BTS's Jungkook, IU Top Global K-Pop Popularity Survey, BLACKPINK Members Follow Closely
BTS’s Jungkook and IU top global K-pop idol survey; BLACKPINK members follow close as fans from 94 countries vote, proving K-pop's worldwide impact.
image for illustrative purpose
In a recently concluded international survey by Arirang TV, BTS’s Jungkook and soloist IU have been named the most popular K-pop idols globally, reaffirming K-pop’s immense global influence. Fans from 94 countries participated in the poll conducted from June 23 to July 7.
BTS and BLACKPINK Dominate Rankings
Jungkook led the male K-pop artist category with 12.7% of the vote, followed by fellow BTS members—Jimin (11.1%), RM (6.9%), V (6.5%), and J-Hope (6.0%). SHINee’s Taemin and BTS’s Jin also made it to the top with 4.9% and 3.7%, respectively.
In the female category, IU, currently riding high on her When Life Gives You Tangerines era, topped the list with 17%. BLACKPINK’s Rose came second (11.3%), while Jennie and Lisa shared the third spot (10.6%). aespa’s Karina (5.5%) and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo (5.1%) completed the top six.
K-Content Consumption Trends
The survey also shed light on how fans engage with Korean content. YouTube emerged as the primary platform (55.1%), followed by social media (14.4%), OTT platforms like Netflix and Disney+ (12.1%), and TikTok (7.7%).
K-Pop’s Expanding Global Fanbase
Respondents hailed from around the world, with the highest participation from the U.S. (17.6%), followed by the Philippines and Japan (6.9% each). Fans from India, the UK, China, Malaysia, and even countries like Bhutan and Tunisia took part, highlighting the global spread of Korean pop culture.
An Arirang TV spokesperson commented, “These results reflect how deeply K-pop resonates with fans worldwide. With Jungkook, IU, and BLACKPINK at the forefront, the Korean Wave is only getting stronger.”
