K-pop Industry Forecast to 2025

New leaps and global expansion

 

In 2025, the K-pop industry is preparing for a new leap forward, expanding its global influence even further. 

 

With the plans of major entertainment companies and the emergence of new groups, it is expected to be an exciting year for K-pop fans.

 

 

2025 Plans by Major Entertainment Companies

 

SM Entertainment
SM has announced various activities for the first half of 2025:
• Debut of rookie girl group Hearts2Hearts on February 24th
• NCT's Do Young and Mark's solo studio album release
• Red Velvet's Seulgi and Irene's solo mini album release
• aespa's new mini album and world tour
• RIIZE's first full-length album release
In addition, various unit activities such as NCT WISH and WayV, as well as global tours for Taeyeon and NCT 127, are also planned.

 

YG Entertainment
YG is preparing for 2025 as a “monumental year”:
• BLACKPINK's full comeback and world tour scheduled
• Tours planned for TREASURE, BABYMONSTER, AKMU, and WINNER
• New K-pop group debuts announced.
In particular, the full-lineup comeback of 2NE1 to celebrate their 15th anniversary and the global tour starting with a concert in Seoul in October are drawing attention.

 

JYP Entertainment
JYP will focus on targeting the global market:
• Stray Kids' release of two albums and the “dominATE” world tour with 48 performances.
• TWICE's world tour plans.
• Promotion of solo projects by members of ITZY
• Strengthening of NEXZ, a new boy group, in the Japanese market

 

CJ ENM
CJ ENM has also been working on various projects. These include:
• Promotion of solo projects by members of ITZY
• Strengthening of NEXZ, a new boy group, in the Japanese market

HYBE
HYBE has drawn up various plans based on its “HYBE 2.0” strategy:
• Preparation for the full-group comeback of BTS (expected release of an album and world tour in 2026)
• Continued activities of SEVENTEEN as a unit and as solo artists
• Scheduled debut of a new girl group from Source Music and Pledis
• Preparing for the debut of the first artist to enter the Latin American market

 

Notable new groups
In 2025, a number of new groups are expected to bring a new wind to the K-pop market:
1. SM's Hearts2Hearts: SM's new girl group to be released after five years
2. YG's “NEXT MONSTER”: YG's next-generation representative group
3. JYP's KickFlip: A 7-member boy group with a skateboarding concept
4. New girl groups from HYBE's labels
There are also rookie groups that the Recording Academy has taken notice of:
• QWER: A 4-member group with a pop-rock style
• ARTMS, NEXZ, RESCENE, MEOVV, etc.

 

Industry Outlook
In 2025, the K-pop industry is expected to show the following characteristics:
1. Global expansion: Major groups' world tours and increased entry into overseas markets
2. Increased diversity: Expansion into various genres such as trot and Latin music
3. Technology convergence: Providing new fan experiences using new technologies such as AI and the metaverse
4. Emphasis on sustainability: Producing environmentally friendly albums and increasing social contribution activities
5. Personal branding: Encouraging members' solo projects in parallel with group activities

 

6.

2025 is expected to be a year in which the K-pop industry will take another leap forward. 

Through high-quality music and performances, enhanced communication with global fandom, and the introduction of new technologies, 

 

K-pop will take on an even more important position in the global music market. 

 

In particular, the resumption of BTS's full-group activities, the comeback of BLACKPINK, and the debut of a number of new groups are expected to be 

 

key issues in the K-pop market in 2025. 

Fans will look forward to the diverse activities of their favorite artists, and the K-pop industry will become more mature and influential as a cultural content.