:List of South Korean girl groups
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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
South Korean girl groups refer to the all-female idol groups who are part of the K-pop industry. Korean girl groups have aided in the globalization of Korean culture. The Jeogori Sisters and The Kim Sisters have been noted as the origins of South Korean girl groups, the latter being the first South Korean group to succeed in the United States.{{cite web|title=A Brief History of K-pop|url=https://www.lafilm.edu/blog/a-brief-history-of-kpop/ |website=Los Angeles Film School |date=April 7, 2021 |access-date=May 16, 2024}} First-generation girl groups such as S.E.S. and Fin.K.L, are cited to have laid the groundwork for the Korean Wave in the 2000s.{{cite web|title=History of Korean girl groups revisited |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/06/398_249406.html |website=The Korea Times |author=Park, Jin-hai |date=May 22, 2018 |access-date=June 7, 2024}} In 2009, Wonder Girls' "Nobody" became the first K-pop song to enter the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|title=2NE1 to BlackPink: How K-Pop's Girl Groups Took Over The World|url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/generation-k-twice-blackpink-ive-aespa-era-girl-groups |website=Nylon |author=Bell, Crystal |date=May 24, 2022 |access-date=May 16, 2024}}
The "Golden Age of Girl Groups" refers to a significant shift in the K-pop industry characterized by the dominance of girl groups in music charts and album sales. This phenomenon gained prominence in the early 2020s, highlighted by the remarkable success of groups such as Blackpink, which became the first girl group to achieve "double million seller" status with over 2.14 million copies sold of their second full-length album, Born Pink. Other notable girl groups, including Aespa, Ive, and NewJeans, have also emerged as major players, achieving significant sales and chart success.{{cite web|author=Jo, Yu-bin |date=October 8, 2022 |title='걸그룹 전성시대'가 시작됐다 |trans-title=The 'Golden Age of Girl Groups' Has Begun |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/586/0000045900?sid=103 |access-date=October 23, 2024 |website=Sisa Journal |language=ko}}
Generation 1
South Korean girl groups that debuted in 1997 to 2002, arranged in alphabetical order.
=Best-selling girl groups=
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|+ Best-selling generation 1 South Korean girl groups ! style="width:30%" | Group and years active ! style="width:30%" | Notable singles |
Baby Vox {{small|(1997–2006, 2024)}}
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Fin.K.L {{small|(1998–2005, 2019)}}
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S.E.S. {{small|(1997–2002, 2016–17)}}
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=Other girl groups=
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- As One {{small|(1999–2017, 2019)}}
- Chakra {{small|(2000–06)}}
- Cleo {{small|(1999–2005)}}
- Diva {{small|(1997–2005)}}
- Isak N Jiyeon {{small|(2002–04)}}
- Jewelry {{small|(2001–15, 2018)}}
- Kiss {{small|(2001–02, 2016)}}
- Luv {{small|(2002–03)}}
- M.I.L.K. {{small|(2001–03)}}
- Papaya {{small|(2000–01)}}
- Shinvi {{small|(2002–03)}}
- Sugar {{small|(2001–06)}}
- T.T.Ma {{small|(1999–2002)}}
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Generation 2
South Korean girl groups that debuted in 2003 to 2011, arranged in alphabetical order.
