In an online community, a post that showed the most popular idols in YouTube Korea from 2010 to 2021 garnered massive attention. From SHINee and BIGBANG, the male idols who were loved by the new-gen fans became EXO and BTS, while from SNSD and Apink, the most-loved female idols changed to IU, TWICE and BLACKPINK.
On Jan. 16, the Top 5 most-searched male and female idols on YouTube Korea attracted interest as it also showed idol domestic market trends or the statistics on how the five most popular K-pop idols changed through the years in Korea (only), starting in 2010 to 2021.
From SHINee to BTS: Here Are the Top 5 Most Popular Boy Groups on YouTube Korea from 2010-2021
ALSO READ: These are the TOP 10 Most Searched Male K-Pop Idols on YouTube in 2021
From 2010 to 2012, it appeared that "Prince of K-pop" SHINee, "Emperor of K-pop" TVXQ and "King of K-pop" BIGBANG ranked No. 1, respectively, proving their title in reality.
In the following year, EXO who created a massive hit with "Growl" showcased their power as "Nation's Pick" and topped the list twice in 2013 and 2014.
Unfortunately, EXO's popularity crumbled when Chinese members Kris and Luhan left in the latter year; just then, BTS rose in the K-pop limelight with "I Need U," replacing EXO as the No. 1 group in YouTube Korea in 2015.
Since then, "Prince of Pop" BTS didn't leave their No. 1 spot and was crowned the most-searched male group in YouTube Korea for seven years in a row now, from 2015 to 2021.
Here Are the Top 5 Most Popular Boy Groups on YouTube Korea Through the Years:
(Names arranged from rank 1 to rank 5)
- 2010: SHINee, 2PM, CNBLUE, BIGBANG, Beast (HIGHLIGHT)
- 2011: TVXQ, 2PM, Super Junior, BIGBANG, Beast (HIGHLIGHT)
- 2012: BIGBANG, SHINee, Super Junior, Infinite, Beast (HIGHLIGHT)
- 2013: EXO, SHINee, Infinite, BIGBANG, Beast (HIGHLIGHT)
- 2014: EXO, BTS, VIXX, SHINee, Infinite
- 2015: BTS, EXO, BIGBANG, SHINee, SEVENTEEN
- 2016: BTS, EXO, SEVENTEEN, BIGBANG, SHINee
- 2017: BTS, Wanna One, EXO, SEVENTEEN, WINNER
- 2018: BTS, Wanna One, EXO, SEVENTEEN, NCT
- 2019: BTS, EXO, SEVENTEEN, NCT, X1
- 2020: BTS, SEVENTEEN, NCT, EXO, TXT
- 2021: BTS, SEVENTEEN, NCT, The Boyz, SHINee
From SNSD to IU: Here Are the Top 5 Most Popular Female Groups/Idols on YouTube Korea from 2010-2021
From 2010 to 2013, Girls' Generation (SNSD) showed its status as "Nation's Girl Group" as the No. 1 girl group on YouTube Korea for four consecutive years.
Apink, one of Korea's representative girl groups replaced them in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, TWICE rose as the No.1 Girl Group in Korea until 2019. In 2020 and 2021, "Nation's Sweetheart" and soloist IU then claimed the throne from TWICE after their four-year reign. IU is also the only female idol who appeared in 2010 and consistently made it in the top 5 for 12 years.
- 2010: Girls' Generation, Kara, IU, T-ARA, Miss A
- 2011: Girls' Generation, IU, 2NE1, T-ARA, SISTAR
- 2012: Girls' Generation, IU, 2NE1, SISTAR, T-ARA
- 2013: Girls' Generation, IU, Apink, Girl's Day, SISTAR
- 2014: Apink, IU, Girl's Day, AOA Girls' Generation
- 2015: Apink, IU, Girls' Generation, EXID, AOA
- 2016:TWICE I.O.I, Mamamoo, IU, GFRIEND
- 2017: TWICE, IU, Red Velvet, BLACKPINK, Mamamoo
- 2018: TWICE, IU, Red Velvet, BLACKPINK, Mamamoo
- 2019:TWICE, IU, IZ*ONE, BLACKPINK, Red Velvet
- 2020: IU, BLACKPINK, TWICE, IZ*ONE, Oh My Girl
- 2021: IU, BLACKPINK, TWICE, aespa, Oh My Girl
READ MORE: IU, SNSD Taeyeon, BLACKPINK Rosé and More: These are the Most Searched Female Idols on YouTube Korea in 2021
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Written by Eunice Dawson
