K-pop’s love affair with Y2K is more than a nostalgia trip—it’s a fashion manifesto for a new global generation. Low-rise denim, hyper-pop beats and cyber-optimism, all filtered through the lens of TikTok, tech, and genre-fluid style. It’s not a simple throwback—it’s a remix.You can’t really pinpoint who started the comeback.
Y2K in K-pop isn’t about origin, it’s kind of an evolution. Born from the chaos of ’90s club-wear, rave culture, and hip-hop street codes, the aesthetic comes alive in crop tops, metallics, baby tees, and loose cargo pants—reimaged by idols who grew up with both Destiny’s Child and Britney Spears on the same playlist.
Take 2019 ITZY’s “ICY”—a sonic and visual explosion of nostalgia core. It’s bold, confident, and laced with power-girl energy.
Then there’s NewJeans’ “Super Shy”, a breezy blend of UK garage beats and sugar-sweet pop, wrapped in jittery confessions of crushes and coy glances. Styled in pleated minis, baby tees, and butterfly clips, they turn shy-girl energy into a playful, fashion-forward statement of sweet girlhood.
Enter 2025 MEOVV, the latest girl group on the scene, and the new face of K-pop’s kitten-core era. With their debut single “MEOW,” they go full throttle: kawaii face filters, oversized accessories, and denim short-shorts—topped off with Chanel pearls and feline eyeliner that nods to Jennie’s iconic cat-girl look.The Kawaii girl power in K-pop is more than aesthetic reuse—it’s a glittering reimagination of what the future used to feel like. And It’s become a cultural language.
From NewJeans speaks softly in lowercase; ITZY shouts in bold caps; Meovv types in pixel fonts with a sparkle filter. They aren’t just bringing back the 2000s—they’re building a new wave of future from its digital dust.