The Korean Business Research Institute has released its brand reputation rankings for K-pop acts (both soloists and groups) for the month of June. To determine which groups make the list, they analyzed trends, such as consumer participation, community awareness, and news coverage
Scroll down to know who made it to the list!
10. Lee Chan Won
Lee Chan Won is new to the game but is slowly rising in popularity! Lee Chan Won is a 24-year-old college student and singer who appeared on Mister Trot 2020 Though he has yet to hit the international market, he is doing well in South Korea.
9. IU
IU is a singer-songwriter and actress from Kakao M who made her debut in 2008. She gained her superstar status, following the release of "Good Day" in 2010, which spent five consecutive weeks on the Gaon Digital Chart and was ranked as number one on Billboard Magazine's 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s. She has been dubbed as "Korea's Little Sister," thanks to her girl-next-door image. She made her debut with a supporting role in the teen drama "Dream High."
8. IZ*ONE
The group was formed following the girl's appearance on Mnet's "Produce 48" in which girls from Korean entertainment agencies and the AKB48 groups competed for a spot in the final lineup. They debuted in 2018 and were an instant commercial success, subsequently winning them the "New Artist of the Year" award at several awarding ceremonies. In late 2019, the group halted activities due to the Mnet vote manipulation investigation. They returned to their activities in 2020.
The group consists of: Jang Wonyoung, Kwon Eunbi, Kim Minju, Kang Hyewon, Ahn Yujin, Choi Yena, Lee Chaeyeon, Kim Chaewon, Jo Yuri, Miyawaki Sakura, Hondi Hitomi, and Nabuki Nako.
7. TWICE
TWICE was formed by the Mnet x JYP Entertainment survival show "SIXTEEN," in which seven of the members were selected by the finalists, and two members were selected by Park Jinyoung. Tzuyu was added to the group for being the fan favorite and Momo - who was eliminated in a previous episode - was chosen for her dance skills by the A&R team and the trainers, and they joined Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Dahyun, Mina, Chaeyoung, and Sana.
The group debuted in 2015 and rose to fame with "Cheer Up." TWICE is the first Korean girl group to earn a Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. They also ranked third in the Top Artist category of Billboard Japan's 2017 Year-End ranking.
Further, they are also the first K-pop act to hold a Japanese dome tour. They have since expanded to promote in the United States.
6. Young Tak
Youngtak is another competitor from Mister Trot 2020 on this list. He is 37 years old and is up-and-coming in Korea, landing at number six on the list.
5. BLACKPINK
The group debuted in 2016 under YG Entertainment with "BOOMBAYAH," which also happens to be their first number-one hit. BLACKPINK consists of four members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, and Lisa. The group saw early commercial success, subsequently winning the "New Artists of the Year" at the 31st Golden Disc Awards and the 26th Seoul Music Awards. They are the highest-charting female K-Pop act on both the Billboard 100 and Billboard 200 with "Kill This Love," and also the first and only K-pop group to enter the Billboard "Emerging Artists" chart. Further, they are the first female K-pop act to have four number-one singles on the Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. BLACKPINK is also the most subscribed music group on YouTube.
The group released "How You Like That" on June 26, Friday. It is their first comeback in a year and two months.
4. Kim Ho Jung
Kim Ho Jung is the third person from Mister Trot 2020 on this list. He is a 29-year-old vocalist. Like the other members of Mister Trot 2020, he is slowly but surely rising in popularity.
3. Kang Daniel
Kang Daniel was first introduced to the public in 2017 when he competed on the Mnet's survival show "Produce 101 Season 2", where he finished as the first-placer in the final episode. Since then, he became the center of the group Wanna One. When the group disbanded in 2019, he took a six-month hiatus from the industry and established his own agency to manage his own activities. He made his solo debut in 2019 with his debut EP "Color on Me." The EP was a commercial success and broke the highest first-day and first-week sales record held by a solo artist in the history of Hanteo Chart.
2. Im Young Woong
Im Young Woong is a South Korean trot singer who appeared on the reality show, "Mr. Trot". He made his debut in 2016. In his career, he participated in numerous trot singing competitions and bagged many first-place awards for his singing.
1. BTS
BTS debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment are known for co-writing and producing most of their material. They touched the hearts of their audience with their lyrics, which usually focus on personal and social commentary, mental illness, troubles of adolescence, loving, and being oneself.
With "Wings" being BTS's first album to sell one million copies in South Korea, the boys were able to bring their music to the West, leading the Hallyu Wave into the United States and breaking numerous records. They are the first Korean group to receive certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. They are the first Korean act to top the Billboard 200 with "Love Yourself: Tear" and have hit the top of the U.S. charts numerous times. They are the fastest group since the Beatles to earn four number one albums in less than 2 years.
Further, BTS is the best-selling artist in South Korean history and was the second best-selling artist of 2018. Media outlets have dubbed then as the "Princes of Pop" and were in Time's 100 most influential people in the world list in 2019.
They are the youngest ever recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit from the President of South Korea.
The group consists of: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.