=Best-selling girl groups=
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|+ Best-selling generation 2 South Korean girl groups ! style="width:30%" | Group and years active ! style="width:30%" | Notable singles |
2NE1 {{small|(2009–15, since 2024)}}
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4Minute {{small|(2009–16)}}
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After School {{small|(2009–15, 2021)}}
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Apink {{small|(since 2011)}}
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Brave Girls {{small|(2011–13, 2016–18, 2020–23)}}
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Brown Eyed Girls {{small|(2006–15, 2019)}}
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Davichi {{small|(since 2008)}}
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f(x) {{small|(2009–16, 2019)}}
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Girl's Day {{small|(2010–15, 2017–18)}}
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Girls' Generation {{small|(2007–17, 2021–22)}}
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Kara {{small|(2007–15, since 2022)}}
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Miss A {{small|(2010–13, 2015)}}
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Secret {{small|(2009–14)}}
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Sistar {{small|(2010–17)}}
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T-ara {{small|(2009–17, 2020–22, 2024)}}
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Wonder Girls {{small|(2007–17)}}
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=Other girl groups=
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- 2NB {{small|(2006–12, 2016–18)}}{{Efn|Since Son-yoona's departure from the group in 2018, Kim Hyo-jin promotes as 2NB as a solo act.}}
- Big Mama {{small|(2003–12, since 2021)}}
- Black Pearl {{small|(2007–12)}}
- Blady {{small|(2011–17)}}
- C-REAL {{small|(2011–14)}}
- Chocolat {{small|(2011–17)}}
- Dal Shabet {{small|(2011–16, 2019)}}
- F-ve Dolls {{small|(2011–15)}}
- Gavy NJ {{small|(2005–22)}}
- Girl Friends {{small|(2006–07)}}
- GP Basic {{small|(2010–15)}}
- The Grace {{small|(2005–10)}}
- JQT {{small|(2009–12)}}
- LPG {{small|(2005–16)}}
- Miss S {{small|(2008–16)}}
- Nine Muses {{small|(2010–19)}}
- Rainbow {{small|(2009–16, 2019)}}
- Rania {{small|(2011–15)}}
- SeeYa {{small|(2006–11, 2020)}}
- Skarf {{small|(2011–14)}}
- Stellar {{small|(2011–18)}}
- Sorea Band {{small|(2005–14)}}
- Sunny Hill {{small|(2007–20)}}
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Generation 3
South Korean girl groups that debuted in 2012 to 2017, arranged in alphabetical order.
=Best-selling girl groups=
Generation 3 South Korean girl groups that have a million-seller single on Circle Digital Chart, formerly Gaon Digital Chart.
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|+ Best-selling generation 3 South Korean girl groups ! style="width:30%" | Group and years active ! style="width:30%" | Notable singles |
AOA {{small|(2012–19)}}
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Blackpink {{small|(since 2016)}}
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Bolbbalgan4 {{small|(2016–20)}}{{Efn|Since Woo Ji-yoon's departure from the group in April 2020, Ahn Ji-young promotes as Bolbbalgan4 as a solo act.{{cite web|title=Woo Ji-yoon quits K-pop duo Bol4 |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/03/398_287302.html |author=Yeon-soo, Kwak |website=The Korea Times |date=April 3, 2020 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |language=en}}}}
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EXID {{small|(2012–20, 2022, 2024–25)}}
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GFriend {{small|(2015–21, since 2024)}}
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I.O.I {{small|(2016–17)}}
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Mamamoo {{small|(since 2014)}}
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Momoland {{small|(2016–23, since 2025)}}
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Oh My Girl {{small|(since 2015)}}
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Red Velvet {{small|(since 2014)}}
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Twice {{small|(since 2015)}}
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=Other girl groups=
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- 2Eyes {{small|(2013–18)}}
- 15& {{small|(2012–15)}}
- 4L {{small|(2014–16)}}
- 4Ten {{small|(2014–16)}}
- April {{small|(2015–22)}}
- Alice{{Efn|Formerly known as Elris.}} {{small|(2017–24)}}
- Badkiz {{small|(2014–20)}}
- The Barberettes {{small|(2012–19)}}
- Berry Good {{small|(2014–21)}}
- Bestie {{small|(2013–16)}}
- Busters {{small|(2017–23)}}
- Bob Girls {{small|(2014–15)}}
- CLC {{small|(2015–22)}}
- Crayon Pop {{small|(2012–17)}}
- D-Unit {{small|(2012–13)}}
- D.Holic {{small|(2014–17)}}
- DIA {{small|(2015–22)}}
- Dreamcatcher {{small|(since 2017)}}
- EvoL {{small|(2012–15)}}
- Favorite {{small|(2017–20)}}
- Fiestar {{small|(2012–18, since 2024)}}
- Gangkiz {{small|(2012–14)}}
- GI {{small|(2013–16)}}
- Glam {{small|(2012–15)}}
- Good Day {{small|(2017–19)}}
- Gugudan {{small|(2016–20)}}
- HashTag {{small|(2017–19, 2023)}}
- Hello Venus {{small|(2012–19)}}
- Hi Suhyun {{small|(2014)}}
- I.B.I {{small|(2016)}}
- Laboum {{small|(2014–22)}}
- Ladies' Code {{small|(2013–20)}}
- Laysha {{small|(2015–19, since 2023)}}
- Lip Service {{small|(2014–17)}}
- Loona {{small|(2016–23)}}
- Lovelyz {{small|(2014–21, 2024)}}
- MyB {{small|(2015–16)}}
- Melody Day {{small|(2012–18)}}
- P.O.P {{small|(2017–18)}}
- Playback {{small|(2015–17)}}
- Pristin {{small|(2016–19)}}
- Pungdeng-E {{small|(2013–19)}}
- Puretty {{small|(2012–14)}}
- Rubber Soul {{small|(2015–17)}}
- The SeeYa {{small|(2012–15)}}
- Sonamoo {{small|(2014–21)}}
- Spica {{small|(2012–17)}}
- S.I.S {{small|(2017–21)}}
- She'z {{small|(2012–14)}}
- Sunny Days {{small|(2012–16)}}
- Tahiti {{small|(2012–18)}}
- Tiny-G {{small|(2012–15)}}
- Two X {{small|(2012–17)}}
- Unicorn {{small|(2015–17)}}
- Wassup {{small|(2013–19)}}
- Weki Meki {{small|(2017–24)}}
- WJSN {{small|(since 2016)}}
- Year 7 Class 1 {{small|(2014–18)}}
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Generation 4
South Korean girl groups that debuted since 2018, arranged in alphabetical order.
