Our Top K-Pop Artists and Comebacks of 2025!
- lewishooper1
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Stray Kids and IVE—alongside the highly anticipated group comeback of BTS. We highlight some of our favorite K-pop comebacks of 2025!
First up on our list are arguably the Kings of K-pop. The return of BTS was the most anticipated return of the year, marking the end of the members' mandatory military service period. Their reunion release instantly shattered global streaming and chart records, proving their status as the kings of K-pop remains unchallenged.
ARMYs worldwide were extremely emotional, viewing the comeback not just as new music but as a deeply symbolic moment of the group being fully "OT7" again, regardless of the musical style, and when the military service finished for each member, large crowds gathered outside their bases and in Seoul to welcome them back to the industry! As well as taking to social media worldwide to express their excitement!
Next on our list is Stray Kids, who secured multiple Billboard 200 entries this year since their comeback, as well as winning Album of the Year at the 2025 MAMA Awards, which is a global streak in the music charts! If this was not enough, the self-produced album leaned into their fierce musical identity, centered on themes, and won over their fans.
Most STAYS celebrated their album for their amazing sound and production, as well as their authentic sound and music this year!
IVE returned with a refined, sophisticated EP, showcasing a slightly softer and more mysterious side while maintaining their signature confident pop style with the viral title track "XOXZ". The EP achieved strong chart performance, reinforcing their standing among the top 4th-generation groups. Their fans, DIVEs, took to social media to praise their intense charisma and vocal ability in their latest works!
The unit released a high-energy, fun track that instantly became a viral mood-booster and a commercial success for the first quarter of the year. It continued their legacy of delivering high-quality, theatrical music that is both humorous and technically impressive. While Lewis Hooper from the Dojeon Media team actually worked on "Thunder", which was one of the latest comeback songs this year!
CARATs celebrated the song's infectious energy, finding it a perfect dose of SEVENTEEN's signature chaotic fun and praising the powerful vocal performances. This is just the start for their amazing comeback in 2025 - so what will 2026 bring?
MEOVV, the group from THEBLACKLABEL, secured a major hit with their first full comeback, blending edgy hip-hop production with catchy, confident pop hooks, which took over social media and captivated their fan base this year! This release significantly boosted their profile, earning them a "Favorite Rising Artist" award at the 2025 MAMA Awards.
Fans have since applauded the group for their fierce, unapologetic attitude and charismatic stage presence, with some actually stating that MEOVV is successfully carving out its own distinctly "fierce" space in the 5th generation line-up, and as a result, taking over the K-pop industry. The Dojeon team is wondering what 2026 will bring for the group!
Final thoughts
2025 for the Dojeon team really was the year of some great K-pop comebacks! Some of which slotted right back into the K-pop industry as if they had never been away, despite the market becoming more saturated. For others, though, it has not been so easy, so we are wondering what 2026 will bring for the years to come!
Who was your favorite artist of 2025? Comment below and let the Dojeon team know!