The music scene is heating up this May with an all-out “Girl Group War.” With top groups like aespa, LE SSERAFIM, ITZY, BABYMONSTER, and even I.O.I confirming their comebacks, the fandom competition is reaching a boiling point. Everyone is wondering who will capture the global fandom’s energy and grow their presence during NewJeans’ ongoing hiatus since last year.
BABYMONSTER from YG Entertainment kicked things off first. They officially started promotions on May 4th with their new mini-album “CHOOM.” Already dubbed “monster rookies” since their debut, they are growing rapidly thanks to a solid global fandom.
Specifically, “CHOOM” proved their global influence by hitting number one on the album charts in 19 iTunes regions. Fans are reacting that they can feel the authentic YG sound, leaving everyone curious about their final results.
SM Entertainment’s representative girl group, aespa, is also gearing up for a massive comeback. They will release the pre-release track “WDA-Whole Different Animal” on May 11th, followed by their second full-length album “LEMONADE” on May 29th. This pre-release track has already generated explosive buzz because G-DRAGON participated in the featuring and rap-making.
aespa has already proven their power in both digital charts and fandoms with consecutive hits like “Next Level,” “Savage,” and “Whiplash.” Combined with their unique universe and global tour experience, they are considered one of the girl groups with the most stable large-scale fandoms today.
JYP Entertainment’s ITZY is also returning on May 18th with a new mini-album “Motto.” ITZY continues to maintain a strong core fandom based on their consistent overseas tours and performance skills. Additionally, the recent viral trend of their B-side track “THAT A NO NO” from six years ago has spiked fans’ expectations for this comeback. All eyes are on how the confident team color they built through “DALLA DALLA,” “WANNABE,” and “SNEAKERS” will expand this time.
The return of project group I.O.I is also drawing significant attention. I.O.I has raised expectations by announcing the release of their mini-album “I.O.I : LOOP” on May 19th. Formed through “Produce 101” in 2016, they recorded explosive popularity, making the news of their reunion after 10 years a huge topic.
This reunion specifically triggers nostalgia for 3rd generation fandoms, proving their lasting influence. Along with their comeback, I.O.I will meet fans again after 10 years through an Asia tour. Starting with concerts at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul from May 29th to 31st, they will continue the comeback fever with the “2026 I.O.I Concert Tour : LOOP.”
LE SSERAFIM, under Source Music (HYBE), is making a bold move with their full album “PUREFLOW pt. 1” on May 22nd. LE SSERAFIM is one of the girl groups showing the steepest growth in the overseas market recently. They are currently promoting their lead single “CELEBRATION.” With their eye-catching techno concept, expectations are high to see if they can solidify their position through this full album.
This May comeback battle is drawing even more interest because it coincides with NewJeans’ hiatus. Due to conflicts with their agency and uncertainty regarding their activities since last year, NewJeans has effectively stopped full-group activities. Naturally, the K-pop market is watching to see which team will absorb the digital buzz and fandom influx that NewJeans once dominated.
In fact, some evaluate that the current girl group market now prioritizes fandom size and loyalty over simple digital chart performance. With album sales, tour scale, and global platform metrics becoming key competitive edges, analysis suggests we’ve entered an era where “who has the stronger fandom” decides the winner.
Industry insiders evaluate this May as a watershed moment that will determine the girl group landscape for the first half of the year. As each team presents different colors and strategies, attention is focused on which team will gather the most fandom power and rise as the new center.
