We are blessed with new talent in the K-Pop industry almost every day. This is one of the best parts of being a K-Pop fan! You get to enjoy new groups with cool concepts and new music continuously. However, it's important to appreciate the artists already active in the industry who might be going underappreciated, too. You might feel like it's hard to keep up with all of the groups, but we've got you covered!

We are back with our selection of underappreciated K-Pop artists we'd like to get more recognition in the new year! For 2024, we truly hope to see these artists get some much-deserved spotlight

In 2022, we selected artists such as OMEGA X, A.C.E, Billlie, Ciipher, Dreamcatcher, KINGDOM, woo!ah!, SECRET NUMBER, bugAboo, and ONF.

In 2023, we selected artists such as Weki Meki, WOODZ, DKB, PURPLE KISS, OnlyOneOf, E'LAST, BAE173, PIXY, DKZ, and TO1.

Check out our selection for this year!

Note: This list is in random order and is not a ranking. 

 

1. Lapillus

Lapillus is a group that debuted in 2022.

Known for their killer choreography and catchy music, Lapillus is the first group on our list that we hope will get more recognition in 2024. The members have not only been praised for their bright and charismatic personalities but also for their talent as shining vocalists, dancers, and rappers. Many fans are hoping that Lapillus' stage presence will be appreciated on the main stage of the K-Pop industry this year as they deserve the special limelight.

Check out Lapillus' 'Who's Next' music video here.

 

2. CIX

CIX is a group that debuted in 2019.

Whilst they've been in the K-Pop game for a while, they are one of those groups that makes you scratch your head as they are overwhelmingly talented yet somehow still go underappreciated. Their discography speaks for itself and the sheer magnetic charm that they have when they perform on stage does the same. CIX has been stealing the hearts of many since its debut. However, we think it's about time that they steal the hearts of the entire K-Pop fandom as their dedication to their craft truly entitles them to. This group deserves all of the spotlight and more.

Check out CIX's 'Save me, Kill me' music video here.

 

3. BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR is a group that debuted in 2023.

Whilst BOYNEXTDOOR is from a sub-label of a huge company and has a popular mentor/CEO, they are still one of the groups that can honestly use a boost in recognition. The group has yet to release a skippable song and yet many are still sleeping on their golden discography. Once people get to listen to their music, they will ask themselves why they hadn't added BOYNEXTDOOR to their stan list much sooner. There is no doubt about this.

Check out BOYNEXTDOOR's '뭣 같아 (But Sometimes)' music video here.

 

4. tripleS

tripleS is a group that debuted officially in 2023 although they were quite active before.

tripleS has been one of the most innovative K-Pop groups we have seen in the industry as of late. Not only is the group's concept unique and keeping K-Pop fans on their toes/hyped with anticipation, but their music is so soothing to the ear, too. With their praiseworthy discography and all-rounder skills, this group lacks very little. Whilst the group has been steadily gaining attention, we predict that 2024 will be a big year for this group where they will become even bigger stars thanks to their dedication.

Check out tripleS' music video for 'Rising' here.

 

5. H1-KEY

H1-KEY is a group that debuted in 2022.

It seems that every time we write about H1-KEY, we have to praise their incredible lyricism and vocal talent. But what can we do? They're just that overwhelmingly talented that we need to emphasize their skills. H1-KEY has some of the best empowering songs that will leave you feeling like you can conquer the day and like a better version of yourself. Them getting more recognition is not just about more people discovering their talent, but also for the greater good of K-Pop fans who deserve to be blessed by their message.

Check out H1-KEY's music video for 'SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City)' here.

 

6. ATBO

ATBO is a group that debuted in 2022.

ATBO has one of the most slept-on discographies in K-Pop. Their music is of top quality and the kind that you will add to your playlist instantly upon hearing it. ATBO is especially great at performing their vibey music in a way that makes you want to dance along with them. This is one of their biggest performance charms. Not only do you get immersed in their performances but they make you want to join their bright energy, too.

Check out ATBO's music video for 'Must Have Love' here.

 

7. JUST B

JUST B is a group that debuted in 2021.

This group is known for being able to pull off versatile sounds and concepts but still keeping an admirable consistency. They are known for their strong and energetic persona which has captured the attention of many, especially during performances such as MAMA. Many of their fans have described them as a hidden gem in the industry that has huge potential to be the next big thing. Once people start listening to them, it will be a matter of time before they stan.

Check out JUST B's music video for 'MEDUSA' here.

 

8. VANNER

VANNER is a group that debuted in 2019.

