Gallup Korea asked 5,281 people nationwide (excluding Jeju) aged 13 and older up to three favorite singers from the country's pop singers/groups active this year, in three surveys conducted in July, September-October, and November 2024 (open-ended response). As a result, NewJeans ranked first with 25.5% support among those under 40 (ages 13-39), and Lim Young-woong led with 33.9% among those over 40.
The multinational girl group NewJeans, consisting of five members (Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Hyein, Haerin), rose from fifth place in its debut year (July 2022) to first place the following year, and was recognized as the best again this year despite issues related to their agency. Even considering the absence of the "K-pop kings" BTS, NewJeans clearly demonstrated their strength, surpassing long-standing top artists like IU and BLACKPINK.
The singer ranked second for this year among those under 40 is IU (20.6%). Debuting in 2008, IU is a singer-songwriter who has been simultaneously engaging in drama, film acting, and various broadcasts. IU has consistently remained in the top ranks as the 'singer of the year' since 2011 and achieved first place in 2014 and 2017. This year, she successfully concluded a world tour, attracting 500,000 spectators across 31 performances in 12 countries.
The third-ranked singer or group for this year among those under 40 is the 4-member girl group aespa (13.3%), which debuted in 2020. Fourth place is projected for the full return of BTS in 2025 (10.7%), followed by IVE (10.2%) in fifth place, DAY6 (8.5%) in sixth, BLACKPINK (8.0%) in seventh, Rosé (7.7%) in eighth, Lim Young-woong (5.4%) in ninth, and Lee Mujin rounding out the top ten with 3.9%.
Beyond the top ten among those under 40, singers/groups with more than 1.5% of responses include Seventeen (3.4%), (G)I-DLE (3.2%), AKMU (3.1%), Sung Si-kyung (2.5%), Zico (2.5%), BIBI (2.4%), G-DRAGON (2.3%), LE SSERAFIM (2.2%), Jannabi (2.1%), TWICE (2.0%), NCT (1.7%), and Taeyeon, Eclipse (tvN drama 'Hold My Hand and Run' band), and Lee Young-ji, all at 1.5%, totaling 14 artists/teams.
Among those under 40, from 2020 to 2022, the boy group BTS, standout solo artist IU, and girl group BLACKPINK consistently held the top three positions. However, in 2023 and 2024, NewJeans ascended to the top, with IU among the established leaders maintaining strong popularity. The notable rise of the girl group aespa and the four-member boy band DAY6 (Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil, Dowoon) stood out.
/ hsjssu@osen.co.kr
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN reporter, Ha Soo-jung]