Samsung Surges Back in September Vote
Samsung Electronics snatched back the crown in the September edition of the 2025 Netizen Awards, taking home the coveted Corporate Grand Prize with 2,347 votes—good for a 39.1% share. After being dethroned by Lotte last month, Samsung’s bounce-back highlights the heated rivalry between two of Korea’s biggest conglomerates.
Lotte Falls Just Behind
Lotte followed closely behind with 2,027 votes (33.7%). The neck-and-neck race is reigniting fan interest, with only 320 votes separating the frontrunners. It’s proof that in these fan-driven polls, the margin of victory can be razor-thin—and change monthly.
Midfield Contenders Hold Steady
Hyundai Motor Company and LG secured the third and fourth places, clocking in at 686 votes (11.4%) and 540 votes (9.0%) respectively. Both companies continue to enjoy steady support from the public, maintaining their reputations as household names in the tech and auto sectors.
Defense, Retail, and Energy Brands Show Up
Rounding out the top seven were Hanwha Ocean (155 votes, 2.6%), Shinsegae (132 votes, 2.2%), and the SK Group (82 votes, 1.4%). Each company represents Korea’s industrial backbone—from defense to department stores, proving Korea Inc. is more diverse than BTS fandoms will ever admit.
Surprise Entries in the Top Ten
Beyond the major players, Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) came in 8th with 22 votes (0.4%), while Hyundai Rotem and Ecopro took 9th and 10th with 13 and 5 votes respectively. Even in the lower ranks, these names reflect vital sectors like renewable energy and tech-driven rail systems.
Corporate Popularity Is the New Idol Trainee Battle
This month’s switch-up proves that the corporate popularity contest is no less dramatic than a K-pop comeback. The rivalry between Samsung and Lotte continues to electrify fans, much like a voting war between two K-drama leads for Best Couple. With October’s vote already underway, will Samsung ride the wave or will Lotte counterpunch?
Adding fuel to Samsung’s momentum is the ongoing boom in the semiconductor market. The company recently broke the symbolic 90,000 KRW share price mark and is now eyeing the six-digit milestone—a “100K Samsung” if you will.
So whether you’re a stockholder, a brand loyalist, or just love a good popularity drama, this corporate leaderboard is one to watch.