Whilst this group won over the hearts of many during their time on the survival show "PEAK TIME", we need to give them more of their hard-earned flowers. Whilst their inspiring background is one thing to consider, you can't deny their level of talent. They have amazing energy, are captivating performers, have overwhelming passion, and their rap and vocal skills can't be ignored either. We hope that more and more people discover their charms as soon as possible.

Check out VANNER's music video for 'PERFORMER' here.

 

9. YOUNG POSSE

YOUNG POSSE is a group that debuted in 2023.

This group gained a lot of spotlight for their debut song as it embodied the not-too-serious essence that once was the biggest appeal of K-Pop. However, some could not appreciate the sentiment. Despite this, YOUNG POSSE's willingness to be creative has given them an appeal that is hard not to fall for in the eyes of many people. Many are looking forward to seeing more of their quirkiness in the future and hoping that this can be the driving force of them getting some more merited spotlight.

Check out YOUNG POSSE's music video for 'MACARONI CHEESE' here.

 

10. NINE.i

NINE.i is a group that debuted in 2022.

NINE.i has already been deemed a 'complete package' group thanks to their consistently good music, incredible production skills, and the carefree enchanting nature of the members themselves. They are the kind of idols who ease your worries as you stan them. It boggles the mind how this group has yet to get the buzz that they deserve, especially considering that their musical color is so one-of-a-kind.

Check out NINE.i's music video for 'NEVERLAND' here.

Do you have any other K-Pop groups that you think deserve more spotlight and recognition in 2024? 

The height of K-Pop idols will always be a trending topic amongst K-Pop fans, as this piece of information is often a vital point of the idol's charms. With many falling in various ranges in the height mark, the height of these idols invariably adds so much to their appeal. With K-Pop, we have found that there are different criteria for what makes a leader, and their height or physique is not necessarily top on that list. It is still a part of the reasons why fans love them.

Here are the 4th generation male group leaders who stand 176 cm and below.

Please note that the idols featured in this listicle are members of groups that are still active.

 

1. BAE173's Lee HanGyul - 176 cm

 

2. Newkidd's JinKwon - 176 cm

 

3. TFN's NoA - 176 cm

 

4. THE BOYZ's SangYeon - 176 cm

 

5. NTX's HyeongJin - 176 cm

 

6. TO1's JaeYun - 175.5 cm

 

7. E'LAST's Rano - 175 cm

 

8. VANNER's TaeHwan - 174 cm

 

9. DKB's D1 - 174 cm

 

10. ONF's HyoJin - 172.8 cm

 

11. ATEEZ's HongJoong - 172 cm

 

12. LUMINOUS' YoungBin - 172 cm

 

13. TEMPEST's Lew - 171 cm

 

14. Stray Kids' BangChan - 171cm

 

15. TREASURE's Choi HyunSuk - 171 XDcm

 

16. NINE.i's JeWon - 170 cm

 

Bonus: Xdinary Heroes' GunIl - 170-175 cm

 

Which of these leaders is your bias? Share with us in the comments section below.

 

2022 looks like a promising year in the world of K-Pop. With 2021 having had so many successful debuts, we can't wait to see who debuts in 2022.

If you are curious to learn about the groups which have made their debut in 2021, find out more below.

So far in 2022, Kpopmap has noticed that there are many groups confirmed to make their debut in 2022. Stay tuned to this article to find out who they are and when they will debut.

 

1. YOUNITE 

Brand New Music has launched a full-fledged debut plan for their new boy group. This new boy group is Brand New Music's first group with a large number of members. The group will consist of multi-talented members, including Lee EunSang, who is currently working as a solo artist.

They will be debuting in the first half of 2022.

Update: Read more about YOUNITE and the members in this article.  YOUNITE debuted on Apr. 20 with their first mini-album "YOUNI-BIRTH".

 

2. NMIXX

JYP will introduce a new girl group for the first time in three years since ITZY. Without disclosing any information about the rookie group, JYP held an unusual promotion to pre-sell their debut single in a limited edition, "Blind Package," and recorded 61,667 pre-orders. Three members JinNi, JiWoo, and KyuJin. can be seen for the first time in the cover video of Cardi B's "Press".

Here is what we know about JYP's new girl group so far.

Update: The group's name has been announced to be NMIXX. Meet the members of the group in this article. They debuted on 22 February 2022 with 'AD MARE'.

Update: JinNi is no longer part of the group.

 

3. BLAZE

BLAZE is a pre-debut group under MUGIT Entertainment that currently consists of three members. The members were originally part of a dance team.

