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As we reach the end of the year, many of us are taking the time to unwind and get into the spirit of the festive season. While our friends in the north are cozying up with their hot chocolate mugs and puffer jackets, those of us in the south are packing up picnic baskets to indulge in the summer sun as the end of the year draws in.
While Christmas is not necessarily celebrated everywhere due to its religious roots, people across the world still participate in the end of year holiday season. In South Korea, it seems that the holiday is rooted in romantic gestures, family dinners and gift exchanges, much like elsewhere in the world.
For our final team recommendations for the year, we’ll be bringing you some of the Korean music industry’s best holiday songs. From older tunes to more recent legendary collaborations, there’s a song for every mood this December.
Tshego
ASTRO – Merry-Go-Round
A group whose talent is matched only by their resilience, ASTRO is undeniably one of the brightest stars in the K-pop galaxy. Their performances and bright concepts are reminiscent of the K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Saja Boys ‘Soda Pop’; which is fitting given its similarities to the group’s own release, ‘Candy Sugar Pop’.
Merry-Go-Round is another song that allows the ASTRO members to shine. This song, initially off the 2018 ‘All Light’ EP, was revamped for the Christmas season. It was furnished with jingle bells, and a music box intro that would make the song perfect for the opening credits of a holiday movie.
As previously mentioned, romance is often at the core of these Christmas bops. When it comes to ASTRO, they always make finding and falling in love sound like something to get -and stay- excited for, no matter what lies ahead. This is no different.
From the first moment I found ASTRO in their ‘Crazy, Sexy, Cool’ era, I knew I was witnessing chemistry like no other. The members, despite their many trials and tribulations, have always been a shining light and a beacon of hope. MJ, JinJin, Sanha and Cha Eunwoo still have so much left to show us and I hope the world is ready to listen.
Billlie – snowy night
Billlie is a group whose discography shows that no matter what musical genre is placed in front of them, they can and will make it their own. Whether we’re talking about the sound, or the lyrics, ‘snowy night’ is nothing like the typical Christmas carol. A deviation from the hopeful, giddy tone of the previous track, the vocalists of Billlie present us a more somber take on the holiday.
While most people look forward to the cheer and company of the holiday season, not everyone has people to spend this time with. Or, worse, they had plans with loved ones that somehow fell through, making the day feel hollow and lonely.
The image of a snow globe usually brings a feeling of nostalgia and whimsy, the item itself also being a symbol of sentimentality. In the lyrics of ‘snowy night’ the members seem to be lost in the isolation of this icy wind. Asking “Why does it feel so different to me? Where are you, Christmas?”, it seems that even hearing the sound of laughter is a reminder that the date is not what makes the day special.
Despite this though, there is still a glimmer of hope. With the fluttering of the music, and the snow that falls slowly to its beat, “Through the shining lights, may my day shines brighter”
XG – 4 SEASONS
Since their debut, XG has kept the public’s attention for their out of this world talent, and curious concepts. More recently, the members have been widely celebrated for their supportive role in member Cocona’s coming out as nonbinary trans masc. While this is definitely a massive milestone for both the group and the LGBTQ+ audience and other artists, what stands out is the group’s dedication to speaking first through music: the talent doesn’t change, and neither have they.
This recommendation is a vocal sub-unit track fresh off their first full album, ‘THE CORE – 核’. Hinata, Chisa and Juria are no strangers to leaving jaws on the floor, especially after their cover of the iconic British girl group FLO’s ‘Losing You’.
The styling for this video taps into the cozy vibes of a white Christmas. The editing of the video itself gives a hazy effect that places the three members in a picture of memories long gone. ‘4 SEASONS’ is another song that is sure to leave the yearners of the world fulfilled.
With each season that passes, the memories of a love that seemed like it would last forever find the singers, distorting their sense of time and reality. The glow of the lighting in this video and the romantic moments we see Hinata andJuria share, along with Chisa’s powerful adlibs near the end of the song make this love feel like its warmth is still in the room.
Nate
TTS – Dear Santa
Girls’ Generation are one of the cornerstones of K-Pop, responsible for the huge growth of the genre during the second generation. As was inevitable for a group so successful, they debuted a subunit, TTS (TaeTiSeo), named after the group’s main vocalists.
With catchy, jazzy hits like ‘Holler’ and ‘Twinkle’, it’s easy for their Christmas song, ‘Dear Santa’, to go unnoticed. However, this year marks 10 years since its release.
