BTS member Jimin has done it again. The singer has been named “The King of Kpop 2026” on the international voting platform King Choice, marking his eighth consecutive year at the top of the rankings. Results were announced on November 7, 2026, and the win keeps a streak alive that first started in 2019. The poll is run by King Choice, a global online voting site where fans from around the world cast their votes for their favorite K-pop stars. This latest title adds another chapter to Jimin’s long list of popularity records and gives his fans another reason to celebrate his lasting global reach.
What the King Choice Win Means
King Choice is a platform that hosts real-time online polls for celebrities and K-pop stars across different categories . The “King of Kpop” category is one of its most followed votes, and Jimin has held the number one spot every year since 2019 . The 2026 result was confirmed on November 7, with Jimin taking first place once again .
It is important to note that this title comes from a fan-driven platform poll, not from an official music industry body in South Korea . Still, the result reflects the steady support Jimin receives from his international fanbase year after year . The consistency of the win — eight years without a break — shows that his popularity is not tied to a single release or a short promotional cycle.
A Record That Started in 2019
Jimin’s run at the top of the King Choice “King of Kpop” poll began in 2019 . Every year since then, he has finished in first place. The 2026 win makes it eight straight years of holding the title .
This kind of streak is rare in online fan voting, where trends often shift quickly. The fact that Jimin has stayed at number one across eight different years points to a fanbase that is both large and highly organized when it comes to voting. The win also comes at a time when Jimin is active both as a solo artist and as a member of BTS, which keeps him in the public eye across multiple markets .
Career Milestones That Support the Title
Jimin’s King Choice record is backed by a long list of achievements that stretch back to his early years with BTS. In 2016, TIME named him the most talked-about musician on Twitter globally among individual artists . In 2018, The Guardian included him in its list of the 30 best boyband members in history, making him the only BTS member featured at the time .
His domestic popularity in South Korea has also been strong. Jimin topped Gallup Korea’s most preferred idol survey for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019 . He also holds the record for the most months at number one in both male boy group individual brand reputation and combined male-female idol brand reputation rankings .
Solo Success on the Billboard Charts
Jimin’s solo work has added another layer to his profile. His 2023 release “Like Crazy” made him the first Korean solo musician to top the Billboard Hot 100 . The song’s success opened a new phase in his career and showed that his appeal could carry beyond the group’s audience.
The follow-up single “Who”, released in 2024, spent 33 weeks on the same chart . A 33-week run on the Hot 100 is a significant achievement for any artist, and for a Korean solo singer it stands as one of the longest chart runs in recent memory. The song’s staying power on the chart matches the long-running support Jimin has seen on fan-voted platforms like King Choice.
BTS Arirang World Tour and Asia Dates
Jimin is currently on the road with BTS for the Arirang World Tour, performing at major stadium venues around the world . The tour has brought the group to large crowds across multiple regions, and Jimin’s stage presence has been a central part of the shows .
The Southeast Asian leg of the tour is set to begin on November 19 . The Asia dates will start in Kaohsiung before moving to other cities in the region . For fans in Southeast Asia, the November 19 start marks the first chance to see the Arirang tour live in their part of the world.
How Fans Can Follow the Tour and Voting
For global audiences, the BTS Arirang World Tour dates are listed on the official BTS and Big Hit Music channels, along with ticketing information for each region. The Southeast Asian leg begins on November 19 in Kaohsiung, with additional stops to be confirmed through official tour announcements .
King Choice polls are hosted on the King Choice website, where fans can vote in real time across different categories . The “King of Kpop” category is one of the platform’s annual staples, and the 2026 result was published on November 7 . Fans who want to take part in future polls can check the King Choice site for open voting categories and schedules.
A Streak Built on Steady Support
Eight consecutive years at number one on a global fan-voted poll is not a small thing. Jimin’s King Choice record has outlasted multiple album cycles, a solo debut, and a full-group world tour . The 2026 win adds to a list that already includes TIME recognition, The Guardian inclusion, Gallup Korea top spots, and record-setting runs on the Billboard Hot 100 .
The title itself is a fan-driven honor from an online platform, not an industry award . But the length of the streak — from 2019 to 2026 — makes it a clear reflection of how Jimin’s international fanbase has stayed engaged and active over nearly a decade. With the Arirang World Tour continuing and the Southeast Asian leg starting on November 19, Jimin remains in the middle of a busy period that keeps him connected to audiences across the globe .
Also Read: BTS Jimin Lets Jungkook Have Final On-Screen Moment at SoFi Stadium, Fans Emotional
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