The queen of Korean screens has reclaimed her throne. 2The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for actors! And in a fierce battle between K-drama’s biggest stars, Go Youn Jung shot to the top of this month’s list with a brand reputation index of 4,724,038.
Meanwhile, the “Agent Kim Reactivated” duo of So Ji Sub and Yoon Kyung Ho locked down the No. 2 and No. 3 spots — proving that Korea’s hottest action drama is dominating far more than just ratings.
Table of Contents
September 2026 Top 5 Actor Brand Rankings
The rankings were determined through a data analysis of the media coverage, participation, interaction, and community indexes of 100 actors who appeared in dramas, movies, or OTT content released between July 25 and August 25.
| Rank | Actor | Brand Index | Notable Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Go Youn Jung | 4,724,038 | Rising star — multiple hit dramas |
| 🥈 2 | So Ji Sub | 4,526,298 | Agent Kim Reactivated |
| 🥉 3 | Yoon Kyung Ho | 4,139,913 | Agent Kim Reactivated |
| 4 | Jung Hae In | 4,025,781 | Consistent top-ranker |
| 5 | Kim Moo Yul | 3,654,950 | Teach You a Lesson global fame |
So Ji Sub took second place with a brand reputation index of 4,526,298, while his “Agent Kim Reactivated” co-star Yoon Kyung Ho ranked third with a score of 4,139,913. Jung Hae In came in at a close fourth with a brand reputation index of 4,025,781, and Kim Moo Yul rounded out the top five with a score of 3,654,950.
No. 1: Go Youn Jung — A Brand Reputation Powerhouse
Go Youn Jung’s dominance in actor brand rankings has become a recurring theme. This isn’t her first time at the top — she previously topped the same rankings in September 2023 during the Moving era.
| Go Youn Jung’s Ranking History | Score | Key Driver |
|---|---|---|
| September 2023 (Actor Rankings) | 11,269,447 | Moving (Disney+) |
| June 2026 (Girl Group Rankings) | Top 5 appearance | Brand ambassador work |
| September 2026 (Actor Rankings) | 4,724,038 | Current drama + brand activities |
Her ability to top brand rankings across BOTH idol and acting categories makes her one of the most versatile celebrities in Korean entertainment.
“Agent Kim Reactivated” — The Drama That’s Owning the Rankings
The biggest story this month is the complete dominance of Agent Kim Reactivated. So Ji Sub and Yoon Kyung Ho’s action drama has been a ratings juggernaut — and now it’s conquering brand rankings too.
| Agent Kim Impact | Detail |
|---|---|
| So Ji Sub | No. 2 Actor Brand Rankings |
| Yoon Kyung Ho | No. 3 Actor Brand Rankings |
| Combined brand index | 8,666,211 — higher than any single actor |
| Previous rankings | So Ji Sub topped July’s Actor Rankings (9,056,778) |
So Ji Sub, who is currently tearing up the small screen in “Agent Kim Reactivated,” topped this month’s list with a brand reputation index of 9,056,778 back in July — so his drop to No. 2 reflects Go Youn Jung’s surge rather than his own decline.
How August’s Drama Rankings Shifted Into September
The actor rankings show fascinating movement from last month:
| Actor | August Rank | September Rank | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go Youn Jung | Not in drama Top 5 | 🥇 No. 1 | ⬆️ Massive surge |
| So Ji Sub | 4th (Drama Rankings) | 🥈 No. 2 | ⬆️ Up from 4th |
| Yoon Kyung Ho | 3rd (Drama Rankings) | 🥉 No. 3 | ➡️ Stable |
| Jung Hae In | Not in Top 5 | 4th | ⬆️ Re-entry |
| Kim Moo Yul | Not in Top 5 | 5th | ⬆️ New entry |
The September rankings are notably different from August’s drama actor rankings, 4where Nam Joo Hyuk, the star of the hit drama “The East Palace,” topped this month’s list with a brand reputation index of 3,782,247. Nam Joo Hyuk’s absence from the September Top 5 shows how quickly the Korean entertainment landscape shifts.
