South Korean contemporary pop music, also called K-pop, has garnered international attention since the evolution of social media and the internet, thus becoming a trend in the past few years. K-pop artists have always been known for their vocals, charisma, and talent, which has always attracted viewers and listeners. Korean groups are considered more popular than solo artists who were or are part of an existing group, but this has changed in recent years. Here is a list of the top ten Korean male solo artists who have stood out and are the most popular in 2022.
1. Taemin
Lee Taemin is a South Korean singer, dancer, and actor member of the popular boy band SHINee and the super boy group SuperM. He made his debut as a soloist in 2014 with the album Ace and since then has been known as an innovative artist who explores different styles of music, challenging himself to try new genres. Taemin made his name as a successful solo artist with his second album Move-which broke the K-pop stereotype with dance moves that blurred the gender roles and something that did not exist in the Korean music industry back then. Several songs and albums of him have featured in the top ten of Billboard’s global charts, and he is considered one of the most successful solo artists in the K-pop industry.
2. J-Hope
J-Hope is the stage name of Jung Hoseok, a South Korean rapper, songwriter, and dancer of the boy band BTS. He made his solo debut by releasing a mixtape Hope World in 2018, which debuted at 63 on the Billboard 200, making him the highest-charting Korean solo act on the chart. He is better known for his dancing skills and performances as a member of BTS. His songs are pleasant to listen to as the upbeat and calm tone in his music creates a blend of different musical genres.
3. Agust D (Suga)
Min Yoon Gi is a South Korean songwriter, producer, rapper, and member of the boy band BTS. He gets widely recognized by his stage names Suga and Agust D, and he made his solo debut in 2016 with his mixtape AgustD which was a huge hit, and he was the first Korean soloist to enter the U.S. Spotify artist chart in 2020. He has written and produced many songs for his group and other artists with whom he has collaborated, like IU, PSY, Halsey, and SURAN.
4. Kai
Kim Jong is a South Korean dancer, singer, actor, model, and member of the boy band EXO and the super boy group SuperM. He made his solo debut in 2020 with his first EP, Kai proving himself to be an exceptional solo artist with the album’s title track Mmmh, which made all the fans go crazy over his honey-like voice. Kai released his second EP, Peaches, in 2021, which was also a huge success, and his massive fan base led him to become the first male muse of the cosmetics brand Bobbi Brown.
5. RM
Rap Monster is the stage name of Kim Nam Joon, a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and member of the boy band BTS. He made his solo debut with his mixtape RM in 2015, and released his second mixtape Mono in 2018, ranked 26 on the Billboard 200 chart, the highest rank by any Korean solo artist. RM has collaborated with artists such as Gaeko, Nicki Minaj, and Steve Aoki. He has worked on many BTS songs and contributed to music released by other artists like TXT and Halsey.
6. Jay Park
Jay Park is the stage name of Park Jae Beom, a Korean-American rapper, singer, producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur who used to be the leader of the Korean boy band 2 pm. He made his solo debut with EP Count on Me in 2010, which topped the Korean charts as soon as it was released. Jay Park is a well-known hip-hop artist who has released many super hit songs like Mommae and Me Like Yuh. He used to be the CEO of labels AOMG and H1gher Music, from which he has now resigned and launched his label MORE VISION.
7. Baekhyun
Byun Baek Hyun is a South Korean actor, songwriter, singer and member of the boy group EXO and the leader of the super boy band SuperM. He made his debut as a solo artist in 2019 with the mini album City Lights. Baek Hyun also became the first artist to become a double million seller, having a group album and solo album of over 1 million. He has sung many Ost’s for many series and has collaborated with artists like Bae Suzy, Loco, NCT Tae Yong, and Seo Moon Tak. Baek Hyun is widely known for his vocals and stage presence, which attract viewers and listeners to his songs.
8. Chen
Chen is the stage name of Kim Jong Dae, a South Korean singer, songwriter, and member of the boy band EXO and part of the sub-unit EXO-CBX. He made his solo debut in 2019 with Beautiful Goodbye, a song released to promote the album mini album April and a Flower. Chen has sung many popular OSTs for dramas like Every Time, Best Luck, For You, and An Unfamiliar Day. He is considered one of the best vocalists in K-pop with his high range and low range control.
9. Dean
Dean is the stage name of Kwon Hyuk, a South Korean R&B singer, songwriter, producer, and rapper. He made his debut with EP 130 Mood: TRBL in 2016 and has collaborated with many American and Korean artists like Crush, Zion, Mila J, and Eric Bellinger. Dean is known for his unique vocal style and soulful R&B that has fetched him the nickname South Korean R&B King of K-pop.
10. Kang Daniel
Kang Daniel is a South Korean singer, actor, businessman, host, songwriter, and CEO of KONNECT Entertainment. He won the second season of the idol reality competition Produce 101 that formed the boy band WannaOne that had disbanded in 2019. Daniel made his debut in 2019 with the album Color on Me and, since then, has gained popularity for his songs that showcase his stage presence and musicality.
