The Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute has released its latest rankings for rookie idol groups, and KiiiKiii has taken the top spot for March 2026. The five-member girl group continues its impressive run following the massive success of their latest release “404 (New Era).”
KiiiKiii Claims First Place in Group Category
According to big data analysis conducted by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute from February to March 2026, KiiiKiii ranked number one in the rookie idol group brand reputation rankings . The institute explained that in link analysis for the KiiiKiii brand, words like “record,” “hot,” and “rise” scored highly, reflecting the group’s current trajectory in the industry .
Keyword analysis for the group showed strong connections to their recent work, with “404 (New Era),” “Delulu,” and “Underdogs” appearing prominently . These keywords directly relate to their second mini album “Delulu Pack,” which dropped on January 26 .
The brand reputation index measures consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness for groups that debuted in 2022 or later. KiiiKiii’s consistent presence across multiple music platforms and their recent music show wins contributed significantly to their top position this month .
Individual Rankings Show Close Competition
While KiiiKiii dominated the group category, the individual rookie idol brand reputation rankings tell a slightly different story. Wonhee of ILLIT secured first place in the individual category with a brand reputation index of 423,246 for March 2026 .
The Korea Institute of Corporate Reputation analyzed 4,739,148 pieces of big data from February 4 to March 4, 2026, to determine the individual rankings . Wonhee’s analysis revealed high scores for terms like “cute,” “honest,” and “down-to-earth” in link analysis, while keyword analysis showed “girl next door,” “chaotic,” and “NOT CUTE ANYMORE” as top-related terms . Her positive reaction rate stood at an impressive 89.58 percent .
Dohun of TWS jumped to second place with a brand reputation index of 396,032, marking an 82.80 percent increase from his February score of 216,643 . This significant rise highlights the growing recognition of the rookie boy group member among Korean netizens.
Jiyu of KiiiKiii landed in third place with a brand reputation index of 201,034, experiencing a massive 451.13 percent surge from her February index of 36,477 . This dramatic increase mirrors her group’s overall success and growing public recognition.
Top 10 Individual Rankings Revealed
The complete top 10 for March 2026 rookie idol individual brand reputation includes :
- Wonhee (ILLIT) – 423,246
- Dohun (TWS) – 396,032
- Jiyu (KiiiKiii) – 201,034
- Minju (ILLIT) – 183,976
- Jiwoo (Hearts2Hearts) – 164,360
- Ian (Hearts2Hearts)
- Haum (KiiiKiii)
- Kya (KiiiKiii)
- Keonho (Cortis)
- Jihoon (TWS)
ILLIT placed four members in the top 20, demonstrating the group’s strong individual appeal. Hearts2Hearts also showed impressive presence with multiple members in the rankings, including Jiwoo at fifth, Ian at sixth, and Yuha, Stella, Eina, Carmen, and Yeon all securing spots in the top 30 .
Check out the top 30 for this month below!
- KiiiKiii
- TWS
- Hearts2Hearts
- CORTIS
- ALPHA DRIVE ONE
- ILLIT
- BABYMONSTER
- KATSEYE
- KickFlip
- izna
- idntt
- AHOF
- ARTMS
- RESCENE
- MEOVV
- SAY MY NAME
- UNIS
- HORI7ON
- XLOV
- tracer
- SPIA
- CLOSE YOUR EYES
- NEWBEAT
- LUN8
- NOWZ (formerly NOWADAYS)
- Candy Shop
- IDID
- MADEIN
- Geenius
- eite
KiiiKiii’s Chart Success Drives Brand Power
KiiiKiii’s rise to the top of the group rankings comes on the heels of remarkable chart performance. Their title track “404 (New Era)” from the “Delulu Pack” mini album reached number one on Melon TOP100 just 16 days after release . The song then held the weekly chart top spot for two consecutive weeks from February 9 through February 22, marking a new career high for the group .
The track also dominated other major domestic music platforms, reaching number one and high ranks on Apple Music, YouTube Music, Spotify Korea, Bugs, Genie, Vibe, and Flo . On the Circle Chart, “404 (New Era)” topped both the digital chart and the streaming chart from week seven (February 8–14) through week eight (February 15–21) .
KiiiKiii previously achieved a triple crown on music shows, including wins on terrestrial broadcasters, for “404 (New Era)” . The group’s continued presence in keyword analysis even after official music show promotions ended, with b-side tracks like “Delulu” and “Underdogs” appearing prominently, suggests sustained public interest in their entire album .
Special Promotions Underway
Building on their momentum, KiiiKiii announced special music show performances of their album track “Delulu” . The group began with Mnet’s M Countdown on March 5, followed by KBS Music Bank on March 6, MBC Show! Music Core on March 7, and SBS Inkigayo on March 8 .
A representative explained that these performances were prepared as a way to repay the love received for “404 (New Era)” . The stages aim to give their official fan club Tiki special memories while providing more opportunities for audiences to enjoy KiiiKiii’s music in diverse ways .
The “Delulu” track had previously showcased the members’ delicate vocals and expanded musical spectrum through a stylish track film released before the album . Fans eagerly anticipated how these new charms would translate to live music show stages.
Methodology Behind the Rankings
The Korea Corporate Reputation Institute extracts big data for brand reputation analysis from various sources, including consumer participation, media coverage, communication, and community awareness indexes . For the March rookie idol rankings, the institute analyzed data specifically for idols who debuted in 2022 or later .
Director Koo Chang-hwan noted that for March 2026, the brand of ILLIT’s Wonhee, which ranked first in rookie idol individual brand reputation, showed particularly strong scores for positive attributes in link analysis . The brand analysis includes participation index, media index, communication index, and community index to calculate the final brand reputation index .
The March data showed a 2.60 percent decrease in total big data volume compared to February, with 4,739,148 pieces analyzed versus 4,865,860 the previous month . Despite this slight decrease, competition among rookie idols remained intense.
Rising Stars in the Rankings
Several newer groups made significant impressions in the March rankings. Hearts2Hearts, who debuted recently, placed multiple members in the top 20, including Jiwoo at fifth, Ian at sixth, and Yuha at 13th . Stella, Eina, Carmen, and Yeon also secured positions within the top 30, showing the group’s broad member appeal .
Cortis members Keonho and Juhoon both made the top 30, with Keonho ranking ninth . Katseye’s Manon and Yoonchae rounded out the list at 29th and 30th respectively, demonstrating international rookie groups’ growing presence in the Korean market.
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Continued Recognition for ILLIT Members
Beyond the brand reputation rankings, ILLIT continues to receive recognition in other fan-voted platforms. The group entered the FANNNSTAR New Star Ranking at ninth place for the second week of March 2026 . The ranking, determined 100 percent by fan votes, proves ILLIT’s strong connection with their growing fandom .
The ranking targets rookies who debuted after January 1, 2023, and shows weekly competition among new K-pop acts. ILLIT’s entry into the top 10 came after fierce voting battles, with powerful rookies like HADES at first and KORTIS at second currently leading the chart .
Industry observers note that ILLIT’s solid flow of votes throughout the voting period demonstrates the strong solidarity of a fandom captivated by the group’s refreshing musical style and captivating performances . This fan engagement complements their strong showing in the professional brand reputation rankings.
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