The Ultimate K-pop Christmas Playlist 2024
Struggling to get into the Christmas spirit? These K-pop songs will help thaw your frozen heart—just grab a hot chocolate and get your dancing shoes on (though perhaps not simultaneously).
The iconic Red Velvet x aespa Christmas collab. Image: SM Entertainment.
The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder so that can only mean one thing: it’s nearly Christmas! As Christmas trees start popping up and festive lights begin to adorn homes, it’s time to get into the mood for the holidays and what better way to prepare than to blast some classic K-pop Christmas tunes.
From EXO’s iconic wintery ballads to re-imagined retro songs, our Christmas playlist has a track for everyone and any kind of festive event.
Christmassy! - THE BOYZ
THE BOYZ released this Christmas treat back in 2020. With their warm personalities, the 11-member boy group make the perfect songs for the festive period.
The faint sound of sleigh bells throughout “Christmassy!” will not fail to make you feel jolly and when paired with the boys’ light harmonies, the track becomes one of the best Christmas songs around. Check out the music video for “Christmassy!” to watch the members getting into all sorts of festive chaos.
Unfair - EXO
EXO are known for their incredible winter albums that give the members a chance to showcase their chilling ballads and cute love songs.
“Unfair” is as sweet as a candy cane thanks to the melding of D.O and BAEKHYUN’s smooth vocals with CHANYEOL and SEHUN’s playful rap verses. When paired with the group's adorable performance in Santa costumes, this track is the perfect addition to your Christmas playlist!
Christmas EveL - Stray Kids
In classic Stray Kids style, “Christmas EveL” is not your typical mellow festive tune. The impressive rap line takes centre stage in this track with HAN, Bang Chan, and Changbin all blending their verses together seamlessly.
The song has a synth RnB feel with its heavy bassline and trap beats, a common theme in Stray Kids’ discography. With its party chorus leading out the track, you can celebrate in style this Christmas.
Beautiful Christmas - Red Velvet and aespa
No other holiday brings people together like Christmas does. This collaboration between the two SM Entertainment groups, Red Velvet and aespa, only further proves this.
“Beautiful Christmas” is a great track to add to your Christmas party playlist with its jaunty piano instrumentals. All of the girls’ vocals blend so flawlessly together that you might mistake them for being one group. With cute and simple choreography to go with it, it’s time to get your friends together and have a Christmas dance party.
Candle Light - NCT DREAM
What could be better for getting into the Christmas mood than a sweet, pop track by the members of NCT DREAM? The melodic harmonies of the “Candle Light” chorus will relax any listener after some stressful Christmas shopping.
Whilst the track offers all of the members a chance to show off their vocal abilities, HAECHAN’s instantly recognisable voice paired with his ad-libs are what stand out. Of course, no NCT DREAM track is complete without an unforgettable rap verse by MARK!
This Christmas - Taeyeon
If you’re looking for a great Christmas ballad, look no further than Taeyeon’s “The Christmas”.
As one of the biggest stars in the K-pop industry with an instantly recognisable voice, Taeyeon had to be on this list. The slow piano and orchestral string instrumentals pair seamlessly with Taeyeon’s gorgeous vocals. “The Christmas” would be perfect for someone who wants a more mellow festive tune.
Wish Tree - Red Velvet
Whilst Red Velvet are known for their upbeat and sometimes unconventional tracks, “Wish Tree” provides us with a glimpse at another side of the group.
The girls’ velvety voices shine through on this festive treat. The brassy jingle of bells are faintly peppered throughout the song and match the orchestral instrumentals. The sincere lyrics of wishing for the group to be together for many more winters to come makes the track perfect for a Christmas karaoke night with friends (perhaps after a few glasses of soju)!
Candy - NCT Dream
Originally released by H.O.T in 1996, NCT Dream re-imagined the iconic song “Candy” and released it as the title track for their first full Christmas EP.
You simply couldn’t escape this song in 2022 with its addictive dance and catchy tune and the track still holds up today, which is exactly why it has a place on our Christmas playlist! If you’re a fan of retro K-pop songs, “Candy” is for you with its use of 90s-inspired synths throughout the song.
Dear Santa - Girls’ Generation (TTS)
It’s impossible to create a list of the most iconic Christmas songs and not include at least one track by the girl group that’s dominated K-Pop for so long, Girls’ Generation. However, this time it is subunit TTS (which stands for members Tiffany Young, TAEYEON, and SEOHYUN) that needs to be praised for their festive tunes!
Starting off as a 90s-esque ballad, “Dear Santa” soon descends into a jaunty track that’s the perfect backing for decorating the Christmas tree with friends. The girls’ vocals are truly as smooth as a glass of eggnog.
Merry & Happy - TWICE
TWICE are the embodiment of merriment and happiness! Their naturally cute personalities shine through on “Merry & Happy” and create the quintessential Christmas atmosphere for a festive party.
The wholesome lyrics and mid-tempo melody are fairly common in TWICE tracks but this time it comes with a Christmassy twist. Whether you’re going out with friends or staying home to bake cookies, this song will fit into the soundtrack of anyone’s 2022 plans.
Perfect Night (Holiday Remix) - LE SSERAFIM
Why try something new when you can take an already renowned song and give it a dash of Christmas spirit?
“Perfect Night” was already a fun and exciting track about spending time with your best friends. Adding in church bells to the original instrumental has transformed the song into a festive delight and must be played at your next holiday get-together with friends. Whether you’re baking gingerbread or wrapping gifts, “Perfect Night (Holiday Remix)” is the perfect soundtrack for this year’s celebrations.
Miracles in December - EXO
EXO has so many iconic Christmas songs that it was impossible to just feature one! If you’re a fan of more sincere tracks, “Miracles in December” is tailor-made for you. Its stripped back piano instrumental matched with D.O, CHEN, and BAEKHYUN’s magnificent vocals creates a Christmas ballad that is hard to not shed a tear to.
LIP GLOSS - THE BOYZ
Before you say this isn’t a Christmas song, there are many reasons why THE BOYZ’s summer tune “LIP GLOSS” should be on your Christmas playlist.
The song was released as the title track for the album PHANTASY PART 1: CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST and makes several references to the winter holiday in the lyrics. The upbeat backing track paired with the members’ high-energy performance of the song will have you dancing around your room and bring some much-needed warmth to Christmas.
Pair this playlist with a festive activity such as constructing a gingerbread house or getting some early gift wrapping done and you will be feeling Christmassy in no time!
Whether you’re spending it with family or organising a party with friends, our K-pop Christmas playlist will be suitable for any and all festive moods. Let us know your favourite K-pop Christmas song down below.
Edited by Chelsea Cheetham.
