BTS hailed as most influential! Over 200 people in South Korean Entertainment was surveyed by Joy News 24 from October 5 to October 16 to determine who among the vast stars in the industry is the most influential.
Among the 200 entertainment stars who took part in the survey are broadcast producers, film producers, and journalists.
Bagging the most support from the surveyed individuals is BTS. The septet is named as the top influential artist of the year. With 98 votes, BTS was voted number one, and it is not hard to see why. Due to the number of records the group has broken, the group has been dubbed the "Princes of Pop." The group has also paved the way for their juniors to break into Korean and international markets.
BTS
With their all-English single Dynamite, BTS topped the Billboard 100, making it their first number-one hit single, and the first time a Korean artist has topped the said charts. Since then, the group's song Dynamite has continuously ranked within the top 10.
The group's collaboration remix with Jason Derulo, Savage Love, also hit number one on the Billboard 100 chart earlier this month. The collaboration became BTS's second single to do so.
The group's album, Map of the Soul: 7, made South Korea history for being the best-selling album. It also ranked number one on the Billboard 200 Charts. On, the title track of the album also peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number four.
Yoo Jae Suk
Ranking in second place is the MC and television personality Yoo Jae Suk with 31 votes. The popularity of Yoo Jae Suk has increased dramatically with his new program Hang Out With You and also with popular shows Yoo Quiz On The Block and Running Man.
Lee Hyori
The veteran idol Lee Hyori ranked 3rd with 30 votes. She is a Soloist, and Fin.K.L member has been in the industry for over two decades. Following her debut as Linda G in SSAK3, the singer is seeing increased popularity being a member of the Refund Sisters. Both groups of Lee Hyori are all project groups from Hang Out With Yoo.
Im Young Woong
With 18 votes, Trot singer Lim Young Woong ranked fourth place. This ranking somehow proved the dramatic rise of the trot wave in South Korea. With Lim Young Woong being one of the singers on the list, the Korean Brand Research Institute's brand reputation rankings for singers for October was previously filled with trot singers.
Bang Si Hyuk
The CEO and founder of Big Hit Entertainment, Bang Si Hyuk, ranked in fifth place with 15 votes. He is known as the BTS's success' mastermind. He has notably turned Big Hit Entertainment from a small, unknown company to one of South Korea's biggest entertainment companies.
Bong Joon Ho
Ranking in sixth place is the Parasite director Bong Joon with 12 votes. The movie Parasite is known as the first South Korean film to win an Academy Award. It scored multiple awards at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020.