BTS Tops K-Pop Idol Group Brand Rankings for May 2025

BTS (Bulletproof Boy Scouts) has once again claimed the top spot in the May 2025 K-pop Idol Group Brand Rankings, according to data released by the Korean Corporate Reputation Research Institute.

Spanning data collected from April 15 to May 15, 2025, the analysis measured a total of 78,857,284 pieces of brand-related big data, marking a 5.71% decrease compared to April’s 83,634,817.

Despite a slight monthly dip of 2.71%, BTS secured the #1 ranking with a brand reputation index of 6,686,614. Their media coverage, consumer engagement, and community buzz kept them ahead of BLACKPINK and IVE. Key phrases boosting their presence included “support,” “host,” and “sold out,” while member-specific keywords like “Jin,” “ARMY,” and “J-Hope” surfaced prominently in keyword analysis. Furthermore, BTS showcased a positive sentiment rate of 91.87%.

BLACKPINK soared to 2nd place with a 62.28% increase in their score to 4,783,316, driven by member activities and continued global interest. IVE rounded out the top three, growing 17.89% from April to a total of 4,642,151 points.

The rankings highlight overall trends in K-pop consumer perception, media presence, and fan communication. SEVENTEEN took 4th with 4,310,647 points, while BIGBANG came in 5th with 3,200,984 points. Despite SEVENTEEN seeing an 18.31% drop in reputation, BIGBANG enjoyed a modest rise of 1.86%.

Overall, the brand index measures data across participation, media coverage, communication, and community impact for idol groups. The index continues to be a key indicator of trends within the Korean pop landscape, covering both male and female idol groups.

Other top-ranking groups included TWICE, aespa, LE SSERAFIM, Red Velvet, (G)I-DLE, SHINee, THE BOYZ, EXO, and NCT, among others. This month’s metrics demonstrate dynamic shifts within the ever-evolving idol ecosystem, centering on public engagement patterns and shifting fan loyalty.