BTS Tops July Idol Group Brand Reputation Rankings, CORTIS and I.O.I Follow Close Behind

The Korean Business Research Institute has published the July 2026 idol group brand reputation rankings. This monthly report measures the brand power of K-pop groups based on big data analysis. The institute looked at consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness indexes for 100 idol groups. They collected data from June 15 to July 15, analyzing 90,733,805 pieces of brand big data, which is a 1.04 percent increase from June.

BTS Secures Top Spot with Strong Global Presence

BTS held onto the number one position this month with a brand reputation index of 6,518,675. The group’s keyword analysis showed high-ranking phrases like “ARMY,” “London concert,” and “world tour”. Related terms that appeared often included “collaborate,” “record,” and “create”. The positivity-negativity analysis revealed that 92.57 percent of reactions toward BTS were positive.

BTS’s brand reputation score comes from four main parts: participation index (173,852), media index (691,920), communication index (2,201,277), and community index (3,451,626). While they kept the top position, their score dropped 17.83 percent compared to June’s index of 7,933,559.

CORTIS Keeps Second Place Strong

CORTIS maintained their second-place ranking with a brand reputation index of 5,409,892. The group’s score came from a participation index of 1,033,508, media index of 816,546, communication index of 1,756,149, and community index of 1,803,689. Their score saw a slight decrease of 4.03 percent from June when they had 5,636,932. CORTIS has been getting attention for their music, with their song “REDRED” staying at number one on Soompi’s K-Pop music chart for five weeks in a row.

I.O.I Makes Strong Comeback at Number Three

I.O.I came in third place with a brand reputation index of 5,214,323. The group, which recently reunited for their 10th debut anniversary, showed they still have strong fan support. Their appearance in the top three shows the lasting power of this project group that originally formed through the survival show “Produce 101.”

RESCENE Jumps to Fourth with Big Score Increase

RESCENE held steady at fourth place with a brand reputation index of 5,014,734. This marks an 18.40 percent increase in their score since June, when they had 4,235,383. The group has been gaining attention, and their rookie group brand reputation ranking showed them at number one with a score of 5,078,631. In that category, high-ranking phrases in their keyword analysis included “Woni,” “alter ego,” and “promotional ambassador”.

TWICE Rounds Out Top Five with Big Growth

TWICE completed the top five with a brand reputation index of 3,866,983. The group showed impressive growth, with their score rising 36.38 percent from June’s 2,835,352. This big jump shows TWICE’s continued relevance and strong connection with fans.

Top 30 Idol Group Brand Reputation Rankings for July 2026

The full top 30 list for July includes:

1. BTS
2. CORTIS
3. I.O.I
4. RESCENE
5. TWICE
6. SEVENTEEN
7. BLACKPINK
8. ILLIT
9. IVE
10. aespa
11. NCT
12. BIGBANG
13. ATEEZ
14. Red Velvet
15. OH MY GIRL
16. MONSTA X
17. EXO
18. Wanna One
19. (G)I-DLE
20. TWS
21. KiiiKiii
22. HIGHLIGHT
23. BTOB
24. Stray Kids
25. LE SSERAFIM
26. NMIXX
27. SHINee
28. Super Junior
29. fromis_9
30. Apink

How the Rankings Are Determined

The Korean Business Research Institute calculates these rankings by analyzing brand big data. They measure four key indexes: consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness. The participation index looks at how much consumers engage with the group online. The media index tracks how often the group appears in news and articles. The interaction index measures communication between the group and fans. The community index looks at how much the group is discussed in online communities.

The institute’s director, Koo Chang Hwan, explained that BTS’s brand analysis showed high scores in link analysis for terms like “collaborate,” “record,” and “create”. The keyword analysis also highlighted “ARMY,” “London concert,” and “world tour” as top phrases.

Rookie Groups Also Show Strong Performance

The July rookie idol group brand reputation rankings showed RESCENE at number one with a score of 5,078,631. CORTIS came second with 4,973,702, and ILLIT took third with 2,491,433. KiiiKiii held fourth place with 1,482,967, and TWS rounded out the top five with 1,171,023. These rookie groups are making their mark and showing strong potential for the future.

The individual rookie idol brand reputation rankings for July saw RESCENE’s Woni at number one with 1,584,988. RESCENE’s Minami came second with 996,332, and ILLIT’s Wonhee took third with 867,347. CORTIS’s Keonho placed fourth with 658,251, and RESCENE’s Zena jumped to fifth with 599,945, showing a massive 536.05 percent increase.

The July 2026 idol group brand reputation rankings show a mix of established legends like BTS, reunited groups like I.O.I, and rising stars like CORTIS and RESCENE. These rankings give a clear picture of which groups are generating the most buzz and positive attention in the K-pop world right now.

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