K-Pop’s Legacy: Songs that changed the industry forever
- Magda Kanecka
- 32 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Magda Kanecka | July 2026
The South Korean pop music industry is a long-standing one, with generations of success under its belt. However, when thinking about the highlights of the industry, there are some releases which come to mind first.
Whether stemming from their legacy, their cultural significance, or what the tracks did for the groups that released them, here are the songs that had a significant impact on the industry and why – in order of release.
Wonder Girls – “NOBODY (English Version)” (2009)
Truly expanding K-Pop into Western markets, the English version of “NOBODY” made even non-K-Pop fans tune in.
The release blends classic disco elements with retro segments in the music video. The fairly simple choreography (all things considered) made K-Pop more accessible to those who had no interest in it before, and to those who were already fans, it made just another nostalgic release that was easy enough to recreate.
The song itself marks the first time a K-Pop group broke through to the American music market – the Korean version entering the Billboard Hot 100 charts at number 76 in 2008.
2NE1 – “I AM THE BEST” (2011)
The EDM-heavy release full of clear self-appraisal is an ode to success and fame, and the girls of 2NE1 executed it incredibly well. There is no other song resembling this era of K-Pop more than “I AM THE BEST” in my eyes.
Once again, the chorus hook translating directly to the song’s title is the highlight of the track, even extending its success into Western markets. Produced with the help of Teddy Park, who also worked with artists such as BIGBANG and BLACKPINK, the release was later named Song of the Year 2011 by Mnet’s Asian Music Awards.
SHINee – “Sherlock (Clue + Note)” (2012)
Opening with the iconic line “SHINee’s back”, this release was one of the first hybrid remixes in K-Pop. It combines the more upbeat, hip-hop-based “Clue” with a vocal and electronic-driven “Note” – both of which are referenced in the single's name.
Additionally, a video posted by member Jonghyun singing the chorus of the song is used as a meme on social media to this day, as a lighthearted ode to the legacy of this release.
This is topped with a choreography move (see 1:33 of the music video linked above) that is both funny and easy to recreate as the line “I’m so curious, yeah” plays.
AOA – “Miniskirt” (2014)
With its dark, girl crush concept, this song carries an almost controversial yet iconic impact with it. “Miniskirt” was a defining track for JYP Entertainment's AOA, earning the girl group their first music show win.
The choreography, especially the unzipping skirt moment in the chorus, has been recreated by idols throughout the years – such as by members of GOT7 wearing replica outfits on stage, or fromis_9 members performing a cover of the track at an annual award show, KBS Song Festival.
However, many later criticised the release for allegedly oversexualising the members, as members Ni-ki and Chanmi were both underage when the music video was filmed.
EXID – “UP&DOWN” (2014)
Imagine this: you have trained for years, you competed against many to be chosen, then you finally made your debut, but the general public is not responding as well to your comebacks: your group is not getting as much traction as you and your company had hoped.
You are on the verge of disbanding – your company can no longer afford to keep your group and its promotions going. Suddenly, a fancam (a video showcasing an individual member’s performance of a song) goes viral in Korea, and out of nowhere, your group is saved.
This is the story of “UP&DOWN” and the legendary fancam of the member Hani, filmed by user Pharkil, currently holding up at a staggering 39 million views since 2014.
BIGBANG – “BANG BANG BANG” (2015)
This list would not be complete without mentioning BIGBANG. This track is explosive, fast-paced and unapologetically confident, and that’s why fans love it. Personally, I am convinced it is impossible to be a K-Pop fan and not know this song.
Winning Song of the Year twice in 2015, “BANG BANG BANG” was the top-selling and top-streamed song in Korea that year. From cowboy-style choreography and member G-dragon’s iconic red hair, to the beat drop in the chorus, this song remains a hit over a decade since its release.
BTS – “Blood, Sweat and Tears” (2016)
Out of the iconic BTS songs I could have put here – for there are a handful of them – this one feels the most appropriate.
With a beautifully crafted music video, compelling outfits to honour the concept, a catchy chorus, and choreography many fans praise to this day, this song is K-Pop perfection to me.
The track itself is sensual, the Greek-mythological symbolism evident, and in my opinion, this was the perfect release to open BTS’ “WINGS” era, full of lore to fulfill fan theories that linger to this day.
