Best 16 K-pop Idol Vocalists of Each Generation (with proof)

Date Written: Oct. 28, 2024

The K-Pop Scene saw many talented idols with blessed vocals, charming visuals and striking rappers. For this blog, we’ll get to know the best vocalists of each generation for both girl groups and boy groups. Of course not blindly, under each description, you can find the links to the videos of mentioned idols performances.

!!!WARNING!!!

This list can contain personal preferences; you can either see the idols you know and love OR you can look into the idols you do not know and get to know them. Who knows, maybe you could support them in the future :)

First Generation

They are the first idols. They were the first to be known by the crowd as ultimate celebrities. They were the best vocalists of their time. Let’s start with the girls.

BoA

She is THE “Queen of K-POP”. Born in 1986, she was first discovered by SM Entertainment and after two years of training she made her debut in 2000 with ID; Peace B. She was casted as a judge by many TV shows (K-Pop Star, Produce 101, The Voice of Korea). To mention how strong her voice is, she is the first Korean artist to break the barrier between South Korea and Japan since the end of WW2 (if this is not enough to convince you, I don’t know what is..).

BoA - Every Heart (live from her world tour Love & Honesty in 2004)

Kangta (ex. H.O.T.)

If you are interested in boy groups, you should also know H.O.T. and the group's main vocalist (and visual) Kangta. Born in 1979, he was discovered in a theme park at 13 years old by SM Entertainment. He was also the first member to join H.O.T in 1996. Even after the group disbanded in 2001, in the same year he released his first solo album “Polaris” which he wrote, composed and even arranged.

Kangta - Polaris

Second Generation

Jonghyun (SHINee)

Born in 1990, Jonghyun was casted in 2005 by SM Entertainment and debuted in SHINee as the group's main vocalist. Since then, he was regarded as one of the best vocalists in South Korea. He was also one of the idols most songs copyrighted under his name. His nickname “Bling Bling Jonghyun” can be one of the best ways to describe him. Sadly, Jonghyun passed away in 2017 and the world will not witness his greatness once more.

You can watch a compilation of his best vocal moments below:

Taeyeon (Girls Generation)

Born in 1989, Taeyeon is the vocalist and the leader of iconic Girls Generation, under SM Entertainment. You could say that her talent in her vocals comes from her parents who are also vocalists. Her inspiration to become a vocalist was BoA. She is also one of the highest-selling female artists in South Korea.

You can watch a compilation of her best vocal moments below:

Third Generation

Chen (EXO)

Born in 1992, Chen is also proof that talent runs in the family. His powerful vocals come from his father who is also a vocalist. Known for his strong high-notes, he can comfortably sing “Tears” by So Chan Hwee, which is originally a high-female-key song.

You can watch a compilation of his best vocal moments below:

DK (Seventeen)

Born in 1997, DK is Seventeen’s main vocalist. In a group that is known for their live performances, this title is saying something. If you watch any content from Seventeen, you could hear DK singing something in the background, so you could say that singing is also a hobby for him. With his powerful voice, DK was also the main actor in the musical “Xcalibur”

You can watch a compilation of his best vocal moments below:

Seungkwan (Seventeen)

Born in 1998, he is Seventeen’s main vocalist. Just like DK, you can expect that his vocals will be beautiful and powerful. His sister is also a vocalist, that means that talent is in their DNA. Even though he didn’t want to be a singer as a child, he participated in contests and his teacher recorded and uploaded a video of him singing. Thanks to his teacher, he was casted by Pledis.

You can watch a compilation of his best vocal moments below:

JungKook (BTS)

Born in 1997, Jungkook is the main vocalist of BTS. He is the Golden Maknae. He is a talent that even his colleagues admire. If he sings a guide to a song, you cannot top him. BTS is known for their broad discography and making music in a lot of different genres, and Jungkook will sound amazing in all. Even his solo album “GOLDEN” track list will surprise you.

You can watch a compilation of his best vocal moments below:

BtoB as a whole

Why BtoB as a whole? Because they are that good.

Every member sounds different from the others, and you'll find yourself saying each member is the main vocalist. Leader Eunkwang, Changsub, Hyunsik, Sungjae, and even one of BtoB's rappers, Minhyuk, are the best things to happen in K-Pop. They are idol vocalists' idols. Even better, they sound amazing live. With the link below, you can watch snippets of their discography and their heavenly vocals. To say that I’ve watched the video at least 50 times would be an understatement.

Wendy (Red Velvet)

Born in 1994, Wendy knew she wanted to be a singer since she was 5. That childhood dream came true, and now she is one of the best female vocalists of her generation. As beautiful as she sounds, Wendy can also play the piano, guitar, flute, and saxophone. Her voice has garnered global attention, even leading to a collaboration with singer Ricky Martin for the song “Vente Pa’ Ca.” She also joined Richmond Hill HS Show Choir as a soprano.

You can watch a compilation of her best vocal moments below:

Solar (Mamamoo)

Born in 1991, Mamamoo’s self-named mom/leader Solar was discovered by her agency after singing as a gift for someone. In a group full of amazing vocalists, Solar also writes lyrics and composes for Mamamoo and for her own work. Her incredible personality and looks only add to her heavenly vocals.

You can watch a compilation of her best vocal moments below:

Ailee

Known as “The Korean Beyonce,” Ailee is a powerhouse with her vocals. As an 8-time champion on the music show “Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend,” you can be sure her live vocals are not to be joked with. She even dropped out of college to pursue her singing career, and we are grateful for this decision.

You can watch a compilation of her best vocal moments below:

Fourth Generation

Jongho (Ateez)

The vocal king of the fourth generation without a doubt, born in 2000, Ateez’s maknae Jongho will always leave you in awe with his limitless voice. Even his charming points include his high-pitched notes (while perfectly splitting an apple with his bare hands, of course :) ). Powerful with his vocals as well as his physique, Ateez’s maknae will keep you watching a compilation of his vocals for hours:

Keeho (P1Harmony)

Born in 2001, P1Harmony’s leader and vocalist Keeho is a must-mention. With his charming vocal tone and incredible vocal control, his voice is delightful even without a backtrack. Just to give you an example of how good his vocals are, his audition song was “All Of Me” by Michael Buble. Think about how good he is now. Or don’t think—just listen:

Taehyun (TXT)

Born in 2002, our Terry (his English name) will make you wonder, “Is he going through a divorce?” with his soulful and emotional vocals. He is fearless, trying new vocal styles and nailing every single one of them. His shining eyes will draw you in as a MOA, and his charming voice will ensure you stay.

Here is a link to his video with soloist Lee Mujin; make sure not to fall in love:

Lily (Nmixx)

Born in 2002, she can be the best female vocalist of her generation. She signed with JYP at 13 years old and received 6.5 years of training at JYPE before debuting in Nmixx. Her vocal range and control will surprise you, even if you are prepared. One of her pre-debut singing videos even trended worldwide on Twitter (now X) within an hour of being posted.

See her amazing talent for yourself: