The Korean Business Research Institute released its brand reputation rankings for Korean musical artists for the month of August. To determine which group ranks on the list, they analyzed trends such as consumer participation, community awareness, and news coverage.
This list contains both K-pop groups and Korean soloists.
15. EXO
EXO debuted in 2012 under SM Entertainment. The group originally comprised of 12 members divided into two subunits: EXO-K, who sang in Korean, and promoted in South Korea, as well as EXO-M, who sang in Mandarin and promoted in China. They now promote as one big group, EXO.
EXO has been named as one of the top five most influential celebrities on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list, ranking in the list consecutively from 2014 to 2018 In 2018, the Korean government officially awarded the group the title "The Nation's Pick", awarding them the face of Korean tourism. In 2017, they were the recipients of the Prime Minister's Commendation.
EXO has been dubbed as one of the biggest boy bands in the world. Numerous media outlets and music critics have dubbed EXO as "Kings of K-pop" and have called them a legendary group.
The group's current line-up is Suho, Kai, Chanyeol, Sehun, D.O, Xiumin, Baekhyun, Chen, and Lay. They are currently on a hiatus since members Suho, D.O, and Xiumin are partaking in their mandatory military service, while member Lay is promoting in China as a soloist.
14. TWICE
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TWICE was formed through the JYP Entertainment survival show "SIXTEEN," which was made in partnership with Mnet. The show had sixteen trainees, competing for a spot in the company's new seven-member girl group. The original seven members chosen were Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, and Chaeyoung. In the finale, two members were added to the already selected seven members, making the group nine. The two additional members included were Tzuyu, who was selected for being the most popular trainee throughout the show, and Momo, who even though was eliminated in a previous episode, was chosen to join the group due to her dance skills.
TWICE debuted in 2015 and rose to fame with their first comeback, "Cheer Up." TWICE is the first Korean girl group to earn a Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). TWICE has also ranked third in the Top Artist category of Billboard Japan's 2017 Year-End ranking.
They are also the first K-pop act to hold a Japanese dome tour. TWICE has since started promoting in the West, most recently releasing an English version of their song "MORE & MORE".
13. IZ*ONE
IZ*ONE was formed by the Mnet survival show "Produce 48". The show had trainees from Korean entertainment agencies and members of Japan's AKB48 family competing for a spot to debut in a Korean-Japanese girl group. The members of the group were the top 12 of the show. IZ*ONE debuted in 2018 and were an instant success, subsequently earning them the "New Artist of the Year" award at several year-end award shows. In late 2019, the group stopped all their 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 Yabuki Nako.
12. (G)I-DLE
(G)I-DLE is a six-member multinational girl group that debuted in 2018 under Cube Entertainment, with members hailing from China, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea. Upon their debut, they were called "monster rookies" due to their immense popularity and the heights they reached despite not coming from a Big 3 company. (G)I-DLE is highly regarded for being involved in their music, with member Soyeon writing and co-producing all their material. The other members of the group have also revealed that they are working on music for the group. (G)I-DLE also gained lots of attention after appearing on Mnet's "Queendom".
The group consists of Soyeon, Minyeon, Minnie, Yuqi, Soojin, and Shuhua.
11. Sunmi
Sunmi originally debuted in 2007 as a member of the girl group Wonder Girls under JYP Entertainment. She left the group in 2010 to pursue her studies. In 2013, shed debuted as a soloist with the extended play "Full Moon", the song had a title track of the same name and a single called "24 Hours", which both topped the Gaon Digital Chart.
In 2015, she returned to Wonder Girls and promoted with them until their disbandment in 2017. She left JYP Entertainment following the group's disbandment and signed with Makeus Entertainment. She has since continued her career as a soloist, releasing hits such as "Gashina", "Heroine", and "Siren".
10. Oh My Girl
Oh My Girl is a seven-member girl group that debuted in 2015 under WM Entertainment. The group won their first music show win and had moderate success with the public three years after their debut, in 2018, with "Secret Garden". They received even more love from the Korean public in 2019, after they appearing on Mnet's "Queendom", where they won first runner-up. Their latest comeback, "Nonstop", is considered their breakthrough single, peaking at number 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart.
The group consists of Hyojung, Mimi, YooA, Seunghee, Jiho, Binnie, and Arin. The group originally debuted as eight. However, former member JinE left the group in 2017 due to health concerns.
9. Lee Chanwon
Lee Chanwon is a South Korean trot singer who rose to fame after being one of the top 7 on "Mr. Trot". He is known as "Chantobaegi", a nickname he earned after singing "Jintobaegi" be Lee Sung Woo during his time on the show.
8. Hwasa
Hwasa is a South Korean singer, rapper, songwriter, and TV personality. She is mostly known as a member of the RBW girl group, MAMAMOO. She debuted with the group in June 2014. In February 2019, she made her solo debut with the single "Twit". In March 2020, she collaborated with UK singer Dua Lipa for a remix version of the song "Physical". In June 2020, she released her first extended play, "Maria".
7. Young Tak
Young Tak is a South Korean trot singer who rose to fame after winning second place of the reality show "Mr. Trot". Besides being a trot singer, he is also known for singing guide vocals for other artists and working as a voice over for animations.
6. Red Velvet
Red Velvet debuted originally as a four-member girl group in 2014 with "Happiness". They were originally just Irene, Seulgi, Joy, and Wendy. Member Yeri would join the group in 2015 for their "Ice Cream Cake" comeback, and the group has promoted as five-members since. Red Velvet is highly recognized as one of the most influential K-pop groups worldwide by TIME Magazine and Billboard, and are known as one of the biggest contributors to the spread of the Hallyu Wave worldwide.
Red Velvet is known for having two sides to their music - the velvet, which has a more mature, luxurious vibe with R&B and strong 90s influences; and the red, which is mostly upbeat and pop music, which is more energetic when compared to their velvet music.
Their first sub-unit, consisting of Irene and Seulgi, debuted in July 2020.
5. IU
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IU debuted in 2008 under Kakao M. She achieved breakthrough success two years after her debut in 2010 with the song "Good Day", which spent five consecutive weeks on the Gaon Digital Chart. "Good Day" was ranked as number one on Billboard Magazine's 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s. She is known as South Korea's "Little Sister" due to her clean and girl-next-door image. She is currently active as a singer, songwriter, and actress.
4. Kang Daniel
Kang Daniel first made his appearance to the public in 2017 as a contestant on "Produce 10 Season 2", where he represented his former company, MMO Entertainment. At the show's finale, he ranked first place and was named the center of the project boy group, Wanna One.
In July 2019, Kang Daniel made his debut as a soloist following Wanna One's disbandment. With his debut extended play, "color on me", he broke the Hanteo record for the highest first-day and first-week physical sales for a solo artist since the chart has been made. He won his first music show win for his debut title track "What Are You Up To".
3. Im Young Woong
Im Young Woong is a Korean trot singer who rose to fame following his appearance on the show "Mr. Trot". He made his debut in 2016. Throughout his career, he participated in numerous trot singing competitions and snagged many first-place awards for his singing.
2. BTS
BTS is a seven-member boy group that debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. BTS is highly regarded for co-writing and producing most of their music, being highly active in the group's creative process. They are also known for their lyrics, which usually touch on topics such as personal and social commentary, mental illness, troubles of adolescence, loving, and being oneself.
Their album, "Wings", was BTS's first album to sell one million copies in South Korea. The album allowed the boys to bring their music to the West, spreading the Hallyu Wave worldwide and catapulting BTS as worldwide artists. They are the first K-pop group 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 musical act since the Beatles to earn four number one albums in less than 2 years.
BTS is, as of now, the best-selling artist in South Korean history and was the second best-selling artist in the world in 2018. Media outlets have called them the "Princes of Pop" and were in TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list in 2019. Additionally, the BTS members are the youngest ever recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit from the President of South Korea, with all seven members earning the prestigious award.
The group consists of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.
1. BLACKPINK
BLACKPINK is a four-member girl group that debuted in 2016 under YG Entertainment. Their debut songs "BOOMBAYAH" and "WHISTLE", were instant successes, and both songs happen to be their first number-one hits. BLACKPINK were considered "monster rookies" upon debut, subsequently winning the "New Artists of the Year" at numerous year-end ceremonies.
They are the highest-charting K-Pop girl group to chart on both the Billboard 100 and Billboard 200 with "Kill This Love." Additionally, they are the first female Korean musical act to enter the Billboard "Emerging Artists" chart and are the first female K-pop group to have four number-one singles on the Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. BLACKPINK is the most subscribed music group on YouTube.
The group held their first comeback in a year and two months back in June with "How You Like That". They are scheduled to release another pre-release single called "Ice Cream" featuring Selena Gomez this August. In October, they will be releasing their first album. Member Rosé is slated to make her solo debut in September.
BLACKPINK consists of four members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa.
