15 Best Female K-Pop Idols of All Time According to Korean Netizens

Kapanlagi.com - The K-Pop industry is currently experiencing its golden age in the past decade. Throughout this period, various well-known and iconic K-Pop idols have emerged and eventually earned the title of legendary.

Although most of these successful K-Pop idols come from major agencies, there are also many K-Pop idols from small agencies who have enjoyed success, not only in Korea but also globally.

Interestingly, the success of these K-Pop idols is not only dominated by boy groups. Korean netizens have their own opinions. According to them, the following female K-Pop idols or girl groups deserve the title of the best of all time, especially thanks to their album sales reaching millions of units.

1. MAMAMOO

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First, there is MAMAMOO, who is considered by Korean netizens as one of the most successful and best female K-Pop idols of all time. Besides having high musicality, this girl group, which debuted on June 18, 2014, is diligent in creating their own music.

Throughout their career, MAMAMOO has been able to produce 3 studio albums and 10 mini albums in their discography. From these albums, MAMAMOO has sold a total of 803.4 units, with Travel being the highest-selling album, reaching 169.9 units.

2. BLACKPINK

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In second place, there is BLACKPINK, who has captured attention since their debut on August 8, 2016. The career of this K-Pop idol has skyrocketed, reaching worldwide fame. Until now, BLACKPINK has released 1 studio album, 3 mini albums, and 4 single albums in their discography.

From this series of albums, at least 2.34 million album units have been sold throughout their career, with The Album achieving great success as the highest-selling album, selling 1.26 million units.

3. TWICE

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Next is TWICE, who have been very successful in their career since their debut on October 20, 2015. Throughout their career, TWICE has released at least 4 studio albums, 9 mini albums, 4 reissued albums, and 2 compilation albums in their discography.

Impressively, out of all those albums, TWICE has been able to achieve sales of 5.76 million units, with More & More being the highest-selling album, reaching 573.4 thousand units.

4. Red Velvet

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Red Velvet is the next group on this list. Since their debut on August 1, 2014, they have released 2 studio albums, 8 mini albums, 1 reissued album, and 1 compilation album in their discography.

Thanks to these albums, Red Velvet has achieved a total sales of 1.51 million units throughout their career, with The ReVe Festival: Day 1 being their best-selling album, reaching 171.1 thousand units.

5. 2NE1

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Known as one of the legends of K-Pop, 2NE1 is not only popular among fans, but their songs are also quite familiar among Korean netizens.

The K-pop idol, who debuted on May 6, 2009, has produced 3 studio albums and 3 mini albums in their discography. Among these albums, 2NE1 was able to sell as many as 620 thousand units, with their best-selling album being 2NE1 with 194.3 units. This girl group officially disbanded in November 2016.

6. Girls Generation

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Who doesn't know Girls Generation? This veteran K-Pop idol has achieved great success throughout their career. Debuting on August 5, 2007, Girls Generation has produced at least 9 studio albums, 4 mini albums, 2 live albums, and 4 reissued albums in their discography.

Through these albums, Girls Generation has successfully sold 2.81 million units, with The Boys being their best-selling album, selling 464 thousand units.

7. (G)I-DLE

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(G)I-DLE debuted on May 2, 2018 and slowly but surely established their career in the Korean entertainment industry. With the girlcrush concept they embrace, (G)I-DLE has successfully released music works with the participation of its members.

Until now, (G)I-DLE has at least 6 mini albums and one single album in their discography. Among these albums, this K-Pop idol group has been able to sell 377.5 album units, with I Trust being the highest-selling album, reaching 154 thousand units.

8. ITZY

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ITZY's popularity as a new girl group from JYP Entertainment after TWICE's long-awaited debut has attracted a lot of attention. Impressively, this K-Pop idol group, which debuted on February 12, 2019, has successfully met fans' expectations with their talents.

Until now, ITZY has at least 3 mini albums and 1 single album in their discography. Although it is still not many, through a series of these albums, ITZY has successfully sold 524.5 thousand albums, with Not Shy achieving the highest album sales of 219 thousand units.

9. LOONA

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LOONA debuted for the first time on August 20, 2018. Interestingly, this K-Pop idol has been quite successful in entering the global market, especially in America. As evidence, LOONA has produced 6 mini albums, 12 single albums, and 3 reissued albums in their discography list.

From several of these albums, LOONA was able to sell a total of 302 thousand units, with the album [12:00] being the highest-selling album at 114.5 units. Korean netizens believe that it is not easy for a rookie girl group to sell that many albums, but LOONA was able to prove themselves as the best.

10. EVERGLOW

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Although still relatively new, since their debut on March 18, 2019, EVERGLOW has caught the attention of many eyes. This rookie idol group has also been quite successful in album sales.

At least until now, EVERGLOW has released 2 mini albums and 2 single albums in their discography list. Through their entire discography, EVERGLOW has been able to sell a total of 135 thousand units, with the highest sales coming from the album -77.82X-78.29 at 48.1 units.

11. Dreamcatcher

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In 2017, the K-Pop industry welcomed a new K-Pop idol group named Dreamcatcher. Since then, Dreamcatcher has been actively producing music, resulting in 2 studio albums, 8 mini albums, and 3 single albums in their discography.

This K-Pop idol group, which debuted on January 13, 2017, has sold a total of 315.8 thousand albums throughout their career. Dystopia: Love Myself is Dreamcatcher's highest-selling album, with sales of 101.7 units.

12. Apink

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Apink made their debut on April 19, 2011. Since then, this K-Pop idol's career has been soaring. It is evident from their extensive discography, which includes 6 studio albums, 9 mini albums, and 3 compilation albums.

From this list of discography, Apink has managed to sell at least 726 thousand units, with Pink Memory being their best-selling album, selling 90.1 units. This success has rightfully earned Apink the title of one of the best female K-Pop idols of all time by Korean netizens.

13. IZ*ONE

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Even though this K-Pop idol is a project group from a survival show, IZ*ONE's popularity is no joke. Not only loved for their visuals, IZ*ONE is also known to have loyal fans.

This girl group, which debuted on October 29, 2018, has released at least 2 studio albums and 4 mini albums in their discography. Remarkably, from that discography, IZ*ONE has been able to sell albums up to 2.07 million units, with Oneiric Diary being the best-selling album with sales of 552.9 units.

With such achievements, IZ*ONE is considered the most successful female K-Pop idol in history.

14. EXID

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In 2012, Korean netizens were excited about EXID's debut. This K-Pop idol, who debuted on February 16, 2012, is quite popular. In addition, EXID also has a fairly successful discography as a K-Pop girl group.

At least, throughout their career, EXID has produced 3 studio albums and 5 mini albums. Through several albums, EXID has achieved the highest album sales, amounting to 134.3 thousand units throughout their career. We is the most successful album by EXID, with sales of 24.5 thousand units.

15. Oh My Girl

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Last but not least, there is Oh My Girl. This K-Pop idol debuted on April 20, 2015. Throughout their career up to now, Oh My Girl has released at least 4 studio albums, 7 mini albums, 1 single album, and 2 repackaged albums in their discography list.

Not only that, Oh My Girl has also achieved album sales of 275.3 thousand units, with their best-selling album being Nonstop which sold 52.1 thousand units. This achievement finally made Korean netizens acknowledge that Oh My Girl deserves to be included in the list of the best female K-Pop idols of all time.

Compared to boy groups in K-Pop who are able to sell albums in crazy amounts, girl groups indeed have to work harder to achieve such accomplishments. That's why being able to sell hundreds of thousands of album units is considered impressive for a K-Pop girl group.

(kly/tmi)