My Top 50 Kpop Songs of 2024 – Part 1: 50 – 26

It’s time!!! Out of all of my end of the year articles, the best songs of the year are the most difficult list to put together. And the better the year musically, the more difficult it is. We had so many flawless solo debuts and solo comebacks. Groups releasing multiple albums this year that all slapped, like TWICE for example.

I love when this happens because I love talking about music (obviously), but I feel bad having to cut songs out of the list. But I have to make cuts because otherwise, we’d be at 100 easily. And I’d still have to cut some songs from the list and be sad about it, lol.

It’s been two years since I last wrote a top 50 songs list. And if you’ve been keeping up with ATK regularly this year, I don’t think this list or the fave albums list will have any surprises on it. I think almost every song on this list, except for like four of them, has been mentioned countless times on here. Last time I made this list, I had a mix of music from different years, but songs I listened to a lot over that year. For that list, I recommend checking out my Spotify Wrapped 2024 article.

This article will be exclusively my favorite songs of 2024 that released this year. So let’s get started with part 1.

50.) GGUM – Yeonjun

“GGUM” kicking off this list instantly reminds me of how good this year for new releases. It’s at 50 because although I didn’t listen to this song much, it was constantly on my radar. Even before it dropped, it was everywhere. And I STILL see it referenced all the time on MOAtwitter. Now that we’re at the end of year award shows, Yeonjun is performing it live again. I love it.

I wrote a Quick Thoughts article about it already, but I love everything about it, it is a part of my life forever, and I can’t wait for more Yeonjun solo music. Fingers crossed for the KOLO (HueningKai solo) in 2025.

49.) Midas Touch – KISS OF LIFE

It’s a banger. If there’s one thing I learned in 2024, is that I love KISS OF LIFE. I think I’ll be listening to them more in 2025 for sure. The only reason why this song is so “low” is that I didn’t listen to it more, and I really should have. I think if I had remembered to put it on one of my playlists I listen to a lot, it would be higher up.

48.) Goodbye – YUTA

Ah yes, another product of me not mixing it into my playlist more. Because I love this song so fooking much. My favorite song from his solo debut album. Read more about it here. “Goodbye” is a power ballad with guitars and I think if you’re a rock enthusiast, you’ll enjoy this one for sure.

47.) Strategy – TWICE feat. Megan Thee Stallion

“Strategy” is a grower for sure. Its placement on this list is with that in mind. While there are songs on this list that also haven’t been out very long, they’ve made attachments to me a bit quicker. But this is another one I think I’ll continue listening to a lot in 2025.

46.) Sweet Like – Yugyeom

Same with “Sweet Like”. Banger track, I’ve been listening to it almost daily since its release. In Yugyeom, we trust. He knows what we like and want.

45.) Eyes On You – SEVENTEEN

I’ve really grown to like this song more than my first initial listens of SPILL THE FEELS, which is precisely what, I thought, would happen. Easily my favorite from the album and release from SVT this year.

44.) Chk Chk Boom – Stray Kids

I love “Chk Chk Boom“. My only issue with it is that once I hear it, I get it stuck in my head for days. So I purposely try not to listen to it as much as some other SKZ songs I love, lmao. A great problem to have. I can wait to see it performed live next year.

43. Wait – Hyolyn

Is Hyolyn still cancelled? If so, I’m going to make an exception for her. I loved “Wait” on my first listen, and I still have it on replay regularly. I can’t ‘wait’ for more music from her in 2025.

42.) SUPERWOMAN – UNIS

I was bummpin “SUPERWOMAN” and “Whatchu Need” so much, in early 2024. Still two of my favorite UNIS songs. I didn’t care for CURIOUS as much. But I do like the title, “Curious”. I think I like “Poppin'” slightly more. I intend to keep my eye on them in 25′.

41.) Melody – aespa

Who had Ash becoming an aespa girlie on the bingo card in 2024? Because I sure didn’t. “Melody” is the first time I’ve really seen/heard this side of them. They sound so beautiful in this song. It gives me a bit of Red Velvet vibes, so maybe that’s why I like it, too. But yeah, I want more like this.

40.) Diorama – Yves

Writing the Quick Thoughts on I Did, made me relisten and appreciate LOOP more. I think this is my favorite song on that album. I see the bones of “Viola” here.

39.) My World – ILLIT

I feel like I’ve talked about this song so much this year. But I love it. I love this debut album and I can’t wait for more ILLIT in 2025. Period.

