2nd Gen of K-pop has truly been iconic, and so have its leaders! The generation is known to be the one that started to bring international fame to K-pop. This generation of K-pop started back in the year 2003 and ended somewhere around 2013. Groups like Big Bang, 2NE1, Super Junior, KARA, SNSD, Wonder Girls, miss A, 2 PM, 2 AM, SHINee, SISTAR, f(x), and many more had started to bring more and more popularity to the Korean music industry as a whole.
This was when people had just started to know what K-pop is and what it stands for. Even male and female idol interactions were normal in that era. They would have fun and talk to each other, and fans would not ship them. We get why fans miss this part of 2nd gen of k-pop so much!
Now, let us start talking about leaders! Leaders are evidently the most essential part of a group, although some groups are fine without them (take Blackpink as an example). The leaders communicate with the company about the group’s needs, takes care of the group’s image, and even sees to it that each member is doing well. Some of the 2nd Gen leaders that caught the eye of K-pop fans are listed down below! Keep reading to find out who made it into this list!
6. Leeteuk
Leeteuk is the leader of Super Junior and is one of the greatest 2nd Gen K-pop leaders out there! Leeteuk is a leader who would lead at the back and would try not to take away the spotlight from his members. Not only does he puts a lot of effort into his works, but he also puts all of his heart and soul into Super Junior. As every leader should, he thinks of equally of each member so that he does not have a bias toward any member. Along with leading the group Leeteuk has trained the members of Super Junior to be nice towards other people and has even become a leading example in that aspect.
While preparing for an upcoming performance, he always takes into consideration every member’s opinion. Even when his schedule would be filled, he would wake up till late at night fixing up the member’s performances and talking about what the team should be doing next. Lastly, it must not be easy to handle such a popular group for 17 years and not drop the position. That is why not everybody can be Leeteuk!
5. Sunye
Sunye might be one of the kindest and most outgoing leaders not only in the 2nd gen of k-pop but all time! During the time wonder girls had not disbanded, she had proven that she would always be there to take care of her members. Wonder Girls had once been caught in a serious accident. Even when Sunye was injured the most, she grabbed Sunmi to safety. She literally jumped to Sunmi’s rescue and made sure that each of the members was safe. And even after doing all that, Sunye said she thanked god at least a thousand times that all the members were safe.
Not only that, she always checks the props given to the members before the actual performance so no one would get hurt. This is very smart of her since this must have avoided many accidents! You can take the time when she saved Sohee from an accident as while she was checking the props, she found out that Sohee’s chair was unstable and changed the faulty chair with hers as an example! Sohee is someone who steps back for the members to shine and comes forward when the time for her to lead the group has come!
4. CL
There have been countless times when CL has proven that she is one of the greatest 2nd Gen K-pop leaders that has ever existed! CL had been the leader of YG Entertainment’s popular girl group 2NE1. While the group had not been disbanded, she always took care of them and led them with dignity. An example of CL being a selfless leader is the time when she rushed to Dara’s rescue while there was an earthquake. And when Minzy had left the group, she had written the song Goodbye as a letter to Minzy but later changed it so it could be meaningful to fans as well!
Even after the group’s unfortunate disbandment, the members keep showing that 2NE1 is forever. CL had supported the group when they disbanded, such as supporting Minzy’s Career and visiting Dara for her new movie. Going back down memory lane, when 2NE1 had a surprise performance of Fire, and I’m The Best, you can literally see the love she has for her members through her eyes. The girl group even had an iconic reunion in Coachella 2022. Through all of this, you can see why she had been selected as the leader of 2NE1!
3. Onew
Onew is the leader of SM Entertainment’s boy group Shinee aka the princes of K-pop. Onew is a very kind and caring leader who has a very soft personality. As the embers have said, if he wants to tell them about something, per se fixing this in the choreography or any personality issue, Onew would sit down and talk to them rather than forcing his opinions on them. He listens and cares for each and every member, which is why the members respect and adore him with all their hearts!
As the members had pointed out, if someone else had been appointed to such high authority, they would most probably abuse their power. But that is not the case with Onew. He always takes a step back and makes sure that each member gets an equal amount of attention and a chance to showcase their talents! Not only do fans think he is an incredible leader, but other K-pop leaders are inspired by him too! During SBS Gayo Daejon in 2015, K-pop leaders picked him as the best leader among them!
2. Taeyeon
Taeyeon is the leader of the Girls’ Generation. Over the years, many people have been bashing her for just holding on to the title of the leader of Girls’ Generation, but we would like to debunk that. People forget that there are many types of leaders. Taeyeon tends to be very quiet and someone who works without taking all the spotlight. If she tries to give her members the attention and spotlight, for example, giving the microphone and stepping back, people will call her cold and passive, especially during interviews and reality shows.
To be honest, Taeyeon could do really well as a soloist, and that would be an easier thing for her, but she still remains in the group, which just goes to show her loyalty toward the Girls’ Generation. Also, haters tend to forget that she and the members have gone through every obstacle that life has thrown at them and still remain one of the few ongoing 2nd Gen k-pop groups. She has literally helped the Girls’ Generation to go on as a group for fifteen years by now. How can you call her a bad leader! She is truly one of the best 2nd Gen K-pop leaders!
1. G-Dragon
Are we even surprised that G-dragon topped the list of the best 2nd Gen K-pop leaders? In fact, he is one of the best leaders of k-pop of all time! G-Dragon is the inspiration behind many of our favorite k-pop idols. Some of the key idols from the 3rd Gen and 4th Gen of K-pop would not have even existed if G-dragon had not become an idol! It would be literally an understatement to say that G-dragon is a legend.
He has done something that many k-pop idols have not managed to do so, being a famous solo artist as well as a group member at the same time. G-dragon gives proper time to his group as well as his own solo career. Plus, he is deserving of all of the fame he gets. For some years after big bang debuted, G-dragon had to mope floors and wipe windows for an earning, and it was not until he self-composed the songs of the group that Bigbang started to become popular! Not to forget, his unwavering loyalty to the group is something that the members of Bigbang really love talking about!
Also Read: Top 8 Female K-pop Idol Dancers From The 3rd Gen of K-pop Who Will Sooth Your Eyes
