BTS Top November 2025 Star Brand Reputation Rankings, Followed by Lim Young Woong and BLACKPINK

On November 29, the Korea Enterprise Reputation Research Institute announced the results of the November 2025 Star Brand Reputation rankings. Out of more than 222 million data points analyzed, BTS claimed 1st place, Lim Young Woong took 2nd, and BLACKPINK ranked 3rd. From October 29 to November 29, the institute collected news reports, blog and community posts, and social media activity, converting them into participation, media, communication, and community indices. Combined, these form the ‘brand reputation index’, a metric used to visualize each star’s real impact among the general public and fans.

Compared to October, the total volume of star-brand big data fell by about 18.21% this month, with declines seen across sub-indices such as brand consumption, issue exposure, communication, and diffusion. Even so, the top 30 list is packed with key figures from every corner of Hallyu: national MC Yoo Jae-suk at No. 4, girl group IVE at No. 5, along with TWICE, volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung, footballer Son Heung-min, SEVENTTEEN, actor Lee Byung-hun, Lee Jun-ho, Cha Eun-woo, and many more. Extending the ranking to the top 100 brings in rising groups like NewJeans, ILLIT, and aespa, plus numerous film, drama, and sports stars, making the chart a useful reference for both fandom intensity and general public recognition.

Numerically, BTS recorded a star brand reputation index of 9,911,692 points. Although this represents a 4.89% drop from the previous month, it was more than enough to secure the top spot. Breaking it down, the group logged over 150,000 points in participation, more than 1.25 million in media, around 2.66 million in communication, and over 5.83 million in community—evidence of their overwhelming strength in news exposure, online conversation, and fandom mobilization. Korean outlets note that anticipation for the group’s full-unit comeback, with a new album and large-scale world tour planned for next spring, continues to amplify BTS’s brand presence worldwide.

Lim Young Woong ranked 2nd with a brand reputation index of 7,216,605 points, including more than 607,000 in participation, about 1.33 million in media, and roughly 2.86 million and 2.42 million in communication and community respectively. Institute director Koo Chang-hwan explained that Lim’s consistently high placement in 2025 is driven by a record-breaking nationwide tour and highly active fan engagement—from local concerts and organized support projects to online buzz. Coverage also highlights how his music, spanning trot and ballad styles, appeals to a wide range of age groups, cementing ‘Lim Young Woong’ as a cross-generational household name.

BLACKPINK (Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa) came in 3rd with a brand reputation index of 5,807,163 points. Although their overall score has dipped compared to October, the group still posts strong media and community figures. According to the institute’s analysis, the members’ ongoing solo music projects, fashion work, and endorsement deals—combined with highly discussed styling and lifestyle updates on social media—keep the ‘BLACKPINK’ brand highly recognizable and commercially attractive to advertisers and fans worldwide. Their past world tour milestones and frequent appearances in magazines and global events continue to anchor the group firmly within the upper tier of brand rankings.

Taken together, the November 2025 Star Brand Reputation rankings show a top-three lineup—BTS, Lim Young Woong, and BLACKPINK—that combines powerful global reach with solid domestic popularity. The broader list spans variety entertainers, athletes, actors, and emerging idol groups, outlining the wider ecosystem of Hallyu influence. Korean media generally view the brand reputation index not only as a snapshot of fandom buzz, but also as a leading indicator for advertising and live-event investments: as BTS prepare a new album and world tour, Lim Young Woong extends his nationwide concerts, and BLACKPINK members pursue steady solo schedules, interest from brands and promoters naturally follows. For readers tracking the K-pop and Korean entertainment industries, this ranking offers a data-driven way to gauge which names are currently shaping the market.

[KStarLoud Analysis] Observing the brand-reputation trend throughout 2025, the formula for star power has become clear: ‘Star Brand = Music Activity × Digital Buzz × SNS Visibility.’ BTS’s strong community index highlights their unmatched global fandom mobilization. Lim Young Woong represents the stable domestic demand of the Korean market, with large-scale tours driving sustained brand growth. BLACKPINK embodies a hybrid model built on solo ventures, global fashion recognition, and high-impact social media presence—any update from a member creates instant worldwide buzz. Overall, the rankings illustrate how post-2025 Hallyu competition has evolved from music-chart performance into a multi-platform, multi-domain, multi-demographic battlefield. The higher the brand value, the greater the potential for global secondary spread, leading to increased advertising deals, concert demand, and collaborations, forming a reinforcing cycle.