38.) Igloo – Kiss of Life

If you’re on TikTok, you definitely heard this song everywhereeee this year. This is the first time I’ve really seen KOL dance to it. I’m obsessed with it.

37.) Because of You – Minho feat Ningning of aespa

I talked about “Because of You” in my Call Back article, but it cannot be understated how much this song also adds to the Ash liking aespa’s music now agenda. Because now I gotta keep an eye out for aespa girls slaying on features for other artists as well.

36.) Out of Time – Seo In Guk

I love love love when Seo In Guk releases music like this. I love him in his R&B bag. I was listening to this around the same time as Minho’s album released, so it was perfect timing. They understood the assignment.

35.) Lighthouse – TEMPEST

I still feel the same way about this as the first time I heard it. It’s soooo good. I need everyone talking about this song. They went all out on this track, and I’m just in awe. Every time I hear it, it just keeps getting better. I listened to it so much early 2024. And after giving it a bit of a break, I’m still obsessed with her.

34.) Sexy In The Air – Taemin

Speaking of people going all out and understanding the assignment, how about that Taemin? “Crush” popped up on shuffle yesterday while I was driving back from my car service appointment.

And my immediate reaction was, “damn, this album is so good”. I still can’t get over that switch up in flow and us getting an entirely different song about halfway through the song. We’re so back 😁.

33.) I GOT YOU – TWICE

There’s just something so soul cleansing about “I GOT YOU”. It’s phenomenal, even though I have it at 35, it is easily one of my favorite TWICE songs ever. An instant fave and another one I get stuck in my head so easily. I have to space it out.

Moreover, I highly recommend listening to in the car. It hits different. I really love the music video for it as well. The music videos for TWICE this year really knocked it out of the park.

32.) Touch – KATSEYE feat. Yeonjun of TXT

I’m a little late to the KATSEYE train, but I’m on it now. I remember seeing the porcelain dolls of the girls before the remix dropped and thinking it was one of the coolest images I’ve seen for a group in a while.

They really got the members’ images encapsulated so well. Then the addition of Yeonjun’s character had me sold. I really love both versions, but I do tend to listen to the remix more. So, yeah, the collab worked. Gained a new fan 💁🏾‍♀️.

31.) Night Poem – NCT DREAM

Man, NCT DREAM really got me fooked up this year. I tried my hardest to limit myself to two songs from the same album. No limit on how many times the artist(s) shows up, as long as they’re different albums. And they are the reason. Otherwise, this list would be 75-85% NCT DREAM and TXT, lol.

I love the “ahhhs” in the chorus. It really has this dreamy vibe throughout the song. So good. Go listen to DREAMSCAPE after reading this article.

30.) Nirvana Blues – Colde

The Kurt Cobain cosplay in this video? Major slay. I love this video. Colde and crew partying and chillin somewhere in the UK is great. Reminds me a bit of Skins (UK, of course). This song became a fast fave of mine in the later part of 2024. I know it’ll be on replay going into 2025.

29.) Different Night – Moon Jongup feat. GODOK & Ken

It’s a banger. Listen to it now!!! I talked about this a bit more in detail in my fall edition of Best Kpop Comebacks & Debut article not too long ago. Along with a few songs mentioned on this list already. Because it’s such a new song, my thoughts haven’t changed much on it.

28.) BIBORA – SF9

Another song that should not be a surprise to see on this list. I love me some SF9, and “BIBORA” is one of my favorite songs of theirs. I’m still devastated Dawon is enlisted, he’s hard carrying “BIBORA”. But like I said in my fave songs article, I really love the dynamic SF9 has with the group now. The line distribution got much better with time and as the group got more of their footing.

27.) Fragile Eyes – Haseul

Another new edition to my playlist. I’ve been listening to “Fragile Eyes” almost every day since it has released. It’s fantastic. I love solo Haseul so much. Her voice is absolutely angelic. I was absolutely giddy when I heard she was releasing a new song. This house is OT12 LOONA down 😤.

26.) Smoothie – NCT DREAM

LMAOOOOOO the complete 180 I had on this song is so funny. I love being wrong about songs. I love starting out as a hater and falling so embarrassingly hard for a song. And that’s exactly what happened with “Smoothie”.

The music video also takes me out. There’s just so much going on. So unserious. I love my team, love my crew.

Alright, that’s part 1! What are y’alls thoughts on my list so far? Part 2 will be up tomorrow.
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, & BlueSky. Take care!

Ash💫