“We are the next BTS”… Fierce competition among male idol groups

As BTS continues its reign as the undisputed leader of the K-pop market, a fierce competition is unfolding among male idol groups vying for the "post-BTS" title. Groups such as Stray Kids, Seventeen, and ATEEZ are building top-tier achievements in album sales, the US Billboard charts, and global concert tours. RIIZE is rapidly growing based on domestic popularity and fandom, while COURTS, which recently marked its first anniversary, is showing a formidable upward trend.

Stray Kids, who debuted in 2018 under JYP Entertainment, is currently achieving the most comprehensive results. The group ranked second in the IFPI 'Global Artist Chart' for 2025, following Taylor Swift. Their album 'Karma' sold 3.49 million copies, securing the second position on the global album sales chart. In Billboard Boxscore's 2025 rankings, Stray Kids recorded the highest tour revenue among K-pop artists, earning $185.7 million from 31 concerts and attracting 1.3 million attendees. Their latest release, 'This and That,' debuted at number one on the 'Billboard 200' chart dated August 22, marking a record of nine consecutive albums topping the chart. The title track also entered the 'Hot 100' at number 38, a personal best. Their self-producing capability, led by the producing team '3RACHA' (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han), and powerful performances are key competitive strengths. They are scheduled to perform at the Tokyo National Stadium on August 29-30.

Seventeen, under HYBE's Pledis Entertainment, stands out for its scale and sustainability. In 2025, 'Happy Birthday' sold 2.63 million copies, ranking third on the IFPI Global Album Sales Chart. Their world tour that same year generated $142.4 million in revenue and attracted 964,000 fans. Since their 2015 debut, the 13-member group, with its vocal, hip-hop, and performance units, and a self-producing system centered around Woozi, has sustained the team. While full group activities are currently limited due to some members' military service, they are diversifying their activities, such as the unit BSS (BooSeokSoon) releasing their first mini-album 'BSS' in June.

ATEEZ is notable as an example of breaking into the global market from outside the "Big 4" major entertainment companies. Affiliated with KQ Entertainment, they cultivated a global fandom primarily through overseas performances after their 2018 debut. In 2024, they became the first K-pop boy group to perform at the US music festival Coachella. Their June release, 'Golden Hour: Part. 5,' marked their third number one on the 'Billboard 200.' Their 2025 world tour generated $70 million in revenue and attracted 400,000 fans. Their growth strategy has involved expanding the fandom secured through performances to album sales and the US singles chart.

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While currently popular boy idol groups have a high potential for long-term activities based on their fandom, BTS is such a uniquely pioneering group that it is difficult to replace them. The limitation of not having a global hit song like 'Dynamite' is also clear.

SM Entertainment's RIIZE, though newer than the previous three groups, is a representative growth stock of the fifth generation. Since their 2023 debut, they have increased their presence in the domestic music market with songs like 'Get A Guitar,' 'Love 119,' and 'Boom Boom Bass.' Their second mini-album 'RIIZING,' released in June, sold 1,296,274 copies according to Hanteo Chart. They expanded their activities to Asia and North America with their first world tour and performed for three days at the Tokyo Dome in February. Their path involves securing domestic popularity and album fandom, particularly with visually strong members like Wonbin, before expanding globally.

HYPE's COURTS, which debuted last year, is also noteworthy. Within a year of their debut, they were nominated for two categories at the US '2026 MTV Video Music Awards': 'Best New Artist' and 'Best K-pop.' Their second mini-album 'Green Green' remained on the 'Billboard 200' for 14 consecutive weeks, debuting at number 110 on the August 22 chart. Their debut album 'Color Outside the Lines,' released last September, has surpassed 700 million streams on Spotify.

However, their achievements do not mean they are replacing BTS. BTS's status remains formidable. Music critic Lim Hee-yoon commented, "While currently popular boy idol groups have a high potential for long-term activities based on their fandom, BTS is such a uniquely pioneering group that it is difficult to replace them." He added, "The limitation of not having a global hit song like 'Dynamite' is also clear." He further noted, "Among the new groups, COURTS has the potential for rapid rise due to its growth narrative, including the team's self-produced music."

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Among the new groups, COURTS has the potential for rapid rise due to its growth narrative, including the team's self-produced music.