BTS Strengthens Global Leadership with Return to Activities After Military Service; Members Also Active in Solo Projects

BTS is solidifying its dominant position in the global K-POP market as it resumes full activities following its military service in 2025. Last year, all seven members completed their service, and they reunited at J-Hope’s solo concert, drawing enthusiastic responses from fans. The group later announced official upcoming projects, raising expectations for new music albums. In December’s K-POP idol brand reputation rankings, BTS performed exceptionally well. Jisoo ranked first in individual brand reputation with a score of 6,957,990, showing a 5.96% increase compared to November. Her positive rating reached 92.07%, and new songs such as “MUSE” and “Who” received high levels of interest in terms of searches and streaming. Jung Kook came in second with a score of 6,401,843, marking a sharp 21.82% rise from the previous month. BTS also demonstrated an overwhelming presence in the singer brand reputation rankings. According to analysis by the Korea Enterprise Reputation Institute, BTS topped the singer brand reputation list in December but experienced the largest drop compared to the prior month. It maintained a significant gap ahead of the second-place performer, Lim Young-woong (6,055,100). BTS’s global influence was also evident in YouTube search data. It dominated the list of the top 10 most searched male K-POP idols in the United States in 2025. Seven members — Jung Kook (1st), V (2nd), J-Hope (3rd), Jisoo (6th), Jin (9th), SUGA (11th), and RM (14th) — occupied the top positions. In terms of wealth, BTS led the K-POP industry. According to 2025 rankings of the wealthiest K-POP idols, Jung Kook, RM, J-Hope, and V were estimated to each possess assets worth approximately $50 million. Their wealth was attributed to solo music activities, international tours, and collaborations with high-end brands. K-pop industry critics regarded BTS’s return to activities as the most notable event in the K-POP market during the second half of 2025. The outlet mentioned that the group’s reunion could serve as a major turning point for the industry next year, but it also noted that this might merely be a temporary fix for the structural creativity stagnation issue in K-pop.