YouTube lists popular Korean songs and creators, highlighting K-POP hits and diverse content creators from various genres in 2023.
December/29/2025 11:54
YouTube has published the rankings of popular songs and creators that gained popularity in Korea this year. Many songs by globally popular K-POP idols ranked, catching attention. The list of popular creators shows that channels from a wide range of genres, from celebrities to AI characters, are gaining popularity. The 'Top Popular Songs List,' compiled based on YouTube view counts in Korea for songs released in 2025 or showing significant growth compared to the previous year, features 'KPOP Girls! Demon Hunters,' with 'Golden,' 'Soda Pop,' and 'Your Idol' ranking 1st, 3rd, and 10th respectively. Jo Seung-youn (WOODZ)'s 'Drowning' (2nd), ZO ZAZZ's 'Don't you know' (4th), and MAKTUB's 'Starting With You' (6th) also gained attention on YouTube, demonstrating the platform's role in connecting new artists and music with listeners. Additionally, songs by G-DRAGON, IVE, and BLACKPINK were included, confirming the enduring popularity of global K-POP stars. The 'Top Shorts Songs List' includes music most used in Shorts uploaded in Korea, based on songs released in 2025 or showing significant growth compared to the previous year. This year's list features music from various challenge videos, as well as songs used in daily life, travel, and comedy content. 'Soda Pop' (1st) and 'Golden' (2nd) from the soundtrack of 'KPOP Girls! Demon Hunters' ranked high, serving as inspiration for many creators in dance covers, cosplay, and POV content. Numerous songs used in popular dance challenges also ranked, with creators actively participating in global dance challenges like 'PASSO BEM SOLTO' (3rd), 'chess' (7th), BLACKPINK's 'JUMP' (5th), and IVE's 'REBEL HEART' (6th). Furthermore, 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'blue' ranked 4th and 8th, respectively, as background music for diverse Shorts. Hyun-so's 'Spring Dream (DayDream)' reached 9th place after engaging with viewers through Shorts and deciding on the title before its release. The 'Popular Themes of the Year' list reveals the topics that garnered the most interest from YouTube users in Korea this year. The YouTube Culture & Trends team analyzed various signals, including view counts, upload numbers, and creator activities related to these themes. This list includes only themes that emerged this year or showed a significant increase in user interest. The popular themes list features three K-content titles: 'KPOP Girls! Demon Hunters,' 'Thank You,' and 'Squid Game,' showcasing their overwhelming influence. Notably, 'Squid Game' and 'KPOP Girls! Demon Hunters' dominated the popular themes list in most surveyed countries, indicating that K-content fans in Korea and abroad actively produced and consumed related fan content through YouTube. Game-related themes also stood out, with Roblox maintaining its popularity, and Mabinogi Mobile, which reinterpreted classic PC games as mobile games, gaining explosive interest on YouTube after its release. YouTube has also been a stage for the birth of new stars. Artists like ALLDAY PROJECT and Hearts2Hearts, as well as Kim Yong-bin, the winner of 'Mr. Trot 3,' captivated fans and gained attention for their diverse content. The 'Top Popular Creators' list, selected based on the increase in subscribers in Korea this year, features creators with compelling content and clear concept strategies. The top spot went to Choo Sung-hoon, who showcased comedic daily content in an unpretentious manner. Lee Su-ji, a comedian who reflected the times with her 'Persona Comedy,' ranked 2nd. Chef Sung Anh, a Michelin-star chef who presents a straightforward yet special persona, ranked 6th, while 'Emotionally Unstable Kim Hemchi,' who depicts realistic company life through an AI hamster character, ranked 7th, showing that Korean users have a high interest in creators with genuine charm and unique content planning.
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