The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed the K-pop rookie group and individual idol brand reputation rankings for October 2025. One new K-pop group didn’t just make waves; they created a big wave that reshaped the K-pop world. And that group is CORTIS. Let’s explore the complete lists of K-pop rookie brand reputation rankings in October 2025 below!
October 2025 K-Pop Rookie Idol Group & Individual Idol Brand Reputation Rankings
This month’s report is a tale of two trends. We saw an explosion of interest in rookie groups as a whole, with one powerhouse act leading the charge. At the same time, the individual’s fame took some surprising turns, proving that sometimes, a single star can shine just as brightly as a whole constellation.
October’s ranking highlights exciting shifts and new names buzzing across the K-pop fandom. Rookie groups and individual idols make waves in fan engagement, media buzz, and online chatter. Behind these rankings lies a story of talent, connection, and growing influence. Let’s start with a few highlights before delving into the complete rankings.
CORTIS and Koenho Top K-pop Rookie Rankings
The Korean Business Research Institute analyzed over 11 million pieces of data for rookie idol groups and 4.2 million for individual idols. Their method tracks how fans interact online—through media, social chatter, and community buzz—giving a complete picture of brand power.
This October, rookie group Cortis claimed the top spot, with Alpha Drive One, Kiiikiii, Hearts2Hearts, and AHOF following. Individually, Cortis member Keonho led the rank, proving strong solo appeal alongside group success.
TOP 5 K-Pop Groups
1. CORTIS
CORTIS didn’t just lead the way. They also made history. Debuting on August 18, 2025, the group led the K-pop rookie group brand reputation rankings in October 2025, leaving the next group far behind.
They achieved an impressive brand value of 2,189,178 in October, and fans and the media have been buzzing about them. This achievement proves that CORTIS has truly penetrated and captured the hearts of mainstream K-pop fans.
According to Koo Chang-hwan, the institute’s director, CORTIS’s brand was linked to powerful words like “intense,” “hot,” and “colorful.” Their most popular keywords were “fashion,” “hip-hop,” and “performance.” Best of all, they scored an incredible 85.62% positive reaction from the public.
2. ALPHA DRIVE ONE
K-pop boy group ALPHA DRIVE ONE is formed through the survival show Boys II Planet. Surprisingly, the K-pop boy group, scheduled to debut in early 2026, secured second place. They achieved a brand value of 1,014,319, highlighting their presence in the industry. They will officially begin their promotions after ZEROBASEONE ends their activities on December 31, 2025.
3. KiiiKiii
K-pop girl group KiiiKiii dropped to third place this October with a brand value of 754,976. Their brand value declined after a busy month of activity in September. Despite this, they demonstrated strong resilience. This also indicates that KiiiKiii has built a loyal fanbase committed to the long term.
4. Hearts2Hearts
Hearts2Hearts fell to fourth position this month with a brand value of 628,714. The group is experiencing steady popularity following a series of busy promotional activities. While some members are excelling individually, their collective strength is even more pronounced.
5. AHOF
AHOF concluded the top five in this month’s rookie group rankings with a big splash. They topped the August ranking and dropped to seventh in September. This month, the group returned to the spotlight with a 50.52 percent surge in their brand reputation index.
They achieved a brand value of 628,039. It was reported that K-pop group AHOF would be making their first comeback in November. This news has captured the attention of fans and dramatically increased the group’s popularity.
TOP 5 Individual Kpop Rookie Idols
1. CORTIS’s Keonho
Keonho’s top ranking is a direct reflection of his group’s explosive popularity, with a brand value of 384,060. He served as the face of CORTIS’s successful promotions.
Keyword analysis from the director Koo Chang-hwan linked the idol to the terms “CORTIS,” “What You Want,” and “GO,” which are likely the group’s name and title tracks. His individual fame is inextricably tied to the group’s hit activities.
High-ranking related terms like “handsome,” “cute,” and “charming,” combined with an 87.03 percent positive reaction score, show that his personal appeal and positive image were major factors in attracting public interest.