They are expected to debut in the first half of 2022.

Update: BLAZE will likely debut as 2 members. They filmed their debut music video with only 2 members (HaeNa and SaeHa).

Update: The duo debuted on Jan. 28 with the digital single 'Funny Game'.

 

4. TEMPEST

TEMPEST is a pre-debut boy group under YueHua Entertainment. This group will allegedly consist of Ahn HyeongSeop and  Lee EuiWoong who were both contestants on "Produce 101 Season 2" and Han Bin who was a contestant on "I-LAND". Nothing has been confirmed yet.

Here are 3 facts about Yuehua's new boy group TEMPEST.

Update: TEMPEST made their debut on Mar. 2, with their album "It's ME, It's WE" and title track 'Bad News'. Read all about their debut showcase here.

 

5. TAN

"Extreme Debut: Wild Idol" is an MBC variety show where trainees have to fight to become idols out in the wild. The show uses extreme criteria to eventually choose 7 boys who will become part of a new boy group.

The group's debut date has not been confirmed yet, however, the show started in Sep. 2021, and is still airing, meaning that the group is likely to debut in 2022.

Read about the contestants who made big impressions from the first episode and the interesting way that they have their names revealed, too.

Update: The group's name is TAN and their debut has been confirmed for 2022. Meet the members of TAN who made the final debut group. They debuted on March 10 with the mini-album "1TAN" and the title track 'FIX YOU'.

 

6. TNX

P NATION LOUD is one of the resulting debut teams from the survival program "LOUD" with 7 members. Their debut date has yet to be confirmed but they are likely to debut in 2022.

Here are 3 facts to know about P NATION's first-ever boy group. One of their members even got attention for choosing to debut under P NATION despite passing the auditions to become a trainee at SM Entertainment, read more about that here.

Update: P NATION announced that Koki would not be debuting with the current group as they feel he still needs to undergo more training. P NATION LOUD is now a 6-member boy group. Their official name has also been announced as TNX.

Update: TNX made their debut on May 17 with their mini-album "WAY UP".

 

7. mimiirose

This group is a 6-member pre-debut girl group under Yes IM Entertainment. Their CEO is non-other than the famous Korean ballad singer Lim ChangJung. They are said to be debuting in March or April of 2022.

Update: The group debuted on Sep. 16. with the single album 'AWESOME'.

 

8. &TEAM

The audition program &AUDITION will be held in Japan and released on YouTube next year. K, Nicholas, EJ, Taki, and previous contestants from Mnet's "I-LAND" will join the show to become HYBE's new boy group.

Update: The show is called "&AUDITION - The Howling" and will start airing in July. Read all about it and the members of the group in this article.

Update: &TEAM debuted on Dec. 7 with the mini-album "First Howling: Me" and title track 'Under The Skin'.

 

9. NewJeans

HYBE announced a new independent label called ADOR headed by Min HeeJin. They are preparing to debut a new girl group in 2022 that will have members recruited during HYBE's 2019 "Plus Global Audition".

Update: The group's name has been announced and they are called 'NewJeans'. They have pre-released music but will make their official debut on August 1st. Read all about the group in this article.

Update: NewJeans made their official debut on August 1st with their EP "New Jeans".

 

10. TRENDZ

TRENDZ is a pre-debut 7-member boy group under Interpark Music Plus that was formerly known as INTER BOYS. They are said to be debuting in January of 2022.

Learn 3 things we know about TRENDZ (Inter Boys) so far here. You can also read about the TRENDZ members' height from tallest to shortest.

Update: TRENDZ debuted on Jan. 5 with their first mini album "Blue Set Chapter 1. Tracks".

 

11. H1-KEY

H1-KEY is a 4-member girl group under Grandline Group. They will debut on Jan. 5. You can read an exclusive interview with Sitala (one of their members) in this article.

Update: H1-KEY debuted on Jan. 5 with 'ATHLETIC GIRL'.

Update: Member Sitala left the group in May for personal reasons.

 

12. Kep1er

At the start of the year, Mnet mentioned that they will be launching a new project to create a new girl group with members from Korea, Japan, and China called "GIRLS PLANET 999". More information about the program can be found here.

While they are still recruiting participants until mid-February, it is still unsure when they will be broadcasting the first episode and eventually debut the new group.

Update: The final debut group has been chosen. Their name is Kep1er. Here is an article with everything we know about Kep1er so far. If you are curious about the heights of the Kep1er readers, you can see them here. Kep1er was set to debut on Dec. 14, 2021. Unfortunately, due to one of their staff members testing positive for COVID-19, their debut has been postponed to Jan. 3, 2022.

