13 K-Pop Songs That Encapsulate Being In Your 20s

Your 20s can be a pretty confusing time in life. There’s a sense of freedom, yet you’re weighed down by new responsibilities. Now you have to deal with the realities of adulting from job hunting to juggling relationships. It may sound a little scary, but this is also the best time to discover who you are! Dream big, fall in love, fall out of love, make mistakes, learn from them, hold on to your friends, and get lost in this thing called life. To help you make sense of it all, here are 13 K-pop songs that encapsulate being in your 20s.

1. ITZY – “#Twenty”

“Responsibilities are heavy but freedom is sweet/ I think the world is mine/ I am just twenty”

Bask in the glow and warm feeling of youth, and enjoy your 20s! The world is your oyster. Though some might say these are the best years of your life, it’s not true. There are still many great years ahead, so don’t let the pressure of expectation ruin it for you. Let loose, and have a good time! #Twenty #blessed

2. GWSN – “After the bloom (alone)”

“I’m scared/ I’m afraid it will be so different/ I’m better better on my own”

In “After the bloom (alone),” GWSN opens up about the pressures and fears of growing up. What if we change so much that we can’t recognize ourselves in the mirror? Most of us grapple with finding ourselves in our 20s. It can be a lonely process, but the song assures us that we will be ready when it’s time to meet our grown-up selves.

3. LOONA – “Dance On My Own”

“I don’t need nobody to move my body/ All me with no strings attached/ I don’t wanna be somebody who/ lets somebody hold me if they hold me back”

Stuck in an unhealthy relationship? Take this self-love advice from LOONA. Don’t let anyone hold you back. Go ahead and cut that bad relationship out of your life. Enjoy being by yourself—you’re young and free!

4. SEVENTEEN – “My My”

“No need to rush, you’re doing fine/ Just stay as you are/ My journey starts with me”

SEVENTEEN’s “My My” is about going at your own pace. Life’s a journey and nobody can decide for you except yourself. Sometimes we get caught up with society’s expectations for us, but the truth is that nothing is set in stone, and there’s nothing too fast or too slow. March to the beat of your own drum. Do your own thing, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

5. IU – “Palette” (Feat. G-Dragon)

“I like it, I’m twenty-five/ I know that you like me/ I got this, I’m truly fine/ I think I know myself a little bit now”

“Palette” is IU’s acknowledgment of her identity and her coming-of-age moment. Through listing seemingly mundane everyday things like her favorite color, hairstyle, and fashion, she exerts her own agency. While there’s still a hint of uncertainty in her tone, we get the sense that she’s self-assured and knows herself a little better now at 25.

6. BTS – “Moving On”

“Now I’m going to take pride and aim at a bigger world, a bigger dream/ A new start, a new beginning/ A time of excitement, thinking how we will decorate again”

Your 20s is a time of transitions and moving on to different life stages. Saying goodbye to your childhood home as you move to the big city to pursue your dream can be bittersweet, but the song reminds us to keep these cherished memories in our hearts and look forward instead. Here’s to new beginnings!

7. Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon – “Weekend”

“Wanna leave when the weekend comes/ I can do whatever I want/ The scattered cloud in the wind/ More freely we can go”

Weekends are precious when you start working! You finally understand the thrill of TGIF. Time to hang out with your friends, get on with your hobbies, and catch up on the series everyone’s talking about. Leave the stress of work behind, and do whatever you want when the weekend comes!

8. ENHYPEN – “Polaroid Love”

“It’s like a polaroid love/ Love, that old-fashioned feeling/ But my heart is racing/ Why am I like this?”

“Polaroid Love” is a lovely song about the tingly feeling you get when you fall in love. It compares love to something as old-fashioned as polaroid photos. Everlasting and classic, it’s a sweet little love song for when you meet a special someone.

9. AKMU – “How can I love the heartbreak, you’re the one I love”

“How can I even love the heartbreak/ when you’re the one I love/ I can’t give up on us solely because of love/ and experience heart-wrenching pain”

Sometimes you fall in love, sometimes you fall out of love. Experiencing heartbreak is unfortunately a part of growing up. AKMU sings about the heartbreaking and complex feelings that come with the impending end of a romance. This is the song for those emo late-night drives.

10. Red Velvet – “Ladies Night”

“Unforgettable ladies night/ The stories that pile up fill this night up to the brim/ Ladies, filled with starlight/ Us being together is what makes this night become perfect”

Hold on tight to your friends in your 20s! These are the ones who will always have your back and cheer you on like a personal cheerleader. As the song says, the fun nights out with your old friends will bring you joy and comfort when life gets hard.

11. WINNER’s Kang Seung Yoon – “IYAH”

“I’m still a kid/ In my mother’s eyes/ All that you see isn’t everything/ I’m still young, but what if I make some mistakes”

Growing up isn’t easy. “IYAH” is about the pressure of being an adult and feeling like you’re too young to meet the expectations of the world. The song also reassures us that it’s okay to make mistakes. Keep going, and strive to do better tomorrow.

12. EXO’s D.O. – “That’s okay”

“Sometimes I cry/ Sometimes I laugh/ I have expectations / And I go through pain/ I get butterflies again/ And become dull/ I follow my heart, the way that I am”

When life gets overwhelming, this soothing song by D.O. is a comforting reminder that it’s okay to acknowledge and feel emotions. There will be good and bad days, so open your heart to experience all of them. You don’t have to pretend to be okay.

13. NCT DREAM – “Hello Future”

“I’ve been waiting for you, welcome/ Wherever it may be, we’re coming together/ Don’t worry about anything/ It’ll be alright, hello future/ Because I met you, we shine brighter together yeah, yeah”

Your 20s can be a whirlwind of emotions, but don’t fear—it will be alright. The uplifting and anthemic “Hello Future” beckons to an optimistic future. The exhilarating song will fill your heart with a euphoric sense of freedom and hope that will make you forget about your worries today.

What are the songs that encapsulate your 20s? Let us know in the comments below!

Bellyfull is a pop-culture junkie who enjoys a cup of tea in the morning.