aespa Crowned as Top ‘Military President’ Among South Korean Troops

In a recent military survey, K-pop girl group aespa has claimed the top spot as the most desired act to perform for South Korean troops, earning the unofficial title of ‘Military President.’ According to the Defense Media Agency, the poll was conducted by Kookbang Ilbo (The Ministry of National Defense Newspaper) from April 4–17, surveying 309 active-duty soldiers through their monthly ‘Barrack Chart.’

aespa received overwhelming support, with 18.1% of the respondents choosing them as the group they most want to see perform live on the army base. fromis_9 followed in second place with 16.2%, while soloist IU ranked third with 6.5%. IVE and NMIXX rounded out the top five, earning 6.1% and 4.9% respectively.

One soldier, identified as Private Lee, shared, “Watching aespa’s music videos at the end of a grueling day in boot camp gave me strength.” Another, Sergeant Bae, noted, “I got motivated to finish long marches by recalling songs from fromis_9. They truly offer comfort and energy during tough moments.”

The ‘Barrack Chart’ is a monthly interactive content initiative that reflects the tastes of Korean troops through themed surveys. It’s conducted via The Camp app, a public military communication service connecting citizens with active-duty servicemen.

This recurring survey is not only a reflection of entertainment trends within the military, but also showcases how K-pop continues to unite and uplift those serving their country.