Read up about some of netizens' favorite contestants on the show so far. You can also see some of the most viewed performances from the first few episodes.

Update: Kep1er debuted with their 1st mini album "FIRST IMPACT" and the title track 'WA DA DA' on January 3rd.

 

13. LAPILLUS

MLD Entertainment will be debuting a new girl group in the first half of 2022. So far, they have announced two members of the group. One is Chantal Videla (who is Filipino and Argentinian) and Nonaka Shana (from "GIRLS PLANET 999").

Read more about Chantal Videla in this article.

Update: The group debuted on June 20. Learn more about the group and all of the members in this article.

 

14. GOT: Girls On Top

SM Entertainment has formed a project girl group consisting of BoA, Girls' Generation's TaeYeon and HyoYeon, Red Velvet's SeulGi and Wendy, and aespa's Karina and Winter. They will performing a special stage at the SMCU EXPRESS concert in January.

Update: The group released their first song 'Step Back' on Jan. 3.

 

15. ILY:1

FCENM will be debuting a 6-member girl group in the first half of 2022 including contestants from "GIRLS PLANET 999".

Update: FCENM revealed the final members of the group and they include Hana, Ririka, Rona, Nayu, Ara, and Elva. ILY:1 were initially going to debut on March 15 but their debut got postponed to April 4.

Update: ILY:1 made their debut on April 4 with the single album "Love in Bloom".

 

16. CLASSy - "My Teenage Girl" girl group

"My Teenage Girl" is a survival show that will air until February 2022. The show aims to debut a 7-member girl group with an international reach.

Update: The group's name is CLASSy and the final debut group has been revealed. Meet the members of CLASSy and learn 3 things about the group in this article.

CLASSy made their debut on May 5 with the mini-album "Class Is Over".

 

17. BLANK2Y

Keystone Boyz is a pre-debut 9-member boy group under Keystone Entertainment. Two members have been announced so far (YoungBin and TaeWoo). Their debut date has not been confirmed but they will be releasing content in the form of a show to their fans in March.

Read up on the final 9 members of BLANK2Y in this article. You can read up YoungBin and SungJun modeling for Seoul Fashion week here.

Update: Keystone Entertainment has announced that their group name is BLANK2Y. They debuted on May 24, 2022. Read about their debut here.

 

18. CSR (First Love)

05Class is a 7-member pre-debut girl group under JPlanet Entertainment. They were scheduled to debut in the remainder of 2021 but there has been no recent news about their debut. The group gets its name from the fact that all of the members were born in 2005.

Update: 05Class have changed their name to CSR (which stands for 'First Love' in Korean). They debuted on July 28 with their 1st mini-album "Sequence : 7272".

 

19. VIVIZ

VIVIZ is a 3-member group under BPM Entertainment that consists of 3 former members of the girl group GFRIEND. The members are SinB, EunHa, and UmJi. The group was expected to debut sometime at the end of 2021 but their debut date has not been confirmed yet.

Here are 4 reasons to look forward to VIVIZ's debut.

Update: VIVIZ's made their debut on 9 February 2022 with their first EP "Beam of Prism".

 

20. LE SSERAFIM

HYBE and BigHit Labels are said to be working on multiple groups to debut. This is one of them. This girl group was set to debut in the second half of 2021 but a specific date has not been given yet. However, here are 4 things that we know about the group so far.

Update: Miyawaki Sakura and Kim ChaeWon have been confirmed to be in the group. The 6-member group will be called LE SSERAFIM and debut on May 2nd.

Meet the members of the group in this article. Read more about why fans are looking forward to member Sakura's re-debut here too. They debuted on May 2, 2o22 with their album "FEARLESS". You can read fans' reactions to their debut here.

Update: LE SSERAFIM is now a 5-member girl group.

 

21. ATBO

IST Entertainment announced that they will be launching a new boy group from a survival show that will premiere in February. The group is said to debut in the first half of 2022.

Update: The show will be airing from February 26 and is called "THE ORIGIN: A, B, Or What?". The show premiere has been postponed to March 19 due to some trainees testing positive for COVID-19.

Meet the 13 contestants of "THE ORIGIN: A, B, Or What?" and learn details about the show in this article.

Here are some of netizens' favorite contestants in the show so far.

Update (May 2022): The final lineup of members has been announced and the group's name is ABØ. They will debut in the second half of this year.

Update: Due to fans' concerns IST Entertainment has changed the group's name to ATBO. Read 3 things we know about the group so far in this article.

