Home » SNSD vs TWICE: Who is the Nation’s Girl Group?

SNSD vs TWICE: Who is the Nation’s Girl Group?

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SNSD vs TWICE: Who is the Nation's Girl Group?

Throughout my years of being a K-pop fan, specifically a girl group stan, the Nation’s Girl Group title has always intrigued me. It’s not simply bearing a K-pop title but holding a title for the whole nation, and it’s always been one of the main discussions of K-pop fans. Among all the active girl groups, two names stay on top: second generation’s Girls’ Generation (SNSD, Hangul: 소녀시대) and third generation’s TWICE (Hangul: 트와이스). Shall we delve into it?

The South Korea Representative in K-pop: The Nation’s Girl Group

It’s been more than a decade since I started listening to K-pop. I remember SNSD’s The Boys being stuck in my head, Wonder Girls’ Nobody rocking the world, and PSY’s colossal hit, Gangnam Style. With all those years, the title Nation’s Girl Group has always been significant, specifically way back. The title is somehow a responsibility, as the group is majorly chosen by the public. Fans don’t just pick it; the nation’s boy or girl group represents South Korea through K-pop.

  • The title itself has this weight that adds stature to the group’s name and reputation. Simply, earning the crown as the Nation’s Girl Group is getting a seal of acknowledgment from the public due to the group’s impact and power in the country. It isn’t just one song that would make one a nation’s group; it’s consistently rising to greater heights before cementing the group name as the nation’s representative.

Let’s look at the legacy and the career of the two girl groups I mentioned above. Here are my thoughts on what made them the Nation’s Girl Group.

SNSD and Their Forever Legacy

It’s impossible not to hear even once in your K-pop fangirl or fanboy life the legends SNSD or Girls’ Generation. In the nearing 2010s, among the various K-pop groups that debuted, SNSD has won the hearts of many through their music, concepts, and personalities. They performed side-to-side with YG Entertainment’s 2NE1 and, JYP Entertainment’s Wonder Girls and miss A, among others.

SNSD, Girls' Generation
Image Courtesy of SNSD via Instagram (@girlsgeneration)
  • Ever since their debut, SM Entertainment’s Girls’ Generation shot to fame. From Into The New World to their most recent release, FOREVER 1, they are still among the most famed K-pop groups. If I remember correctly, the SNSD-2NE1 fandom fight has always been one of the iconic eras of the K-pop industry. Despite the fan fight, it’s still to no avail that SNSD had made it bigger than YGE’s second-gen girl group.
  • Aside from a vast and varied discography, their eye-catching music videos and concepts have earned them a legion of fans—the SONEs. And, of course, they didn’t receive the Nation’s Girl Group title just because of that. Their music is so promising that it started reaching an international audience, with tracks I Got A Boy, The Boys, Genie, and Gee, among all the others.
  • The then-nine-member girl group has the most accolades among all the K-pop groups. Everywhere you look, the members have been actively called for CFs (commercial films, commercial queens!). They hold a lot of record-breaking achievements, some of which opened the K-pop industry to the world.

But in my opinion, what made people fall in love with the Girls’ Generation are the members. Yes, their music is such a huge factor for the title, but without the charming personalities of the members, I don’t think they’ll reach the level of recognition—Nation’s Girl Group. Have you watched their variety show guest appearances? If not, you may want to check out how raw and honest their humor was, and they’re just as chaotic as anyone can be. They quickly earned the public through their funny and effortless antics.

  • Moreover, while the group goes up, it’s certainly that each member’s career became successful, too. Acting career, solo career, modeling, and anything else they have in their bags. Honestly, it’s because of how well-rounded they are… in terms of everything.
  • Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun have been excelling in their different careers—soloists, actresses, DJs, and, of course, idols still.

It’s not that tough and much of a debate since they didn’t just get the title from their fans. SNSD earned and received the Nation’s Girl Group title from the media and the public in general. The girl group catches everyone’s tastes, all ages and genders, with their music, visuals, their jokes, and simply their strong bond.

TWICE and Their Booming Career

I know what you’ll say: Isn’t TWICE receiving the same recognition right now? And you’re right; JYPE’s third-gen girl group has also been known to be the Nation’s Girl Group since 2017. The eight-year-old nine-member girl group debuted in 2015, coming from the survival show SIXTEEN. I assure you, their fame didn’t come overnight, not even a few months or years in. They competed with many sunbaenims like EXO and RED VELVET, and the second-generation active groups were still releasing new music then.