SEVENTEEN – “Very Nice” (2016)
A signature in SEVENTEEN’s discography to this day, this beat and rap-driven track is the epitome of fun. I am convinced it is near impossible not to dance along to this song.
The general public has specifically praised the release for its difficult dance and the synchronisation that the group demonstrates while executing it – since then, SEVENTEEN are known to be one of the most collaborative and synchronised groups in the industry.
The choreography video alone currently holds up at 30 million views on YouTube, and the boy group themselves frequently implement a ‘never-ending Aju Nice’ encore in their live concerts, where a randomly picked fan begins singing the chorus, before the key chorus line repeats over and over.
iKON – “Love Scenario” (2018)
Jokingly labelled the ‘new National Anthem of Korea’, I was shocked to find out this song was released eight years ago already. Topping music charts as a number one hit for over 6 consecutive weeks, the song took off in Korea from the moment it was released.
Early reports show it was even played to schoolchildren in music lessons due to its catchy intro and a fun choreography in its chorus. Some schools later banned the track for the same reason – it was everywhere, all the time.
Once again, the track gained even more exposure upon other idols covering the track. Here, the first one that comes to mind for me is i-dle’s Minnie and Miyeon’s cover.
PENTAGON – “Shine” (2018)
This release remains legendary to this day for its opening piano melodies, a lovey-dovey, almost nerdy concept, and the energetic “na na na’s” in the chorus.
The track itself differs from typical romantic K-Pop songs in a way that embraces awkwardness, imperfections and honesty that come with being a young adult experiencing their first love.
Rapidly gaining chart recognition, PENTAGON later performed the track at the K-Pop convention KCON NY 2018, which prompted them a wave of well-deserved international success.
NCT 127 – “Kick It” (2020)
This comeback sparked enough internet discourse to last a lifetime. I do not recall ever reading as many mixed reviews of a K-Pop comeback as I did when “Kick It” came out. This alone was enough to make the song mark its resemblance.
It is upbeat, at times chaotic, and heavily rap-driven, with some toned-down lines from the vocal line in the pre-chorus. The oriental concept seen in the music video was generally positively received, and the choreography solidified NCT as stable performers.
While not a huge hit in Korea, this is a fan staple that was widely talked about by NCT fans and outsiders alike.
NewJeans – “Ditto” (2022)
Arguably the most popular NewJeans song, “Ditto” brings out an almost nostalgic, Y2K aesthetic that fans resonated with. The two music videos indirectly honour NewJeans’ fans while bringing out extensive lore that honours a broader schoolgirl concept.
The release is inspired by the Baltimore club genre, and while it is more mellow in sound than the other tracks on this list, this release holds as a light but catchy track that stays in your head upon the first listen.
“Ditto” topped both domestic and international charts for 13 consecutive weeks since its initial release, making it a ground-breaking hit for the girl group, after they debuted just 6 months earlier.
Underdogs:
While brainstorming for this piece, many other songs came to mind. The list could go on and on, but after narrowing it down, the following tracks also hold up as iconic in the industry:
EXO – “Monster” (2016)
One of the most iconic dark concepts for boy groups at the time, “Monster” is known for the way it included all of its members in an ‘X’ formation in the dance, honouring their individual strengths in the verses before uniting them in the chorus.
TWICE – “CHEER UP” (2016)
Rapidly solidifying themselves as icons in the industry, “CHEER UP” showcases TWICE’s visual and vocal performance incredibly well, while also providing a catchy chorus for fans to sing along. The dance has since been recreated by idols such as IVE’s Liz and BLACKPINK’s Jennie.
BLACKPINK – “Kill This Love” (2019)
One of the most-streamed music videos of all-time, this song marked BLACKPINK’s comeback after their first mini album. Opening with rap verses from Jennie and Lisa before toning down with vocals from Rosé and Jisoo and exploding again in the chorus, this song remains known to K-Pop fans and western audiences alike.
ILLIT – “Magnetic” (2024)
The newest track on this list, this song gained rapid popularity across social media platforms, similarly to NewJeans’ “Ditto” mentioned above, with many dancing along to the chorus of the song especially. ILLIT were the first K-Pop group to enter the Billboard Hot 100 charts with a debut song, and I must admit, I still cannot believe “Magnetic” was their debut track!
