The groups that built each era — debut dates, members, and the stories behind them
4th Generation (2018 – 2022)
The generation that turned K-pop into a truly global industry. Debuting in the wake of BTS and BLACKPINK's worldwide breakthrough, 4th-gen groups were built for the world from day one: multinational lineups, songs engineered for TikTok and Shorts, and physical albums that routinely sold a million copies. Survival shows became the default debut pipeline, and the '4th-gen leaders' debate — Stray Kids, TXT, ITZY, aespa, IVE, NewJeans and more — defined the era.
These 17 groups were chosen because they debuted in this era and left a mark — from major-agency debuts and million sellers to hard-touring groups that never won a music show but played the world. More groups and generations will be added over time.
Stray Kids스트레이 키즈
Debut Mar 25, 2018Agency JYP Entertainment
JYP's self-producing boy group, built around the in-house production trio 3RACHA. Known for an aggressive, noise-driven sound and razor-sharp choreography.
First 4th-gen group to top the Billboard 200
Every album since 2022 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200
Formed through the 2017 survival show of the same name
Cube's self-produced girl group led by singer-songwriter Soyeon, who writes and produces nearly all of their title tracks — a rarity among girl groups.
'TOMBOY' and 'Nxde' both swept Korean charts in 2022
'Queencard' became a global TikTok phenomenon in 2023
Soyeon competed on Unpretty Rapstar before debut
Members (5, 1 former)
Miyeon
Minnie
Soyeon
Yuqi
Shuhua
Soojin (former)
ATEEZ에이티즈
Debut Oct 24, 2018Agency KQ Entertainment
KQ's eight-member boy group from a mid-size agency that conquered the world through relentless touring and lore-heavy pirate storytelling.
Billboard 200 No. 1 with 'THE WORLD EP.FIN : WILL' (2023)
Headlined Coachella 2024 — first K-pop boy group to do so
Known for one of K-pop's most intense live performance reputations
Members (8)
Hongjoong
Seonghwa
Yunho
Yeosang
San
Mingi
Wooyoung
Jongho
IZ*ONE아이즈원
Debut Oct 29, 2018Disbanded Apr 29, 2021Agency Off the Record Entertainment
The twelve-member Korean-Japanese project group formed on Produce 48. Disbanded as scheduled after two and a half years, but its members went on to anchor the next wave.
Best-selling girl group of their time — 'BLOOM*IZ' broke first-week sales records
Wonyoung & Yujin re-debuted in IVE; Sakura & Chaewon in LE SSERAFIM
Yuri, Yena, Eunbi and Chaeyeon all launched solo careers
Members (12)
Jang Wonyoung
Sakura Miyawaki
Jo Yuri
Choi Yena
Ahn Yujin
Nako Yabuki
Kwon Eunbi
Kang Hyewon
Hitomi Honda
Kim Chaewon
Kim Minju
Lee Chaeyeon
ITZY있지
Debut Feb 12, 2019Agency JYP Entertainment
JYP's 'teen crush' girl group that debuted with a record-breaking bang and carried a message of self-confidence through every title track.
'DALLA DALLA' set the all-time record for K-pop debut MV views in 24 hours
First K-pop girl group to go platinum in the US with 'CRAZY IN LOVE'
Ryujin and Chaeryeong were known trainees long before debut
Members (5)
Yeji
Lia
Ryujin
Chaeryeong
Yuna
TXT투모로우바이투게더
Debut Mar 4, 2019Agency Big Hit Music
Tomorrow X Together — Big Hit Music's first boy group after BTS. A lore-driven universe (The Star Seekers) and genre-hopping discography made them the definitive 4th-gen boy group storyteller.
First K-pop group to headline Lollapalooza Chicago (2023)
IST Entertainment's six-member girl group with a bright high-teen concept. 'After School' went viral worldwide in 2021; despite never winning a music show, they toured the Americas before their contracts ended in February 2025.
'After School' topped 170 million YouTube views with a viral dance challenge
'Play Game: Holiday' peaked at No. 4 on the Gaon Album Chart
Completed a 2024 Americas tour across Mexico, Colombia, the US and Canada
Members (6, 1 former)
Lee Soojin
Monday
Park Soeun
Lee Jaehee
Jihan
Zoa
Shin Jiyoon (former)
STAYC스테이씨
Debut Nov 12, 2020Agency High Up Entertainment
High Up's six-member girl group produced by hitmaker duo Black Eyed Pilseung. Their 'teen fresh' sound — bright, catchy, endlessly replayable — made them the critics' darling of 4th gen.
