In an industry as ruthless as K-Pop, new groups have to fight to stand out. Whether that's done through a unique album concept or the introduction of the , a K-Pop group's debut can make or break their career. Several factors go into a debut, but the one thing that everyone will is the song.

The 4th generation of K-Pop continues to thrive, boasting popular groups like ATEEZ, Stray Kids, and (G)I-DLE, but not all debuts are created equal. Some groups see lower budget debuts than others depending on the entertainment company they're with. Others put all the money they can into one music video, knowing it might be worth it to put all their eggs in one basket. Sometimes, a debut is just something fans can look back on and think about how simply their favorite group started compared to the more impressive music they create years later.

No matter which generation a group is from, there are certain debuts that stand out more than others. The debut songs listed below are ones that I feel allowed these groups to grow into some of the most iconic names of their generation, ones that continue to stand as my personal favorites, or, in the case of the first entry, one of the most divisive debuts in the genre.

10 Jopping (2019)

SuperM

SuperM was a supergroup formed by SM Entertainment that included from EXO, SHINee, and NCT. Upon their formation, the group was thought to be a sort of Avengers equivalent within the K-Pop industry, even though it only brought together from the same company. Despite its messaging, the group's debut got people talking.

"Jopping" is a nonsensical combination of "jumping" and "popping," just one part of this song that doesn't make complete sense. The lyrics are pretty ridiculous, and the song's structure includes both a 45-second introduction and a seemingly endless ending. SuperM's star-studded lineup makes for impressive moments, from Mark's iconic rap verse to harmonies by Baekhyun, Taemin, and Ten that many have only ever dreamed of. SM's supergroup experiment was a decent success, but its poorly timed debut in October 2019 meant that they wouldn't reach their full potential.

9 DALLA DALLA (2019)

ITZY

There's an inherent coolness that comes from ITZY's early music. As JYP Entertainment's first girl group since global superstars TWICE, there was a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Yeji, Yuna, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Lia. Rather than lean into the girl crush and cute concepts that most girl groups at the time fell into, ITZY presented a youthful energy in their debut track "DALLA DALLA" where they sang and rapped about the importance of being different.

Throughout the last few years, ITZY has faced a bit of an identity crisis in their sound. Their debut was fresh, and the subsequent three or four comebacks were too, sticking to a sound that each member seemed to shine in. Somewhere along the way, their sound got a bit less consistent, making this debut feel like a far cry from where they are now as a group.

8 Black Mamba (2020)

aespa

Within the last year or two, aespa has cemented their place in the current K-Pop landscape for years to come. Their vocals pierce your ears and their songs continue to be like nothing anyone's heard before. In a way, this debut permanently changed one area of the genre. aespa introduced a mixture of genres like trap soul and tech house that, when combined with perfect production, create addictive songs that separate them from other groups in their generation.

"Black Mamba" isn't the strongest aespa song by any means. It's a more direct take on the technological, artificial intelligence world they created that does a good job of introducing potential fans to the group, but doesn't feel as polished as their more recent title tracks. It's also a starting point, performance-wise, that makes aespa's growth as dancers and performers incredibly obvious today.

7 Crown (2019)

Tomorrow X Together

Tomorrow X Together (pronounced "tomorrow by together," but commonly called "TXT") is HYBE's first venture into the world of boy group debuts after BTS's 2013 debut and global success just a few years later. The five-member boy group debuted with "Crown," a bright track about the exciting physical sensations that come with falling in love. Upon watching the music video, viewers are met with the innocent faces of Yeonjun, Soobin, Taehyun, Beomgyu, and Hueningkai, five boys who would go on to grow tremendously into professional idols deserving of at least partially filling BTS's shoes.

While the song itself is sweet and likely emotional to watch for their longtime fans, it's nothing special compared to the rest of their discography. Even some of the b-sides on the debut mini-album outshine the title track. Their sound has evolved way beyond the formulaic structure of "Crown," but that's something to applaud the group for. This is an instance where the debut song is an easy way to measure the group's growth.

6 FEARLESS (2022)

LE SSERAFIM

It's impossible to look past the controversy that surrounded the first few weeks of LE SSERAFIM's career. Originally debuting as a six-member group, the girls saw immediate success with their debut mini-album. However, in the middle of promoting this release, one of the original , Garam, saw accusations of bullying, just one of many accusations that are taken incredibly seriously in South Korea. By July 2022, a statement was released by HYBE announcing the termination of Garam's contract.

