Im Young-woong Tops South Korea’s K-Brand Index for Musicians
Im Young-woong, the beloved South Korean ballad singer, has claimed the top spot in the K-Brand Index for musicians, as announced by the Asia Brand Research Institute on April 17.
The K-Brand Index is a comprehensive analytics score derived from various parameters including public perception, trend engagement, media coverage, social media movement, sentiment analysis (both positive and negative), brand activation, and community interaction. These scores are calculated through a big data system developed in collaboration with global and domestic researchers, setting it apart from traditional analytics platforms.
The March 2025 analysis was based on a staggering 532,907,600 data points from online platforms, covering search trends for the top 30 most talked-about individual and group musicians in South Korea between March 1 and March 31.
Topping the chart was Im Young-woong, who recently released his emotional single “More Beautiful Than Heaven,” earning him accolades for his mastery in conveying heartfelt storytelling through music. Following him in the rankings were BLACKPINK’s Jennie and G-Dragon at 2nd and 3rd place respectively, with BTS’s J-Hope and IU rounding out the top five. Other notable appearances include BLACKPINK’s Rosé, Kim Yong-bin, IVE’s Jang Won-young, LE SSERAFIM’s Kim Chae-won, and aespa’s Winter.
“This month’s rankings reflect not only existing popularity but the growing digital footprint of these artists,” a spokesperson for the Asia Brand Research Institute explained. “Particularly, Jennie and Rosé have proven the enduring power of K-pop around the globe, while Kim Yong-bin’s ascent suggests that trot is evolving with the younger generation.”
The K-Brand Index is also the primary data used to determine annual winners for the prestigious Korea Brand Awards, which highlights cultural and economic impact through measurable metrics. It’s important to note that these rankings are based solely on online data and exclude any offline indicators.
