January 2026 Singer Brand Reputation Rankings Update: Kim Yong-bin Ranks First, Im Yeong-woong Third, Hwasa Fourth

According to the 2026 January singer brand reputation survey released by the Korea Enterprise Reputation Research Institute, significant changes appeared in the brand reputation rankings. The survey analyzed consumer behavior over a one-month period from December 21, 2025, to January 21, 2026, using participation index, media index, communication index, and community index to accurately measure brand reputations.

In the rising singer category, Kim Yong-bin topped the list with a brand reputation score of 3,068,526. He surpassed Stray Kids, which ranked second with a global fanbase, and DAY6, which was third due to recent resurgence trends, thereby outperforming global idol groups. Ku Chang-hwan, director of the Korea Enterprise Reputation Research Institute, described this as “the strong fan power built by Kim Yong-bin’s brand, which has established itself as the leader in emotional trot music, being the key driver behind his first-place ranking.” His achievement of reaching the top as a solo trot singer amid globally successful idol groups was noted as an example reflecting the diverse trends in the music industry.

Looking at Kim Yong-bin’s specific metrics, he recorded a participation index of 112,135 and a media index of 269,622. His communication index was 1,482,510, and his community index was 1,204,259. These figures indicate that Kim Yong-bin maintains not only high recognition but also very active and strong relationships with the public and his fanbase through online communities and social media platforms.

In the overall singer category, BTS remained in first place, while BLACKPINK held second place, sustaining their positions at the global top tier. Notably, BLACKPINK regained the number one spot in the 2025 global K-pop artist rankings. Their member Rosé ranked second, Jennie ranked sixth, and Lisa ranked eleventh—each significantly boosting the group’s ranking through their individual activities. This was evaluated as evidence demonstrating BLACKPINK’s global influence extending beyond the group itself to its individual members.

Im Yeong-woong saw a slight decline compared to the previous month but still retained third place, staying within the top tier. He received consistent high scores across all categories, including participation index, media index, communication index, and community index, indicating that he continues to expand his positive influence alongside his fanbase. Hwasa rose sharply from the previous month to fourth place after dominating domestic music charts. She recorded high values in all four indices: participation index, media index, communication index, and community index.

In the 2025 annual global artist rankings, the outstanding progress of BLACKPINK’s members stood out. On the 2025 Global Artist Top 20 list, Rosé ranked second, Jennie ranked sixth, and Lisa ranked eleventh. Their rising rankings demonstrated a global expansion driven by their individual musical activities rather than just the group’s overall influence.

Analysis by generation revealed significant differences. Among girl groups, major teams that debuted before 2023 generally showed slower growth trends, whereas fifth-generation girl groups such as BABYMONSTER, KATSEYE, ILLIT, MEOVV, and IZNA, which debuted after 2024, are expanding their market share due to rapid growth. In contrast, the entry barriers for boy groups were found to be extremely high. With ENHYPEN, which debuted in 2020, being the youngest team on the 2025 Global Artist Top 20 list, it remains a structured environment where new boy groups struggle to enter the rankings, showing closed-ended growth centered around strong core fanbases.