MelOn reveals 2025's top songs, with WOODZ's 'Drowning' leading the chart. G-DRAGON and BLACKPINK also make strong showings.
January/9/2026 10:55Related Groups & Members
The music platform MelOn announced the '2025 Korea & Overseas Annual Chart' TOP 100, showing the most loved songs of the year at a glance. According to MelOn, the number one song on the Korean annual chart was won by Jo Seung-youn (WOODZ), who created the 'myth of chart reversal.' Released in 2023, 'Drowning' became a major topic with its live video and climbed to the top of the 2025 annual chart, recorded as the best hit song. In 2025, the strength of male solo musicians was particularly prominent, with G-DRAGON making a comeback after 11 years with his full album 'Übermensch,' and his song 'HOME SWEET HOME (feat. SOL & D-LITE)' ranking second on the annual chart, heralding a glamorous return. Singer-songwriter Lee Mujin had four songs, including 'Episode,' ranked in the annual chart, demonstrating his presence as a 'strong source.' 10CM sparked a challenge boom with the Korean version of the anime 'Kimi ni Todoke' opening song, ranking 10th. The rise of new generation artists was also notable, with the mixed-gender group ALLDAY PROJECT's 'FAMOUS' at 23rd, STARSHIP's rookie girl group KiiiKiii's 'I DO ME' at 63rd, and SM girl group Hearts2Hearts' 'The Chase' and 'STYLE' at 81st and 89th respectively, showing their presence. Additionally, BOYNEXTDOOR's 'IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU' ranked 12th, BABYMONSTER's 'DRIP' at 28th, and ILLIT's 'Magnetic' at 43rd, highlighting the popularity of fifth-generation idols and raising expectations for their activities in 2026. BLACKPINK, returning as a complete group after three years, also showed their strength, with their new song 'JUMP' entering at 27th, while the members' solo songs also gained popularity. In particular, Rosé and Bruno Mars' collaboration 'APT.' ranked 6th, and Jennie's 'like JENNIE' ranked 11th, proving the global syndrome with their results. The activities of 'strong sources' continued, with DAY6 having six songs ranked, including 'HAPPY' (8th) and 'To Become One Page' (17th), and aespa also having six songs ranked, including 'Whiplash' (3rd) and 'Supernova' (22nd), making both groups the most ranked artists. IVE and G-DRAGON also had five songs charted each, showcasing their strong source power. On the overseas chart, the OST of the Netflix anime 'KPOP Girls! Demon Hunters' set an unprecedented record, with EJAE's 'Golden' winning first place and a total of eight songs from the OST entering the top 30. The luxurious collaboration of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' 'Die With A Smile' ranked 3rd, while Kendrick Lamar, who gained attention for his performance at the Super Bowl halftime show with 'Not Like Us,' and SZA's collaboration 'luther' also hit the charts. The popularity of J-POP has also become mainstream, with Kenshi Yonezu's theme song 'IRIS OUT' from the 'Chainsaw Man' movie ranking 9th, and the ending song 'JANE DOE' by Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada ranking 64th. Other songs like tuki.'s 'Banquet Song' and Official HIGE DANDism's 'Pretender' also charted, showing their presence.
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In 2025, BOYNEXTDOOR made a significant impact with 4 songs on annual charts, led by 'IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU,' which ranked 53rd on the Global K-POP Chart. Their albums also performed well, with 'No Genre' selling over 1.1 million copies. They are actively expanding their presence in Japan with live performances and a new talk show.
BOYNEXTDOOR has solidified their reputation as a leading force in music with 'IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU,' which ranked 12th on MelOn's 2025 annual chart. The song also achieved top positions on various platforms, including 4th on TikTok's 'Year In Music' and 6th in 'The Hollywood Reporter's' best K-POP songs of 2025. They will perform at the Golden Disc Awards on January 10.
Liz from IVE is featured on the cover of L'OFFICIEL Singapore, highlighting her unique charm in a photoshoot with Cartier. The shoot, themed 'BEGIN TO WONDER,' captures her in a transformed glass factory, showcasing a range of moods. Liz's performance impressed staff, and the magazine praised her as an artist with both transparency and strength. More features will be available in the upcoming December 2025 and January 2026 issue.
ILLIT has released a teaser for the music video of their upcoming digital single 'Sunday Morning', set to drop on January 13, 2026. The MV features a nostalgic restaurant setting with the group in classic uniforms, captivating fans with their charm and a catchy melody. The song, a J-POP ROCK style, explores the powerful emotions of love, and is set to be the opening theme for the anime 'Hime-sama 'Goumon' no Jikan desu' Season 2. Expectations are high for this release following their previous hit 'Almond Chocolate'.
On the afternoon of the 9th, FIFTY FIFTY departed through Incheon International Airport for an overseas schedule. ATEEZ and BOYNEXTDOOR received awards at the 2025 KGMA, expressing heartfelt thanks to their fans. Additionally, FIFTY FIFTY released the music video for their song 'Skittlez,' featuring a lovely and unique production.
BELIFT LAB has released a statement addressing severe stalking and privacy violations against ILLIT members. They highlighted illegal acquisition of personal information and the need for legal action, stating that despite changing travel plans for safety, stalkers still tracked the artists. The agency is committed to ensuring the safety of its artists and will take strict legal measures against offenders.
On the afternoon of the 9th, IVE departed for Taiwan via Incheon International Airport to attend the 40th Golden Disc Awards. Additionally, MelOn released its annual TOP 100 chart, showcasing the most loved songs of 2025. Graduation photos from Hanlim High School featuring Han Yujin from ZB1, IVE's Iso, and TWS's Gyeongmin have also gained attention for their stunning visuals.
On the afternoon of the 9th, BLACKPINK's Jennie departed for Taiwan via Incheon International Airport for the 40th Golden Disc Awards. She revealed her bold short hair and shared her thoughts on turning 30, stating that she lived her 20s with passion and love. Additionally, J-POP songs are ranking in the MelOn annual chart, with the top 100 songs of 2025 being revealed.
On the afternoon of the 8th, TWS departed for Taiwan via Incheon International Airport for the 40th Golden Disc Awards. They released graduation photos from Hanlim High School featuring artists like ZB1's Han Yujin and IVE's Iso. The event will include a one-night collaboration and a medley of nostalgic songs with popular artists participating, along with the aspirations of idols from the Year of the Horse.
Iso, a member of IVE, graduated from Hanlim Arts High School and shared her feelings with fans. She expressed gratitude for the memories made and thanked her supporters, especially her fans, DIVE. Iso emphasized her commitment to showing a more mature side as she embarks on this new chapter in her life.
