30 experts determine the most legendary male and female idols and songs in the history of K-Pop

During this recent survey, several of the most renowned industry experts have determined the top 25 idols in all of K-pop history, including the artists’ most influential hit songs.

On the 19th, results from a new survey consisting of votes from 30 different South Korean music industry experts were revealed on the popular online community, Instiz.

The survey in question was regarding who South Korea’s top 25 male and female idols are, including all bands from the start of the K-pop scene back in the 1990’s to the current K-pop scene today. This should not be confused with South Korea’s music as a whole, but rather focusing on just the genre of “K-pop”, which hints at the more contemporary, youthful music of the country.

The panel of thirty experts in this survey include the following public contemporary music critics Kang Il KwonKim Kyung JinKim Bong HyunKim Sung HwanKim Young DaeKim Yoon HaNam Sung HoonPark Joon WooBae Soon TakSeo Jung Min GapSong Ki ChulSong Myung HaLee Kyung JunLee Dae HwaCha Woo JinChoi Kyu SungChoi Ji SunHan Dong YoonHan Myung Ryun, and Mnet M! Countdown producer Ma Doo SikIdology editor Mi MyoMBC Show! Music Core contents provider Park Jung Kyu, Mnet contents team leader Shin Hyung Kwan, MBC Radio producer Ahn Dong JinSBS Radio producer Yoon Eui JoonKBS Music Bank contents provider Han Kyung Chun, and reporters from DongAh News‘  cultural trend team Jung Yang HwanLim Hee YoonJang Sun Hee, and Lee Ji Hoon.

The voting system was in the form of multiple votes, where each of the thirty experts could place a vote for every idol group, if desired. The votes would then be calculated to see which artists have received the most tallies.

Top 10 male and female idol groups in the history of K-pop determined by 30 of the most renowned music experts. / Instiz
Top 10 male and female idol groups in the history of K-pop determined by 30 of the most renowned music experts. / Instiz

To begin, the top male groups in the history of K-pop chosen by the panel of experts include:

  • BIGBANG – 25 votes
  • H.O.T and TVXQ – 13 votes
  • SHINee – 11 votes
  • god – 10 votes
  • EXO – 8 votes
  • Shinhwa – 3 votes
  • Super Junior, INFINITE, Sechs Kies – 2 votes
  • BTS – 1 vote

The second category of the top female groups in the history of K-pop chosen by the panel of experts include:

  • Girls’ Generation (SNSD) – 21 votes
  • Wonder Girls – 16 votes
  • 2NE1 – 11 votes
  • S.E.S – 10 votes
  • BoA and f(x) – 7 votes
  • fin.K.L – 4 votes
  • TWICE – 3 votes
  • KARA – 2  votes
  • IU – 2 votes
  • Baby V.O.X, SISTAR, G-FRIEND, Hyuna – 1 vote
Top 25 male and female idol groups' hit songs in the history of K-pop determined by 30 of the most renowned music experts. / Instiz
Top 25 male and female idol groups’ hit songs in the history of K-pop determined by 30 of the most renowned music experts. / Instiz

In addition to the survey of the top male and female idol stars above, the experts were asked to choose the most influential and legendary songs that have been released over the fairly recent years of K-pop, which was previously mentioned as being from the 1990’s to the present.

The most influential and legendary songs released by male K-pop artists that the panel of experts chose are:

  • BIGBANG – Lies (10 votes)

  • H.O.T – Candy (9 votes)

  • EXO – Growl (7 votes)

  • TVXQ – Mirotic (6 votes)

  • god – To Mother (2001), SHINee – Sherlock (2012), BIGBANG – Bae Bae (2015), and Sechs Kies – Couple (1998) – (4 votes)

  • INFINITE – Be Mine (2011), Super Junior – Sorry Sorry (2009), BIGBANG – Fantastic Baby (2012), SHINee – Lucifer (2010) – (3 votes)

  • BIGBANG – Haru Haru (2008), SHINee – Dream Girl (2013), G-DRAGON – One of a Kind (2012) – (2 votes)

 

The most influential and legendary songs released by female K-pop artists that the panel of experts chose are:

  • Girls’ Generation – GEE (2009) – (16 votes)

  • Wonder Girls – Tell Me (2007) – (11 votes)

  • S.E.S – I’m Your Girl (1997) – (6 votes)

  • 2NE1 – I Am the Best (2011), Girls’ Generation – Into the New World (2007), BoA – N0.1 (2002) – (5 votes)

  • TWICE – Cheer Up (2016) , f(x) – Nu ABO (2010) – (3 votes)

  • G-FRIEND – Rough (2016) , f(x) – Electric Shock (2012), Girls’ Generation – I Got A Boy (2012) – (2 votes)

Source: Instiz