The long-awaited return of K-Pop's greatest powerhouses is finally happening. After pausing group activities due to military service and individual projects, BTS and BLACKPINK are set to resume full-group activities this year. The return of these global K-Pop icons has already sent ripples of excitement through the music industry. Alongside them, groups like SEVENTEEN, NCT, Stray Kids, TXT, and ENHYPEN, which have firmly established themselves in the global music scene, are expected to expand their world tours, continuing the K-Pop wave. SM Entertainment, which laid the foundation for K-Pop and produced countless stars, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
BTS: The Most Anticipated Artists of the Year
Among the most anticipated artists in the new year is BTS. With five members (RM, V, Jimin, Jungkook, and SUGA) set to complete their military service and rejoin the group by June, a full-group comeback is expected as early as the latter half of the year. During the past two years of military service and hiatus, BTS members have pursued solo projects, bolstering their individual brand power. The impact of their reunion as a group is anticipated to be monumental.
For HYBE, which endured challenges such as conflicts with Min Hee-jin of ADOR and a legal dispute involving NewJeans, BTS's comeback is a significant boon. Additionally, the focus is on groups like SEVENTEEN, TXT, and ENHYPEN, which are ramping up their world tours, as well as rising K-Pop stars ILLIT, TWS, BOYNEXTDOOR, and CAT'S EYE, whose activities are drawing attention.
BLACKPINK: YG Entertainment's Ace
If HYBE has BTS, YG Entertainment has BLACKPINK. The group plans to release a new album this year and embark on a world tour. Over the past year, members Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa solidified their individual presences through solo activities. Notably, Rosé caused a global sensation with APT., a collaborative track with pop star Bruno Mars. The industry predicts that the reunited BLACKPINK's full-group power will be extraordinary.
SM Entertainment's 30th Anniversary and New Growth
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, SM Entertainment is poised for a year of new growth. Established in February 1995, SM has discovered and nurtured countless popular idols, starting with the five-member group H.O.T. in 1996, followed by S.E.S., Shinhwa, BoA, TVXQ, Girls' Generation, Super Junior, EXO, and more. Recently, SM has successfully transitioned to a new generation of stars, elevating aespa, RIIZE, and NCT WISH to the top ranks.
SM will celebrate its anniversary on January 11–12 with SMTOWN LIVE 2025, a concert featuring all its artists. The company also plans to release an SMTOWN album, a 30th-anniversary brand film, and various other content to solidify its reputation as a "K-Pop powerhouse." In the first quarter, SM plans to launch a new girl group, the first since aespa's debut five years ago, as part of its strategy to secure new growth engines for the next 30 years.
JYP Entertainment's Global Expansion
JYP Entertainment is expected to further expand its global influence. Led by TWICE and Stray Kids, which are conducting stadium-level world tours (attracting over 50,000 attendees per show), the company also aims to boost the activities of its localized groups such as NiziU and NEXJ (Japan), VCHA (U.S.), and BOY STORY and Project C (China).
Hwanwook Lee, an analyst at Yuanta Securities, commented, "The comeback of K-Pop representatives BTS and BLACKPINK, the expansion of global tours, and the successful market entry of localized groups are expected to serve as new growth momentum. Improved relations between Korea and China could also lead to performance improvements."
