Wonyoung Rules Again — Full May 2026 K-pop Girl Group Brand Reputation Rankings & Member Spotlights

Month after month, the results come in. Month after month, the name at the top barely moves. The Korean Business Research Institute has released its May 2026 brand reputation rankings for individual girl group members — and once again, IVE’s Jang Won Young sits firmly on the throne, while BLACKPINK and aespa hold steady just behind her.

The rankings were built from a massive big data analysis covering consumer participation, media coverage, communication, and community awareness indexes across 730 girl group members, tracking data from April 17 to May 17, 2026. Here is your full breakdown.

Top 5 — Member Spotlights

1st — IVE’s Jang Won Young | Index: 6,715,647

Jang Won Young is the undisputed queen of K-pop brand power in 2026. The IVE center and former IZ*ONE member — born August 31, 2004 — has topped these rankings consistently across the year, and May is no different. Her top keywords this month were “BANG BANG,” “Lucky Vicky,” and “Wonyoung-esque mindset” — a trio that captures exactly what she represents: musical hits, viral catchphrases, and a mindset that an entire generation wants to emulate. Her positivity score? A remarkable 91.53% positive reactions. She is currently Asia-Pacific ambassador for Dyson and global model for Dr. Althea, while IVE’s upcoming SHOW WHAT I AM world tour kicks off in July 2026.

2nd — BLACKPINK’s Jennie | Index: 4,745,164

Jennie maintains her perennial second-place grip with a score of 4,745,164. The BLACKPINK rapper-singer has built a solo career that rivals her group’s global footprint — her music, fashion brand partnerships, and constant cultural relevance keep her firmly in the public eye every single month without exception.

3rd — aespa’s Karina | Index: 4,487,074

aespa’s leader and center Karina holds third with 4,487,074 — a position she has occupied consistently throughout 2026. Known for her striking visuals, powerful stage presence, and the ongoing momentum from aespa’s “WDA (Whole Different Animal)” era, Karina continues to be one of K-pop’s most talked-about figures across social media and brand campaigns alike.

4th — IVE’s An Yu Jin | Index: 3,359,321 (+1.58% vs April)

An Yu Jin climbed to fourth this month with a 1.58% increase over her April score — a testament to her growing solo profile. The IVE co-center brings infectious energy and natural charisma to every stage, and her rising individual recognition is increasingly keeping pace with group-mate Won Young’s dominance.

5th — BLACKPINK’s Lisa | Index: 3,142,015

Lisa rounds out the top five with 3,142,015 — her global appeal, solo music career, and massive international fanbase keeping her a permanent fixture in these rankings. The Thai-born BLACKPINK member consistently charts in countries far beyond South Korea, cementing her as one of K-pop’s most universally recognized names.

Full Top 30 — May 2026 Rankings

What the Rankings Tell Us

IVE dominates the individual landscape — with five members in the Top 30 (Won Young at #1, An Yu Jin at #4, Rei at #15, Liz at #18, Gaeul at #20, Leeseo at #24). BLACKPINK places four members despite no active group comeback. aespa places four as well, riding the momentum of their latest era. Red Velvet’s strong showing (Joy, Seulgi, Irene, Wendy) confirms the group’s remarkable longevity in the public consciousness. And ILLIT’s double entry — Wonhee at #7 and Moka at #30 — signals the rookie group is firmly in the conversation with the established names.

For more K-pop rankings, member news, and idol updates, check out our latest K-pop coverage on TechnoSports. Stay in the loop with all things Korean entertainment at TechnoSports.

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