2025 In Review: Day 5 – Concluding Remarks

6 days ago 27

By Jung Bae | February 6, 2026

2025 In Review

1. Introduction + Best Album Art
2. The Awards
3. The Honorable Mentions
4. Other Recognition
5. Concluding Remarks

Another year’s in the books, and we hope that our 2025 series – even abridged compared to the usual – has led to some moments of new listening or looking back fondly upon the year’s music. Hope to see you back in this space in a year’s time!

The Roundup: What Others Have Picked

As we emphasize all the time, our series is not comprehensive, and some works are always going to fall through the cracks. A review of other publications’ selections can help fill in those gaps, and also show us what kind of works are getting widespread acclaim.

Below is a list of songs and albums that have been named to other publications’ year-end lists. Outlets included are IZM, MusicY, Tonplein, Overtone, Zenerate (new this year), and the Korean Music Awards (when nominees are revealed). A few prominent outlets like Idology, Rhythmer, and the Korean Hip-hop Awards are not included as they focus on specific genres.

The selectors each have different systems. IZM picks the top 10 albums and singles, no order; MusicY does an ordered top 10 for albums, singles and rookie albums, as well as nominees; Tonplein and KMA each do a full nominee list, with around five songs and albums for each category; and Overtone does a full ordered list of 1 through 50 for songs and albums. Zenerate does an ordered list of 1 through 20 for songs, albums, and K-pop songs (not for K-pop albums).

Works that did not appear anywhere in our 2025 In Review are listed in italics. (As in not appearing in our “award” categories; doesn’t include Album Art or Other Recognition categories.) If a song did not get picked by us but the album containing it did, the song still gets italicized since it didn’t appear on its own merit.
Each entry also lists the publication(s) that selected that entry, and works that received multiple selections are bolded. If something is bold and italicized, you could say that we “whiffed” or deviated that much harder.
MusicY, Tonplein, Overtone, and the KMAs publish nominees in addition to winners. These are all included except for MusicY’s singles candidates, which are too numerous to list.
KMA selections will be added when they are posted (usually February).

Most of the italicized works below were also considered for our list before ultimately being cut, but some were legitimately missed. We hope that you will check them out as well!

