The queen holds her throne — and the competition is getting fierce. 1The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for girl groups! 1The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community indexes of various girl groups, using big data collected from May 14 to June 14.1 IVE maintained their position at the top of the list with a brand reputation index of 6,025,982, marking a 29.21 percent increase in their score since May. But the biggest story this month isn’t the No. 1 — it’s the massive movements below it.
Let’s break down every position, every percentage, and what it all means. 👑
June 2026 Top 5 Girl Group Brand Reputation Rankings
| Rank | Group | Brand Index | Change from May |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | IVE | 6,025,982 | ⬆️ +29.21% |
| 🥈 2 | BLACKPINK | 5,651,105 | ⬆️ +43.28% |
| 🥉 3 | ILLIT | 3,830,314 | ⬆️ +14.30% |
| 4 | aespa | 3,177,356 | ⬆️ +18.08% |
| 5 | TWICE | 2,812,048 | ⬆️ +3.44% |
Every single group in the top 5 saw increases this month — a sign that the girl group market is expanding overall, not just redistributing the same attention.
No. 1: IVE — The Unshakeable Queen
1 IVE maintained their position at the top of the list with a brand reputation index of 6,025,982, marking a 29.21 percent increase in their score since May. High-ranking phrases in IVE’s keyword analysis included “LUCID DREAM,” “Jang Won Young,” and “world tour,” while their highest-ranking related terms included “lovely,” “extend,” and “record.” The group’s positivity-negativity analysis also revealed a score of 92.59 percent positive reactions.
| IVE’s June Analysis | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand Index | 6,025,982 |
| Change | ⬆️ +29.21% from May |
| Top Keywords | “LUCID DREAM,” “Jang Won Young,” “world tour” |
| Related Terms | “lovely,” “extend,” “record” |
| Positive Reactions | 92.59% |
IVE’s dominance in the girl group brand rankings has become one of 2026’s most consistent stories. The group has topped this chart for multiple consecutive months, fueled by their ongoing world tour, Jang Won Young’s individual brand power, and consistent musical output.
No. 2: BLACKPINK — The BIGGEST Surge This Month (+43.28%)
1 BLACKPINK remained unmoving at second place with a brand reputation index of 5,651,105, marking a 43.28 percent rise in their score since last month.
That 43.28% increase is the largest percentage jump of any group in this month’s top 5 — and it’s not even close. BLACKPINK’s surge suggests renewed public interest driven by member solo activities, endorsement renewals, and anticipation for group activities.
| BLACKPINK’s June Analysis | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand Index | 5,651,105 |
| Change | ⬆️ +43.28% from May |
| Gap to IVE | ~375,000 points — closing |
The gap between BLACKPINK and IVE has narrowed significantly. In May, BLACKPINK’s index was 3,944,164 — now it’s 5,651,105. If this trajectory continues, BLACKPINK could challenge IVE for the No. 1 spot by summer’s end.
No. 3: ILLIT — Holding Strong With “It’s Me” Momentum
1 ILLIT also held onto their spot at third place with a brand reputation index of 3,830,314, marking a 14.30 percent increase in their score since May.
ILLIT’s continued presence in the top 3 is remarkable for a group that debuted just over two years ago. Their hit “It’s Me” has been charting at No. 2 on the Circle Streaming Chart for consecutive weeks, driving sustained public engagement.
| ILLIT’s June Analysis | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand Index | 3,830,314 |
| Change | ⬆️ +14.30% from May |
| May Index | 3,351,051 |
| Streak | 2nd consecutive month at No. 3 |
No. 4: aespa — The LEMONADE Effect Hits Hard
1 aespa jumped to fourth place after seeing an 18.08 percent rise in their brand reputation index, bringing their score to 3,177,356 for June.
aespa’s jump to No. 4 is directly fueled by their LEMONADE album release, which debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 and sold 926,543 copies on the Circle Album Chart in its first tracking week. The timing of the data collection (May 14 – June 14) perfectly captured the LEMONADE era’s explosion.
| aespa’s June Analysis | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand Index | 3,177,356 |
| Change | ⬆️ +18.08% from May |
| Key Driver | LEMONADE album + Billboard 200 Top 10 |
| Previous Rank | Below Top 4 → jumped to No. 4 |
No. 5: TWICE — The Eternal Veterans
1 Finally, TWICE rounded out the top five with a brand reputation index of 2,812,048, marking a 3.44 percent increase in their score since May.
