Girl group Girls’ Generation has been selected as the most popular female singer in the first half of 2012.

According to Leespiar a research company revealed Girls’ Generation ranked first in the poll asking 1,329 people the most popular Korean celebrity in the first half of 2012 by garnering 26.9% of the vote. Last year female singer Park Jung Hyun grabbed the top spot following her popularity on MBC ‘I Am a Singer.’

The second spot was taken by singer IU with 15.3% who achieved all kill in music chart after releasing her second album ‘Last Fantasy’ last November, followed by Wonder Girls (7.3%), Lee Hyori (7.1%), Baek Ji Young (6.5%), miss A (6.2%).

The group Big Bang actively promoting not only in Korea but in Japan, America and all around the world grabbed the most popularity in male artist category with 18.1%. Followed by Lee Seung Gi (11.3%), 2PM (8.1%), Rain (6.9%), 2AM (5.7%). The group that came back after 4 years hiatus with 10th album ‘The Return’ Shinhwa ranked 10th.