8 K-Pop Songs That Became Blockbusters After a Slow Start

K-pop is fast-paced, competitive, and often cutthroat. Most songs are big either when they hit on the first day, or they die away without notice. But sometimes, a track resurfaces months or even years after its release, riding a wave of unexpected virality or public rediscovery. These hidden gems show that fortune, scheduling, and audience can turn around the fortunes of a song.

How These K-Pop Songs Became Blockbusters After a Slow Start

Here’s a deep dive into eight K-Pop songs that became blockbusters after a slow start: 

1. “Rollin” – Brave Girls

Release Date: March 7, 2017

Artist: Brave Girls

Once the song Rollin dropped in 2017, it could hardly make a difference in the charts. The song was catchy, energetic, and quite well-produced; however, it passed out of the mass vision in the very near future after its release. 

Four years later, in 2021, Brave Girls recorded a compilation video of the song being performed by the soldiers of South Korea, which went viral. The feedback was humongous. Unexpectedly, this long-forgotten song crept into the charts and brought Brave Girls their first-ever win at a music show. They went from near disbandment to chart-toppers, almost overnight.

2. “Up & Down” – EXID

Release Date: 27 August 2014

Artist: EXID

The story of EXID and what happened to their “Up & Down” was rather silent until the day when a camera belonging to a fan altered the whole situation. Member Hani staged a fancam that made the headlines on Korean internet forums and social media.

The song, which did not gain momentum at first, ran to the charts. EXID came back to music shows, and decades later, they won their first win. That instance was even considered as a case study as to how such fan content could rejuvenate a whole marketing cycle.

3. “Bboom Bboom” – MOMOLAND

Release Date: January 3, 2018

Artist: MOMOLAND

The release of the song “Bboom Bboom” by MOMOLAND did not attract much hype. It’s goofy dancing and hooking chorus that turned out to be addictive went viral on the internet two months later. The track gained popularity through covers, dance challenges and memes that saw it skyrocket. It peaked at 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart and swept the variety shows, becoming the song that would mark the career of MOMOLAND.

4. “Shine” – PENTAGON

Release Date: April 2, 2018

Artist: PENTAGON 

The start of Shine was not that impressive. It is full of fun piano riffs and sweet choreography, which went unnoticed in its original release. But slowly it was dragged into the limelight by fan-created pieces, idol covers of dances, and social media hype. PENTAGON, who were shoving beneath the radar, after long last deserved recognition and, as a result of it, this slow burn became rather the career-defining record.

5. “Rooftop” – N.Flying

Release Date: 2 January 2019

Artist: N.Flying

Nobody ever anticipated that “Rooftop” would blow up. It was introduced rather quietly, with practically no publicity. Several weeks later, a user suggested the song on a mainstream social network. Such an easy post caused a domino effect. People began listening, sharing, and falling in love with its emotional buildup and heartfelt lyrics. The song kept on climbing up to achieve the first position, thus making N. Flying won their first music show and became mainstream candidates.

6. “Hello” – NU’EST

Release Date: February 13, 2013

Artist: NU’EST

Coming out in 2013, Hello flopped. It was soft and was not compatible with the trends of the time. But four years later, after NU’EST members appeared on the survival show Produce 101, public interest in their discography reignited. Hello was back in the charts, and people were now appreciating the fact that it was a beautiful, underrated ballad. NU’EST went from nearly disbanded to nationally adored.

7. “Bar Bar Bar” – Crayon Pop

Release Date: 20 June, 2013

Artist: Crayon Pop

This one had “viral hit” written all over it, eventually. However, “Bar Bar Bar” was just another rather kooky song when it debuted. Some people found it confusing with the matching of helmets and jumping moves, with the visuals that were somehow offbeat. Next, there were the parodies. Suddenly, “Bar Bar Bar” was everywhere, from commercials to YouTube covers. It climbed to #3 on the Gaon Chart, proving that sometimes, weird wins

 8. “Expectation” – Girl’s Day

Release Date:  March 14, 2013

Artist: Girl Day

The song ”Expectation” represented a stylistic breakthrough in the history of Girl Day, as it changed Girl Day’s music style, which was previously bubbly, into a bold one. It did not get stuck at once though. After a couple of weeks, the clips of their performance and their suit or the suspenders dance became viral. People began to analyse it more, and gradually the song got its ground. However, at some point, it grew to enjoy one of the most chanted songs in Girl Day without which they could not have had their legacy.

Final Thoughts

In an industry that often celebrates overnight success, K-Pop songs that became blockbusters after a slow start remind us that some stars take longer to shine. It might be a popular viral fancam, a fan board, or a dance challenge, but at some point, it was a flash of fortune that inevitably changed the future of a song. For every chart-topper on day one, there’s a “Rollin’” or “Rooftop” quietly waiting to be discovered.