Update: One member in the initial group lineup has changed from Yang DongHwa to WonBin. ATBO debuted on July 27 with the mini-album "The Beginning : 開花".

 

22. XG

XG is a global girl group that will debut on March 18 under XGALX. The group consists of 7 members. Meet the members in this article.

Update: XG made their debut on Mar. 18 with their single 'Tippy Toes'.

 

23. Mamadol

Mamadol or M.M.D is a 6-member girl group formed through the show "Mama The Idol". They debuted on Jan. 28 with the single 'Mama The Idol'. The show was about mothers returning to the idol life and featured members from K-Pop groups such as Wonder Girls, After School, Jewelry, and more.

 

24. ABLUE

ABLUE is a 6-member boy group under J-Star Entertainment set to debut sometime in 2022 but the official date has not been announced yet.

Update: They made their debut on Oct. 223 with the single album "Carnival".

 

25. JWiiver

JWiiver is a 7-member boy group that debuted under Starweave Entertainment on February 17. They released a mini-album called "Jtrap".

 

26. NINE.i

NINE.i is a 10-member boy group that is expected to debut in the first half of 2022. They are under FirstOne entertainment.

Update: NINE.i made their debut on Mar. 30 at 6 PM KST. Meet the members in this article. You can also meet Thai member Winnie in this article.

 

27. Black Level

Black Level is a 6-member boy group that debuted on Feb. 26 with the mini-album "New-Start". They are under VT Entertainment.

Update: 4 members of the group have left to pursue their idol dreams individually. VT Entertainment says the group will be reorganized and come back in the future.

 

28. PRIKIL

PRIKIL is a 5-member Japanese girl group that will debut under FNC Entertainment. They debuted with their single 'SOMEBODY' on May 4th.

The group’s styling is a reflection of their youthful, energetic vibe. The contrast of Fuchsia pink and black adds the necessary statement effect that every new band on the block needs.

Every element in the image shows they’re up to style with all the latest trends - the polka dots, shrug, tulle top, pink leather jacket, and sheer pink bottom are all there, not by chance!

Meet the members of the group in this article.

 

29. Girls' World

Girls' World is a 4-member girl group under Liz Entertainment. They were expected to debut on May 23rd but their debut date has been moved to June 20th.

Update: They debuted on June 20 with the digital single album "Rapunzel".

 

30. FAINIT

FAINIT is a 5-member girl group under FAINIT company. The group's concept is about crossing between the realms of fantasy and reality.

Update: They made their debut on June 13th with the single 'Killer' but are speculated to have since disbanded after going inactive.

 

31. SUPERKIND

SUPERKIND is a 5-member pre-debut boy group under Deep Studio Entertainment. They are set to debut on June 30th and are said to be debuting an AI male idol as well. Learn more about the group here.

Update: SUPERKIND debuted on June 20 with their digital single 'PlaySuperkind : Apply for a Beta Test'.

 

32. IRRIS

IRRIS is a 4-member group under JUSTICE RECORDS. They debuted on July 6th with the mini-album "Wanna Know".

 

33. Queenz Eye

Queenz Eye is a 6-member group under Big Mountain Entertainment. Member Hwang ChaeWon is a former WM Entertainment trainee and member Kang DaMin was on "Produce 48". The group debuted on Oct. 24th with the single album "QUEENZ TABLE".

 

34. We;Na

We;Na is a 4-member girl group under Shine E&M. They debuted on Sep. 5th with their digital single 'Like Psycho'.

 

35. FIFTY FIFTY

FIFTY FIFTY is a 4-member girl group under ATTRAKT that debuted with their first album "The Fifty" on Nov. 18.

 

36. UiU

UiU is a 5-member girl group formed on a survival show called "Untact Idol Unit" which also happens to be what their name stands for. They debuted on Jul. 11 with 'Starlit'.

 

37. POA

Project on Air (POA) is a 5-member girl group under HANDMADE and KMG that debuted on Sep. 21 with a self-titled single.

 

38. ARTBEAT

ARTBEAT is a 7-member girl group under AB Creative. They debuted on Nov. 16 with their mini album "MAGIC".

 

39. WeNU

WeNU is a 6-member boy group that made its debut on Nov. 30 with the digital single 'Haru Haru'.

 

40. DIGNITY

DIGNITY is a new group under PCS Entertainment. One of the members, Luo, was a former member of the group MASC. They debuted with their single, 'RAMBO' on Sept. 23.

 

Are there any other K-Pop groups that will debut in 2022 that you know of? Let us know in the comments.