2022 has been a never-ending rollercoaster year for K-pop as a whole. K-pop’s popularity has grown to an all-time high during the pandemic, especially for girl groups. K-pop in 2022 featured a lot of nicely, diverse produced music and uniquely made ones as well. Many Rookies made their mark this year such as IVE, New Jeans, and LE SSERAFIM as well as many amazing comebacks from groups like (G)I-DLE, Girls’ Generation and BLACKPINK. With so much quality to choose from, how on earth do we single out the best K-pop songs of 2022? The OH! Press Team is here to take on the challenge.
Sakura
BLACKPINK – Yeah Yeah Yeah
As someone who loves BLACKPINK’s more pop-driven songs, “Yeah Yeah Yeah” is right up my alley. The track starts off as mellow pop rock but as soon as the chorus drops, it’s all synthpop. I feel like hearing this track would sound amazing in a live setting, especially during an encore! “Yeah Yeah Yeah” showed off a lot of BLACKPINK’s vocals as well as no rapping sections, I hope to see more of these type of tracks in future albums.
LE SSERAFIM – Antifragile 
So far, all the tracks LE SSERAFIM has been, in my opinion, super unique. Of course “ANTIFRAGILE” has been no exception! “ANTIFRAGILE” is very reggaeton and if I’m not wrong, was produced by a reggaeton artist themselves. The title track is continually upbeat and high energy, I feel like all the members had a chance to shine whether it was the lines or dance choreography.
STAYC – Run2U
Probably my favorite STAYC title track since their debut with “So Bad,” “RUN2U” definitely has a retro-pop vibe to it, especially with all the synths (which I believe was the theme for the album, like in “YOUNG LUV” & “247”). The track in my option is very vocal driven with a deep base throughout the song, as we get to the chorus, all the drums and synths appear.
Jiyo
WJSN Chocome – Super Yuppers!
No song was as energetic, bubbly, and fun as “Super Yuppers!”. Filled with optimism and joy, this earworm takes its listeners back to the days k-pop didn’t take itself too seriously; this was done especially thanks to the way WJSN Chocome isn’t afraid to be silly and extremely cheeky for the arts. With a catchy chorus, campy visuals to match the tune, and even a funny little monologue mid-song by member Dayoung, “Super Yuppers!” deserves appreciation.
Red Velvet – In My Dreams
Bittersweet rejection defines the content of the last track in Red Velvet’s “The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm”. But, despite its sad message, “In My Dreams” manages to be wistful and sophisticated, similar to a tragic and beautiful ballet. Furthermore, the impressive vocals of the group help to make the song sorrowful and almost magical-like, creating a representation of heartbreak that is as haunting as it is alluring.
IVE – My Satisfaction
It’s always fantastic when girl group members are allowed to explore their lower registers, and “My Satisfaction” is the biggest proof of why this needs to happen more often. In contrast to IVE’s usual preppy pop songs, it shows a darker side of the popular group, one they successfully portray. The song screams elegance with an edge, a type of sound that is easy to feel addicted to.
Lee
Yena – Smiley (feat. Bibi)
Yena officially begins her solo music career with a collaboration filled with colour. Yena and Bibi also successfully contribute as lyricists on Smiley — so they add one more layer of meaning to it. I think it’s a song that will most likely keep you moving. It’s just so much fun!
9001 – Zinnia
After being in the active in the music scene for 3 years, this boy group re-debuted in 2022 under a new name. Zinnia is solid for a love song — the lyrics are fairly poetic. Every time I listen to it — or when I follow along to its beat — it makes me want to cherish my past memories even more!
from20 – Chemical
Chemical describes feelings after having a bad breakup. I like the production, especially the synths in the chorus. I also enjoyed the hook of the song — it’s really catchy!
Check out more of our favorites in this curated playlist, OneHallyu’s Best of 2022!
