not Pretty…)

• Wikipedia: 베베 미뇽

Ben

• Hangul: 벤
• Also known as: 이은영 (Lee Eun Young)
• Debut: 2010 as a member of BéBé Mignon
• Debut: 2012-10-10 as solo act
  • Song: 오늘은 가지마 (Don’t Go Today)

• Sample songs:
  • Starlight Heart ⁴⁸ OST for The Red Sleeve
  • Whenever Wherever Whatever ⁴⁹ OST for Alice
  • Like A Dream ⁵⁰ OST for Another Miss Oh
  • STAY ⁵¹ OST for Oh My Ghostess
• Wikipedia: Ben (South Korean singer)

2011

Leader’S

• Hangul: 리더스
• Fandom name:
• Debut: 2011-03-22
  • Song: Please (제발)

Kimi

• Hangul: 키미
• Also known as: Kim Minji (김민지); Habin (하빈)
• Fandom name:
• Debut: 2011-03-22 (as a member of Leader’S)
• Debut: 2014-03-06 (as a member of Scarlet)
• Debut: 2016-10-20 (as a member of BULLDOK)
• Debut: 2017-08-25 (as a solo act)
  • Song: I Am

• Debut: 2021-04-09 (as a member of We Girls)

• Sample songs:

  • Mammy Mammy (맘이맘이) ⁵²

• Did you know?

  • Kimi’s song “Mammy Mammy” was remixed by the P-pop girl group Clover entitled “Kakumakabog-kabog Ang Puso” (Pounding Heart).

Block B

• Hangul: 블락비
• Fandom name: BBC (Block B Club); Honeybees
• Debut: 2011-04-13
  • Song: Freeze!

• Wikipedia: Block B

Apink

• Hangul: 에이핑크
• Kana: エーピンク
• Fandom name: Pink Panda
• Debut: 2011-04-19
  • Song: 몰라요 (Mollayo; I Don’t Know)

• Sample songs:
  • NoNoNo ⁵³
  • 미스터 츄 (Mr. Chu) ⁵⁴
• Wikipedia: Apink