Despite all of that, LE SSERAFIM continued to promote "FEARLESS" and its promotional b-sides, rising even higher after their performances at award shows and the clearing of the smoke that took away from their debut. Looking back after just a few years, it's clear that this debut was something special. The group has since seen even greater success with their first comeback, "ANTIFRAGILE," and went on to perform at both Coachella and the MTV Video Music Awards.

5 Movie Star (2019)

CIX

The debut of CIX with "Movie Star" was something that grabbed the attention of even dedicated girl group fans. There are some boy group songs that feel perfect from the first listen and, to me, this is one of them. Although CIX wouldn't go on to achieve TXT levels of fame, their debut remains one of the best by a boy group in their generation.

From the sensual dialogue in the introduction to the pre-chorus that perfectly builds up to that epic chorus, the writing and production team at CIX's smaller company knew exactly what they had to do to get these boys into the minds of fans. If someone isn't familiar with the name CIX or any of their more recent releases, it's likely that they'll at least know "Movie Star," and sometimes that's enough.

4 Attention (2022)

NewJeans

"Attention" was the debut heard around the world. Music fans outside the K-Pop bubble were asking who NewJeans were, with your average K-Pop fan wondering if they were about to fully stan a new group that appeared nearly out of the blue. Putting aside all the controversy and confusion that surrounds the current state of NewJeans, the group will always leave a permanent mark on K-Pop music and (hopefully) the way the industry is run.

The Y2K sound of "Attention" and the mini-album's other three tracks altered the way almost every other group's music sounded. Gone were the days when girl crush dominated girl group music. With their sweeping hairography and youthful energy, NewJeans' debut is unlike anything else from 4th generation K-Pop. The only reason it's not at the top is that I believe "Hype Boy" is the stronger of their two breakout tracks.

3 SO BAD (2020)

STAYC

STAYC's debut with "SO BAD" was an impressive showcase of a girl group with powerful vocals and the charisma to back them up. As the first and only group under their company, High Up Entertainment, they have a lot of pressure to make a name for not only themselves, but also their company. With this debut, they did just that and more.

In the comebacks that followed this, STAYC would release such iconic songs as "STEREOTYPE" and "RUN2U," holding their spot in a generation filled with talent. There are some lower points in the last few releases with a clear decline in views and streaming numbers, but true fans know that STAYC never abandoned the sound that they welcomed into the world with their debut.

2 Given-Taken (2020)

ENHYPEN

After being formed on I-LAND, a Korean survival show, ENHYPEN debuted with one of the only songs I've heard that directly addresses the act of debuting. They fought tooth and nail against their fellow trainees to present themselves to a of harsh judges as the best idols for the job. After doing just that, the seven of ENHYPEN were seemingly sent to the dorm where they would live together and immediately got to work on their debut album. "Given-Taken" feels like a look inside what that hurried process might feel like.

"Wake up in day one, the morning of the first day

In the light of the light, the glare of the sun

That light burned me, the light covered my eyes

But I go now I follow my dreams

Dive into red sun, no lie

Countless stars, countless moons

I was wandering in the woods of questions

I followed that light in the dark"

The song itself is fantastic. The dreamy instrumental and the impactful chorus are two of my favorite things I've heard as a K-Pop fan, making this a no-brainer for a spot this high on the list. Not only does this debut feel like an honest representation of the transition from trainee to idol, but it remains a strong starting point for ENHYPEN's near-perfect discography.

1 ELEVEN (2021)

IVE

Everybody re where they were when IVE debuted. I was in the living room of my college apartment, while my roommate put the music video on our TV. As a fresh K-Pop fan (thanks to those very same roommates), I was impressed by the music video's visuals as well as the girls' gorgeous vocal tones. The song is almost indescribable because of how much I adore it even today. It was a perfect debut for a girl group who immediately showed viewers their elegant concept, undeniable talent, and star power within three minutes.

IVE's debut set the stage for the career of one of the most consistent groups of K-Pop's 4th generation. Several years later, they continue to release stunning title tracks ed by strong b-sides and concepts that never stray too far from where they started.