Heo Ung Leads With 41% of Total Votes
Basketball heartthrob Heo Ung is back on the throne. Scoring 6,516 votes—equivalent to a commanding 41.1%—he once again claimed the top spot in the September Netizen Awards for the Sports category. It’s not just the sport that’s popular—Heo Ung’s fiercely dedicated fanbase continues to elevate him above the competition.
Soccer Stars Close Behind: Lee Kangin & Son Heungmin
In classic superstar fashion, Lee Kangin secured second place with 3,145 votes (19.8%), proving his growing legacy in Korean soccer. Not far behind, global football icon Son Heungmin captured third with 1,864 votes (11.7%). With this, soccer is firmly neck-and-neck with basketball for fan-driven dominance.
Multi-Sport Momentum: Baseball, Figure Skating & Beyond
Fourth place went to rising KBO League star Kim Doyoung of the KIA Tigers with 932 votes (5.9%). Fan-favorite and retired figure skating legend Kim Yuna glided into fifth with 807 votes (5.1%), showing that retirement hasn’t dimmed her shine.
Badminton’s golden girl Ahn Seyoung garnered 712 votes (4.5%) for sixth place, followed by MLB’s Lee Jung-hoo with 706 votes (4.4%). Their showing proves that a wide array of sports personalities are capturing fan attention.
Veterans and Newcomers in the Mix
Volleyball icon Kim Yeon-koung reminded everyone of her enduring legacy with 588 votes (3.7%) at eighth place. In golf, up-and-comer Yoon Ina took ninth place with 493 votes (3.1%), while Hanwha Eagles’ slugger Noh Si-hwan rounded out the top 10 with 105 votes (0.7%).
What the Rankings Reveal About Korean Sports Fandom
What’s striking about this month’s rankings is their diversity. This isn’t just a scoreboard—it’s a map of Korea’s evolving sports fandom. From fast breaks to home runs, jump serves to shuttle smashes, athletes from across disciplines are finding space under the fan spotlight.
October’s results are already on fans’ minds. Will Heo Ung maintain his winning streak? Or will playoff season catapult a baseball player like Noh Si-hwan further up the leaderboard? One thing’s for sure: with fan support, anything’s possible.
