When a penis of a boy ring or girl radical announces plans to go solo outsideK - pappa , it ’s bind to make some anxiety for fans , especially those who were there when Zayn leftOne Directionor when Justin Timberlake first go solo . Oftentimes , an creative person gets leash into a group they did n’t originally plan for . conceive about each penis of One Direction try out as a solo artist forThe X Factor ; no wonder they did n’t last as long as we thought they would .

In the land of K - Pop , this phenomenon is n’t as uncouth . Sure , groups dissolve and members entrust for various reasons , buttrainees audition forSouth Korean survival showswith the clear vision of seeing themselves in a K - soda pop grouping . Because of this fact , the nature of an idol step out to make solo music is n’t find with as much fear and anxiety as Western pop fans are used to .

Unless you ’re disquieted about whether that specific idol is equal to of commanding a stage on their own , devotee find an idol ’s solo life history to be another exciting stair in their K - Pop journey . The idols listed below are just 10 of the current most exciting soloists in K - soda .

imagery from HER by MINNIE and ExtraL by JENNIE

10Yves

Formerly of LOONA

LOONA was a group that gave upgrade to some of the most resilient idols in the manufacture . After the stress they experienced under their company , it ’s a miracle that the womanhood of LOONA would want to stay on in the honey oil - pappa industriousness . Thankfully , the twelve members of the girl group that garnered such a massive fan base are still active as two groups ( ARTMS and LOOSSEMBLE ) and two soloist , CHUU and Yves . The latter debut as a solo creative person in 2024 with " grommet , " a hyperpop - instill cartroad that is sure to get stuck in your head .

We may only be 3 months in to 2025 , but this year is certainly off to an exciting start with these 10 new K - Pop birdcall that are infrangible essentials .

Yves ' first replication arrived just six calendar month later withI Did , a mini - album that sees her come into her own as an artist , not only in K - Pop , but also in the global music setting . “Viola " is a playfulness , habit-forming rail that was released with one of the coolest medicine picture I ’ve see recently , while " DIM " is a dark track that late get ahead popularity through TikTok for its absolutely motley outro that finish the mini - album on a melanchonic note that leave every listener wanting more from this unique creative person and her team .

KAI

9Ten

The Superstar From SM’s WayV

Ten is a penis of SM ’s Taiwanese boy grouping , WayV , one of many subunits of NCT . ahead of time on , Ten showed exceptional potential as a skilled performing artist , with a part like H2O and the dance abilities to match . On his solo tracks , he taps into a more carnal side that feels incredibly born for him . vocal like " Birthday " and " piss " included stage dancing that only Ten could master . He shines in a group setting , supply a raw support beam for the other members of WayV , buthis solo euphony presents an artist who I believe could make it on the global degree .

On his previous caterpillar track , " STUNNER , " he taps into the R&B - tonic sound that ’s been lose in the westerly market from solo male artists . The English translation is just as good as the original , and I do n’t see why Ten could n’t become the next big thing .

8Minnie

(G)I-DLE’s Siren Singer

When Minnie debut as a soloist in the first place this yr , I did n’t think much of it . I savor much of ( G)I - DLE ’s music , and love her voice within the chemical group a lot , but have n’t gravitated toward any of their solo music in the yesteryear . As I ’m sure you may guess , all of that change once I listened to her mini - record album . The deed track , " HER , " is pop perfection . With a Billie Eilish - esque implemental and her sickeningly sweet vocal tone , you ca n’t help but become entrance by what you ’re hearing . It does n’t block there .

The deed of conveyance caterpillar tread , " HER , " is pop ne plus ultra .

The B - side on her record album are on the same tier as the title path . " Cherry Sky " is an atmospheric song that I could easily discover on mainstream pop radio . " Blind Eyes Red , " the mini - album ’s pre - release racecourse , has an nervy phone that draw me wonder what she ca n’t do . There ’s even a duette with Ten where both creative person reflect evenly . Minnie is definitely one of my favorite soloists to debut in 2025 so far .

BLACKPINK (1)

7Jaehyun

NCT 127’s Underrated Vocalist

There are n’t many words I could write about Jaehyun that would n’t make me go like his adult fan , so I ’m conk to sweep up that claim upfront . As a member of NCT 127 , Jaehyun is one of nine gifted singer , rappers , and dancers . While there are songs and minute where he stand out , I feel as if he did n’t reach his full potentiality as an artist until he released his first record album , J , in 2024 .

Jaehyun ’s voice is smooth , switch into perfect falsetto in a split secondly on a track like " Smoke " or " Completely . " The R&B audio that he digs into on the album is exactly what I would ’ve chosen for him . In my vox populi , his best song so far is undoubtedly " Unconditional , " a song that was release shortly before he enlisted for his mandatory military serve , another occurrence of a K - Pop star ’s promotions being cut off way too short . I already ca n’t hold off for Jaehyun ’s restoration to see what he does next .

6Seulgi

The Incomparable Main Dancer Of Red Velvet

Red Velvet easily houses some of the most talented perfection in the manufacture , both vocally and performance - heady . Seulgi , the group ’s main professional dancer , hasone of the coolest vocal tones that perfectly radiate on her two solo mini - albums . Her long - awaited solo unveiling get in 2022 with " 28 Reasons , " an eerie track that foreground her vocal power from scratch line to refinement . Everything from the pre - release promotional teaser to the B vitamin - sides on this mini - album present Seulgi as a theatrical , knock-down performing artist worth your attention .

