Since the foundation of K-Pop, there has been a series of women who have dominated the industry. Whether they were soloists from the start or members of iconic groups, these ladies have made a name for themselves. While some chose to retire from music once their legacy was established, others have continued to delight their audiences and prove that they are the best of the best.

BoA

We cannot use the title “Queen of K-Pop” without referencing the most successful and influential Korean idol, BoA. She debuted at 13-years-old back in 2000 with SM Entertainment, and has continued making music ever since. She is a singer, songwriter, actress, record producer, and overall powerhouse that has dominated the K-Pop scene since her arrival. Over the course of her career, BoA has won over 40 awards and been nominated for even more. She has been given special commendations from the President of South Korea and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for her impact on the Korean music world. BoA is only 34-years-old now and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

2NE1

The ladies of 2NE1 took the world by storm when they debuted under YG Entertainment in 2009. The group revolutionized what it meant to be a K-Pop idol by pushing the boundaries on their music and overall styling in ways that no one dared to attempt previously. While BoA has been the most influential soloist in the game, 2NE1 has been recognized as one of the most influential girl groups of all time. 

Even though the group disbanded in 2016, each of the members continue to impress as solo acts. CL made her reign international even before the group disbanded by releasing her first single “Hello Bitches”' in the United States with the help of manager Scooter Braun. While still under YG Entertainment, CL collaborated and released multiple singles into the Western market, and she was named the “Future of K-Pop in America” by Time Magazine. Since leaving YG in 2019, CL has released multiple songs, beginning with previously unreleased tracks in an EP called In The Name Of Love. 

Park Bom has also continued her successful career with an appearance on Queendom and the release of multiple singles under YG Entertainment and her new label, D-Nation Entertainment. One of these singles was “Spring,” a collaboration that she did with another former 2NE1 member, Dara.

Dara moved away from music and into hosting and guest appearances on multiple Korean reality shows. Last year, she made her solo debut with a cover of singer-songwriter BEN’s “Just Like A Dream” on the soundtrack of Another Miss Oh. 

Maknae MINZY has been busy starting her own label and dance academy, MZ Entertainment. She has been releasing solo music and collaborations since 2017, with her most recent being the summer 2021 hit “TEAMO” under her newly-formed company. MINZY has also been releasing music in multiple languages, such as English and Tagalog. She and the other members of 2NE1 are showing that they may have disbanded, but they’re far from done.

HyunA

Another queen who debuted in 2007, HyunA started out as a member of girl group Wonder Girls before joining 4Minute in 2009. She started her solo career in 2010, shortly after 4Minute’s debut. HyunA proved to be a star both in the group and alone, gaining recognition with her second single “Bubble Pop!” in 2011. When 4Minute disbanded in 2016, the idol already had an established career as a soloist and continued to show off her sexy and cool style through multiple comebacks. HyunA has been vital in changing the rules of the K-Pop industry and how female idols are perceived. Her openly sexy style, carefree nature on stage, and her unapologetic attitude in her daily life helped to begin narratives that pushed K-Pop forward on issues of image and authenticity. Her talent and personality have made her one of the established queens of K-Pop of the 21st Century and she's not giving that up anytime soon.

IU

IU has one of the most unbelievable success stories in K-Pop, debuting in 2008 at the age of 15. The idol singer became Korea's sweetheart within the first two years of her career and has continued that trend to today. The singer also took to acting in 2013 with You’re the Best, Lee Soonshin, and has appeared in multiple dramas and reality shows since then. What made her journey incredible was not only her immense talent, but her work ethic. IU revealed that she did a lot of her own managerial work, including booking gigs for herself. She survived and thrived on very little financial or company support until she joined the single artist company, EDAM. Under EDAM, which manages only her career, IU has been able to become one of the highest-selling Korean acts and a household name. She is a self-made queen that has inspired multiple artists in the Korean industry and will continue to inspire in the years to come.