The esteemed British newspaper, The Guardian, has forecasted that this year will be dominated by K-pop girl groups.

On August 27 (local time), The Guardian published an article titled "K-pop Girl Groups Conquer the UK," highlighting the global trend of K-pop.

Last month, BLACKPINK made history by becoming the first Korean pop group to headline a UK festival, performing at London's Hyde Park.

Despite having eight hits on the UK's Official Top 40, The Guardian noted that many were still surprised by BLACKPINK's major UK event appearances. The article pointed out that "The UK's musical snobbery often sneers at the overtly manufactured nature of the K-pop industry."

The article continued, "Now, skeptics must acknowledge that there's no sign of K-pop's popularity waning. And this year will be the year of K-pop girl groups."

The Guardian highlighted, "TWICE, aespa, ITZY, and (G)I-DLE are all set to perform at the London Arena next month. Another girl group, MAMAMOO, wrapped up their concert in cinemas across the UK earlier this month. Furthermore, this year, both FIFTY FIFTY and Newjins have made their entry into the UK charts."

The publication suggested that the rise of K-pop girl groups is due to the decline of British girl groups. While the past saw groups like the Spice Girls, there's now a noticeable absence of new British girl groups, paving the way for K-pop girl groups to gain popularity.

Claire Rodriguez, a composer behind hit songs of Girls' Generation and Red Velvet, commented, "The music is catchy, the fashion styling is impeccable, the choreography is outstanding, and the stage production is meticulously crafted. There's a genuine female energy in girl group songs. It's as if they're saying 'join our pack'."

She added, "This sense of camaraderie seems to have attracted their core fanbase, which is predominantly young women. BLACKPINK's bold lyrics and vibrant sound act as an antidote to the currently trending 'sad girl' music of artists like Billie Eilish, Tate McRae, and Mimi Webb."

The Guardian emphasized, "The fact that the UK hasn't replicated their success shows that K-pop girl groups possess something special."