The most popular K-Pop groups and artists by international fans
Curious about which K-pop artists and groups are popular with overseas fans?
The Korean government’s annual survey has unveiled overseas fans’ favorite K-pop bands and artists in 2022.
From November 11 to December 7, the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange surveyed 25,000 people aged 15 to 59 from 26 countries about Korea.
Countries surveyed include USA, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, Russia, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Australia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mexico, Canada, Germany , Italy and Spain , Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kazakhstan and many more.
In part of the survey, respondents were asked to answer the following question: “What is your current favorite band/artist from Korea? “. They chose their favorite artist by writing their name (not choosing them). Check out their answers below!
- ie
In fifth place we have the only soloist on this list, idol idol IU, who was named their favorite by 1.7% of respondents. IU is one of the most popular Korean artists of all time.
Hele is not only valued around the world, but also respected by fellow artists and industry professionals. As a singer-songwriter, IU has always impressed with her remarkable skills and has always delivered the best of the best. We can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
- TWICE
TWICE ranks 4th overall, with 1.8% of respondents citing it as their favorite group. Known around the world for their originality, signature style and flawless discography, TWICE have established themselves as a global force to be reckoned with. After a seven-year career, TWICE continues to evolve and reinvent itself, bringing something new every time.
- PSI
PSY is credited with breathing new life into the Korean wave with the viral sensation “Gangnam Style,” and PSY’s cultural significance is unparalleled. 2.6% of respondents named PSY 2022 as their favorite K-pop artist.
Also in 2022, PSY’s eighth studio album “PSY 9th” was released, which gave new impetus to his extraordinary career. There is no doubt that the impact of this album was unprecedented.
- BLACK PINK
BLACKPINK came in second, with 10.8% of respondents picking it as their favorite group. The queens of the scene, BLACKPINK have enjoyed unprecedented success around the world, topping records and music charts left and right. It goes without saying that the future is even brighter and we couldn’t be more excited.
1. BTS
With 31.3% of respondents voting BTS as their favorite K-Pop artist, BTS comes first. There is no doubt that BTS is the biggest music group in the world today, so this ranking comes as no surprise.
The band’s unique musicianship, inspirational lyrics and positive impact on the world truly deserve recognition.
Interestingly, BTS is the most popular K-pop group/artist in 23 of the 26 countries surveyed.
Also, BTS was mentioned in over 35% of responses across all countries in America, which is an incredibly high number. The highest percentage of responses mentioning BTS was recorded in Argentina, with 49.9% of respondents choosing BTS as their favorite band.
The only countries where BTS is second (the lowest they hold) are Thailand and Malaysia, where BLACKPINK is first. Also, BTS didn’t appear in the Chinese Top 5, but IU came out on top.
Besides the top 5 artists, BIGBANG, Girls’ Generation and Stray Kids appear in the top 5 of different countries 6 times, EXO 8 times, SUPER JUNIOR three times, and GOT7, NCT, TXT, KARA and MAMAMOO once in Thailand. , Indonesia, Russia, Japan and France.
The OGs – Rain appears three times (USA, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) and BoA appears once in Kazakhstan.
Soloist SunMi performs in Brazil, Ailee in Canada and HyunA in Russia. Individual members of K-pop groups such as Jin, V, JiMin, JungKook from BTS, Lisa and Jennie from BLACKPINK, Jackson Wang from GOT7, Luna from f(x) and G-Dragon from BIGBANG also made the top 5th out of several countries.
Who would you have chosen?
