Jul 13, 2026 9:00pm IST
BTS’s RM, Stray Kids’ Bang Chan And IU: Wordsmiths Of K-Pop
With A.I. (artificial intelligence) taking over everyone’s jobs, the importance of lyricism continues to be widely debated. The Korean entertainment industry, however, has been loyal to famed names such as Kim Eana, Jo Yoon Kyung, and Teddy Park. Simultaneously, K-pop stars have time and again taken the quill themselves to pen some of the most celebrated expressions in recent memory.
Among these, G-Dragon, BTS leader RM, SEVENTEEN’s Woozi and soloist IU stand out for their lyricism that has framed an entire generation of music. Among the younger stars, i-dle’s Soyeon, DAY6’s YoungK, ATEEZ’s Hongjoong and Stray Kids’ 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Chang Bin and Han) have carried the torch forward. Having top Korean Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) credits to their names for years now, these stars have contributed to hundreds of songs that have earned them massive royalties. At the same time, the tracks have become staples on fans’ playlists and turned into the background sound of their daily lives.
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Why do K-pop idol lyricists matter?
Amid scrutiny surrounding K-pop tracks only being visual feasts, it is the contribution of these singers that reminds naysayers about how the industry is so much more than dance covers and exorbitantly priced merchandise— not that there’s anything wrong with engaging in short-form content or releasing memorabilia. This also adds to the ownership of their tracks, making it more relatable for fans to consume, as seen in DAY6’s “Zombie” (Lyrics by: Young K, Wonpil) and personal for callback purposes, including SUGA alluding to Big House, Big Cars, and Big Rings in “No More Dream,” “Interlude: Shadow,” “Home” and “What Do You Think?”.
Songs like Stray Kids’ “Hellevator,” "Fear" by Mino (ft. Taeyang) and "Climax" by iKON have done wonders for the K-Hip-hop space, depicting their personal struggles and have transpired into widely celebrated tunes for them.
An ode to the roots
Often, K-pop stars refer to their humble beginnings and struggle to rise in a space that’s otherwise limited to those with connections and a pretty face to back it up. BTS’ “Moving On”, a track that chronicles the group’s shift to a bigger space physically and metaphorically, quietly hums over their rise in the music industry, “At that time, I thought this was a really big house. But my ambition has grown too much.” Kim Nam Joon’s (RM’s real name) penmanship shines once again.
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RM
It’s undeniable that the BTS member is a master of words. Who else would think of: “I'm just a human (saram-사람), you erode all my corners. And make me into love (sarang-사랑).” Years of writing about self-love and affection have turned him into a lyrical maestro as he continues to explore the life of a man with a genius brain, a clumsy presence and emotions that don’t know where to go but bleed through the songs he gifts his fans.
G-Dragon
Another team leader in this lineup, Kwon Ji Yong, who is better known by his moniker G-Dragon, makes it to one of the top-rated for his decades of work in the K-pop scene. From “Haru Haru” to “UNTITLED” and later, “LOSER,” he is known to give wings to words that are often only thought of by fellow stars, even riding on the popularity wave that he has so carefully built, with his songs.
Woozi
The main producer of SEVENTEEN, he is behind their numerous hits, including their lead singles, "Adore U," "Pretty U," "Don't Wanna Cry," "Home," "HOT," as well as B-sides like "Shining Diamond," "Smile Flower" and "Circles". Woozi has also penned music for I.O.I, fromis_9, Ailee, Baekho and Hoshi.
Lyricism continues to be a key aspect of the popularity of K-pop songs around the world, and these idols’ personal involvement has made it all the more of an enriching experience.
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