Billboard has released its 2025 year-end charts, and K-pop had one of its biggest years ever. It is all thanks to record-breaking hits, global collaborations, and even the rise of fictional groups from Netflix’s animated film KPop Demon Hunters. The impact was massive across every major chart, from the Hot 100 to the Billboard 200 and the Global 200.
One of the biggest stories of 2025 is the success of “APT.” by ROSÉ (BLACKPINK) and global pop star Bruno Mars. The song didn’t just perform well—it became the #1 song on the Billboard Global 200 Year-End Chart. This made ROSÉ the first K-pop artist to top the Global 200 for the year.
She also made history by becoming the first K-pop star nominated as a lead artist in the Grammys’ Big Four categories. Even she admitted on Billboard’s livestream, “Never in a million years would I have thought that this would happen.”
Another major trend this year was something no one expected: fictional K-pop groups dominating real Billboard charts. The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming the first movie soundtrack to lead the chart since Encanto.
The film’s girl group HUNTR/X became a global sensation, with their track “Golden” landing at #25 on the Hot 100 and #10 on the Global 200. It also tied for the second-longest run at #1 in Global 200 history. The film’s fictional boy group SAJA Boys also placed two songs—“Your Idol” and “Soda Pop”—on the Hot 100 year-end list.
Besides them, K-pop’s biggest real-world stars also had a huge year. Jimin landed a spot on the year-end charts with “Who.” Jungkook, Jin, aespa, and TWICE all occupied spots on the Global 200.
Jennie had multiple entries on the Global 200, including her hit “like JENNIE.” On the album side, Stray Kids stood out with two spots on the Billboard 200 year-end list, and ROSÉ charted with her solo album rosie.
As for Artist rankings, HUNTR/X ranked as the #24 Top Artist of 2025, with ROSÉ at #44 and Saja Boys at #57. In pure sales, Stray Kids dominated as the #2 Top Album Sales Artist of the year.
2025 Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Chart (K-pop entries)
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” (#9)
- HUNTR/X – “Golden” (#25)
- Saja Boys – “Your Idol” (#54)
- Jimin – “Who” (#57)
- Saja Boys – “Soda Pop” (#61)
- HUNTR/X – “How It’s Done” (#68)
- HUNTR/X – “What It Sounds Like” (#83)
- Rumi & Jinu – “Free” (#92)
- HUNTR/X – “Takedown” (#93)
2025 Billboard 200 Year-End Chart
- KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack) (#13)
- ROSÉ – rosie (#112)
- Stray Kids – KARMA (#128)
- Stray Kids – HOP (合) (#157)
2025 Billboard Global 200 Year-End Chart
- ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.” (#1)
- HUNTR/X – “Golden” (#10)
- Jimin – “Who” (#21)
- The Weeknd, JENNIE, Lily-Rose Depp – “One Of The Girls” (#39)
- Jennie – “like JENNIE” (#49)
- Saja Boys – “Soda Pop” (#63)
- Jungkook feat. Latto – “Seven” (#74)
- Saja Boys – “Your Idol” (#76)
- HUNTR/X – “How It’s Done” (#96)
- aespa – “Whiplash” (#102)
- BLACKPINK – “JUMP” (#110)
- HUNTR/X – “What It Sounds Like” (#122)
- Rumi & Jinu – “Free” (#133)
- HUNTR/X – “Takedown” (#142)
- Jin – “Don’t Say You Love Me” (#151)
- Jennie – “Mantra” (#175)
- ROSÉ – “toxic till the end” (#176)
- TWICE – “Strategy” (#179)
