Rescene members pose for a camera. (Photo / SNS)
RESCENE has topped South Korea’s August 2026 singer brand reputation rankings, beating global K-pop powerhouse BTS and trot star Lim Young Woong.
The Korea Reputation Institute announced the rankings on August 22 after analyzing 129,484,511 pieces of singer-related big data collected from July 22 to August 22. The analysis measured consumer participation, media exposure, communication and community activity.
The total volume of data increased 19.27% from 108,566,353 pieces analyzed in July, reflecting heightened public interest in the Korean music industry.
RESCENE Surges to No. 1
RESCENE recorded a brand reputation index of 8,577,564, securing the top spot in the August rankings.
The group posted 1,600,484 points in participation, 2,298,383 in media exposure, 2,332,771 in communication and 2,345,927 in community activity.
RESCENE’s overall score jumped 28.26% from 6,687,715 in July, allowing the group to overtake several established names and claim its first-place position.
Korea Reputation Institute director Gu Chang-hwan attributed the result to the group’s growing popularity, pointing to songs including “Love Attack,” “Pretty Girl” and “Deja Vu” as key factors behind RESCENE’s strong brand performance.
BTS and Lim Young Woong Round Out Top Three
BTS ranked No. 2 with a brand reputation index of 6,627,924, although the figure represented a 15.45% decline from the previous month.
Lim Young Woong placed third with 5,297,180 points, down 31.80% from July.
The remaining spots in the top five went to rising boy group CORTIS and K-pop powerhouse ATEEZ. CORTIS ranked fourth with 4,142,587 points, recording a slight 0.45% increase from the previous month, while ATEEZ placed fifth with 3,490,310 points.
The August rankings highlight the rapidly shifting landscape of Korea’s music industry, with younger acts such as RESCENE increasingly competing with established K-pop stars and major solo artists for public attention.
RESCENE’s No. 1 ranking also underscores the growing impact of digital engagement and online community activity on artist brand reputation in the K-pop industry.
Park Minji is a K‑pop writer and journalist who delivers sharp insights and engaging stories on Korean music and culture for global readers.
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