Albums

3rd Line Butterfly – 환희보라바깥 (Hwanhee Ultraviolet) (MusicY)
51:49 – 51:49 1st EP Album (MusicY)
A.Train – Povidone Orange (MusicY, Tonplein)
Ahn Da-young – Where Is My Friend? (MusicY)
Ahn Jiwon – 아마추어의 집 (Amateur.zip) (MusicY)
Anne D’Arc – Earthbound Children (Tonplein)
Archie – World in Delay (Tonplein, Overtone)
Asian Glow – 1110011 (Tonplein, Overtone, Zenerate)
Baan – Neumann (MusicY, Tonplein, Overtone, Zenerate)
Bek Hyunjin – 서울식 (Seoul Syntax) (MusicY, Overtone*)
B-Free – Free the Mane 3 (Overtone)
Bibi – Eve: Romance (Tonplein)
Black String – Road of Oasis (MusicY)
Blue Line – Sketch in Blue (MusicY)
Bori – 어린 날의 숲 (Childhood Forest) (Tonplein)
Brostone & Dongmin – Tukimi (Overtone)
BØjeong – Hellvetica (MusicY)
Chachawoong – 차차웅 부틀렉 (Chachawoong Bootleg) (MusicY)
Chain Reaction – A Love Supreme (Tonplein)
Cheon Jin-woo – 졸업앨범 (Yearbook) (MusicY)
Chip Post Gang – Cavequake (MusicY)
ChoiLB – Her. (MusicY, Overtone)
Chudahye Chagis – 소수민족 (Sosuminjok) (MusicY, Tonplein, Zenerate)
Crackberry – Who Am I (MusicY)
Damirat – Curostenn (Overtone)
ddbb – Bright (MusicY)
Doyun Na – Life and Shadow (Tonplein)
Dulom – Axiom Zero (Tonplein)
Effie – E (IZM, Overtone, Zenerate)
Effie – pullup to busan 4 morE hypEr summEr it’s gonna bE a fuckin moviE (Overtone, Zenerate)
Eighteen April – Visions (MusicY)
EK – Yaho (Overtone)
Extra Small – Tears (Tonplein, Zenerate)
Fat Hamster & Kang New – Brains in a Vat (Tonplein)
Flatshop – Toast Recipe (MusicY)
Fredi Casso – 1989 (MusicY)
Gayoung Bae – Latin Jazz in Seoul (MusicY)
Gogohawk – Vol.07 (IZM, MusicY)
Gray by Silver – Time of Tree (MusicY)
Han Grin – Farmer (MusicY)
Hearts2Hearts – Focus (Tonplein)
Heo Hoy-kyung – 기억해야만 하지 (Remembering) (MusicY)
Herhums – Binding Chimes (MusicY, Overtone)
Hippie Kunda – Tundra (MusicY)
Huijun Woo – 심장의 펌핑은 고문질 (Pumping of Heart is Torturing) (MusicY, Tonplein, Overtone, Zenerate)
Huijun Woo – 아, 진실이라는 모래알이 내 발밑을 찔러 따갑다! (Ah, the Grits of Truth Sting My Feet… And It Prickles!) (Overtone)
Huremic – Seeking Darkness (Overtone, Zenerate)
Hwakin – 비밀병기 (Secret Weapon) (MusicY)
Hyelyn Joo – Stereo (MusicY, Overtone, Zenerate)
Ilight – Heart Hurts (MusicY)
Illit – Bomb (MusicY)
Inaekkum – Organic Tender (MusicY)
Jae Hyeok Heo – Golden Record (MusicY)
James Keys – Everybody Goes (MusicY)
Jaurim – Life! (MusicY, Zenerate)
Jaw – Colorful Lies (MusicY)
Jeebanoff – Misery (IZM, Zenerate)
Jennie – Ruby (IZM, Tonplein, Overtone)
Jeon Jin-hee – 雨後 (Uuhu) (MusicY, Overtone)
Jinbo – Jbfm (MusicY)
Jinex – Eternal (MusicY)
Jiyun – Daydream (MusicY)
Jo So-jeong – 봄과 여름의 인털루드 (Seasonal Interlude No.1) (Tonplein)
Joung Tae-chun, Park Eun-ok – 집중호우 사이 (Between Hard Rain) (MusicY, Tonplein)
Jung Eunhye, Cadejo, Yechan Kim – Namdo Calling (MusicY, Overtone)
Jungwoo – 철의 삶 (The Embers) (MusicY, Zenerate)
Kardi – When the Lights Out (MusicY)
khc – 아침놀 (Achimnol) (Overtone)
Kimchowon – 노쳐녀 히스테리 (Spinster Hysteria) (MusicY)
Kimj – Korean (Overtone)
Kimj – Korean American (Zenerate)
Kim Oki – 힙합수련회 2025 (Hip Hop Retreat) (Overtone)
Kirara – Kirara (Tonplein, Overtone)
Kkumbugchew – 어린미래 (Childlike Future) (Overtone)
Ksmartboi – Invasion (Deluxe) (Overtone)**
Kwon Tree – 삶의 향기 (Fragrance of Life) (MusicY, Overtone)
L-Like – Phil (Overtone)
Lee Chan-hyuk – Eros (MusicY)
Lee ChoiHee – GNPP (Overtone)
Lee ChoiHee – One Damn Result: Great Pain (MusicY, Overtone)
Lee Jiho – Jazz Community (MusicY)
Lim Hyun-jung – Extraordinary (IZM, MusicY)