=Best-selling girl groups=
Generation 4 South Korean girl groups that have multiple platinum-certified albums from Korea Music Content Association.
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|+ Best-selling generation 4 South Korean girl groups ! style="width:30%" | Group and years active ! style="width:30%" | Notable singles |
(G)I-dle {{small|(since 2018)}}
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Aespa {{small|(since 2020)}}
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Babymonster {{small|(since 2023)}}
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Illit {{small|(since 2024)}}
| "Magnetic" (2024){{Efn|name=sk1}}{{Efn|name=platinumjapan}} | {{plainlist|
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Itzy {{small|(since 2019)}}
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Ive {{small|(since 2021)}}
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Iz*One {{small|(2018–21)}}
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Kep1er {{small|(since 2022)}}
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Le Sserafim {{small|(since 2022)}}
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NewJeans {{small|(since 2022)}}
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Nmixx {{small|(since 2022)}}
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STAYC {{small|(since 2020)}}
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=Other girl groups=
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- 3YE {{small|(2019–24)}}
- Ablume {{small|(since 2025)}}
- Ariaz {{small|(2019–22)}}
- Artms {{small|(since 2023)}}
- Badvillain {{small|(since 2024)}}
- BB Girls {{small|(since 2023)}}
- Billlie {{small|(since 2021)}}
- Blackswan {{small|(since 2020)}}
- Botopass {{small|(2020)}}
- BugAboo {{small|(2021–22)}}
- Bvndit {{small|(2019–22)}}
- Candy Shop {{small|(since 2024)}}
- Celeb Five {{small|(2018–19)}}
- Cherry Bullet {{small|(2019–24)}}
- Cignature {{small|(2020–24)}}
- Classy {{small|(since 2022)}}
- Craxy {{small|(since 2020)}}
- CSR {{small|(since 2022)}}
- DreamNote {{small|(since 2018)}}
- El7z Up {{small|(2023)}}
- Eternity {{small|(since 2021)}}
- Everglow {{small|(since 2019)}}
- Fanatics {{small|(2019–21)}}
- Fifty Fifty {{small|(since 2022)}}
- Fromis 9 {{small|(since 2018)}}
- Geenius {{small|(since 2024)}}
- Girlkind {{small|(2018–22)}}
- Golden Girls {{small|(since 2023)}}
- Got the Beat {{small|(2022–23)}}
- GWSN {{small|(2018–21)}}
- H1-Key {{small|(since 2022)}}
- Hearts2Hearts {{small|(since 2025)}}
- Hinapia {{small|(2019–20)}}
- Honey Popcorn {{small|(2018–20)}}
- Hot Issue {{small|(2021–22)}}
- Ichillin' {{small|(since 2021)}}
- ILY:1 {{small|(since 2022)}}
- Irris {{small|(2022–24)}}
- Izna {{small|(since 2024)}}
- KiiiKiii {{small|(since 2025)}}
- Kiss of Life {{small|(since 2023)}}
- Lapillus {{small|(since 2022)}}
- Lightsum {{small|(since 2021)}}
- Loossemble {{small|(since 2023)}}
- Lunarsolar {{small|(2020–22)}}
- Madein{{Efn|Formerly known as LimeLight.}} {{small|(since 2022)}}
- Mave: {{small|(since 2023)}}
- Maywish {{small|(2018–19)}}
- Meovv {{small|(since 2024)}}
- Mimiirose {{small|(since 2022)}}
- Nature {{small|(2018–24)}}
- NeonPunch {{small|(2018–20)}}
- Pink Fantasy {{small|(2018–23)}}
- Pixy {{small|(2021–23)}}
- Primrose {{small|(since 2023)}}
- Purple Kiss {{small|(since 2020)}}
- Purplebeck {{small|(2019–20)}}
- QWER {{small|(since 2023)}}
- Redsquare {{small|(2020–22)}}
- Rescene {{small|(since 2024)}}
- Rocket Punch {{small|(2019–24)}}
- Saturday {{small|(since 2018)}}
- Say My Name {{small|(since 2024)}}
- Secret Number {{small|(2020–24)}}
- Tri.be {{small|(since 2021)}}
- TripleS {{small|(since 2022)}}
- Uni.T {{small|(2018)}}
- Unis {{small|(since 2024)}}
- Viviz {{small|(since 2022)}}
- Weeekly {{small|(2020–24)}}
- We Girls {{small|(2018–22)}}
- Wooah {{small|(since 2020)}}
- Young Posse {{small|(since 2023)}}
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See also
Notes
{{Notelist|
{{Efn|name=sk1|Number-one song on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart, formerly Gaon Digital Chart.}}
{{Efn|name=sk10|Top-ten song on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart, formerly Gaon Digital Chart.}}
