Top Korean Karaoke Songs to Sing in 2023
In Korea, korean karaoke is known as no-rae-bang. Noraebang when directly translated means “song room”, also known as KTV. Family and friends typically rent out a room per hour. In South Korea there are booths where you can sing 1 or 2 songs for a dollar or two. In a noraebang room there are (2) wireless mics, a remote and a songbook that includes many karaoke songs. Modern day noraebangs include touch screen karaoke systems with updated song databases. Other noraebangs can include costumes and song pads with funny sound effects to troll your singing friends. While at a noraebang you can request for food and drinks. Most popular beverages include:
Milkis (Milk with sweet carbonated drink):
Somaek (Beer plus alcohol):
Yakult (sweet probiotic drink) and popular snacks (Anju) include dried squid with dips, shrimp chips, salted peanuts and popcorn.
If you’re a K-pop fan, here are the most recommended korean karaoke songs to request!
1) OMG by New Jeans
This viral song with its super catchy beats and dance choreography has been taking over the internet. OMG started TikTok dance trends that is still popular to this day. New Jeans is a 5 member girl group owned by the company HYBE. The members include: MinJi, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein with ages ranging from 18-19 years old. They recently debuted back in August 2022 and since then started gaining popularity. Choosing this song at your next karaoke night would showcase your updated knowledge of korean karaoke pop!
2) Dynamite by BTS
BTS or known as Bangtan Sonyeondan (Korean: 방탄소년단; Hanja: 防彈少年團), which translates literally to 'Bulletproof Boy Scouts' has been around since 2010 with many songs and hits centered on individuality, mental health and self love. BTS is a 7 member boy group including Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, who co-write or co-produce much of their material. This popular boy group is owned by the company Big Hits (which is under HYBE who also owns NewJeans ^-^) If we had to determine BTS’ most famous song, it would be Dynamite. The group's first English-only track not only became the first song by a South Korean act to debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100, it also broke records on Billboard's Global charts. Everyone at your next korean karaoke party would guarantee to bop along to this catchy song!
3) DDU-DU-DDU-DU by BlackPink
Black Pink is a popular 4 member girl group who had broken the international music industry and collaborated with many popular idols such as Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa and even performed at Coachella twice.
Easily their biggest single and the track that really broke the group into the international eye, DDU-DU-DDU-DU became the template for most of what would follow. The title of the song, Ddu-du Ddu-du, is derived from a Korean phrase that is often used to describe something that looks cool or powerful. In English, the phrase roughly translates to “Look at me now” or “I'm the best”. Surely picking this song to karaoke would catch the attention of your whole party!
4) Gangnam Style-Psy
HEEEEY sexy lady-oppa gangnam style is easily the song to make the crowd go wild with its catchy chorus and viral dance choreography. This music video set a record for the first video to surpass 1 billion views on the Youtube platform. Beyond the funny music video, Psy had written “Gangnam Style” with the idea of parodying the flamboyance, narcissism, and ostentatious wealth he felt had become prevalent in the newly rich country – epitomized by the youth who hung around the ultra-rich district of Gangnam, known locally as the Beverly Hills of Seoul.