CNBLUE is a pop-rock band that is often compared to Maroon 5. Its name stands for Code Name BLUE, an abbreviation of the members' images (Burning, Lovely, Untouchable and Emotional). Recommendation: "Can't Stop"

G-Dragon G-Dragon began training in the industry at the age of 8 and boy, does it show. The leader of BIGBANG, he released his first solo album in 2009 and a successful follow-up in 2013. G-Dragon's collaborated with everyone from Missy Elliott to Diplo to Skrillex and is a renowned songwriter, dancer and fashion icon. Recommendation: " Crayon"

Girls' Generation Girls' Gen is a nine-member girl group that has become known as "The Nation's Singers" and "The Nation's Girl Group" in South Korea. With roots in bubblegum pop, it soon transitioned into electropop and even draws from '80s new wave and modern R&B. Recommendation: "I Got a Boy"

IUIU's stage name is derived from the phrase "I and You," symbolizing how music can connect people. She's a singer, songwriter and actress who rose to fame as a teen star with a very innocent image. Now in her early 20s, IU has begun the tricky transition into adult star. Recommendation: "Not Spring, Love or Cherry Blossoms"

T-ARA T-ARA is a six-member pop group that draws from nu-disco, electropop and R&B. It uses a rotating leader system, allowing a different member to be elected as leader each year to help both the group and the individual evolve. Recommendation: "Cry Cry"

EXO They're a 12-member South Korean-Chinese boy band divided into two subgroups, Exo-K and Exo-M, which perform in Korean and Mandarin, respectively. Formed in 2012, it has already become the youngest boy band to win Album of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and is the fastest-selling K-pop artist in over a decade. Recommendation: "Wolf"

2NE1The name of this four-person girl group is a combination of the phrases "21st century" and "new evolution." And if you're confused as how to pronounce it, don't worry. It's acceptable to pronounce it as either "to anyone" or "twenty-one." While its debut song "Lollipop" with BIGBANG was very pop-focused, the group is heavily influenced by hip-hop, EDM and R&B. Recommendation: "I Am the Best"

Super Junior Though this boy band has 12 members, only nine are currently active. This is because Super Junior follows the previously unheard-of concept in K-pop of consistently shifting up the line-up to help the group feel fresh. Recommendation: "Mr. Simple"

f(x) This five-member multinational girl group is quickly finding international success. Its second EP Electric Shock topped both the U.S. and Canadian iTunes electronic albums chart following its release in 2012. The following year, it became the first K-pop group to perform at SXSW. Recommendation: "Electric Shock"

4Minute This five-member girl group formed in 2009, with two of its members forming the sub-unit 2YOON in 2012. Its lead rapper Hyuna also has a successful solo career. Recommendation: "Volume Up"

miss A The name of this four-member Chinese-Korean girl group stands for Miss Asia. It made its official debut in South Korea with "Bad Girl Good Girl" in 2012. The song stayed at the top of the charts for four consecutive weeks, breaking the previous record set by Girls' Generation. Recommendation: "I Don't Need a Man"

BIGBANG Otherwise known as "The Nation's Boy Band," this five-member group is heavily involved in composing and producing its own music, which draws from hip-hop, rock, R&B and electronic. Its members have also found huge success outside the group, with both Taeyang and G-Dragon releasing solo albums, G-Dragon and T.O.P. forming a popular sub-unit and Seungri, Daesung and T.O.P. also finding success as actors.Recommendation: "Fantastic Baby"

2PM Originally formed as an 11-member band One Day, the group was split into two independent groups 2PM and 2AM. When it debuted, 2PM's emphasis on masculinity helped to create the jimseung-dol phenomenon in 2008. Recommendation: "Hands Up"

Beast Since forming in 2009, this six-member boy band has released three full-length albums, six mini-albums and various singles. It was also the topic of a short-lived reality show MTV B2ST and has its own animated novel based on them. Recommendation: "Fiction"

Brown Eyed GirlsOften abbreviated as B.E.G. or BG, Brown Eyed Girls began as a four-person R&B/ballad group, but has since expanded to more pop and electronic genres. Recommendation: "Abracadabra"

Wonder GirlsIts name is inspired by the idea that the group are "the girls who can amaze the world" and it seems they've done just that. In 2009, Wonder Girls opened for the Jonas Brothers and the English version of their single "Nobody" charted at 76 on the Billboard Hot 100. This made them the first South Korean group to ever enter the chart. Recommendation: "Be My Baby"

HyunaAfter a brief stint in Wonder Girls, Hyuna moved on to become the lead rapper in 4Minute. She's since gone on to have a successful solo career as well as form the musical duo Trouble Maker with Beast's Hyunseung. She was also featured in Psy's "Gangnam Style" music video. Recommendation: "Bubble Pop"

BoyfriendBefore Boyfriend was even formed, its twin members Youngmin and Kwangmin had already generated buzz for appearing in numerous commercials as child actors. The group has since only picked up steam and is poised to really break out in the K-pop scene. Recommendation: "Obsession"

TaeyangAfter six years of vocal and dance training, Taeyang joined BIGBANG in 2006. Four years later, he released his first solo album. His second solo album Rise achieved an all-kill (No. 1 on all charts) in Korea. It even topped the iTunes R&B/Soul album charts in 19 countries, including the USA, U.K., Canada and Australia. Recommendation: "Eyes, Nose, Lips"

GOT7GOT7 is a seven-member hip-hop boy group that was originally heralded as "the next 2PM." They specialize in martial-arts tricking, which is a form of martial arts with acrobatics, and fuse it with B-boying. Recommendation: "A"

InfiniteInfinite is a seven-member pop boy band that also draws on R&B and dance music. In 2014, the sub-unit Toheart formed between member Woohyun and SHINee's Key. Recommendation: "Destiny"

Girls' DayBefore this four-member group debuted, it generated interest through social media and dance flash mobs. In 2010, it also got its first TV series with boy band U-KISS, We Are Dating, which is a spin-off of We Got Married. Recommendation: "Expect"

Jung Joon YoungAfter becoming a top-three finalist in Mnet's reality competition Superstar K4, Joon Young began performing, modeling and DJing. He's gone on to release two rock albums featuring many songs he composed himself. Recommendation: "The Sense of an Ending"

RainAfter beginning his career in the boy band Fanclub in 1998, the "King of K-Pop" found fame four years later when he released the first of many pop-R&B solo albums. He continued to work as both a singer and actor until 2011 when he took his mandatory military leave. Rain made a comeback in 2014, releasing a new album, starring in a reality show and filming the Bruce Willis film The Prince. Recommendation: "30SEXY"

SHINeeThis five-member R&B group is known for its intensely complex and synchronized dancing. Its members have become fashion icons, inspiring a trend among students dubbed the "SHINee Trend." Recommendation: "Sherlock"

KaraKara's name comes from the Greek word chara (joy), which the girl group interprets to mean "sweet melody." When it debuted in 2007, it was a critical failure. Kara then rebranded and achieved its first hit single in 2009.When two members left the group in 2014, a reality show Kara Project was created to find a new member. That year, it also debuted its drama series Secret Love. Recommendation: "Pandora"