For me personally, the song is the perfect K-Pop Christmas song. With a Korean and an English version, it has instant broad appeal.
Visuals for the music video include snowy setpieces, snow globes, Christmas baking, and other hallmarks of the holiday spirit.
Musically, it’s great too. Starting with a slow ballad opening, its heart wrenching, as the girls reflect on a difficult year – accompanied by slow piano. However, with Tiffany’s announcement, the song picks up tempo, shifting to a jolly festive jaunt. It’s fun, it’s catchy, and it really gets you in the Christmas spirit with its diverse and warm sounds.
NMIXX – Funky Glitter Christmas
Our team are NSWERs through and through. With NMIXX having had such an incredible year from a musical and awards standpoint, it’s the perfect opportunity to look back on their past hits.
Funky Glitter Christmas is truly the essential fourth gen festive anthem. From the opening moments with Kyujin’s iconic lines, this song ‘brings back the funk’.
A playful music video shows the girls dancing around, sharing the Christmas joy and cheer, with an infectious energy permeating every single scene.
The standout for the song though has to be the sheer vocal prowess of the group. Known as industry leaders for a good reason, the chorus is loud and catchy, with Lily’s vocal runs being a particular high point.
Furthermore, the song mixes in instruments and references to multiple anthems, including ‘Joy To The World’ and ‘Feliz Navidad’, playfully referencing and mixing up beloved classics in the group’s signature style. With NMIXX, Christmas is in safe hands.
Zed
Stray Kids – Winter Falls
A song about emotional coldness during the coldest time of year; Winter Falls expresses longing and loss with festive imagery. Christmas is meant to be spent with loved ones but it doesn’t always end up that way.
The music video features the members at a phone box singing the lyrics into the telephone either in darkness or icy weather, at the end of the music video they set the telephone on fire. This is to be interpreted as the ending of something that was once warm but is now cold and needs to be lit up manually for that old feeling of warmth. The person on the other end of the telephone is an ex lover, with the lyrics talking about watching a relationship fade away.
Xdinary Heroes – X-MAS
X-MAS is a rock-infused song, offering a unique take on the holiday season. The lyrics aren’t traditionally festive, there’s no mention of mistletoe or gingerbread but they utilise a Christmas classic ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ adding their own creepy twist to it to match the song’s unsettling lyrics. We get reference to a snowman, which they go on to call dangerous. And that is about as Christmas-sy we get on this track…
But its different sound is what makes it such an impactful song. With their vocal delivery alternating between melodic singing and more intense, passion segments. Xdinary Heroes’ is known for their unique vocal performances and their signature rock sound, so they definitely gave Christmas their own twist with this one.
Dani
GOT7 – Miracle
This song was released as a special gift for the fans, and the lyrics talk about a difficult moment in winter that was transformed into spring through meeting the fans. The focus of the production is entirely on the vocals and the harmony of the group, which makes the feeling of the song much more evident and genuine.
The music video has a very strong year-end vibe and aesthetic, with Christmas elements like snow, trees, lights, and warmer brown tones. It shows the members as figures who take care of a girl, reinforcing the idea of protection and affection.
I cannot listen to this song without getting emotional and crying because their delivery while singing conveys a lot of sincerity. There is also a personal aspect to it, because when the song was released, I was going through a difficult time and felt like the girl in the music video, with the voices and smiles of the members warming my heart.
It is a track that uses the Christmas atmosphere to talk about gratitude in a very beautiful way. Definitely the Christmas song for me!
VICTON – Sweet Travel
Unlike the previous song, this one warms my heart in a different way and makes me smile every second I watch the music video. Sweet Travel is not exactly a Christmas song, but it reminds me a lot of the happy vibe of summer, even though it was recorded and released in the winter in Korea, at the end of the year as well.
Since Christmas for me happens in the summer, it ended up becoming a personal Christmas choice. The lyrics talk about enjoying the moment and having fun on a trip, which brings a sense of freedom and joy. The music video helps a lot with this connection because it takes place in an environment with lights and decorations that resemble year-end holidays and shows the members together having fun, including the doll of Seungwoo, who was in the army at the time.
The song was an anniversary release for the group and is an upbeat track that matches the positive energy I feel at this time of year.
Stray Kids – 24 to 25
I could not make this list without Stray Kids. I could list several of their songs, but I chose 24 to 25, which focuses on the desire to spend Christmas alongside those you like. The title refers to the transition from Christmas Eve to December 25th, and the lyrics talk about wanting time to stop in order to enjoy this moment of togetherness. It is an acoustic and very calm song that carries a strong Christmas vibe.
