Numerous K-pop songs have achieved over a billion views on YouTube, underscoring the genre’s immense global appeal. This phenomenon began with PSY’s “Gangnam Style,”which was the first K-pop track to reach such a monumental milestone on YouTube.
The iconic ‘horse riding’ dance from “Gangnam Style”quickly became a viral sensation, with countless fans imitating the moves across various social media platforms. The participation of prominent celebrities in this trend significantly amplified the song’s visibility, contributing to its record-breaking view count.
Alongside PSY, BLACKPINK and BTS are prominent K-pop groups that have released multiple tracks, several of which have also surpassed a billion views on the platform.
K-pop Hits with Over a Billion YouTube Views: Gangnam Style, DDU DU DDU DU, and More
- Gangnam Style
- DUE DUE DUE DUE
- Kill This Love
- Boy With Luv
- Dynamite
- Boombayah
- DNA
1) Gangnam Style (PSY)
“Gangnam Style”holds the record as the most viewed K-pop song on YouTube, currently boasting 5.2 billion views, while PSY’s official channel has 19 million subscribers.
This hit track is part of the album “PSY 6 (Six Rules) Part 1,”which was released in July 2012. South Korean artist Park Jae-sang, known as PSY, gained international fame when the song reached 500,000 views in just one day.
The track set a record by surpassing Justin Bieber’s “Baby”in only two months with 803 million views, eventually hitting 1 billion views by December of that year. It took nearly 12 years to achieve 5 billion total views.
Furthermore, “Gangnam Style”not only reached a billion views but also won the 2013 Golden Disk Awards, often referred to as the “Grammy of South Korea.”
2) DDU DU DDU DU (BLACKPINK)
Following “Gangnam Style,”BLACKPINK’s “DDU DU DDU DU”became the first K-pop group music video to reach a billion views on YouTube. Released in 2018, the track has garnered 2.2 billion views to date.
From the album “Square Up,”this track is one of BLACKPINK’s standout songs, setting multiple records. It charted on the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Canadian Hot 100, and also received RIAA Certifications. This song introduced the “Girl Crush”concept to a worldwide audience.
The lyrics embody themes of empowerment, with the idols expressing their dominance in the global music scene.
3) Kill This Love (BLACKPINK)
“Kill This Love,”another hit from BLACKPINK’s mini album of the same name, recently surpassed 2 billion views on YouTube. Released in 2019, it reached this incredible milestone in just four years.
On August 31, 2024, YG Entertainment’s official X account announced this achievement, thanking BLINK (the band’s fanbase) for their support. Beyond the billion view milestone, this song has set numerous other records.
Within merely 4 days and 23 hours of its release, “Kill This Love”achieved 100 million views, breaking BTS’s previous record with “IDOL.”This track explores intense emotions following the end of a tumultuous relationship, promoting the message of self-love.
4) Boy With Luv (BTS)
With 1.8 billion views, “Boy With Luv”stands as one of BTS’s most famous songs. The milestone was reached in September 2024, making it yet another BTS music video to surpass a billion views.
The official track debuted on April 12, 2019, taking 5 years and 5 months to achieve this feat. It garnered 74.6 million views on its release day, demonstrating the global popularity of the band.
Featuring Halsey, “Boy With Luv”emphasizes themes of masculinity, with the recurring word ‘man’ highlighting this motif. The track also secured the number 3 position on Spotify’s Daily Global Top 200, reaffirming BTS’s worldwide influence.
5) Dynamite (BTS)
“Dynamite,”released in August 2020 during the pandemic, broke multiple records from day one. Three years and six months post-release, the song hit 1.8 billion views, making it one of the fastest BTS tracks to reach this achievement.
On its debut day, it garnered 10 million views within just 20 minutes, ultimately achieving 101.1 million views by the end of the day, surpassing BLACKPINK’s record with “DDU DU DDU DU.”Following that, another BTS release, “Butter,”claimed the record with 108.2 million views on its debut day.
“Dynamite”made history as BTS’s first fully English song to top YouTube’s Global Top Song chart, holding the position for 32 weeks. The song draws inspiration from ’70s and ’80s choreography, evoking a sense of nostalgia through its lyrics and visuals.
6) BOOMBAYAH (BLACKPINK)
BLACKPINK remains the only all-female group to exceed a billion views on YouTube, with “BOOMBAYAH”hitting an impressive 1.7 billion views in June 2024, following “DDU DU DDU DU”and “Kill This Love.”
This track is from their debut album “Square One,”released in 2016, achieving the milestone nearly eight years after its release. “BOOMBAYAH”became the first K-pop debut track to attract a billion views.
The song topped South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart and the US Billboard World Digital Song Chart for an extended period.
7) DNA (BTS)
The third BTS track to surpass a billion views on YouTube is “DNA,”from the mini album “Love Yourself: Her,”released in 2017. By 2022, it achieved 1.5 billion views, marking it as BTS’s first song to reach this significant milestone.
Achieving one billion views in just two years and eight months reflects the band’s worldwide fame. “DNA”was also nominated for both the Korean Music Awards and Gaffa Prisen Awards in 2018.
In addition to these songs, K-pop enthusiasts should explore other popular tracks such as “As If It’s Your Last,””Fake Love,”and “How You Like That,”all of which have also amassed over a billion views on YouTube.
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