K-pop (South Korean pop music) has achieved global recognition and fandom in the last few years, thanks to the genre’s unique sound and visual aspects. High-concept music videos, intricate styling and impressive choreography are what make K-pop special.

Without intention to cause a fan war, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best K-pop songs out there to showcase how varied the genre really is. These songs have been chosen based on a combination of streams and the impact of the song or artist on the genre as a whole. 

More K-pop groups are touring the world than ever before, and the UK and Europe are becoming increasingly more common destinations. Right now you can get VIP tickets for Stray Kids and Taemin with Seat Unique!

Buy K-pop VIP tickets

Best K-pop Songs in Order

No. 10: ‘Gangnam Style’ – PSY

It may seem like the obvious choice, but when talking about the most influential K-pop songs of all time, you can’t miss out ‘Gangnam Style.’ Released in 2012, it was the perfect storm of catchy and kooky, with a music video to match that caused global virality on a scale no one had seen before. 

The choreography and the few English lyrics in the song like “ay, sexy lady” were heard around the world, leading the music video to be the first Youtube video to reach one billion views. Psy was already incredibly popular in South Korea before ‘Gangnam Style,’ but the song made him a true national treasure.

No. 9: ‘God’s Menu’ – Stray Kids

‘God’s Menu’ is the signature track of boy group Stray Kids, and the song is a great example of K-pop’s affinity for the weird. The song is considered the pioneer of what is known as “mala taste music” in South Korea, meaning spicy. It’s trap, it’s noisy, and it certainly packs a punch. 

The music video gained over 500 million views, and it continues to be Stray Kids’ most-streamed track on Spotify. If you’re a K-pop fanatic, you’ll be excited to know that Stray Kids are performing in the UK this July! VIP tickets for their Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tour dates are available now!

Buy Stray Kids VIP tickets

No. 8: ‘Abracadabra’ – Brown Eyed Girls

We’re taking it all the way back to 2009 for this one, a true throwback that continues to make fans nostalgic for the second generation of K-pop. This was when the genre was just starting to get worldwide attention, and the tropes of K-pop we know and love today were being defined. 

Brown Eyed Girls were pioneers of the ‘Girl Crush’ concept, modelling themselves as sexy, bad girls when many girl groups at the time were doing cute concepts. ‘Abracadabra,’ with its electronic beat and sensual choreography, is the catalyst for the debut of so many girl groups with mature concepts in the modern day.

No. 7: ‘2 Baddies’ – NCT 127

NCT and its subunit NCT 127 are known for their ‘neo’ music, a unique genre they coined for their noisy, hip-hop and R&B-inspired sound. This is what makes K-pop so unique, taking references from other genres and making it their own. NCT have always been praised for their ability to be unique, and ‘2 Baddies’ is a great example of that. 

With intense choreography, catchy and boisterous melodies, and a music video so colourful it’ll melt your brain, ‘2 Baddies’ and NCT as a whole represent the art of the weird in K-pop. NCT’s other subunit, NCT DREAM, just toured the UK, so let’s hope we see them again soon!

Register your interest in NCT DREAM VIP tickets

No. 6: ‘OMG’ – NewJeans

NewJeans only exploded onto the scene in 2022, immediately taking the general public of South Korea and international fans by storm. Their fresh, Y2K concept made them leaders of the fourth generation of K-pop, and started trends within the girl group space.

While the group has recently been the subject of legal battles with their company, NewJeans have already carved out a legacy for themselves in the short time since they’ve debuted. ‘OMG’ was part of their first comeback and proved the group’s staying power immediately.

No. 5: 'Sherlock’ – SHINee

SHINee paved the way for boy groups in K-pop’s second generation, and ‘Sherlock (Clue + Note)’ is one of their most successful singles from their long career. It reached number one on the Gaon charts and has been continually praised for its experimental sound, making it on various listicles such as ‘best boy band songs’ and ‘best K-pop songs of the 2010s.’

SHINee as a group represent the longevity of K-pop, debuting in 2008 the members are still active as idols now. Youngest member Taemin, who was 14 when they debuted, will be coming to the UK in March for his first ever solo world tour! Don’t miss out and get your VIP tickets at Seat Unique!

Buy Taemin VIP tickets

No. 4: ‘Candy’ – H.O.T.

We’re throwing it all the way back for this one, as ‘Candy’ was first released in 1996 on H.O.T.’s debut album. This was back at the very start of K-pop, when the genre was only just becoming popular and there certainly weren’t the number of international fans that there are now!

‘Candy’ has gained its legacy thanks in part to a popular cover done by NCT DREAM in 2022 for the group’s Christmas-themed mini album. T.O.P. are often credited with starting the K-pop boy band craze, with their cute and upbeat melodies (despite the actual lyrics of the song – look them up!).

No. 3: ‘How You Like That’ – BLACKPINK

‘How You Like That’ is one of the mega hits by the globally popular girl group, Blackpink. Any of Blackpink’s singles could’ve been chosen, as their songs and music videos have garnered staggering numbers of listens since their debut in 2016. The music video alone reached one billion views, and  it was the first song by a K-pop girl group to reach one billion listens on Spotify.

Register your interest in BLACKPINK VIP tickets

No. 2: ‘Boy With Luv’ – BTS ft. Halsey

‘Boy With Luv’ was released in 2019, when BTS were truly at the height of their popularity. The run of albums they had leading up to Map of the Soul: Persona were so successful they skyrocketed to worldwide stardom, and now practically everyone has heard of the boy group. 

The song features Halsey, a Western feature which was rare at the time in K-pop and was definitely pioneered by BTS. The upbeat, hopeful melody and ‘funk pop’ sound oozes positivity, and it’s hard not to sing along to the catchy hook.

No. 1: ‘Gee’ – Girls’ Generation

‘Gee’ is true bubblegum pop, and helped to shape the sound of K-pop music for a generation to come. It has to be number one on this list, the impact of both ‘Gee’ and Girls’ Generation as a group are foundational to the genre, and it is always present on ‘Best K-pop Songs of All Time’ lists.

‘Gee’ helped spark the very start of the Korean Wave in 2009, the music video being the first by a girl group to reach 100 million views. The song and it’s Japanese counterpart did incredibly well on the charts, going on to win many end-of-year awards in South Korea. ‘Gee’s legacy continues on today, making it fundamental listening for any K-pop fan.

Get K-pop Tickets

There are some exciting K-pop tours happening in the UK in 2025, including powerhouse boy group Stray Kids at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the ‘Idol of Idols’ Taemin at AO Arena! At Seat Unique you can get official VIP tickets to watch your favourite K-pop acts in ultimate style.

VIP tickets will get you premium seating for the best views of the stage, and more amazing perks like access to exclusive lounges, complimentary food and drinks, and fast-track entry into the venue.

Browse our available K-pop VIP tickets and register your interest for the groups you’d like to see tour the UK next!

Buy K-pop VIP tickets