TWICE
Image Courtesy of Billboard via TWICE’s Official Instagram (@twicetagram)
  • I remember seeing the circulating photos of the members, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, in a store, selling the food products as they promote their music. And look how far they’ve come now. Billboard performances, Fashion Week attendance,  collaborations, magazine front covers, and many more; it’s impossible not to know TWICE at this point.
  • Similarly, one can compare SNSD’s songs to TWICE’s discography. Since the October 20, 2015 debut of TWICE, they have been releasing no-skips albums, may it be their Korean or Japanese releases. With the group dropping English tracks with their recent EPs, it’s easier for them to grow a larger fanbase internationally. SNSD and the second-gen may have opened K-pop to the world, but TWICE and the third-gen filled the globe with their music.
  • The nine-member girl group also has their CF Queens era around South Korea and Japan. Having three Japanese members, Momo, Sana, and Mina, also earned them a massive fanbase in their home country. To date, each member actively has their advertisements and brands under their belts.
  • Slowly, the members are entering their soloists and subunits era and still receiving incredible hype and recognition among fans and listeners alike. Nayeon’s POP! became an online favorite trend, while MISAMO’s Japan debut made headlines in numerous media outlets around the globe. Jihyo’s Killin’ Me Good definitely had people captivated with her voice and music.
  • Beginning their story with the challenging and heartfelt SIXTEEN, you’ll be moved by how each member became one’s family throughout the years. The public loves their cute and bubbly concepts and tracks like their debut song, LIKE OOH-AHH, and the following songs, LIKEY, CHEER UP, SIGNAL, and What is Love?
  • Their music grew with them from those innocent teenage tunes to stronger and fiercer tracks like I Can’t Stop Me, Talk That Talk, and SET ME FREE. Who wouldn’t love a smooth, timely, and fitting growth when it comes to their discography? However, they would always have this charming, bubbly, and easygoing touch in everything they do, which earns them the title until now. TWICE has proved themselves a lot of times that they continuously reach more remarkable feats as a group and individuals as the years go by.

But have I mentioned their variety show skills? Even their simplest (and most cringeworthy) aegyo could make the show and the viewers laugh, and they actually look adorable doing them (before!) They know how to catch everyone’s attention; even the quietest members have charms you can’t resist!

If I had to weigh in on the two iconic girl groups of South Korea, I’d give the third-generation Nation’s Girl Group title to TWICE. They undoubtedly brought K-pop wider in Japan and, of course, globally—just take a look at their sold-out arena and stadium concerts in their recent READY TO BE Tour.

Final Thoughts: Who Takes The Crown?

Let’s get straight to the point and try to weigh who is carrying the Nation’s Girl Group title. It’s easy to say that SNSD’s legacy has earned them the crown for it and is still theirs for this very generation. However, looking at TWICE’s impact locally and internationally in their generation up until now, this could be debatable.

  • Until the current generation, Girls’ Generation’s name remains one of the top names on Brand Ranking Reputation despite being a not-so-active girl group. Fifteen years in the industry, and I can say that they marked their name almost everywhere in the country.
  • On the other hand, in over just a year since TWICE’s debut, the JYP Entertainment girl group received the Nation’s Girl Group. Eight years in, the group continues to thrive, along with the current generation.

To be fair, I’ve been thinking through what would be the best words to compare both of these successful girl groups. But I do believe that SNSD is the first and (could be) the original Nation’s Girl Group of the country. They have held a special place in South Korean and K-pop fans’ hearts, and I don’t think their name would disappear in any NGG discussions, which makes my stance valid—they are THE NGG.

Undoubtedly, TWICE deserves a similar title as well. With all their accomplishments, popularity, and fans, they aren’t just behind the shadows of SNSD. They made their name around the globe, their songs heard by everyone, and along with YGE’s BLACKPINK, SME’s RED VELVET, RBW’s MAMAMOO, and more, TWICE deserves the Nation Girl Group title for the third generation.

It may be tricky to compare these groups from different eras and generations since times do really change. Nonetheless, both groups brought pride to K-pop in the country and the globe. So, who do you think has the Nation’s Girl Group title? Let us know in the comments below!

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