BTS Tops January 2026 K-Pop Brand Reputation Rankings

South Korea's most prominent K-pop performers began 2026 with an evolving public image, noted the latest idol group brand reputation rankings released by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute. Through an extensive big data study, it was found that BTS claimed the first place, followed by BLACKPINK and IVE, along with some significant changes in total engagement metrics.

The institution reviewed 80,379,475 pieces of brand-related data for idol groups acquired between Dec 15, 2025, and Jan 15, 2026, representing a 2.96% reduction over the previous month. The data gathered was used to create brand reputation scores based on four components, namely, participation, media, communication, and community indices. Despite a downturn in the domestic K-pop market, the report shows numerous major groups experiencing significant growth, depicting how attention has consolidated rather than fading away.

BTS Comes First in Brand Reputation Rankings

BTS (RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jungkook) topped the list with a brand reputation index (BRI) of 7,665,021, which increased by 23.19% from Dec 2025. The group's communication and community scores were especially high, indicating increased fan engagement. Keyword research revealed phrases such as "comeback," "full group," and "world tour," with positivity ratings over 92%, indicating a widespread positive outlook for the group tied to their upcoming album release and world tour.

BLACKPINK Ranks Second; IVE, EXO, and SEVENTEEN Follow

BLACKPINK (Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, Lisa) came in second place with a BRI of 5,260,330, up 40.48% month on month. The group's growth was reportedly fueled by strong community metrics, indicating successful resonance with both international and domestic audiences.

IVE (An Yu-jin, Gaeul, Ray, Jang Won-young, Liz, Lee Seo) ranked third with 4,698,168, down 4.71% from last Dec. Despite the drop, IVE has maintained a significant position among the top idol brands.

EXO ranked fourth (4,359,274; +39.41%), while SEVENTEEN ranked fifth (3,648,163; −18.98%), indicating continuing shifts in fan participation and media prominence. Twice, Stray Kids, Mamamoo, Big Bang, Red Velvet, and other established and emerging performers rounded out the top 30.

According to the institute’s director, Koo Chang-hwan, idol brand consumption increased 9.68% and issue visibility climbed 6.5%, despite losses in communication activity (-13.82%) and brand diffusion (-0.06%), indicating a move toward more concentrated, selective, and event-driven fan engagement.

The monthly brand reputation index continues to serve as a barometer for K-pop's cultural imprint, showcasing how digital engagement is increasingly translating into long-term brand momentum rather than short-term interest. January's rankings reveal a hierarchy that may appear similar on the surface, but is now more strongly influenced by timing, expectation cycles, and the scale at which fandom activity is triggered and monetized.