Critics name aespa's 'Supernova' as 'Song of the Year'

Six out of ten critics pick aespa's 'Supernova'

By KTimes

Music critic Seo Jeong Min-gap described 2024 as a year when "K-pop’s internal discord revealed its state more vividly than ever," while noting the steady generational shifts occurring in the indie music scene.

In 2024, Korean popular music experienced significant challenges and achievements, with high-profile K-pop disputes — such as the clash between HYBE and former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin — revealing cracks beneath its polished surface, while indie and other genres celebrated remarkable milestones.

At the same time, other genres thrived, with notable progress in indie music and significant releases from veteran artists like Cho Yong-pil, Lee Moon-sae and Kim Dong-ryul. Indie bands, long overshadowed by K-pop, ironically gained more visibility alongside K-pop’s global expansion.

Ten prominent critics were asked about the standout songs and albums that defined 2024 in Korean popular music. Their “Best 5” lists, encompassing K-pop, mainstream ballads, indie pop/rock, jazz and hip-hop, provided a snapshot of the year’s gems.

For “Song of the Year,” critics and audiences agreed, with aespa’s "Supernova" earning six votes from critics. The track also won “Song of the Year” at both the 2024 MAMA Awards and the Melon Music Awards.

Critic Kim Do-heon said, “Aespa took SM Culture Universe’s utopian exploration and twisted it into an ominous and extraordinary narrative. With sharp beats and existential questions, they crafted a hook that resonated across the zeitgeist, solidifying K-pop’s global stature.”

BIBI’s "Bam Yang Gang" was also highly praised, making it onto five lists. Other notable mentions included Rose and Bruno Mars’s "APT.," NewJeans’ "How Sweet" and Savina & Drones’ "Nobody Knows," each receiving three votes.

Songs like Lee Young-ji’s "Small Girl," (G)I-DLE’s "Fate" and DAY6’s "Welcome to the Show" garnered two votes each.

Standout albums

Critics agreed that while 2024 did not produce any overwhelmingly original or standout albums, there was a steady flow of quality releases across various genres.

The most frequently mentioned album was "Miniseries 2," a collaboration between singer-songwriter Sumin and producer Slom, which received six recommendations.

Sumin, an R&B artist active across both K-pop and indie scenes with songwriting and production credits for BTS, aespa, BoA, Red Velvet, EXO and IU, teamed up with producer and DJ Slom to release this album three years after their first project, "Miniseries," in 2021.

The album blends R&B, city pop and funk into a polished sound that earned widespread critical acclaim.

Critic Kim Hak-seon described the album as “sensory and emotionally deep, combining innovation with a touch of nostalgia. Sumin and Slom’s music feels like the Nami or Roller Coaster of a new era.”

Producer and singer-songwriter Danpyunsun, known for his experimental music, returned to the band scene after eight years with the formation of Danpyunsun and the Moments, following his previous band Danpyunsun and the Sailors. Their album "Hail to the Music" was featured in five critics’ Best 5 lists.

Critic Seo Jeong Min-gap said, “It skillfully blends diverse elements like pop, classical, traditional Korean ballads and rock. The music is both rocking and acoustic, rugged yet elegant, leisurely and beautiful.”

Busan-based rock band Soumbalgwang's third album, "Fire and Light," was a noteworthy work in Korean indie rock this year, receiving four votes.

Critic Im Hee-yoon called it “a scorching masterpiece of bold minimalism meeting poetic Korean lyrics, like a hard rock anthology inspired by Kim Sawol, Kim Hae-won’s decadent recitations and Baek Hyun-jin’s warped realism.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.