{{Efn|name=jp1|Number-one song on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart.}}
{{Efn|name=jp10|Top-ten song on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart.}}
{{Efn|name=billboardglobal1|Number-one song on the Billboard Global 200.}}
{{Efn|name=billboardglobal10blackpink|Top-ten song on the Billboard Global 200.}}
{{Efn|name=billboardglobal10newjeans|Top-ten song on the Billboard Global 200.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/newjeans/chart-history/hsi/ |title=NewJeans {{!}} Biography, Music & News {{!}} Billboard |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 19, 2024 |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721100411/https://www.billboard.com/artist/newjeans/chart-history/hsi/ |url-status=live }}}}
{{Efn|name=platinumkoreadownload|The song is certified Platinum in download, by the Korea Music Content Association.{{cite web |url=https://circlechart.kr/page_cert/chart.circle?serviceGbn=S1020 |title=Certification - Download |website=Circle Chart |access-date=March 7, 2025 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707012816/https://circlechart.kr/page_cert/chart.circle?serviceGbn=S1020 |url-status=live }}}}
{{Efn|name=platinumkoreastreaming|The song is certified Platinum in streaming, by the Korea Music Content Association.{{cite web |url=https://circlechart.kr/page_cert/chart.circle?serviceGbn=S1040 |title=Certification - Streaming |website=Circle Chart |access-date=March 7, 2025 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707012832/https://circlechart.kr/page_cert/chart.circle?serviceGbn=S1040 |url-status=live }}}}
{{Efn|name=platinumjapan|The song is certified Platinum in streaming, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.}}
{{Efn|name=platinumjapanphysical|The song is certified Platinum in physical sales, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.}}
{{Efn|name=goldjapan|The song is certified Gold in streaming, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.}}
{{Efn|name=goldjapanphysical|The song is certified Gold in physical sales, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.}}
{{Efn|name=silverjapan|The song is certified Silver in streaming, by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.}}
{{Efn|name=goldus|The song is certified Gold, by the Recording Industry Association of America.}}
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References
{{Reflist|
{{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_cert/chart.circle?serviceGbn=ALBUM |title=Circle Chart Album Certifications |website=Circle Chart |access-date=April 10, 2025 |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220708094938/https://circlechart.kr/page_cert/chart.circle?serviceGbn=ALBUM |url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd_search.html |title=Certifications Search – Gold Disc |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |access-date=September 11, 2024 |language=ja |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924224243/https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd_search.html |url-status=live}} Note: To retrieve album certifications, type in the group's name in the box "アーティスト" and click the "検索" button
{{cite web|url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/st_search.html |title=Certifications Search – Streaming |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |access-date=October 29, 2024 |language=ja |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923120349/https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/st_search.html |url-status=live}} Note: To retrieve song certifications, type in the group's name in the box "アーティスト" and click the "検索" button.
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/blackpink/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Blackpink {{!}} Biography, Music & News {{!}} Billboard |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 19, 2024 |archive-date=October 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013183124/https://www.billboard.com/music/Blackpink/chart-history/HSI |url-status=live}}}}
{{K-pop}}
Category:Lists of South Korean women