As we entered the 21st century, Korean pop music, under the moniker 'K-pop', expanded its reach globally. Since the 2000s, second-generation idol groups like BoA, TVXQ, BIGBANG, Girls' Generation, KARA, and 2PM crossed seas to shake the Japanese archipelago and further spread their influence to Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, spearheading the Hallyu wave. Wonder Girls, who ignited the "Tell Me" syndrome, ventured into the US, a then-unfamiliar territory for K-pop, in 2009. In 2012, Psy, with his track "Gangnam Style," stormed the global scene, clinching the #2 spot on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking a pivotal moment in K-pop's globalization.

BTS became the pinnacle of the K-pop sensation. Having debuted in 2013, by 2020, they became the first Korean act to top the US Billboard 'Hot 100' with "Dynamite," firmly establishing themselves among global superstars. They subsequently conquered stages at major US music award ceremonies like the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and the Grammys, elevating K-pop's stature. Receiving accolades as the "Beatles of the 21st Century," BTS is now transitioning into a new chapter as members begin their military service. The focus now shifts to the next generation of K-pop stars who will lead the way. Who will take up BTS's mantle and shape the future of K-pop?

In celebration of its 19th anniversary, Star News conducted a survey among 31 influential figures in the entertainment industry about the next generation of K-pop, the "Post-BTS" era. As per the results tallied on the 13th, girl group NewJeans clinched the top spot, with boy groups Stray Kids and SEVENTEEN following in second and third places, respectively.

The 31 respondents, considering artists who made it to the Billboard main charts (Hot 100, 200) after August 1, 2021, selected two teams each. To ensure fairness and credibility, artists from their own agencies were excluded from the choices.

NewJeans (comprising Minji, Hani, Dani, Haerin, and Hyein) emerged as the top "Post-BTS" contender, securing votes from 21 out of the 31 experts, a majority of 67.7%. They debuted in the music scene like a comet in July of the previous year. Orchestrated by Min Hee-jin, the mastermind behind groups like Girls' Generation and f(x), NewJeans quickly captured the music market with their stylish and easy-listening tracks. Their debut song "Attention" swiftly topped domestic music charts and made an impressive entry into the US Billboard chart just eight days post-release. Their subsequent hits, including "OMG," "Ditto," "Super Shy," and "ETA," continued their success streak. Notably, "Super Shy" and "ETA" from their second EP "Get Up" achieved the #1 spot on the Billboard 200, a feat only previously accomplished by BLACKPINK among K-pop girl groups.

Stray Kids, consisting of Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N, garnered 11 votes, making them the most voted boy group and placing them in second. Launched by leading Korean music agency JYP Entertainment in March 2018, they have consistently evolved with each album release, embodying the archetype of a "growth-oriented idol." The in-house producing unit, 3RACHA (comprising Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han), has been instrumental in crafting and penning all their songs, establishing a distinct musical identity. This unique sound has not only resonated domestically but has also achieved significant milestones on the global stage.

In particular, Stray Kids have demonstrated their growing influence with three consecutive albums - "ODDINARY," "MAXIDENT," and "5 STAR" - all reaching #1 on the Billboard 200. They are the second K-pop group after BTS to achieve this feat. Furthermore, Stray Kids ranked second in album sales in the US for the year, trailing only pop star Taylor Swift, as of August 28th, underscoring their burgeoning global impact.

SEVENTEEN, a 13-member group consisting of S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino, ranked third with six votes. Having debuted in May 2015 under Pledis Entertainment, they are a prominent multi-member and multinational group, with members hailing from Korea, the US, and China. SEVENTEEN, known for their self-produced performances and music, has grown into a leading K-pop idol group.

Their overwhelming album sales further attest to SEVENTEEN's unparalleled stature. Their fourth studio album "Face the Sun," released in May of the previous year, recorded an initial sales volume of 2.06 million copies in its first week. This made SEVENTEEN the second artist in Korean music history, after BTS, to surpass 2 million initial sales. Their tenth mini-album "FML," released the following year, achieved an astounding initial sales volume of 4.55 million copies, surpassing even BTS's record. With over 6.2 million copies sold, "FML" stands as the best-selling K-pop album to date. SEVENTEEN also achieved their personal best by ranking #2 on the Billboard 200 with "FML."

Other notable mentions include Aespa and BLACKPINK, who tied for fourth place with five votes each. NCT, ATEEZ, and LUCERAPHIM secured fifth place with three votes each. TOMORROW X TOGETHER and ZeroBaseOne were in sixth place with two votes, while ENHYPEN ranked seventh with a single vote.

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