K-pop in 2021 – what to expect: the return of Red Velvet and Shinee, Aespa’s continued rise, and synergy between Korean pop and video games

The major labels are likely to launch several new acts this year, some aimed at the rest of Asia rather than Korea, and to pursue links with video gaming

Expect to see bands build on the success of online concerts – with Seventeen and Blackpink coming this month – and fan meet-and-greets launched in 2020

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Girl group (G)I-Idle are among several K-pop acts planning to release new music in January, at the start of what will be another big year for Korean pop music. Photo: Getty Images

Tamar Herman

Published: 10:25pm, 6 Jan 2021Updated: 11:28am, 7 Jan 2021

As the new year kicks off, 2021 shows great promise for K-pop built off the potential it showed last year.

Though 2020 was a tough year, it also brought an immense show of strength from Seoul-based pop acts: BTS made history with every other breath they took, while Blackpink and NCT soared to greater heights than ever before.

Established artists showed their worth as soloists, while younger acts asserted their rising power in K-pop with impactful releases. Musically, disco pop made its mark on the K-pop scene and artists sold millions upon millions of albums.

While it is too early to predict 2021’s dominant musical trends, some of the songs of the year might already be on the way.

January is already gearing up to be a big month for K-pop: TVXQ!’s Yunho, Jeong Se-woon, MCND, Victon, Treasure, (G)I-dle, Epik High, Ab6ix, Cravity, Oneus, and Golden Child are just some of the Korean acts that have releases planned for this month.

February is looking exciting too, with Shinee rumoured to be making their long-awaited return that month; the band last released music together in 2018 prior to members enlisting in South Korea’s military to fulfil the country’s mandatory draft.

Though K-pop acts typically don’t share long-term release schedules, individual members of some of the biggest acts are expected to share new solo projects: Blackpink members Lisa and Rosé, who are said to be dropping songs, and BTS member V, who has said he’s working on an upcoming and long-awaited solo mixtape.