TWICE’s presence in the top 5 — 11 years after debut — continues to be one of K-pop’s most impressive feats of longevity. While their increase is modest compared to BLACKPINK’s surge or aespa’s jump, the fact that TWICE remains in the conversation alongside groups nearly a decade younger speaks to their enduring brand power.
| TWICE’s June Analysis | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand Index | 2,812,048 |
| Change | ⬆️ +3.44% from May |
| Debut Year | 2015 — 11 years of relevance |
How May’s Top 5 Shifted in June
| Group | May Rank | May Index | June Rank | June Index | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVE | 🥇 1st | 4,663,701 | 🥇 1st | 6,025,982 | ⬆️ +29.21% |
| BLACKPINK | 🥈 2nd | 3,944,164 | 🥈 2nd | 5,651,105 | ⬆️ +43.28% |
| ILLIT | 🥉 3rd | 3,351,051 | 🥉 3rd | 3,830,314 | ⬆️ +14.30% |
| LE SSERAFIM | 4th | 2,922,334 | — | Dropped | ⬇️ Out of Top 4 |
| aespa | — | 2,690,000 (est.) | 4th | 3,177,356 | ⬆️ +18.08% |
| TWICE | — | 2,718,000 (est.) | 5th | 2,812,048 | ⬆️ +3.44% |
The biggest movement? 3LE SSERAFIM took fourth place with a brand reputation index of 2,922,334 in May but dropped out of the top 4 in June, replaced by aespa’s LEMONADE-fueled surge.
2026 Monthly No. 1 Winners — IVE’s Dominance
IVE has topped the girl group brand reputation rankings for the majority of 2026:
| Month | No. 1 Group | Brand Index |
|---|---|---|
| January | BLACKPINK | — |
| February | IVE | 5,190,460 |
| March | IVE | 6,690,379 |
| April | IVE | — |
| May | IVE | 4,663,701 |
| June | IVE | 6,025,982 |
The only month IVE didn’t hold No. 1 was January, when BLACKPINK briefly claimed the top spot. Since February, IVE has maintained an iron grip on the rankings.
How Are These Rankings Calculated?
The Korean Business Research Institute evaluates the participation, communication, media, and social values of popular girl groups to calculate each group’s total brand reputation index.
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Participation Index | Fan engagement and activity |
| Media Index | Press coverage and news mentions |
| Communication Index | Social media interaction and buzz |
| Community Index | Online community discussions and sentiment |
The brand reputation index is an indicator created through brand big data analysis that measures how consumers’ online habits impact brand consumption. Both positive and negative evaluations, media attention, and consumer interest levels factor into the final score.
Key Trends This Month
📈 Everyone Is Up — The Market Is Expanding
For the first time in months, every top 5 group saw an increase in their brand reputation index. This suggests the overall K-pop girl group market is growing rather than being a zero-sum competition.
| Trend | What It Means |
|---|---|
| All Top 5 groups up | Market expansion — not just redistribution |
| BLACKPINK +43.28% | Biggest single-month jump — renewed interest |
| aespa enters Top 4 | LEMONADE era driving mainstream attention |
| IVE breaks 6M again | Only group to consistently cross 6M index |
| TWICE’s steady hold | Veteran groups maintain brand power through legacy |
🔄 LE SSERAFIM Drops Despite “ICONIC BY MISTAKE”
Despite their massive collaboration with ILLIT and KATSEYE (“ICONIC BY MISTAKE”), LE SSERAFIM dropped out of the top 4 this month. However, the data collection period (May 14 – June 14) may not fully capture the collaboration’s impact, as it was only released on June 12 — just two days before the data cutoff. Expect a potential rebound in July’s rankings.
The Complete Top 30 for June 2026
Based on previous months’ patterns and the confirmed top 5, the broader top 30 likely includes groups such as LE SSERAFIM, KiiiKiii, Red Velvet, Oh My Girl, Apink, Hearts2Hearts, (G)I-DLE, BABYMONSTER, MAMAMOO, NMIXX, MEOVV, tripleS, KATSEYE, and I.O.I (boosted by their reunion) among others.
What This Means for the Second Half of 2026
The girl group landscape heading into summer and fall is shaping up to be incredibly competitive:
| Group | Upcoming Activity | Ranking Impact |
|---|---|---|
| IVE | World tour continuation | Sustained No. 1 likely |
| BLACKPINK | Member solo + potential group activity | Could challenge for No. 1 |
| aespa | LEMONADE promotions + world tour | Strong upward trajectory |
| Red Velvet | August full-group comeback confirmed | Major ranking boost expected |
| LE SSERAFIM | “ICONIC BY MISTAKE” collab impact | July rebound likely |
| MEOVV | “BITE NOW” era — 301K first-week sales | Could enter Top 10 |
| tripleS | “Baby Flower” — 2 music show wins | Rising trajectory |
| I.O.I | 10th anniversary — Music Core win | Potential Top 10 entry |
For a comprehensive overview of K-pop’s brand culture and industry rankings, visit the Korean Wave Wikipedia page.
The Bottom Line
1 IVE maintained their position at the top of the list with a brand reputation index of 6,025,982, marking a 29.21 percent increase in their score since May. But the real story is the surge happening across the board — 1 BLACKPINK’s 43.28 percent rise, 1 aespa jumping to fourth place with an 18.08 percent rise, and 1 ILLIT holding onto their spot at third place with a 14.30 percent increase.
The girl group brand landscape in 2026 isn’t a one-horse race — it’s a full-field sprint where every contender is getting faster. With Red Velvet’s August comeback, aespa’s LEMONADE momentum, and BLACKPINK closing the gap, the second half of 2026 could see the most competitive girl group rankings in years.
IVE wears the crown today. The question is: for how long? 👑💎
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