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Yearender: Gallup survey names favorite singers, songs in South Korea in 2025
Yearender: Gallup survey names favorite singers, songs in South Korea in 2025
Gallup Korea has released the results of surveys naming the favorite singers and songs in South Korea in 2025.
The polling firm conducted three surveys from July 3-27, Sept. 8-24, and Nov. 11-28, asking 5,148 people aged 13 and older nationwide (except Jeju Island) in South Korea to name their favorite K-pop singers and groups who were active this year and songs.
The results were divided into two age groups: 13 to 39 years old (2,097 respondents) and 40 years old and older (3,051 respondents).
Since 2007, Gallup Korea has been announcing the Person of the Year in each field at the end of each year. In 2025, Gallup Korea continued the tradition of naming the favorite athletes, entertainment broadcasters and comedians, TV drama actors, movie actors, and singers and pop music.
FAVORITE SINGER
13-39 age group
For favorite singer, IU took first place with 20.1 percent in the 13-39 age group.
Gallup Korea stated that IU has consistently ranked among the top "Singer of the Year" since 2011, and also took first place in 2014 and 2017 (both for ages 13-59).
In the 13-39 age group, the second place went to BLACKPINK with 18.1 percent, followed by Aespa (14 percent, third place), IVE (12.2 percent, fourth place), NewJeans (12 percent, fifth place), BTS (10.9 percent, sixth place), G-Dragon (10.7 percent, seventh place), Rosé (7.2 percent, eighth place), Hwang Garam (5.3 percent, ninth place), and DAY6 (5 percent, 10th place).
Singers and groups that received more than 1.5 percent of responses outside the top 10 in the 13-39 age group were Seventeen (4.6 percent), Jennie (4.4 percent), Lee Moo-jin (4.1 percent), Lim Young-woong (3.7 percent), Jo Jazz (3.2 percent), 10cm (2.5 percent), AKMU, Roy Kim, TWICE (all 2 percent), Hwasa (1.8 percent), Lee Chan-won, Woody (Kim Sang-woo), Jannabi (all 1.7 percent), Woodz (Cho Seung-youn) (1.6 percent), and Lee Chang-sub, Sung Si-kyung, Boynextdoor (all 1.5 percent).
Top 10 Favorite Singers in South Korea in 2025 (Source: Gallup Korea)
1. IU - 20.1%
2. BLACKPINK - 18.1%
3. Aespa - 14%
4. IVE - 12.2%
5. NewJeans - 12%
6. BTS - 10.9%
7. G-Dragon - 10.7%
8. Rosé - 7.2%
9. Hwang Garam - 5.3%
10. DAY6 - 5%
40 and older
Among the respondents who were 40 years old and older, Lim Young-woong came on top with 29.1 percent. He has been in first place for six consecutive years.
The second place went to trot singer Jang Yoon-jeong (12.3 percent). Except in 2024 and 2018, she has been in the top five since 2007.
In third place is Lee Chan-won (12.0 percent), followed by Young Tak (9.1 percent, fourth place), Song Ga-in (7.9 percent, fifth place), IU (7.7 percent, sixth place), Jin Sung (6.9 percent, seventh place), Park Seo-jin (6.3 percent, eighth), Hwang Garam (5.9 percent, ninth place), and Na Hoon-a (5.5 percent, 10th place).
Singers/groups that received responses of 1.5 or more outside the top 10 were Kim Yong-bin (5.4 percent), Jang Min-ho (3.7 percent), G-Dragon (3.6 percent), Park Ji-hyun (3.3 percent), Jeon Yu-jin (3 percent), Cho Yong-pil (3 percent), Kim Yeon-ja (2.9 percent), Jeong Dong-won (2.8 percent), Lee Moo-jin (2.8 percent), Jo Jazz, Son Bin-ah (2.6 percent), Rosé (2.5 percent), Sung Si-kyung (2.5 percent), BTS (2.3 percent), BLACKPINK (2.2 percent), Lee Seung-chul (2.1 percent, Lee Moon-sae (1.7 percent), Ahn Sung-hoon (1.6 percent), Lyn (1.5 percent), and Nam Jin (1.5 percent).
FAVORITE SONG
Gallup Korea also asked respondents to name their favorite song this year.
13 to 39 years old
Among the respondents aged 13 to 39, BLACPINK’s “Jump” was the No. 1 choice with 10.7 percent.
This was followed by “APT.” by Rosé & Bruno Mars (10.2 percent, second place), “I’m Firefly” by Hwang Garam (6.6 percent, third place), “Power” by G-Dragon (4.9), “Like Jennie” by Jennie (4.5 percent, fifth place), “Don’t You Know” by Jo Jazz (3.6 sixth place), “Golden” by Huntrix for “KPop Demon Hunters (3.3 percent, seventh place), “XOXZ” by IVE (3.2 percent, eighth place), “Bye, Summer” by IU (2.9 ninth place), and “Rich Man” by Aespa (2.7 percent, 10th place).
Songs that received more than 1.5 percent of responses outside the top 10 from respondents aged 13 to 39 years old were “Rebel Heart” by IVE and “Whiplash” by Aespa (both 2.6 percent); “Square’s Dream” by IU (2.6 percent); “Through the Night by IU (2.5 percent); “Dirty Work” by Aespa (2.4 percent), “Hype Boy” by NewJeans, and “Too Bad” by G-Dragon (all 2.3 percent); “To Reach You” by 10cm (2.2 percent); “Home Sweet Home” by G-Dragon (2.1 percent); “Sadder Than Yesterday by Woody (2 percent), “You Were Beautiful” by DAY6, “Coming of Age Story” by Lee Mu-jin), and “Good Day” by IU (all 1.9 percent); “Supernova” by Aespa, “Good Goodbye” by Hwasa, “How Sweet” by NewJeans, and “Never Ending Story” by IU (all 1.7 percent); “Bam Yang Gang” by BIBI (1.6 percent); and “Dynamite’ by BTS and “Starting with You” by Park Da-hye and Maktub (all 1.5 percent)..
40 and older
Respondents in the 40 and older age bracket chose Hwang Garam’s “I’m Firefly” as the No. 1 song in 2025 with 6.7 percent.
It was followed by “Love Always Run Away” by Lim Young-woong (5.4 percent, second place), which was No. 1 from 2022-2024, “First Marriage” (Jang Yoon-jeong, 4.1 percent, third place), “APT.” by Rosé & Bruno Mars (3.9 percent, fourth place), “Trust in Me” by Lim Young-woong (3.7 percent, fifth place), “At Andong Station by Jinsung (3.3 percent, sixth place), “A Glass of Makgeolli” by Young Tak (3.0 percent, seventh place), “Don’t You Know” by Jo Jazz (2.6 percent, eighth place), “Eternal Moment” by Lim Young-woong (2.5 percent, ninth place), and “Fate in Time” and “Jintobaegi by Lee Chan-won (2.3 percent, 10th place).