WHO NEVER LEFT? Best K-Pop Veteran Group Still Dominating 2026

15843 total votes · 13 options Closed Ends in

About this ranking

They were supposed to have peaked. The discourse had already moved on. Then MAMAMOO came back with 4 Flowers, SHINee dropped Atmos, and EXO returned with REVERXE, and the whole fandom remembered why these groups built their fanbases in the first place.

This poll asked fans to name the group that refused to be a legacy act. It covered everyone from the Hallyu Wave's second generation to the third-gen titans who are now the elder statesmen of a scene that keeps producing new competition every quarter.

Voting closed June 25, 2026. BTS finished on top in a close race with Super Junior.

1

BTS

Since 2013
About BTS →

Closed
2

Super Junior

Since 2005
About Super Junior →

Closed
3

TWICE

Since 2015
About TWICE →

Closed
4

SEVENTEEN

Since 2015
About SEVENTEEN →

Closed
5

Red Velvet

Since 2014
About RED VELVET →

Closed
6

EXO

Since 2012
About EXO →

Closed
7

GOT7

Since 2014
About GOT7 →

Closed
8

Big Bang

Since 2006

Closed
9

SHINee

Since 2008
About SHINee →

Closed
10

Monsta X

Since 2015
About Monsta X →

Closed
11

MAMAMOO

Since 2014
About MAMAMOO →

Closed
12

iKON

Since 2015
About iKON →

Closed
13

2PM

Since 2008

Closed

Frequently asked questions

Which K-pop veteran group won Who Never Left?

BTS won the fan vote with 6,873 upvotes, edging out Super Junior by just 33 votes at 6,840. TWICE placed a distant third with 600.

What qualifies as a veteran group in this poll?

Groups active for five or more years that are still releasing music, performing, or holding cultural relevance in 2026 qualify. The ballot includes BTS, Super Junior, TWICE, Red Velvet, SEVENTEEN, and more.

When did voting close for this poll?

Voting closed June 25, 2026, after a one-week run starting June 18.

How does voting work?

Pick your favorite group and vote. Each fan gets 3 votes per hour, and votes reset every hour so you can return and vote again.

How was the ranking calculated?

Each group's score was upvotes minus downvotes. BTS and Super Junior finished with nearly identical scores, and the higher upvote total decided the top spot.

How many groups and votes were in this poll?

13 groups competed on the ballot, and fans cast 14,955 total votes.