Low High Low – () (MusicY, Tonplein)
Luca Minor – 21st Century People (MusicY)
Ludistelo – Ten (MusicY, Zenerate)
Mad Clown – Anything Goes II (MusicY)
Melki – MELanKoll (MusicY)
Mijung Lim – Impromptu (MusicY)
Milena- Where to Begin (MusicY)
Molar System – 시스템 오작동 (System Malfunction) (Overtone)
Moldy – Kpop Addict (Tonplein)
Moribet – So, Ho Hum (MusicY, Overtone)
Mudd the Student – Lageon (MusicY, Overtone)
Mulgwaumm – 타원율 (Ellipticity) (MusicY)
Mushvenom – 얼 (Earl) (MusicY)
Mustang & The Free Lady – Mustang & The Free Lady (MusicY)
navitɕʰuːm – SyNTaXeRRoR (Tonplein)
Necta – Seoul Bizarre (Overtone)
Nmixx – Blue Valentine (IZM, MusicY, Overtone)
Nmixx – Fe3O4: Forward (MusicY, Tonplein, Overtone)
Noise Between the Lines – 독백적 집단 (Monologuing Collection) (Tonplein, Zenerate)
Oddeen – Concept (Tonplein)
Ohelen – Show Window Project (Overtone)
Oiseum! – Oiseum! (Tonplein)
Omm – 가가호호 (Door to Door) (Overtone)
Park Jiha – All Living Things (MusicY, Tonplein)
Park Ju-won – Danza del Este (MusicY)
Parkmoonchi – 바보지퍼 (Babo Zipper) (Tonplein)
Park So-eun – B급 미디어 (B-Grade Media) (MusicY)
PCR – People Come Raging (Overtone)
PCR – 카화 (Kahwa) (MusicY)
Peach Truck Hijackers – Peach Truck Hijackers (MusicY, Zenerate)
People Who Find Songs – 노래를 찾는 사람들 (People Who Find Songs) 1.5 (Tonplein)
Phenomenonlog, Nokeum – 노른자는 애완 배의 꿈을 꾸는가? (Does Egg Yolk Dream of Ewan Bae?) (MusicY)
Pipe Lips – Fable for Nobody (MusicY)
PLUB – Players Under Bottom (MusicY)
Richman and Groove Nice – Gumball Machine (MusicY)
Rin Seo – City Suite (MusicY)
Ryu Hankil – ⑧ Rhythm Machine (Overtone)
Saeneok – 소년조각 (Boy Sculpture) (MusicY)
Sam Lee, Lee Gheun-hyung, Lee Sun-jung, Lee Seong-ryeol, Charlie Jung, Tommy Kim – The Musician (IZM)
Sanmanhan – 산만한시선 2 (Sanmanhan 2) (IZM, Tonplein, Overtone)
Say Sue Me – Time Is Not Yours (MusicY)
Shininryu – 빛나는 스트라이크 (Shining Strike) (MusicY, Zenerate)
Shinjihang – Nong (Zenerate)
Shirakami Woods – Haeilo (MusicY)
Seonghyeon – 상실의 결실 (Fruits of Loss) (MusicY)
Se So Neon – <Now> (MusicY)
Shin Ahram – Bium Project II: After Bium (MusicY)
Shin Ji-hoon – 평화 (Peace) (Tonplein)
Siimoya – 숨 (Breath) (MusicY)
Sik-K, Lil Moshpit – K-Flip+ (IZM, MusicY, Tonplein, Overtone***, Zenerate)
Socialclub Hyangwu – The Panic Tool (Overtone)
Song Seong-mi – 지도 (Map) (MusicY)
Soonae – Beyonder (MusicY)
Sora Kim – 0 = Expansion (Tonplein)
Soul Delivery – New Wave (IZM, MusicY, Tonplein)
Spit on My Tomb – Symbiosis of Mutated Transfiguration (MusicY, Tonplein)
Stella Jang – Stella II (MusicY)
Sujin – 슬픈 시 (Our Poetry) (MusicY)
Sun Town Girls – 처음은 이제 없어요 (Love and Cute) (Overtone)
Synsnake – Nodes (MusicY)
T. Kotta Suite – T. Kotta Suite (Tonplein)
Tokki9 – Education (Overtone)
TripleS – Assemble25 (MusicY, Tonplein, Overtone)
UNXL – Lock (MusicY)
Ureuk and the Gypsies – 풍류 (Spirits Unbound) (MusicY, Tonplein, Overtone)
Various Artists – 새노래 (Saenorae) (Tonplein)
Various Artists – Seoul 01: Part Yin (MusicY)
Viceversa – Animal Fkry (Tonplein)
Visceral Explosoin – Sanguineous Hymns for Disembowelment (MusicY)
Wah Wah Wah X Noridogam – Ububu (MusicY)
Wonstein – Tent (MusicY, Tonplein)
Xinner – Wavery (MusicY)
YB – Odyssey (Tonplein)
Yerin Baek – Flash and Core (Overtone)
Yonglee & the Doltang – Invisible Worker (MusicY, Tonplein)
Yoon Da-hye – 개미의 왕 (Wang) (MusicY, Tonplein)
Youra – A Side (Overtone)
Yumdda – 살아숨셔 4 (Breathe 4) (MusicY, Overtone, Zenerate)
Yves – Soft Error (MusicY, Tonplein, Overtone)
Zoey – Ne Maeum (MusicY)

