Sports Chosun recently released their Best in K-Pop 2020 list, in which 50 K-Pop agency officials vote for who they think is dominating 2020 within their respective categories. Here are the six best boy groups according to them.
6. MONSTA X
MONSTA X received 7 points, ranking at 6th place.
The group was formed through the reality survival show by Starship Entertainment. The group debuted in 2015, originally with seven members. However, member Wonho left the group in 2019 following allegations of owed money and assets as well as drug allegations.
In April 2018, MONSTA X's Japanese single "Spotlight" received an official gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
MONSTA X wowed MONBEBEs and non-MONBEBEs with their recent comeback album, "Fantasia X," that achieved no. 1 status in various music charts.
5. BIGBANG
BIGBANG received 9 points, ranking at 5th place.
The group debuted in 2006 under YG Entertainment. Originally with five members, Seungri left the group and retired from the industry in 2019 following the Burning Sun scandal.
BIGBANG is known as the "Kings of K-pop" and are often cited as one of the most influential act to shape the K-pop industry and spread the Hallyu wave internationally. They are known for their experimental and diverse use of music genres as well as being deeply involved in the music-making process. Their stage presence has been critically-acclaimed.
4. NCT
NCT received 17 points, ranking at 4th place.
NCT is an umbrella group that has numerous sub-units, with their first sub-unit - NCT U - debuting in 2016. The group is known for their unique concept of having unlimited members in their groups divided into sub-units, in which some groups can have member shifts throughout comebacks and some can be permanent groups. As of now, the group has 21 members and 4 sub-units: NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV.
NCT has topped the Billboard's Emerging Artists Chart, and are the first K-pop act to do so. NCT 127 also spent their 2018 promoting in Korea and the United States.
NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV all successfully dropped their comebacks recently. NCT 127 with "Neo Zone" and repackage "Neo Zone: The Final Round," NCT Dream with their "Reload" EP that sold over 500,000 copies during pre-orders, and WayV with their "Awaken The World" that soared to no. 1 in Korean, Chinese, and world charts.
3. SEVENTEEN
SEVENTEEN received 25 points, ranking at 3rd place.
The group debuted in 2015 under Pledis Entertainment. Within the 13-member group, there are three sub-units: Performance unit, Hip-Hop unit, and the Vocal unit. SEVENTEEN is dubbed as a "self-producing idol group", as all the members have been involved in songwriting, choreographing, composing, and other aspects of their performance. In 2018, Time Magazine named SEVENTEEN as one of the best K-pop groups.
This amazing group just recently unveiled their new album "Heng-garae," selling over 460,000 copies on the first day of release. Their new title track "Left and Right" also topped various music charts, locally and internationally.
2. EXO
EXO received 53 points, ranking at 2nd place.
The group debuted in 2012 originally with 12 members divided into two sub-units. There was EXO-K, who sang in Korean and promoted in South Korea, as well as EXO-M, who sang in Mandarin and promoted in China.
EXO has been ranked as one of the top five most influential celebrities on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, the Korean government officially awarded the group the title "The Nation's Pick" and has been the face of Korean tourism ever since. They also performed at the pretigious Pyeongchang Olympics, and have been invident in various political meetings and in the Blue House. In 2017, they were the recipient of the Prime Minister's Commendation.
They broke the 12-year physical drought in Korea when their debut album sold one million copies, and they are presently quintuple million-sellers.
They are dubbed as one of the biggest boy bands in the world, while media outlets and the industry call them as "Kings of K-pop" and a legendary group.
1. BTS
BTS received a whopping 141 points, ranking at 1st place. Congratulations, BTS!
BTS debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment are known for co-writing and producing most of their material. They touched the hearts of their audience with their lyrics, which usually focus on personal and social commentary, mental illness, troubles of adolescence, loving and being oneself.
With "Wings" being BTS's first album to sell one million copies in South Korea, the boys were able to bring their music to the West, leading the Hallyu Wave into the United States and breaking numerous records. They are the first Korean group to receive certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. They are the first Korean act to top the Billboard 200 with "Love Yourself: Tear" and have hit the top of the U.S. charts numerous times. They are the fastest group since the Beatles to earn four number one albums in less than 2 years.
Further, BTS is the best-selling artist in South Korean history and were the second best-selling artists of 2018. Media outlets have dubbed then as the "Princes of Pop" and were in Time's 100 most influential people in the world list in 2019
They are the youngest ever recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit from the President of South Korea.
