As Seventeen and NCT enter military hiatus, who will lead the next wave of K-pop boy bands?

Seventeen, top, and NCT / Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment, SM Entertainment

With major third-generation K-pop groups like Seventeen and NCT beginning their military service, the K-pop industry is bracing for another shake-up in the boy group landscape. As these long-standing chart-toppers take a step back, the spotlight turns to younger groups from the fourth and fifth generations to carry the torch.

Military service is an inevitable chapter for nearly every K-pop boy group. While foreign members are exempt, it is rare for a group to consist entirely of non-Korean artists. As a result, mandatory enlistment often brings a temporary pause in group activities — a period fans have come to call the "military hiatus."

Though fans may be saddened by the absence of their favorite idols, industry insiders see this as enabling healthier growth and balance in the K-pop ecosystem. When top-tier groups pause activities, emerging acts gain room to grow, reach new audiences and build lasting legacies of their own.

A notable example is BTS. Before enlisting, the group held a dominant position in both domestic and international markets. Their massive fan base and unrivaled popularity created a “one-top” era in K-pop. But as BTS members began entering military service, other groups such as Seventeen, NCT, Stray Kids and Enhypen seized the opportunity to solidify their place in the upper ranks of K-pop.

Importantly, this shift did not lead to the loss of fan loyalty for BTS, which has maintained a strong global fandom during its hiatus. Instead, the absence of one dominant group opened up space for fans to discover and support others, accelerating the rise of the next generation.

Now, with Seventeen and NCT entering their own military hiatus, the industry is watching closely to see which groups will rise next. Leading contenders from the so-called fourth generation include Stray Kids, ATEEZ, Tomorrow X Together and Enhypen. Meanwhile, fifth-generation rookies like RIIZE, NCT WISH, TWS, and ZEROBASEONE are also drawing attention as they prepare to take the stage.

As the landscape shifts, competition among younger groups is expected to intensify. With a rare opportunity to expand their reach, these groups are focusing on unique concepts, high-quality music and standout performances to distinguish themselves in an increasingly crowded market.

All eyes are now on which act will skillfully seize the moment and emerge as the next defining force in K-pop boy group history.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.