Songs

&Team – Back to Life (Zenerate)
1andon & Lil Moshpit & Yun Seokcheol – My Man (Remix) (Feat. Yuleum) (Overtone)
82major – 뭘 봐 (Takeover) (Zenerate)
A.Train – Povidone (Feat. Danpyunsun) (MusicY)
A.Train – Sell Fish (Feat. The Fishers) (Zenerate)
AllDay Project – Famous (IZM, Zenerate)
Anne D’Arc – Bomb, the Boss (Overtone)
Archie – By Fog (Overtone)
Arexibo – Needle in the Pocket (Overtone)
At Heart – Plot Twist (Zenerate)
Baan – Reversal of a Man (Tonplein)
Balming Tiger – 나란히 나란히 (Narani Narani) (Feat. Atarashii Gakko!) (Tonplein)
Bek Hyunjin – 횟집 (Hwae Place) (Overtone)
Bibi – 행복에게 (Bluebird) (Tonplein)
Blackpink – Jump (Zenerate)
Boynextdoor – 오늘만 I Love You (If I Say, I Love You) (Zenerate)
BØjeong – Void (Tonplein)
Chaeyoung – Shoot (Firecracker) (Zenerate)
Chain Reaction – A Love Supreme (MusicY)
Chain Reaction – Empty Out (Tonplein)
Chip Post Gang – Derby (Tonplein)
ChoiLB – 물 (Moool) (Feat. Jerd) (Overtone)
ChoiLB – 헨즈앞/망가 (Henz / Manga) (Tonplein)
Chudahye Chagis – 작두 (Jakdu: Standing on Blades) (Tonplein)
Chudahye Chagis – 허쎄 (Heosse!) (MusicY, Overtone)
C Jamm – 레이어드 (Layered) (Overtone)
Cortis – Go (Zenerate)
Cortis – What You Want (IZM)
Crack Shot – Get Over (Tonplein)
Davichi – Time Capsule (Zenerate)
Dayoung – Body (IZM)
Dean – Nocturne 07 (For Aerse) (Tonplein)
Dissektist – 하나님 까 (God Attack) (MusicY)
Dr. Core 911 – PK2 (Tonplein)
Effie – 2025기침 (2025Cough) (Tonplein)
Effie – Down (Zenerate)
Effie – Makgeolli Banger (Overtone)
Effie – More Hyper (MusicY)
EK – Machine (Overtone)
Gogohawk – Trauma (Zenerate)
Gongwon – 불꽃놀이 (Fireworks) (Zenerate)
Guinneissik – Gossamer Body (Overtone)
Hearts2Hearts – Focus (Overtone, Zenerate)
Hearts2Hearts – Style (Tonplein)
Huijun Woo – 넓은 집 (Spacious House) (Tonplein, Zenerate)
Huijun Woo – 모래의 여자 (아프다구요) (Woman in the Dunes (It Hurts)) (Overtone)
Hyelyn Joo – Busy Boy (Overtone, Zenerate)
Hyelyn Joo – Busy Boy (Re-Make) (Tonplein)
Ifeye – Nerdy (IZM)
Illit – Almond Chocolate (Korean Ver.) (Zenerate)
Illit – 빌려온 고양이 (Billyeoon Goyangi: Do the Dance) (Tonplein)
Jannabi – 모든 소년 소녀들 1: 버드맨 (All the Boys and Girls, Pt.1: Birdman) (Overtone)
Jannabi – 사랑의이름으로! (May the Tenderness Be with You!) (Feat. Karina) (Tonplein)
Jennie – Like Jennie (Overtone, Zenerate)
Jeon Jin-hee – 그럼에도 봄은 어김없이 찾아온다 (But Spring Will Always Come) (Overtone)
Jo Dong-hee – 꽃차례 (Blooming Point) (IZM)****
Jowall – 당신의 사랑을 빌미로 (Your Love as My Pretext) (Feat. Haepa) (Tonplein)
Jung Eunhye, Cadejo, Yechan Kim – 극락조 (Birds in a Trance) (Overtone)
Jungwoo – 철의 삶 (The Embers) (Overtone)
JustB – Chest (Tonplein)
Katseye – Gabriela (Zenerate)
Katseye – Gnarly (Tonplein, Overtone)
khc – 우리는 항상 거추장스런 꿈을 꾸고 (Humoresque) (Overtone)
KiiiKiii – Groundwork (Zenerate)
Kimchowon – 생과 활과 생 (Life and Vibrancy and Life) (Tonplein)
Kimhyorin – 새처럼 (Like a Bird) (Tonplein)
Kim Il-du – 또아리 (Ddoari) (Overtone)
Kimj – Fire Music Daisuki (Overtone)
Kimj & Extra Small – Korea (Tonplein)
Kim Oki – 힙합 수련회에서 누나에게 고백한 남자의 이야기 (Confession) (Overtone)
Kirara – 샐러드 (Salad) (Overtone)
Kirara – 음악 (Music) (Feat. Sunwoojunga) (MusicY)
Kuang Program – Not Alone (Overtone)
Lee Chan-hyuk – 멸종위기사랑 (Endangered Love) (IZM, MusicY, Tonplein, Zenerate)
