‘우리가 포스트 BTS’…치열해진 남자 아이돌 각축전

As BTS continues to dominate the K-pop market, a fierce battle for the spot traditionally held by post-BTS male groups has emerged. Stray Kids, Seven Seasons, and ATEEZ are achieving top-tier results in terms of album sales, Billboard chart placements, and world tour performances. Meanwhile, RISE, a young group, is rapidly growing based on its domestic popularity and fanbase.

In recent times, rising star Curtis has shown tremendous upward momentum just a year after his debut. Currently, the team with the most comprehensive performance is JYP Entertainment's Stray Kids, which debuted in 2018. In the 2025 IFPI Global Artist Chart, they placed second behind Taylor Swift, with their album "Karma" selling 349,000 copies to reach second place on the global album sales chart.

Their "Karma" also reached number 349,000 in global album sales, making it the second-highest selling album. On Billboard's 2025 Boxscore, their concert tour generated $185 million in ticket sales and drew 13 million fans to its shows, establishing the highest tour revenue among K-pop artists. Their latest album "Don't End It" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 after just 22 days, becoming the first album in its chart history to achieve this feat.

Their self-produced sound and strong performance abilities also contribute to their competitive edge. Coming up on September 29-30, they will also perform at the Tokyo National Stadium. Seven Seasons (Fledgling Entertainment) also stands out with its scale and longevity. In 2025, their album "Happy Bus Day" reached third place on the IFPI global album sales chart with 263,000 copies sold, and they earned $142 million from world tours and 964,000 attendees.

Although ATEEZ's debut in 2015 has faced challenges with some members' military service, they have diversified their activities, such as releasing the mini-album "V8" by band member Die and Bourn in June. Ear-catching for their global fanbase, they achieved their first Billboard 200 number one with "Golden Hour: Part 5" in 2024 and are set to perform at Coachella this year.

Their success in securing fanbases through tours and singles has been a key growth strategy. SM Entertainment's RISE, while lacking the experience of the other three teams, is quickly growing as a significant player. Their mini-album "TWO" sold 129,627,474 copies on the Hanteo chart, and their first world tour took them to both Asia and North America.

Their standout member, Wonbin, has helped them secure domestic popularity and a strong fanbase, paving the way for their growth in the global market. This sets them apart from the other teams in terms of their unique path to the global market. Despite the rise of these new groups, BTS remains an unparalleled force. Public music critic Im Hye-jun notes that while fanbase-driven longevity is possible for current popular male idol groups, BTS's unique and pioneering status makes it difficult to replace them.

"There's no 'Dynamite' level global hit to build upon," she adds, highlighting a potential limitation for these newer groups.