As 2025 draws to a close, Billboard’s year-end pop culture roundup underscored the expanding global influence of K-pop, spotlighting Netflix’s animated sensation KPop Demon Hunters and BTS’s long-awaited reunion as two of the year’s most defining cultural moments.
In its list of the “Top 10 wildest music moments that defined pop culture,” Billboard singled out KPop Demon Hunters, noting that the film’s music “absolutely took over” the charts. The animated feature became an unexpected global phenomenon, driven in large part by its original soundtrack.
Songs performed by the fictional groups HUNTR/X and Saja Boys dominated Billboard rankings throughout the year. The track “Golden” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks following the film’s release in June and held the No. 1 position on the Billboard Global 200 for an unprecedented 18 weeks.
The song’s success translated into awards recognition as well, earning a historic Grammy nomination for Song of the Year. The film itself, which Netflix reported as its most-streamed movie of all time, has also emerged as a strong contender for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Directed by Korean Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang, KPop Demon Hunters was listed alongside predominantly U.S.-centered pop culture moments, including Beyoncé’s surprised reaction to her Grammy win, Sabrina Carpenter’s widely discussed album cover, and Taylor Swift’s engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce — highlighting the genre’s growing parity with Western pop culture touchstones.
Billboard also acknowledged BTS in its honorable mentions, pointing to the group’s full seven-member reunion during a Weverse livestream in July. The appearance followed the completion of the members’ mandatory military service, with the final member, Suga, officially discharged on June 21.
According to Billboard and Bloomberg, BTS is expected to release new music in the spring of next year and is reportedly preparing for a world tour that will include North American dates. The group last performed together in October 2022.
Together, the breakout success of KPop Demon Hunters and BTS’s return served as emblematic moments of K-pop’s sustained global momentum — not as a niche trend, but as a central force shaping contemporary pop culture in 2025.
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Kang In sig insig6622@naver.com
