To be honest, this year I tended to watch most K-pop music videos one or two times before moving onto the song and leaving the visuals behind. The water mark for music videos has become very high, with the industry churning out cinematic, big-budget works every other day. While many videos could comfortably slot into this countdown, here are ten that remained in my memory long after their premiere.
10. KANG DANIEL – SOS
I’m a big fan of the Mad Max aesthetic used in this video. It’s well-executed and very cinematic.
9. J.Y. PARK – CHANGED MAN
J.Y. Park always makes entertaining videos, and just like the song itself this one finds the perfect balance between parody and sincerity.
8. BLACKSWAN – CAT & MOUSE
Sometimes, simple color palettes are the most striking. Cat & Mouse wrings the most out of its Looney Toons inspiration for a video that’s quite memorable in its quirky fashion.
7. ATEEZ – HALAZIA
I feel like many people will gravitate to Bouncy when it comes to music video countdowns, but I find the dark, haunting palette of the dramatic Halazia more compelling.
6. AGUST D – HAEGEUM
I haven’t often connected with Suga’s solo music, but he routinely creates excellent music videos. This feels like a mini movie.
5. JUNGKOOK – STANDING NEXT TO YOU
Seven was probably more creative as a video, but I just find this whole package very captivating. From the colors to the focus on choreography, it’s super stylish and matches the song so well.
4. U-KNOW – NEXUS REALITY SHOW
I’m not sure I can say this completely lives up to its potential, but I applaud the ambition of making a short film that encapsulates an entire album project.
3. (G)I-DLE – I DO
This borrows liberally from the 80’s Spielbergian sci-fi movie oeuvre, but I’m a sucker for that genre. I love music videos that tell a compelling (usually simple) story.
2. THE BOYZ – LIP GLOSS
While I find the “K-pop idol group chases after white girl in exotic locale” shtick kind of weird, the video itself was one of the most enjoyable jolts of serotonin all year – especially the movie musical finale.
1. IVE – I AM
Was this the most bombastic video of the year? I mean, they’re dancing on the wings of an airplane… mid-flight! Everything here is an absolute serve – one long victorious strut funneled into a music video.
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This is where, for me, NewJeans wins in a landslide, especially the two-parters. The cinematic quality of Ditto especially (“Side A” & “Side B”) could be expanded into a movie, imo. Cool As You (“Side A” & “Side B”) is no slouch either.
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IVE and NINE.i both fighting for your best k-pop comeback of the year we love to see it.
I have to admit I haven’t watched a bunch of MV’s this year but here’s a list of MV’s that I’ve come across and really like:
– Jungkook (BTS) – Seven (feat. Latto), Standing Next to You
– NewJeans – Ditto, ETA, .etc (I’ll give it to them for having spectacular cinematic MV’s)
– EXO – Let Me In, Hear Me Out
– ATEEZ – Halazia, Bouncy
– SHINee – The Feeling
– IVE – I AM
– Key (SHINee) – Killer
– Taemin (SHINee) – Guilty
– RIIZE – Memories
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Key – Good & Great
Xikers – Tricky House
Wetboy and Jo Hyunah – Bad Girl, Stupid Boy
Jisoo – Flower
Taemin – Guilty
Kookie and Usher-nim – Standing Next to You
Blitzers – Macarena
Purple Kiss – Autopilot
Ren – Ready to Move
U Know – Deja Vu
BSS – Fighting
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Oh, I can’t believe I forgot Key’s video!
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No nod to TripleS – Girls Capitalism??!?!?!
My top list:
Triple S – Girls Capitalism
OMG – Summer Comes
Onew – Circle
ATEEZ – Halazia
SHINee – The Feeling
Ive – Kitsch/I Am/Either Way are all great
Purple Kiss – Sweet Juice
Kim Sung Kyu – Small talk
BSS – Fighting
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Ive I Am is definitely one of my favoritest MV this year too! Planes, runways, limos – the styling is gorgeous and every shot captures exactly what they mean by “big big stage”!
Another favorite MV of mine is Superkind Moody – I’m really impressed by the way they mixed the AI’s and the idols together and also the storytelling in that to the creepy elements are amazing. One scene in particular that stands out is a small shot where the AI character casually throws a paper plane at one of the idols – like it’s so small, but I really like the way they presented it.
Two fun MV’s I would highlight would be Key’s Good and Great and G-idle’s Queencard – these both are super enjoyable MV’s that enhance the song a lot!
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