Hold up, ENGENEs and BLINKs! A recent global survey has officially crowned BTS’s Jungkook and IU as the ultimate fan favorites among male and female K-Pop artists, respectively, among international viewers!
Arirang TV, the global English-language network, just dropped the results of their joint survey conducted from June 23rd to July 7th, reaching audiences worldwide. With a massive 601 respondents from 94 countries, this poll offers some serious insights into how the world consumes K-Pop, K-Dramas, and all things Hallyu.
BTS Dominates Male Picks, IU Reigns Supreme for Females
When it came to male K-Pop artists, it’s no surprise that BTS members took most of the top spots! Jungkook led the pack with 12.7%, followed closely by Jimin (11.1%), RM (6.9%), V (6.5%), and J-Hope (6.0%). SHINee’s Taemin (4.9%) and BTS’s Jin (3.7%) also made strong showings. The survey revealed a diverse love for K-Pop, with about 80 different male artists receiving votes. (FYI, Suga landed at #8 for BTS members!).
For female artists, the queen herself, IU, secured the top spot with a whopping 17.0% of the votes! BLACKPINK’s Rosé (11.3%) came in second, with Jennie and Lisa (10.6% each) right behind her. aespa’s Karina (5.5%) and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo (5.1%) also rounded out the top ranks. Around 60 other female artists also received widespread support, showing the breadth of talent recognized by global fans.
YouTube Still King for K-Content Consumption
So, how are fans getting their K-Content fix? YouTube is the undisputed champion, with a massive 55.1% of respondents using it as their main channel. Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) followed with 14.4%, then OTT platforms (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) at 12.1%, and short-form video platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts at 7.7%. Traditional TV broadcasting still pulls in 6.7%, while news, concerts, and other routes accounted for less than 4.0% each. This clearly shows where the digital generation is consuming their entertainment!
Young & Global: The Demographics of K-Content Lovers
The survey results highlight that K-Content’s appeal is definitely concentrated among the younger demographic. The highest age groups were 18-29 years old (34.5%) and 30-39 years old (29.1%), followed by 40-49 (15.8%) and 50-59 (9.3%).
And where are these fans located? The USA took the lead with 17.6% of responses, followed by the Philippines (6.9%), Japan (6.9%), Korea (5.1%), India (4.7%), and the UK (4.7%). China (4.5%), Malaysia (3.7%), Indonesia (3.6%), Canada (3.4%), Vietnam (3.4%), and Thailand (3.0%) also showed strong participation. Responses from countries like Oman, Bhutan, Tunisia, and others across the globe.
Geographically, Asia represented the largest portion of respondents (47.2%), followed by North America (23.4%), Europe (19.5%), South America (4.5%), Africa (3.0%), and Oceania (1.9%). This truly underscores that K-Content consumption is spreading evenly across all continents.
Finally, the gender breakdown showed a higher participation rate from females at 64.1%, compared to males at 34.5% (1.4% preferred not to say).
