Following in the footsteps of BIGBANG and BTS..2026 K-pop Big 4 Generational Shift Lineup [First Half Year-End Music Review ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

• [2026 ★First Half Year-End Review - Music]

Even in the first half of 2026, when K-pop's clock kept ticking busily amidst major events such as BTS's full-group comeback after completing military service and BIGBANG's 20th anniversary as a "second-generation top tier" legend, HYBE steadily maintained its multi-label system, bolstered by the domestic and international activities of junior artists like Cortis, Ailee, and Cats Eye alongside BTS's return. SM also announced aespa's return amid the welcome growth of NCT WISH, while YG, which had peaked with BIGBANG and BLACKPINK before faltering, sought a comeback by highlighting the activities of Baby Monster and TREASURE. Meanwhile, the company officially confirmed the debut of a new five-member boy group and Next Monster, accelerating the generational shift. JYP, too, is strengthening its lineup and competitiveness with the addition of fifth-generation boy groups such as Nexz, Xdinary Heroes, and Kickflip, following ITZY and NMIXX.

Having solidified its multi-label system from Big Hit Music to Believe Lab, Adore, Pledis, Sours Music, and KOZ, HYBE has been steadily working on launching fourth- and fifth-generation lineups since 2023, when all BTS members entered military service. Following its direct junior group Tomorrow X Together, HYBE debuted fifth-generation group Cortis, leading a new K-pop trend under the title "Young Creator Crew" (Young Creator Crew).

The growth of SEVENTEEN's junior group Tourus and Boy Next Door, led by Zico, also raises expectations with every comeback. While LE SSERAFIM remains strong, Ailee, released by Believe Lab, has managed to somewhat escape the so-called "NewJeans risk" with its lively yet energetic charm targeting teenage fandoms. Overseas, after Antim, whose main stage is Japan, Cats Eye, a bold project by HYBE UMG, has been praised for opening a new horizon for K-pop with achievements such as winning an American Music Award and being nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, demonstrating global impact.

Among these, the teams that stood out most in the first half of this year are Cortis and Ailee.

In particular, Cortis's rapid rise is underpinned by a distinct group identity. The group has successfully differentiated itself through a synergy of proactive musicality centered on two members equipped with songwriting abilities, a hip sensibility that highlights raw charm, and visuals and performances precisely targeting the tastes of the Gen Z generation.

Another strength is that the album and music videos are filled with reflections on how to maximize their charm from the perspective of today's generation, using youth and vigor as weapons.

Cortis's chart performance is also noteworthy. The group topped Melon's daily, weekly, and Top 100 charts and set records such as reaching the top three on the US Billboard 200 chart and breaking 2.3 million in first-week sales. Within less than a year of debut, the group made its presence felt with remarkable achievements across key indicators.

The first half of 2026 is expected to be recorded as a particularly meaningful time for Ailee. Despite bearing the burden of being repeatedly mentioned in "plagiarism issues" due to the fallout from the NewJeans incident, the group remained steady and quietly built its own narrative step by step.

Since debuting in 2024, Ailee has established its identity based on its unique liveliness and kitschy charm. Through its fourth mini-album "It's Me," the group showcased an expanded musical spectrum by boldly incorporating 1990s techno rhythms. The album's performance also saw an upward trend, achieving a career high with first-week sales exceeding 400,000 copies.

SM has shown signs of accelerating its generational shift work this year.

While SHINee and EXO, representing the second and third generations, announced their full-group comebacks after a long time, showcasing their continued presence, the flagship brand NCT has entered a period of change.

In particular, with core member Mark declaring his departure from the group and his decision to stand on his own, attention has focused even more on the team restructuring work that has already begun during the military service period. As a member who has played a central role in the team while moving between NCT DREAM and NCT 127, his departure is expected to have a significant impact on the future direction of the NCT system. Naturally, NCT has placed its hopes on the growth of NCT WISH, classified as a fifth-generation lineup, in addition to unit activities.

NCT WISH is presenting a team color that is clearly different from senior groups NCT DREAM and NCT 127. Rather than emphasizing strong masculinity and powerful performances, the group is characterized by highlighting liveliness, freshness, and friendly, cute charm. In fact, NCT WISH has actively built a soft and friendly image by performing songs by senior girl groups on cover stages and using concepts reminiscent of princes from fairy tales at fan meetings.

This strategy is being evaluated as having a positive impact on expanding the fanbase by highlighting charms that the existing NCT groups have not shown relatively often. It is also watched with interest how NCT WISH, which celebrated its second anniversary in February, will continue its activities amidst the military service and restructuring of 127 and DREAM.

aespa, which resumed activities in May, once again proved its presence in the competitive landscape of active fourth-generation girl groups. The new album "Lemonade" was an album where aespa, which had been characterized by a metallic taste, took a rare turn toward a different variation. As these "warriors of the wilderness" continue to write their narrative, "Lemonade" can be defined as a refreshing summer song that only aespa can create among the various metallic tastes they have experienced.

