Today I will talk about my top 10 of the most famous female kpop ballad singers. So before I start, I will make some clarification here.
1 I will only talk about female ballad singers here since I listen to female singers most of the time. I do know some really famous male ballad singers as well, but I won't talk about here.
2 I will only talk about solo singers here, like pure ballad/R&B singers, anyone from girl group will not be included here as well, such as Eunji from APink, Taeyeon from SNSD.
3 I will rank my top 10 singers only based on their influence in kpop and actual talent, not their look, so if someone looks not pretty or looks old , I don't judge based on that
APink lead singer Eunji
1 Lee Soo Young
I really want to make No 1 as IU since it's my bias, but I need to rank Lee Soo Young as No 1. Debut at 1999, Lee Soo Young released nine released albums and five mini-albums until today. And
she's recognized in Korea for her powerful voice and although she rarely appears in her own music videos, she has earned a lot of popularity. She has also recently appeared on a number of variety shows, displaying her sense of humour and her ability to be comical and carefree, adding to her popularity. Today she is considered one of Korea’s most famous and accomplished ballad singers. Especially at 2003-2004, she held sales record as 780,000 and 770,000 respectively, beat Queen of kpop Lee Hyori twice and won MBC best female singer award for two consecutive years. After that, She was considered the Queen of Korean Ballads.
At least in the past 20 years, no other ballad singers have such accomplishment as Lee Soo Young. (I used to think Lee Soo Young looks pretty back in early 2000s, but only in early 2000s, she's in her mid 30s, and looks old now)
2 IU
No need to mention more, assume everyone who listen to kpop nowadays knows who is IU. As nation's little Sister, right now IU still enjoyed her popularity and busy composing her own music. Her stage name is derived from the phrase "I and You", symbolizing that people can become one through music.
As my ultimate bias, IU looks so cute and really innocent, and I'm sure she was a really good kid. and IU was also really talented, her 3 high notes in the song "Good Day" really made her stands out from other average singers.
And I always ask myself :"IU or Eunji ???"
3 Beak Ji Young
Speaking of old school female ballad singers, the first one came to my mind is Beak Ji Young, she was really famous when I was in middle school....
Actually Beak Ji Young was not only a ballad singer before, she was also a great dancer and idol singer type , then some scandal happened to her. When she made comeback, she became what is Beak Ji Young we know right now. Also debut at 1999, Beak Ji Young won many awards through out the year, and she was considered the Queen of Korean Drama OST right now.
I was never a big fan of Beak Ji Young, maybe because she looks a bit old, but her songs were really good, especially her early singles, I can name most of them.
4 Lyn
Anyone who listen to kpop around 10 years knows who is Lyn.
Debut at 2001, she was not quite successful at the beginning. When she made a comeback at 2002, It was very successful and was able to shoot her up to one of the top R&B female solo singer of the year. After a surprise two years hiatus, Lyn released her second album Can U See The Bright. The album was very successful, surpassing her previous album with her popular single, "사랑했잖아" (Used To Love). Due to its popularity, the song was eventually covered on another successful singer Lee Seung-gi's album, released in late 2006. After that, Lyn released her third album, The Pride of the Morning, on March 7, 2007, and sold 15,358 copies in that month, placing second in the Music Industry Association of Korea's monthly chart. Again, it was a success and was once again reclaim her title as one of the best R&B female singer in kpop.
Lyn was definitely not my type of singer,but she was famous enough back in days to know who is Lyn.
5 Wax
Debut at 2000, until today, Wax released ten albums and digital single albums. Because of the hit song "Fix My MakeUp", She has won three Golden Disk Awards(the highest award in kpop), one each year from 2001 to 2003, made her one of the most well known female ballad singer back in early 2000s.
I actually know Wax back in middle school already as well, some of her old songs were really popular during that time, but I never knew what Wax actually looks like back then, only know until recently, and she looks a bit too old.
6 Lena Park
Just don't judge what Lena Park looks like, her voice is amazing. If I actually rank the real talent, I would definitely rank Lena Park as at least top 3 of all time....
Lena Park was Korean American, and typical R&B singer. In 2002, her song "꿈에" (In a Dream) was a big success and enabled her to enter foreign markets, such as Singapore. The South Korean government select Park to represent South Korea in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. At the end of 2002, a "best of" album was released and she played a series of concerts. Live recordings from these concerts were compiled into her first special live album in CDs and DVD. Park,
I especially like her early singles, such a talented singer. and I think her voice is actually better than most singers I list here.
7 Ailee
Similar to Lena Park, Ailee is also Korean American R&B singer.
Debut at 2012, Ailee was considered one of the top talent singer in kpop nowadays. Not only in singing, Ailee was also a great dancer and idol type singer. There are people saying:" Ailee is one of the best singer in kpop nowadays, and have very bright future."
Also she looks younger than most of those old singers as above. Ailee looks so cute here...
8 HwaYoBi
HwaYoBi was one of the most underrated Korean R&B singer. She was considered the female version of HwanHee from Fly To The Sky.
Hwayobi is regarded South Korea’s “Queen of R&B,” renowned for her beautiful, soulful voice and powerful performances. Not just a singer, but a lyricist and composer, she makes many of her own songs. Hwayobi’s talent earned her awards for Best Female R&B artist and Best Female Ballad Singer from the Korean Entertainment Art Awards in 2005 and 2006. Having been in the industry since her debut in 2000,
I don't really know much about HwaYoBi before. I heard about this singer, and knows she's a R&B singer back then, and that's it. But don't know she was actually on top for a while before.
9 J.ae
Also known as stage name J . She was also Korean American, and a famous R&B/Soul singer-songwriter. Debut at 1998, her popularity rises when she released her second album, which achieved great success. The lead single, a mellow, mid-tempo R&B ballad number "어제처럼" (Like Yesterday) shot to #1 on various Korean TV network charts.
J.ae was also a early 2000s singer, she was also a great R&B singer just like Lena Park, and she wrote her own songs as well.
I thought J looks old back then already, but her voice and talent really stands out at that time.
10 YangPa
YangPa was probably the first female kpop ballad singer I know. Debut at 1997, she was one of very few female ballad singers made their name in kpop when male ballad singers dominate kpop scene at that time. In Korean Drama Reply 1997, she was mentioned many times and on Eunji's kiss scene.
From what I remember, YangPa looks really cute back then, and I thought she would be a good kid too , and she was also a great singer, her songs were really difficult to sing as well. But she looks old now too, but still a great singer even compare to most other kpop singer nowadays.
Besides those singers I list above, I know way more female ballad singers than I listed above. For example, old singers like Byul , Park Ji Yoon, and many others, or singers like Lee Hi nowadays. There were a lot, but I only list my top 10 list here.
