The Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute has released its singer brand reputation rankings for March 2025, with IVE securing the top spot, followed by Lim Young-woong and BTS. The analysis, based on 101,738,657 data points collected between March 1 and March 22, assesses brand participation, media exposure, communication, and community engagement.
Compared to February’s data (103,173,389 points), there was a slight decrease of 1.39%. The reputation index serves as a measure of how frequently and in what manner consumers discuss an artist’s brand across different platforms.
According to the rankings, the top five artists are:
1. **IVE** (Ahn Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz, Leeseo) – Brand reputation index: 7,520,606 (down 7.98% from February)
2. **Lim Young-woong** – Brand reputation index: 6,564,290 (down 3.16%)
3. **BTS** (RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jungkook) – Brand reputation index: 6,523,106 (up 19.72%)
4. **BLACKPINK** (Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, Lisa) – Brand reputation index: 4,702,577 (down 28.24%)
5. **SEVENTEEN** (S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, Dino) – Brand reputation index: 3,801,918 (up 16.70%)
The institute’s director, Koo Chang-hwan, noted that IVE’s strong presence secured them the top position, while Lim Young-woong’s dedicated fanbase maintained his credibility. BTS experienced a boost in anticipation of their full-group activities, while BLACKPINK saw a decrease despite their ongoing projects. SEVENTEEN, preparing for a hiatus due to military service, displayed notable engagement with their fan base, Carat.
This ranking provides valuable insights into consumer perception and market trends, emphasizing the dynamic nature of K-pop’s influence.
