Every month, fans ask the same question: who is Korea’s most talked-about star right now? The Korean Business Research Institute has September’s answer, and this time there’s a plot twist from the football pitch.
Table of Contents
How the Rankings Work?
The institute crunches big data from August 29 to September 29. It looks at four things: media coverage, consumer participation, interaction, and community awareness. Think of it as a popularity report card built from what people actually read, share, and discuss.
September’s Top 5 K-drama:
| Rank | Star | Brand Reputation Index | Change vs. August |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RESCENE | 10,516,714 | +3.31% |
| 2 | Son Heung Min | 8,514,454 | +373.02% |
| 3 | Lim Young Woong | 8,104,844 | +11.94% |
| 4 | BTS | 7,712,076 | Not reported |
| 5 | Yu Jae Seok | 6,274,256 | Not reported |
The Big Story: A 373% Leap?
RESCENE keeps its top spot with a steady climb, which is impressive consistency in a crowded field. The real headline, though, is Son Heung Min. His score rose by more than 373%, launching him from the sidelines straight to second place. It shows how far a sports icon’s pull reaches beyond the stadium.
Lim Young Woong sits just behind in third, with a healthy 11.94% rise. BTS and TV favorite Yu Jae Seok round out the top five.
Beyond the Top 5
The rest of the top 10 features BLACKPINK, IVE, SEVENTEEN, Song Kang and ATEEZ. Further down, you’ll spot Stray Kids, NCT, EXO, TWICE, aespa and SHINee, so the list mixes idols, actors and athletes.
Follow more trending sports and entertainment stories on Technosports so you never miss a moment. If you love athlete-driven buzz, browse our latest sports coverage too.
FAQs
Q1. Who topped the September 2026 brand reputation rankings?
RESCENE took first place with an index of 10,516,714. That is a 3.31% increase over August.
Q2. Why did Son Heung Min jump to No. 2?
His index rose by 373.02% to 8,514,454. That surge in coverage and fan engagement pushed him past several major acts.
