Starting as South Korea’s entertainment industry, it has now become the Hallyu Wave and is still taking over the world. The world of k-pop is always evolving and winning the fans’ hearts. But talking about the success in the world of K-pop, it’s usually the men of entertainment we talk about. While names like BTS, BigBang, EXO, Super Junior, and a lot more k-pop idols have taken K-pop to a new level all over the world. So, here we shall look into some of the most successful female K-Pop idols.
Things wouldn’t have been possible without their fellow female k-pop groups. With all the hard work they’ve put in, we also have a lot of successful female k-pop idols in the industry. Let it be SM’s S.E.S, YG’s 2NE1, or JYP’s MISS A, female idols have been a huge part of K-pop. And with time, the women of k-pop have reached the same level as their competitors.
Here Are Some of The Most Successful Female K-pop Idols
Let it be topping music charts or topping the brand reputation rankings. The female k-pop idols have been climbing up the stairs of success. Being an inspiration to the coming generation,
IU
Lee Ji Eun, aka IU, is one of the most loved and successful k-pop artists in South Korea. While IU isn’t that popular in the west, she has taken all over Asian countries with her mesmerizing voice and amazing acting. Also known as the ‘Nation’s Sweetheart,’ the idol had a lot of problems before her debut. With her family under debt, IU used to leave with her grandmother and even had to go without dinner a lot of nights. Hoping to make her debut, she also got scammed quite a few times and failed over 20 auditions in 2 years. Finally getting a chance, IU went on to make her debut at the age of 15 with Loen Entertainment.
Throughout her career, IU has had a lot of her hits topping the charts and ranking higher than BTS, EXO, and other popular k-pop groups. With ‘Hotel Del Luna,’ IU has also made a name for herself in the world of k-drama. Along with the performing arts, the idol is also known for her philanthropy activities all over Asia. After letting the Netflix k-drama, ‘The Sound of Magic,’ use her music for free, the idol is all set to make her big-screen debut. IU will be making her Cannes Film Festival debut with the upcoming film ‘Brokers’.
Song You Must Listen To: Celebrity, Lilac, Hold My Hand
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Lisa
Lalisa Manoban, aka Blackpink’s Lisa, is the most successful female K-pop idol, not just in the K-pop industry. But all over the world. She auditioned at YG Entertainment’s Thailand audition in 2011. Lisa was the only one who made it to South Korea as a trainee. After being a trainee for over five years and making appearances as a dancer in senior artists’ videos, Lisa went on to make her debut in 2016. Now, as a member of Blackpink, Lisa has been ruling over the k-pop fandom. Having over 70 million followers on Instagram, Lisa is also one of the most followed k-pop idols on Instagram.
Making her debut as a solo artist as well, the k-pop idol has been ranking on Billboard charts. Here solo track ‘Money’ became the first track by a solo female K-pop artist, ranking No. 35 on the Pop Airplay chart, staying for three weeks. Being popular all over the world, the idol has won titles like “Social Superstar,” “Popular Artist of the Year,” and “Most Popular Person of the Year”. Along with being one of the richest idols in the k-pop industry, Lisa has also become the face of several brands like Mac Cosmetics and the luxury brand BVLGARI.
Song You Must Listen To: Money, How You Like That, As if it’s your last
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Lee Hyori
Nation’s Fairy and the former member of the girl group Fin. K. L, Lee Hyori is one of the most successful k-pop idols out there. Lee Hyori made her debut as a k-pop idol in 1998 with the girl group. The idol was scouted by an agency and cast by the manager of H.O.T. while she was on her part-time job. While Fin. K. L took off among the fans, Lee Hyori went on to become a star herself. With her solo and other promotional activities, ‘Hyori Syndrome’ took over South Korea.
Being one of the highest-paid female k-pop idols of her time, Lee Hyori is the epitome of success. In 2013, the idol went on to marry Tv producer Lee Sang Soon and broke a lot of hearts all over the country. Teaming up with Netflix and her husband, Lee Hyori also went on to start the popular Netflix show called ‘Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast’. Currently, the idol is back in her k-pop idol life. Teaming up with fellow k-pop idols Uhm Jung Hwa, Jessi, and Hwasa, Lee Hyori is now a part of the girl group Refund Sisters with Yoo Jae Suk as a producer.
Song You Must Listen To: Don’t Touch Me, Do The Dance
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BoA
Kwon Bo Ah, aka BoA is known as the ‘Queen of K-pop’. Active in the k-pop industry for over two decades, BoA has been the idol of our current k-pop idols. Having no plans of becoming an idol, BoA went on to accompany her brother to the auditions of SM Entertainment. But instead of her brother, she was the one who got scouted in the end. Looking at her now, she’s one of the known leaders of the Hallyu wave. The idol is popular all over Asia for her R&B and dance-pop music.
While BoA’s Korean debut was one of the best things, her Japanese debut album, Listen to My Heart, became a RIAJ-certified million-seller. And even debuted atop the Oricon. Not limiting herself to just music, the idol has been a part of a few k-dramas and made a cameo in a Hollywood film, ‘Cobu 3D’. After taking some time off, BoA made her Japanese comeback in April 2022 with the single “Every Heart- Minano Kimochi”. The idol also appeared in Lee Hyori’s reality show ‘Seoul Check-In’ and was seen drinking and talking about all the fun times they’ve had together.
Song You Must Listen To: Woman, Only One, Better
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Taeyeon
Kim Tae Yeon, aka Girl’s Generation’s Taeyeon, is another one of the most successful female k-pop idols. Coming from a family of vocalists, Taeyeon went on to pursue a career in music. She started out as a member of the fourth group of the “SM Academy Starlight”. Spending her teen years at the academy, the idol has a lot of trouble, but eventually, she overcomes them. Winning the “8th SM Teen Best Contest”, Taeyeon went on to join the lineup for her debut. After three years of training, Taeyeon made her debut as the seventh member of ‘Girls Generation’.
In 2015, Taeyeon went on to make her debut as a solo artist and completely slew the market. With her rising popularity as a solo artist, she also became one of the first Asian stars to perform at Madison Square Garden in New York. The idol also has over 15.7 million followers, and her YouTube channel has over 1.2 million subscribers. She has also been the face of brands like Nature Republic, Banila Co, Paris Baguette, Hyundai, and Benefit Cosmetics. Recently, Taeyeon released the ‘Our Blues’ OST “By My Side”. The OST has an orchestra that starts with a lyrical guitar melody followed by beautiful lyrics.
Song You Must Listen To: Fine, Step Back
Here Are Some More Female K-pop Idols Who Are Known For Their Success: Blackpink’s Jennie, Rose, and Jisoo, Red Velvet’s Yeri, Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy, TWICE’s Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, MAMAMOO’s Hwasa, Solar, Wheein, and Moonbyul.
Upcoming Female K-pop Idols Who Are On The Verge of Success: Itzy’s Yeji and Ryujin, aespa’s Karina, IVE’s Wonyoung, Everglow’s Mia, StayC’s Sieun and Isa, Weeekly’s Zoa, Loona’s Chuu, HeeJin, Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Olivia Hye, the girls of Fromis_9, and Le Sserafim.
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