The Korean music industry in 2025 was defined by the unmistakable presence of “world-class” K-pop artists. From G-Dragon’s long-awaited solo comeback to BLACKPINK’s explosive return as a full group, global icons once again demonstrated their unrivaled influence. Meanwhile, BTS, despite completing military service, ultimately postponed their highly anticipated full-group comeback to next year.
G-Dragon’s 11-Year Comeback Proves the Power of a Legend
In February, G-Dragon returned with his third full-length album, Übermensch, marking his first solo album release in 11 years and 5 months. The comeback immediately shook both domestic and international music markets, reaffirming his status as a once-in-a-generation artist.
Übermensch surpassed one million streams within four hours of release, becoming the fastest solo album to enter Melon’s “Millions Album” Hall of Fame. Within 24 hours, the album accumulated 4.2 million streams, while its peak hourly streams reached 271,300 breaking multiple solo artist records.
The title track, “TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak),” topped real-time charts across major Korean platforms including Melon, Bugs, and Genie. The pre-release single “PO₩ER” also hit No.1 and set a new record for the highest hourly streaming count for a male solo artist within its first day.
G-Dragon’s global influence extended beyond streaming. His Übermensch world tour kicked off in March in Goyang and spanned 12 countries, 17 cities, and 39 shows, drawing an estimated 825,000 fans a rare scale for a solo artist.
In October, he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit (Ok-Gwan) by the Korean government, becoming the youngest recipient in history. The honor recognized his cultural impact and role in elevating Korean pop culture on the global stage.
BLACKPINK Reunites and Reclaims Global Dominance
After nearly three years focused on individual activities, BLACKPINK made a powerful return as a full group in July with the digital single “JUMP”, their first group release in 2 years and 10 months.
The song delivered immediate results, achieving chart dominance both domestically and internationally. “JUMP” topped iTunes song charts in 61 countries and secured high-ranking positions on Billboard, the UK Official Charts, and Spotify setting multiple K-pop records along the way.
Domestically, the track reached BLACKPINK’s highest-ever rankings across Melon, Genie, and FLO, reaffirming the group’s sustained popularity despite a long hiatus.
BLACKPINK followed the release with their BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR ‘DEADLINE’, spanning 16 cities and 31 shows, drawing massive global crowds and underscoring their enduring group power.
While a full album had initially been expected in the second half of 2025, YG Entertainment confirmed that the release has been pushed to 2026 to ensure maximum musical quality. The label stated that music video production is already underway and that official promotions will follow once preparations are complete.
BTS Full-Group Comeback Pushed to 2026
All seven members of BTS officially completed their military service in June 2025, ending the group’s long military hiatus. However, despite intense fan anticipation, a full-group comeback did not materialize before year’s end.
Instead, members Jin and J-Hope, who completed service earlier, carried out solo activities to maintain fan engagement throughout the year.
Addressing fan disappointment, leader RM spoke candidly during a recent Weverse livestream. He explained that while the group was eager to return, there were unavoidable circumstances that delayed their plans.
“We didn’t want to lose the second half of 2025 either,” RM said. “There were reasons we couldn’t talk about, and all we could do was prepare. That frustration was real.”
RM reassured fans that the group’s next album is nearing completion, with recording, rehearsals, and content filming already underway. BTS is now targeting a spring 2026 comeback, promising a release that meets both their own standards and fan expectations.
A Year Dominated by Global Icons
Although BTS’s group return was delayed, 2025 remained a year firmly ruled by K-pop’s global elite. G-Dragon’s record-shattering comeback and BLACKPINK’s triumphant reunion reaffirmed their “world-class” status, while BTS’s imminent return continues to build anticipation across the global music market.
With these acts poised for major releases ahead, 2026 is already shaping up to be another defining year for K-pop on the world stage.
