Baekhyun, Wonho, J-Hope, RM And Blackpink’s Rosé: The K-Pop Solo Stars Who Could Break In America In 2021

Almost all of the most successful musical acts from South Korea are groups, which is notably different to the American music market. Boy bands and girl groups like BTS, Blackpink, Monsta X, NCT 127 and SuperM (to name just a few) have managed to make many of the largest and most historic impressions on the Billboard charts, though solo acts have been gaining ground steadily throughout the past few years.

Many of the biggest solo acts to hail from the Asian country are connected to beloved groups, but that doesn’t make their accomplishments on their own any less notable. It looks like a handful of stars are planning on returning to their solo ventures this year, while others are perhaps overdue for a comeback of sorts.

Here are five South Korean solo musicians who could very well break in America in 2021.

Wonho

Newly-solo musician Wonho first found success as a member of South Korean pop outfit Monsta X, but in 2019 he left the band after allegations were made that he had used illegal drugs. It only took a few months for all charges and rumors to be cleared, at which point he set to work at re-establishing himself as a star in his own right.

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His debut EP Love Synonym Pt.1: Right for Me reached the Top Album Sales chart, which is notable for someone who just embarked on a solo venture. He may no longer be attached to the band that made him a household name in his home country, but it looks like Wonho is headed toward major things.

J-Hope

By now, most (if not all) of the members of BTS have released music on their own, with some dropping full collections while others have only shared a song or two for free.

J-Hope, one of the seven members of BTS, made history when he became one of about five South Korean soloists to appear on the Billboard 200, and he was the first to break into the top 40 with a collection. Back in 2018, his debut set Hope World rose to No. 38 on that list and No. 16 on the Top Album Sales ranking.

About a year after that album arrived, J-Hope returned with a new single titled “Chicken Noodle Soup,” which featured Latin superstar Becky G. That cut made its way to the Hot 100, and he still stands as one of fewer than five South Korean solo musicians to appear on that tally. So far, that tune hasn’t been connected to any project, so it’s entirely possible J-Hope may release another studio effort in 2021, and it will surely be even bigger than his first.

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Rosé

Blackpink accomplished incredible things on a number of Billboard charts in 2020, landing a top 10 album with their debut full-length and several top 40 hits on the Hot 100, and that’s to say nothing of their wins on less-closely-followed tallies.

2021 may be just getting started, but already, one of the band’s members, Rosé, has hinted that solo music is on the way. Details are scarce, but Blackpink is now so huge in America, it’s difficult to imagine any of the four musicians in the act could drop something and it wouldn’t make some sort of noticeable impact.

Baekhyun

In K-pop, an industry dominated by those who work long hours and put in the effort, Baekhyun may very well be the most productive musician there is. He first made his name as a member of the band Exo, and then in more than one sub-unit of that act as well. As if that wasn’t enough to make him one of the biggest South Korean artists in the world, he also joined SuperM, one of two names from that part of the world to score a No. 1 album in the U.S. (the other being BTS, of course).

In addition to all that work, Baekhyun also releases music as a soloist, and that part of his career is going very well indeed. He appeared on the Top Album Sales chart in both 2019 and 2020, with his first set reaching No. 71 while its follow-up went to No. 53.

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At the rate he’s doling out new music, Baekhyun will absolutely make it to at least a handful of Billboard charts in 2021, now it’s just a matter of seeing how well he does and under what name he chooses to do so.

RM

Like J-Hope, RM (formerly Rap Monster) of BTS has achieved solo success in addition to his work with the chart-topping band, and seeing as it has now been a few years since his last collection on his own, 2021 may see the man return…depending on the septet’s schedule, of course.

Back in 2018, RM’s mono. reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200, which at the time was incredible, as very few titles from South Korean musicians had placed inside the top 40 on that roster. Now, it’s not quite as showy, but he’s sure to improve that position with his next set.

When looking at songs, RM has found more success partnering with other acts, and he may continue to do that in 2021 as well. He’s now sent two tracks to the Digital Song Sales chart, and in both instances, he was a featured act. One even entered the top 10 for a single frame, and he stands as one of only five South Korean solo acts to find themselves in that region at any point (with three of the other four being fellow BTS members, of course).

No matter how he chooses to release music as RM in 2021 (if he does at all), he’s sure to establish himself further as a star in America when he does.

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