'ASAP' and 'STEREOTYPE' dominated 2021 year-end lists
Sieun is the daughter of veteran singer Park Nam-jung
Debut single 'Star To A Young Culture' was a sleeper hit
SM's metaverse girl group — four members plus their virtual 'ae' counterparts in the SMCU storyline. Turned an experimental concept into mainstream dominance.
'Next Level' became a national catchphrase in Korea
'Supernova' swept 2024's song of the year awards
First K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella's main stage (2022, 88rising set)
The seven-member boy group formed on the global survival show I-LAND, a HYBE–CJ ENM joint venture. Vampire-lore concepts and a massive international fandom from day one.
Debut album 'BORDER : DAY ONE' sold 300K+ in its first week
Coachella 2025 performers
Ni-ki debuted at just 14, already a legendary dancer
Debut Mar 15, 2021Disbanded Nov 16, 2025Agency RBW
RBW's self-producing six-member girl group with bold, often eerie concepts. Never won a music show, but completed three world tours before disbanding in November 2025.
'Hide & Seek' peaked at No. 5 on the Gaon Album Chart
Three world tours including 17 US cities on 'The FESTA Tour'
Known for self-written songs like 'Ponzona' and 'Zombie'
Members (6, 1 former)
Na Go-eun
Dosie
Ireh
Yuki
Chaein
Swan
Park Jieun (former)
IVE아이브
Debut Dec 1, 2021Agency Starship Entertainment
Starship's six-member girl group that achieved a rare feat: every title track from debut became a chart-topping hit. Elegant, confident, and commercially untouchable in their first two years.
'ELEVEN', 'LOVE DIVE' and 'I AM' all hit No. 1 in Korea
Wonyoung and Yujin re-debuted from IZ*ONE
Won rookie of the year at every major 2022 award show
Debut Jan 3, 2022Agency WakeOne / Swing Entertainment
The nine-member project group formed on Girls Planet 999 — Korean, Chinese and Japanese members chosen by global fan votes for a limited-term contract.
Debut album 'FIRST IMPACT' sold 200K+ in week one
Xiaoting was the show's most internationally popular contestant
Extended their contract beyond the original 2.5-year term
Members (9)
Yujin
Xiaoting
Mashiro
Chaehyun
Dayeon
Hikaru
Huening Bahiyyih
Youngeun
Yeseo
NMIXX엔믹스
Debut Feb 22, 2022Agency JYP Entertainment
JYP's six-member girl group built on 'MIXX pop' — songs that splice multiple genres into one track. Every member is an all-rounder: all can sing, dance and rap.
Lily trained at JYP for six years after placing on K-pop Star 4
Sullyoon is repeatedly voted the top visual of 4th gen
'DICE' and 'Love Me Like This' proved the MIXX pop formula
Members (6, 1 former)
Lily
Haewon
Sullyoon
Bae
Jiwoo
Kyujin
Jinni (former)
XG엑스지
Debut Mar 18, 2022Agency Xgalx
A Japanese seven-member girl group trained in the K-pop system, promoting as 'X-pop' — hip-hop and R&B-rooted music aimed at the global market from the start.
'SHOOTING STAR' went viral worldwide in 2023
Coachella 2025 performers
All choreography and training run through the K-pop system
Source Music's five-member girl group whose name is an anagram of 'I'm Fearless.' Bold concepts, Coachella controversy and comeback — the most talked-about 4th-gen girl group story.
'ANTIFRAGILE' and 'UNFORGIVEN' were global hits
Sakura and Chaewon re-debuted from IZ*ONE
Kazuha was a professional ballet dancer before becoming an idol
ADOR's five-member girl group produced by Min Hee-jin. Debuted with zero teasers — just music videos — and rewrote K-pop's sound with easy-listening R&B that conquered Korea and the Billboard Hot 100 alike.
'Ditto' spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on Korea's Circle chart
'Super Shy' and 'ETA' charted on the Billboard Hot 100
Youngest act to sell a million copies in a week at the time
