The battle to be K-pop’s next big boy group after BTS is officially on

Stray Kids. (courtesy of JYP Entertainment)

More than 10 years after its debut, BTS may still reign supreme, but the race to become K-pop’s next dominant boy group is heating up. 

 Stray Kids, Seventeen and Ateez are posting blockbuster album sales, making their way up the Billboard charts and selling out shows worldwide, while rising acts such as Riize and rookie group Cortis are rapidly expanding their reach. 

Among them, Stray Kids currently stands out as the strongest all-around contender.

  The boy group from JYP Entertainment, which debuted in 2018, placed second on the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry’s global artist chart, trailing only Taylor Swift. Its studio album “Karma” sold 3.49 million copies, putting it at No. 2 on the global album sales chart.

 According to Billboard Boxscore data for 2025, Stray Kids generated US$185.7 million in ticket sales from 31 concerts that drew 1.3 million attendees last year, racking up the highest tour revenue of any K-pop act 

“This & That,” the group’s mini album released on Aug. 7, debuted atop the Billboard 200 for the list dated Aug. 22, extending its unprecedented streak to nine straight No. 1 albums.

 The title track “This & That” entered the Hot 100 at No. 38, setting a new personal best. The group’s competitiveness lies in its self-producing abilities, led by its “3Racha” team, which includes Bang Chan, Changbin and Han, and its powerful performances.

 Stray Kids is also set to perform at Japan National Stadium on Aug. 29 to 30.

Seventeen. (courtesy of Pledis Entertainment)

 Scale and longevity are noteworthy when it comes to Seventeen, a group under Hybe subsidiary Pledis Entertainment.

 Seventeen’s fifth studio album, “Happy Burstday,” sold 2.63 million copies in 2025, making it the world’s third-best-selling album according to the IFPI.  

The same year, its world tour generated US$142.4 million in revenue and drew 964,000 attendees. After making its debut in 2015, the group has been sustained by its large 13-member lineup, various “units” specializing in vocals, hip-hop, and performance, and an in-house production system centered around its member Woozi.

 Even as mandatory military service limits group activities, Seventeen is finding new ways to stay in the spotlight — for example, members The8 and Vernon formed the subunit V8 to release an eponymous mini album in June.

Ateez. (courtesy of KQ Entertainment)

 Ateez is drawing attention as a group that has broken into the global market despite not being part of the four major entertainment agencies. Signed to KQ Entertainment, Ateez has built a global fanbase since its debut in 2018, focusing primarily on overseas performances.

 In 2024, it became the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella and claimed its third No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 in June with “Golden Hour: Part. 5.”

 The group’s 2025 world tour raked in US$70 million and drew 400,000 fans. Its growth strategy has been to expand the fanbase it’s built through live performances into album sales and the US singles charts.

Riize. (courtesy of SM Entertainment)

 SM Entertainment’s Riize has a shorter career than those who’ve come before them, but they make up for it with their spunky rookie energy that’s come to symbolize the fifth generation of K-pop groups.

 Following its debut in 2023, Riize made its mark on the Korean music streaming market with “Get a Guitar,” “Love 119,” “Boom Boom Bass,” and other bangers. 

 “Two,” Riize’s second EP, topped 1.29 million copies in sales following its June 2026 release, according to Hanteo Charts.

 The group extended its sphere of activities to Asia and North America during its first world tour and held a three-day concert at Tokyo Dome in February.

 Riize has taken a different route from its peers, first winning over the Korean public — helped by the striking visuals of member Wonbin — and building a loyal domestic fanbase before expanding overseas.

Cortis. (courtesy of BigHit Music)

 Cortis, a boy group formed by Hybe subsidiary BigHit Music, has also made notable progress since its debut in 2025. Within a year of launching, it was nominated for two categories for the 2026 MTV VMAs: best new artist and best K-pop.

 Its second EP, “GreenGreen,” ranked No. 110 for 14 weeks straight, while its debut album, “Color Outside the Lines,” released in September 2025, has surpassed 700 million cumulative streams.

 These rising acts may be challenging for the throne, but BTS remains K-pop’s unrivaled global face.

 “It is highly likely that the trending boy bands may, with the support of their devout fanbases, have long careers,” said music critic Lim Hee-yun. “But BTS will be difficult to replace, given its unique role as a trailblazer for K-pop. The newer groups have yet to produce a global phenomenon on the scale of ‘Dynamite,’ which underscores the gap they still face.”

 At the same time, Lim saw Cortis as having the most potential of all the newer groups, noting that its ability to produce its own music “contributes to its narrative of growth.”