SM will continue its detailed artist activity plans in the second half of the year. Following Taeyong, aespa, and NCT WISH in the second quarter, SHINee, RIIZE, and H2U are scheduled to make comebacks in sequence, and in the third quarter, comebacks by Taeyeon, NCT 127, Red Velvet, and WayV are planned. In addition, aespa's world tour, EXO's tour concert, and solo concerts by Yoon Yoon-ho and Irene will also be held.

YG has officially declared the opening of a new chapter for its 30th-anniversary celebration and lineup generational shift by showcasing all its mega IPs, BIGBANG and BLACKPINK, current IPs, TREASURE and Baby Monster, and future IPs, a new five-member boy group and girl group Next Monster (tentative name).

First, BIGBANG is successfully leading its 20th-anniversary celebration. In April, the group drew attention on the Coachella stage with Korean group singing and trot performances, and in August, it is steadily preparing for a new album release and world tour. G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung have all continued their paths as K-pop legends by expanding their brand values in various fields such as music, broadcasting, and YouTube.

BLACKPINK also remained solid. With their comeback album, they reached number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, once again proving their global influence. Since their debut, BLACKPINK has consistently written new history for K-pop girl groups, and through this activity, they have maintained their status and pride as top-tier girl groups.

Baby Monster has established itself as a core project of YG through its third mini-album "Dance." During the comeback preparation process, Yang Hyun-suk personally participated in choreography work for the chorus, putting effort into high-quality performances, and as a result, the group's influence in the global market became visible through SNS metrics. Building on this foundation, Baby Monster is expected to continue its upward momentum by preparing to release a new single in June and embark on a second world tour.

TREASURE, which has a powerful fanbase solidified through its Asian tour, plans to inherit the YG-style hip-hop based on its partnership with the major US record label Columbia Records. Similarly, TREASURE is being led by Yang Hyun-suk as the executive producer.

YG's next challenge is the launch of a new boy group project, in which Yang Hyun-suk is participating in all aspects of production, and the next girl group, Next Monster. In particular, the new boy group, which aims to debut in September, has drawn attention as the first boy group to be presented in six years since TREASURE. Additionally, Next Monster, known as a four-member girl group, has been raising expectations by revealing three members so far.

JYP Entertainment is also focusing on generational shift and nurturing next-generation artists. With flagship groups TWICE and Stray Kids recently focusing more on overseas tours than domestic album activities, the role of latecomers has naturally become more important.

In response, JYP has bolstered the solo debut of ITZY member Yuna in the first half of this year and the activities of Nexz and Kickflip. In addition, NMIXX, which entered the star trajectory after topping the music charts, announced its May comeback and continued its upward momentum. The activities of idol bands such as Day6 and Xdinary Heroes were also prominent. There is significant demand for their new song releases and performance activities. Their lineup is as rich and charming as that of other agencies.

First, Yuna, as a seventh-year member of a girl group, has firmly established her presence as a solo artist. She said, "My strength is my bright and natural positive image as a soloist," and has transformed into a top-tier soloist with girl group visuals that threaten the "Jang-Ka-Seol" (Jang Won-young, Karina, Seol-yoon) concept. ITZY, to which Yuna belongs, also announced that it will gradually increase its focus on global activities through its third Asian tour, scheduled from February in Seoul to October.

NMIXX is being evaluated as having become a popular girl group by capturing both popularity and identity. After announcing the start of its upward trend with the first Melon daily chart number one for "Blue Valentine" in 2025, NMIXX has maintained its position in the upper ranks of the music charts by competing in trendy genres through its May release "Heavy Serenade." Some analyses suggest that evaluations of its somewhat mixed musical colors have now settled as NMIXX's differentiated identity, "Mix Pop."

JYP is placing even greater expectations on the growth of Nexz and Kickflip. Nexz, which is being watched as a next-generation successor to Stray Kids, is rapidly expanding its fanbase with its energetic performances and strong stage presence as strengths. The group celebrated its second anniversary in May and proved its growth momentum by achieving a music show number one in 716 days since debut.

Kickflip, Nexz's one-year junior group, is also building its presence by highlighting its strength as a "self-produced idol." Equipped with skills befitting the title "Stray Kids younger brother group," Kickflip achieved the milestone of breaking its own first-week record and winning two consecutive music show number ones through its activities with "I Want to Be Annoying."

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*This content was translated by AI.