Although her first mini - record album is well her strongest project so far , her latest cartroad " Baby , Not Baby " and its accompanying miniskirt - album are still worth a listen . The Britney Spears sample in the title track adds a stratum of 1990s and 2000s nostalgia that elevates the instrumental to couple extremely well with her outspoken pitch . If you ’re looking for a female soloist , look no further than the woman of Red Velvet , especially Seulgi .

5Kai

K-Pop’s Main Dancer From EXO

When looking at EXO ’s roster and the solo careers they ’ve launch , it ’s insufferable to peck one member to use as an good example of the group ’s interminable pond of endowment . Some of the most talented vocalists in the entire industry include Baekhyun , Chen , and D.O. , each having unlike but successful solo careers . By now , every fellow member has released their own solo medicine , but I ca n’t help single out Kai . As the group ’s chief social dancer , Kai finds himself in the center position during stage dancing fair often , but he also typically has one of the down in the mouth issue of lines per song .

If you know K - Pop , then you ’ve heard about KAI . Get to know EXO ’s main terpsichorean and one of K - Pop ’s best performer before his new mini - record album drops .

In his solo euphony , all of that disappearance until you ’re storm to watch and heed to just Kai- and why would n’t you ? From his debut solo caterpillar tread , " Mmmh , " to the docile " Peaches " and big " Rover , " Kai does it all . His later , " expect On Me , " is his first release since return from his required military overhaul , and it ’s just what we all needed . I never get timeworn of watch out such a skilled social dancer perform some of the most hypnotizing birdcall .

Jaehyun, Yves, Ten, and Seulgi

4Taeyeon

Girl’s Generation And South Korea’s Main Vocalist

Taeyeon has been in the game for almost two X , debuting in 2007 with Girl ’s Generation . Despite her station in one of the most iconic K - popping groups , her solo music has taken on a life of its own . Taeyeon is easily a soloist that you ca n’t afford to look retiring with three full - length record album and six mini - album under her belt ammunition , not to mention the long lean of collaborations with creative person like Jonghyun of SHINee and Doyoung of NCT .

She is a passkey of the K - Pop lay , but also shows off her skill on more R&B - infused tracks like " To . X. " With such a long - hold out career , it ’s no wonder everyone is still so drawn to her voice after all these year . 2022 ’s " INVU " is still one of the heavy K - Pop songs from a soloist , if not in ecumenical . If you ’re looking for a sporting skipper class in performance and singing , wait no further than Girl ’s contemporaries ’s fireball vocalist .

3Taemin

The Idol Of All Idols From SHINee

On a exchangeable note , Taemin also support as one of the longest - lasting perfection in the manufacture today . He debuted with SHINee in 2008 as its youngest member , but quickly grew into an god that all those who come after him depend up to . Taemin ’s stage bearing , dancing accomplishment , and outspoken prowess are undeniable , with his post - military service counter , " shamed , " becoming one of his biggest songs in 2023 . It ’s obvious , while watch him perform , thatMichael Jacksonis one of his biggest influence . The way he reign a stage all on his own speaks for itself .

Year after year , Taemin continue to improve upon his last tone ending , cementing himself as an artist who is here to delay . If he were give the proper amount of promotion , I consider Taemin could easily make wave overseas as a manful soloistthe westerly music industry so urgently needs .

2Rosé

BLACKPINK’s Deserving Main Vocalist

The char of BLACKPINK persist in to overlook the euphony industry , both in South Korea and worldwide . The first of the four to find her right footing as a soloist after exit YG Entertainment was Rosé . As the mathematical group ’s lead vocalist , her topographic point in the industry was already solidify , but her solo debut record album made that place even more evident .

K - Pop ’s it girlfriend JISOO , JENNIE , LISA , and ROSÉ of BLACKPINK are back to prove themselves with their first solo projects post - YG Entertainment exit .

rosiesees Rosé at her most vulnerable . In the melodious stylings of Avril Lavigne or Taylor Swift , she reminisces on a preceding human relationship , walking listener through their story from begin to terminate in an dependable way that palpate improbably bracing for a kB - soda pop idol . " APT . " featuring Bruno Mars , broke into every chart conceivable , but Rosé is more than her biggest collision .

1RM

Leader And Rapper Of BTS' Stacked Roster

The final group that ’s impossible to discount in K - Pop is BTS . The seven - member phenomenon is the biggest boy set in the humanity , but they decided that was n’t enough . In add-on to producing some of the finest K - Pop music , BTS also houses seven successful soloists , each embodying a dissimilar sound along the direction . RM , the group ’s fearless leader and one of their rapper , released one of my favored album last yearwithRight Place , Wrong Person .

BTS also domiciliate seven successful soloist , each body forth a different sound along the elbow room .

I ca n’t perhaps go into every detail that makes this album so special , but it remains one of the most dependable and originative albums to come out of the honey oil - pop music industry in my opinion . Even the music picture for " suffer ! " is a spectacle , giving viewer a expression inside the creative thinker of an artist who deserve much more praise than he ’s already receive . It ’s worth check out every BTS soloist to detect which sound is right for you , but I commend depart with RM .