Lee ChoiHee- I Love You (Overtone)
Le Sserafim – Come Over (Zenerate)
Mark – 1999 (IZM)
Melki – Body Break (Tonplein)
Meovv – Hands Up (Zenerate)
Molar System – 비행공포 (Fear of Flying) (Overtone)
Molly Yam – Burning Snow (Zenerate)
Molly Yam – Wet (Overtone)
Mount XLR – Codrington Bounce (Tonplein)
Mount XLR – Xai (Overtone)
Mushvenom – 돌림판 (Spin the Wheel) (Feat. Dr. Lee) (MusicY, Tonplein)
Namhyun Song – 미필적고의의 사생결단 (Do or Die) (Tonplein)
Naojusung – 영원한 빛 (Eternal Sunshine) (Feat. Meaningful Stone) (Zenerate)
Necta – Essential (Overtone)
Neidi & Whyahyun – Keyring (Zenerate)
Nmixx – Blue Valentine (Zenerate)
Nmixx – Papillon (Tonplein, Overtone, Zenerate)
Novasia – Uweu (Overtone)
Ohelen – Mole (Overtone)
Omm – 뱃노래 (Shanty) (Overtone)
Oohyo – 너를 부르고 있어 (Calling You) (Tonplein)
PCR – Bricks★★★ (Overtone)
Rainbow99, Yoon Jaeho – 관악산 (Gwanaksan, Mountain of Seoul) (Tonplein)
Rakunelama – B (Zenerate)
Rebar Concrete – Necrophobia (Tonplein)
Riize – 잉걸 (Ember to Solar) (Overtone, Zenerate)
Sanmanhan – 개의 심장 (Heart of a Dog) (Overtone)
Shade – Pulse (Tonplein)
Shininryu – 정면돌파 (Attack!) (IZM)
Sik-K, Lil Moshpit – Lov3 (Feat. Bryan Chase, Okasian) (Tonplein, Zenerate)
Sik-K, Lil Moshpit – Public Enemy (Feat. Roh Yun-ha, Wuuslime) (Tonplein, Overtone, Zenerate)
Silica Gel – 南宮FEFERE (NamgungFERERE) (Feat. Japanese Breakfast) (Overtone)
Sion – Eigensinn (Tonplein)
Socialclub Hyangwu – Riot (Zenerate)
Socialclub Hyangwu – 이방인 (Stranger) (Tonplein, Overtone)
Song Sohee – Not a Dream (IZM, Tonplein, Zenerate)
Song Yi Jeon – Suite One (Tonplein)
Soul Delivery – New Wave (Feat. Q the Trumpet) (Zenerate)
Sumin X Slom – City View (MusicY)
Sumin X Slom – Her (Feat. Zion.T) (Tonplein)
Sun Town Girls – 입맞춤 (Kiss) (Overtone)
System Seoul – 4pril (Tonplein)
System Seoul – 너 (You) (Zenerate)
Tak – Lemon Melon Cookie (Tonplein)
Ten – Stunner (Zenerate)
The Deep – Angel Tattoo (Zenerate)
The Deep – Wrong Number (Overtone)
Tokki9 – Coex160 (Overtone)
Uneducated Kid – Call Me (Overtone)*****
Usedboy – 너의 리듬이야 (It’s Your Rhythm) (Feat. Lee Seol-ah) (Tonplein)
Wah Wah Wah X Noridogam – Uncertainty (MusicY, Overtone)
Whys Young – 네가 미루는 것들 (The Things You Put Off) (Overtone)
YB – Rebellion (Feat. Xdinary Heroes) (IZM, Zenerate)
Yeji – 258 (Zenerate)
Yetsuby – Aesthetic-Q (Overtone)
Yeoyu and Seolbin – 방관자 (Bystander) (Tonplein)
Yonglee & the Doltang – Pay Day (Tonplein)
Youra – 15살 (15 Years) (Overtone)
Youra – 슈뢰링가링가고양이 (Schroding-ding Cat) (Tonplein)
Yumdda – 더콰이엇 (The Quiett) (Overtone)
Yves – White Cat (Overtone)

*Overtone picked the Daytime half, while MusicY picked both Daytime and Nighttime collectively.
**This album was released in December 2025 and would fall under our 2026 coverage.
***Overtone technically picked K-Flip rather than the deluxe edition, but the text makes it clear that they are talking about both versions.
****As “Blooming Point” was released in November 2024, Hellokpop (and most other outlets) included in the 2024 recap.
*****This album was released in December 2025 and would fall under our 2026 coverage.

Album art from Baan on Bandcamp.

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