Top 5 most searched songs of Kpop male idols throughout the years: BTS and Big Bang dominate

These rankings are determined based on data collected from 2008 to 2020.

In Kpop, many factors can be used as a measure of the popularity and coverage of a song to the majority of the public. One of them is the search volume in a certain period of time. Korean netizens recently compiled a list of Top 5 most searched hit songs of male idol groups and soloists over the last 13 years. Let’s take a look at the rankings each year from 2008 to 2020.

2008

1. Big Bang – “Haru Haru”

2. TVXQ – “Mirotic”

3. Taeyang (Big Bang) – “Only Look at Me”

4. SHINee – “Replay”

5. Big Bang – “Sunset Glow”

2009

1. SHINee – “Ring Ding Dong”

2. 2PM – “Again & Again”

3. 2PM – “Heartbeat”

4. Super Junior – “Sorry Sorry”

5. G-Dragon (Big Bang) – “Heartbreaker”

2010

1. CNBlue – “I’m A Loner”

2. 2AM – “Can’t Let You Go Even If I Die”

3. SHINee – “Lucifer”

4. BEAST – “Shock”

5. 2PM – “Without U”

2011

1. BEAST – “Fiction”

2. BEAST – “On Rainy Days”

3. TVXQ – “Keep Your Head Down”

4. 2PM – “Hands Up”

5. Super Junior – “Mr. Simple”

2012

1. Big Bang – “FANTASTIC BABY”

2. INFINITE – “The Chaser”

3. SHINee – “Sherlock”

4. G-Dragon (Big Bang) – “Crayon”

5. BEAST – “Beautiful Night”

2013

1. EXO – “Growl”

2. EXO – “Wolf”

3. G-Dragon (Big Bang) – “Crooked”

4. SHINee – “Everybody”

5. EXO – “Miracles in December”

2014

1. Taeyang (Big Bang) – “Eyes, Nose, Lips”

2. WINNER – “Empty”

3. EXO – “Overdose”

4. BEAST – “Good Luck”

5. INFINITE – “Last Romeo”

2015

1. Big Bang – “BANG BANG BANG”

2. EXO – “Call Me Baby”

3. BTS – “I NEED U”

4. Big Bang – “Loser”

5. SHINee – “View”

2016

1. BTS – “Fire”

2. EXO – “Monster”

3. SEVENTEEN – “Very Nice”

4. SEVENTEEN – “Pretty U”

5. BTS – “Blood, Sweat And Tears”

2017

1. BTS – “DNA”

2. Wanna One – “Energetic”

3. BTS – “Spring Day”

4. WINNER – “Really Really”

5. BTS – “MIC Drop”

2018

1. iKON – “LOVE SCENARIO”

2. BTS – “Fake Love”

3. BTS – “IDOL”

4. Wanna One – “BOOMERANG”

5. BTS – “The Truth Untold”

2019

1. BTS – “Boy With Luv”

2. N.Flying – “Rooftop”

3. EXO – “Love Shot”

4. Song Mino (WINNER) – “FIANCÉ”

5. X1 – “FLASH”

2020

1. Zico – “Any Song”

2. BTS – “Dynamite”

3. NCT 127 – Kick It”

4. BTS – “ON”

5. BTS – “Black Swan”

If only songs of the groups as a whole are counted, BTS and Big Bang both rank 1st place in 3 years (Big Bang in 2008, 2012 and 2015; BTS in 2016.  2017 and 2019). However, Big Bang‘s achievements still impress most Korean netizens the most because not only the groups’ songs but Big Bang members’ solo songs are also well-known and have an outstanding impact on the Korean public.

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Some comments from Korean netizens:

• Big Bang is amazing, not only the group songs but also the members’ solo songs are very successful
• Big Bang’s “Sunset Glow” was released in November but still made it to the 5th place of that year… ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ
• Song Mino’s “FIANCÉ” was released in November 2018 but was still in the Top 5 most searched male idol songs in 2019, that’s sick ㅋㅋ
• I suddenly thought of this post ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

(“Fire” was their peak – Yeah, it wasn’t. So “Blood, Sweat And Tears” was finally their peak – Yeah, it wasn’t. So “DNA” was the peak era – Yeah, it wasn’t. Then entering Billboard must be their peak – Yeah, it wasn’t. So “Boy With Luv” was definitely their peak – Yeah, it wasn’t. “Dynamite” was BTS’s peak – Yeah, it wasn’t. They were just nominated for a Daesang at an American awards, this is their peak.

I don’t know how many times I have to say “Yeah, it was not”)

• What’s with Big Bang and BTS…. Their popularity is insane
• “Crooked” is really iconic. The beat is awesome, all the lyrics are written in Korean. I still listen to it now, GD is a genius…
• As long as Big Bang members manage their personalities and private lives well, the group can last for a long time~ Seeing Big Bang’s scandals makes me realize the harsh reality of celebrities 
• Those who claim EXO doesn’t have a mega hit need to see this. 
• Big Bang is legendary 
• Wow BTS has been #1 since 2016 already?