The Complete Top 15 for September 2026
Go Youn Jung, So Ji Sub, Yoon Kyung Ho, Jung Hae In, Kim Moo Yul, Park Ji Hoon, Kim Hye Soo, Kong Hyo Jin, Roh Yoon Seo, Jung Jun Won, Kim Hye Jun, Kim Go Eun, Geum Hae Na, Yang Se Jong, Nam Joo Hyuk make up the Top 15.
| Rank | Actor | Rank | Actor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go Youn Jung | 9 | Roh Yoon Seo |
| 2 | So Ji Sub | 10 | Jung Jun Won |
| 3 | Yoon Kyung Ho | 11 | Kim Hye Jun |
| 4 | Jung Hae In | 12 | Kim Go Eun |
| 5 | Kim Moo Yul | 13 | Geum Hae Na |
| 6 | Park Ji Hoon | 14 | Yang Se Jong |
| 7 | Kim Hye Soo | 15 | Nam Joo Hyuk |
| 8 | Kong Hyo Jin |
Notable presences include Kim Go Eun at No. 12 (fresh off Yumi’s Cells 3), Kong Hyo Jin at No. 8 (4who is currently starring in “A Bona Fide Killer”), and Park Ji Hoon maintaining his consistent Top 10 presence at No. 6.
Yoon Kyung Ho — The Breakout Star of 2026
Perhaps the most remarkable story in these rankings is Yoon Kyung Ho’s meteoric rise. 9Yoon Kyung Ho, who recently appeared in the hit dramas “Agent Kim Reactivated” and “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier,” shot to the top of this month’s list after seeing a whopping 629.82 percent increase in his brand reputation index since June in the rising actor rankings back in July.
| Yoon Kyung Ho’s 2026 Rise | Detail |
|---|---|
| June 2026 | Relatively unknown |
| July 2026 | +629.82% increase — topped Rising Actor Rankings |
| August 2026 | No. 3 in Drama Actor Rankings |
| September 2026 | No. 3 in Actor Brand Rankings (4,139,913) |
From virtual obscurity to a consistent Top 3 actor in just three months — Yoon Kyung Ho’s 2026 trajectory is one of Korean entertainment’s greatest breakout stories.
How These Rankings Are Calculated
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Media Coverage Index | Press mentions, reviews, interviews |
| Participation Index | Fan engagement and activity |
| Interaction Index | Social media shares, comments, buzz |
| Community Index | Online forum discussions and sentiment |
| Actors Analyzed | 100 actors in dramas, movies, or OTT content |
| Data Period | July 25 to August 25, 2026 |
For a comprehensive overview of Korean entertainment’s brand culture and ranking systems, visit the Korean Wave Wikipedia page.
What This Means for the Rest of 2026
The September rankings set up several fascinating storylines for the remaining months:
| Actor | What to Watch |
|---|---|
| Go Youn Jung | Can she maintain No. 1 through year-end? |
| So Ji Sub | Agent Kim Reactivated finale could boost him back to No. 1 |
| Yoon Kyung Ho | Breakout year — will he land new leading roles? |
| Jung Hae In | Perennial Top 5 presence — consistency is his brand |
| Kim Moo Yul | Teach You a Lesson global impact continues to grow |
👉 Also Read: Latest K-Drama & Entertainment News on TechnoSports
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FAQs
Q: Who topped the September 2026 actor brand reputation rankings?
Go Youn Jung shot to the top of this month’s list with a brand reputation index of 4,724,038. 2 So Ji Sub took second place with a brand reputation index of 4,526,298, while his “Agent Kim Reactivated” co-star Yoon Kyung Ho ranked third with a score of 4,139,913.
Q: How are the actor brand reputation rankings calculated?
The rankings were determined through a data analysis of the media coverage, participation, interaction, and community indexes of 100 actors who appeared in dramas, movies, or OTT content released between July 25 and August 25. The combined metrics provide a comprehensive picture of each actor’s cultural impact beyond just drama ratings.