2. ILLIT’s Wonhee
Wonhee from ILLIT achieved a brand value of 245,449 this month, securing second place. Although her score declined by 14.97 percent from September, she remained in the top five. Her lively performance on stage and announcement of her variety show debut further boosted her popularity.
3. Hearts2Hearts’ Ian
Hearts2Hearts’ Ian ranked third despite a 13.05 percent decrease. As a standout member of the #4 rookie group, Hearts2Hearts, her individual brand benefits from the group’s overall visibility; her consistent high ranking shows that she is a key figure in drawing fans to the group.
4. ILLIT’s Minju
ILLIT’s Minju achieved a brand value of 225,281 this month. It saw a 4.67% increase in her score. Her consistent social media engagement and charming personality played a significant role in her popularity.
5. CORTIS’s Juhoon
CORTIS’s Juhoon rounded out the top 5 rookie idols for October with a brand reputation index of 194,252. With Juhoon in fifth place shows just how strong CORTIS’s impact is right now. It shows that CORTIS’s popularity is not reliant on a single “ace” member but is distributed across the group, which suggests a strong and well-balanced lineup with multiple members capturing the public’s attention.
TOP 50 K-pop Rookie Groups
- CORTIS
- Alpha Drive One
- KiiiKiii
- Hearts2Hearts
- AHOF
- RESCENE
- IZNA
- ILLIT
- TWS
- BABYMONSTER
- KATSEYE
- XLOV
- Geenius
- MEOVV
- Unis
- eite
- IDID
- KickFlip
- HORI7ON
- Say My Name
- A1
- ARTMS
- NOWADAYS
- ifeye
- Big O!cean
- NEWBEAT
- SPIA
- BADVILLAIN
- USPEER
- Luna8
- KIIRAS
- Baby DONT Cry
- Lost
- VVS
- All(H)Ours
- Close Your Eyes
- NouerA
- tracer
- InAMinute
- UNICODE
- NEXZ
- MADEIN
- ASC2NT
- Candy Shop
- BEWAVE
- HITGS
- W!TCHX
- BURVEY
- S2iT
- Genblue
TOP 50 Individual K-pop Rookie Idols
- CORTIS Keonho
- ILLIT Wonhee
- Hearts2Hearts Ian
- ILLIT Minju
- CORTIS Juhoon
- KiiiKiii Jiyu
- Hearts2Hearts Jiwoo
- KiiiKiii Leesol
- MEOVV Anna
- CORTIS Martin
- ILLIT Moka
- CORTIS Seonghyeon
- TWS Shinyu
- IZNA Choi Jung Eun
- ILLIT Yunah
- IZNA Bang Jeemin
- KiiiKiii Haum
- TWS Dohoon
- Hearts2Hearts Yuha
- Hearts2Hearts A-Na
- ILLIT Iroha
- Hearts2Hearts Carmen
- Hearts2Hearts Stella
- CPRTIS James
- IZNA Mai
- KATSEYE Yoonchae
- IZNA Yoon Ji Yoon
- BABYMONSTER Ahyeon
- Hearts2Hearts Ye-On
- MEOVV Ella
- IZNA Koko
- BABYMONSTER Rami
- IZNA Jeong Saebi
- ifeye Kasia
- BABYMONSTER Asa
- IZNA Ry Sa Rang
- TWS Jihoon
- Hearts2Hearts Juun
- KATSEYE Daniela
- KATSEYE Lara
- KATSEYE Sophia
- KATSEYE Manon
- TWS Kyungmin
- TWS Hanjin
- KATSEYE Megan
- TWS Youngjae
- RESCENE Woni
- BABYMONSTER Rora
- BABYMONSTER Ruka
- UNIS LIM Seowon
The Final Beat
October 2025 is all about these standout rookie K-pop idol groups as they’ve shown new talent and built real connections with fans.
So, did you find your favorite rookie group/idol on the lists? Please share with us in the comments below.
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