The end of the year countdowns are here! We’re kicking things off with the big one… the top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday. 

To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs must have had a Korean release as a title or promotional track between Dec. 1st, 2016 and Nov. 30th, 2017.

Make sure to check out numbers 50-41 first!

---

40. DAY6 – I Wait

DAY6 released a title track each month of the year, but their opening salvo remains their strongest. A push-and-pull between moody verses and an explosive rock chorus, I Wait distills everything that makes them awesome into one song. (full review)

39. A.C.E – Callin’

One of the year’s best new discoveries, A.C.E set course on a sound all their own. Debut Cactus was a ton of fun, but follow-up Callin’ refined the style for a gargantuan slice of sing-along dance pop. (full review)

38. Laboum – Hwi Hwi

The pinnacle of a very long rise to notoriety, Hwi Hwi gave Laboum their punchiest chorus yet. It’s megawatt bubblegum pop of the highest order, never letting up for a second. (full review)

37. Golden Child – DamDaDi

Its rollicking pop/rock sound may feel corny, but there’s no denying that DamDaDi sounded like nothing else released in 2017. It’s hard not to be won over by its explosive energy, made even more addictive by the group’s youthful enthusiasm. (full review)

36. MVP – Take It

One of the year’s most overlooked debuts, Take It is a fireball of rookie spirit, packing a parade of indelible hooks around the aggressive electronic riff at its core. (full review)

35. Monsta X – Dramarama

Monsta X released a staggering four singles this year, but they saved the best for last. Dramarama infuses a needed dose of funk into their hard-edged sound, paving the way for even more musical diversity in the future. (full review)

34. BTS – Spring Day

2017’s biggest group continued their ascent with a string of hit singles this year. Spring Day was the most melodic of the bunch, casting a melancholic filter over the group’s emotive, affecting performance. (full review)

33. Triple H – 365 Fresh

Building on the success of her Troublemaker sub-unit, HyunA invited Hui and E’Dawn of boy group Pentagon for a little k-pop debauchery. And with a song as funky as 365 Fresh, this is a trio that needs to come back on a regular basis. (full review)

32. Astro – Crazy Sexy Cool

Collaborating with producers LDN Noise, Astro matured their bright pop sound with the effortlessly smooth funk of Crazy Sexy Cool. The song’s polish is a testament to their versatility, driven by some of the most effective vocal harmonies of the year. (full review)

31. 100% – Sketch U

100% came roaring back in late 2016 with the Sweetune-produced Better Day. Sketch U continued this revival, drawing on the group’s formidable vocal firepower for its majestic shot of soft rock balladry. (full review)

NEXT: NUMBERS 30-21