K-pop heavyweights, rookies pack October comeback calendar

The official jacket image for K-pop girl group TWICE's upcoming special album, "TEN: The Story Goes On," slated for release on Oct. 10 / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

By Pyo Kyung-min

• Published Sep 26, 2025 12:00 PM KST

October is shaping up to be a blockbuster month for K-pop, with the industry's biggest names and rising rookies all crowding the calendar. From milestone celebrations to career-defining new records, the month promises fresh sounds that will keep fans' playlists brimming.

Leading the wave is TWICE, the nine-member juggernaut celebrating its 10th anniversary. On Oct. 10, the group will release a special album, "TEN: The Story Goes On." To mark the milestone, the group will also host a fan meeting, "10VE UNIVERSE," at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium on Oct. 18.

The comeback underscores TWICE's enduring stature in the genre. Now in the midst of its sixth world tour "THIS IS FOR," the group continues to cement its reputation as one of K-pop's most global acts.

The group's latest career peaks came with "TAKEDOWN," featured on the soundtrack of Netflix's smash hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," and "STRATEGY" from its 14th mini-album, both tracks setting new personal bests across the Billboard Hot 100, Apple Music, Spotify and the U.K. Official Charts, proving the group's decade-long relevance has only grown stronger.

Le Sserafim is also returning to the spotlight this month. While details of its upcoming release remain under wraps, the girl group surprised fans with the news at its Newark concert on Sept. 4, the opening stop of the "EASY CRAZY HOT" tour in North America.

The Source Music quintet has been carving out a historic place among fourth-generation K-pop girl groups, becoming the first to place four consecutive albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart. With those achievements setting the stage, anticipation is high for Le Sserafim's new music.

Adding to the packed slate is boy band BOYNEXTDOOR, which will return Oct. 20 with its fifth mini-album, "The Action." The upcoming record will be the group's third project in 2025, following the digital single "If I Say I Love You" in January and the group's fourth mini-album "No Genre" in May.

BOYNEXTDOOR has quickly built momentum. "If I Say I Love You" swept local music charts, while "No Genre" delivered back-to-back million-seller certifications. The boy band further solidified its credentials with its first solo tour, "KNOCK ON Vol.1," in July, followed by a standout set at Lollapalooza Chicago earlier in August.

October will also spotlight rookies determined to stake their claim on the scene.

BABYMONSTER, YG Entertainment's latest powerhouse girl group, is releasing its second mini-album, "WE GO UP," on Oct. 10. Its title track, according to the label, embodies the group's ambition to "climb higher," blending its trademark hip-hop-driven style with the fierce charisma that has made the group stand out among new acts.

TWS, under Pledis Entertainment, is also aiming for a new leap forward. The boy band's fourth mini-album, "play hard," is set for release on Oct. 13. The group offered an early taste with the Sept. 22 prerelease of "Head Shoulders Knees Toes," with a music video highlighting TWS' commanding stage presence and versatility.

Meanwhile, Hearts2Hearts, a rookie girl group under SM Entertainment, will also unveil its first mini-album, "FOCUS," on Oct. 20. On Sept. 24, the girl group dropped the prerelease track "Pretty Please" and its music video, giving fans a first glimpse of its new direction.