Rising Stars Stir Up the Rankings
As of 6:22 p.m. on April 30, 2025, the Netizen Awards’ Neo Star category is entering its final countdown—bringing with it surprising shifts in the leaderboard. While Kim Jihoon (16,261 votes, 22.0%) and Austin Kim (14,171 votes, 19.1%) continue to lead the race, all eyes are now on the unexpected upward surge of Son Bina and Kim Yongbin.
Soaring Popularity, Thanks to Fan Power
Son Bina currently holds third place with 9,745 votes (13.2%), a massive leap from her 8th place finish in March, where she garnered just 3,340 votes. Her dramatic rise reflects not only growing individual popularity but also the mobilization of a passionate and organized fanbase.
Kim Yongbin is witnessing similar momentum. After collecting only 525 votes in March (14th place), he’s climbed to 2,126 votes (2.9%) this month—landing in 9th place. In fact, he’s just one vote behind fellow contender Yoo Chaehoon (2,125 votes), making a last-minute ranking shake-up highly possible.
More Than a Temporary Trend?
This surge doesn’t seem like a passing fad. Both Son Bina and Kim Yongbin have been steadily developing sustainable fandoms rooted in their unique musical styles. The April awards appear to have awakened active fan participation, suggesting that their rise could continue into the May awards and beyond.
A Tight Race Until the End
The top-tier battle remains fierce. Kim Jihoon and Austin Kim are neck and neck at the top, while Min Suhyun (6,820 votes) and Lee Seungyoon (6,844 votes) are separated by a razor-thin margin at around 9.2% of the vote each.
Voting for April’s Neo Star category closes at midnight, and fans’ final push could drastically alter the outcome. But one thing is certain—Son Bina and Kim Yongbin’s meteoric rise is one of the biggest stories of this award season.