The music video shows the members in a decorated house, cooking and having fun together, which conveys a sense of comfort and friendship, exactly how I think Christmas should be. This aesthetic reinforces the year-end mood and makes us feel like part of the celebration, which warms the heart. It is a choice that brings peace and perfectly matches the welcoming spirit of the holiday season.
(I also recommend listening to Christmas EveL.)
EXO – The First Snow
This song is an absolute K-pop classic and cannot be missing from any year-end list. It has an acoustic melody that conveys a very strong sense of nostalgia. The lyrics talk about missing someone from the past while the first snow falls. In Korea, the first snow is special and has a very sweet meaning, as people often wish to see it fall with someone they like, which brings a melancholy that matches the reflective mood of this time.
Even though it is a song that talks about regret, its sound is very welcoming. It has become so important that every year it returns as a hit when winter begins, and several groups dance to it or perform covers. It is the type of song that brings back memories and feelings from years ago, reinforcing how EXO can create tracks that mark the emotional memory of those who listen. A timeless gift from EXO to all fans!
Janis
BOYNEXTDOOR – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
This cover song was first heard on last year’s SBS Inkigayo Awards before their ‘Nice Guy’ stage. BOYNEXTDOOR does not play when it comes to festive covers and content, in fact, they have released Christmas-special covers for ‘White’ and ‘Last Christmas’ in the last two years respectively. However I chose this one because I really like what they did with the production.
They have reworked the song with a brass-heavy underlayer, a slightly faster tempo than the original and an additional bass-led instrumental bridge which adds so much character to the track, making it sound more ‘BOYNEXTDOOR’. The member’s voice also sounds lovely on the track, especially Leehan’s warm, lower tone and Woonhak’s bright vocals — this cover sounds just like the boys from next door singing their Christmas carol to you!
PLAVE – Merry PLLIstmas
This is PLAVE’s love ode to their fans, PLLI and it turned out to be one of the best Christmas songs to come out of Kpop. It has the melodramatic melody present in many of PLAVE’s songs, heavenly harmonies and ‘goofy’ lyrics that really makes the song close to the heart.
Their vocals are not lacking in any way in this fan song. Powerful vocals in the chorus and even a little choreographed outro. What really caught me is the lyrics, like ‘The snow will turn into countless stars and shine bright’, ‘I’m dreaming, this moment when the white snow looks like you’ — including the members chanting ‘Merry Christmas!’ At the end which warms everyone’s heart even if you are not a fan of theirs.
BAEKHYUN – 놀이공원(Amusement Park)
This is another classic when we speak of Christmas Kpop. Not only is the Live Video in front of the merry go round iconic by now, but BAEKHYUN’s enchanting voice really brings the track to life. I remember having the chorus in my head when it was first released 5 years ago.
The song gives a sense of comfort with its grounded lyrics and storytelling, you’d feel like you’re in an amusement park just by reading its lyrics — ‘Shall we go to the haunted house?’ ‘I’m your amusement park’. The bridge really draws you into the sentiments with the ‘merry go round’ segment and BAEKHYUN’s soothing vocals, It is just so effortlessly romantic, and makes your heart flutter every time just by its piano intro.
sokodomo – Merry Go Round (회전목마) (feat. Zion.T, Wonstein)
We cannot talk about Korean Christmas Music without ‘Merry Go Round’ bysokodomo. This song came out on Episode 7 of the Korean Hip-Hop Show “Show Me The Money 10” by contestant sokodomo, featuring the legend Zion.T and last year’s contestant Wonstein. The song has an addictive chorus and received a glamourous stage treatment on the episode which left a lasting impact for the Korean audience, reaching now 17M views on the live performance.
The song really became a mainstream bop due to Zion.T and Wonstein’s feature, whose verses really added style to the standout-track. Nonetheless, sokodomo’s own verses are breathtaking, with deep lyrics spoken with his nonchalant delivery. The song compares life to a merry-go-round, and with this bittersweet melody, the trap-rnb pop song became an instant hit that resonated with many of the Korean public.
Let us know what your favourite holiday tracks are. Whether they’re for a snowy season, or a more fiery festive we’d love to know what the soundtrack of your year end sounds like.
Thank you to all of our readers who have been with us throughout this year. Your support and engagement is definitely keeping our hearts warm as the HallyuTones team. Happy Holidays to you all. Remember to stay safe and take care of each other 🙂
Stream all these songs on our HollyTunes Playlist here.
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