In January 2026, rookie K-pop groups gained popularity through social media and global activities, while others built momentum gradually through consistent engagement. The latest brand reputation rankings highlight top performers and the strategies that drove their success. TWS leads, followed by ILLIT, KiiiKiii, CORTIS, and BABYMOMSTER. Check out the full list of the top 50 K-pop rookie idol group brand reputation rankings in January 2026, below.
January 2026 K-pop Rookie Idol Group Brand Reputation Rankings
The Korean Business Research Institute analyzed 10,157,074 pieces of rookie group data collected from December 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026, to produce the January 2026 rookie group brand reputation rankings.
The number rose 2.87% from December’s 9,873,579. The institute analyzed participation, media coverage, communication, and community awareness to identify which rookie K-pop stars gained momentum.
TOP 5
1. TWS – Viral Trendsetters
The six-member group, TWS, topped January’s rankings with an impressive brand reputation index of 1,073,422, rising 55.78 percent from December (689,041). The group achieved the highest Community Index of 394,627, showing strong popularity and fandom.
They also achieved the highest positive reaction score of 86.12%. In keyword analysis, ‘angtal challenge,’ ‘Entertainment Awards,’ and ‘Japan performance’ stood out. Link analysis highlighted ‘heartwarming,’ ‘romantic,’ and ‘cool.’
‘Angtal challenge,’ awards, and international shows drew loyal fans and boosted TWS’s popularity.
2. ILLIT – Global Connectors
BELIFT LAB’s girl group, ILLIT, rose to second place, with a brand reputation score of 1,033,591. It increased 75.04% from December’s 590,496, marking the biggest growth among the top five. This growth happened because they performed well in the Japanese market in January and connected with fans across many platforms.
The group’s Communication Index scored 441,148, the highest among the top five, indicating high interactions with fans across platforms. In contrast, their Community index was lower at 260,780, which means they still had a smaller fan community.
Expanding internationally and engaging in multiple languages helps rookie groups grow their fanbase.
3. KiiiKiii – Media Favorites
Rookie girl group KiiiKiii, known for their Y2K concept, achieved a brand reputation index of 929,929, decreasing 12.79% from December’s 1,066,320. Despite strong media coverage, KiiiKiii dropped from first place in December to third in January.
KiiiKiii’s Media Index was the highest among the top five, outperforming all other groups in media coverage. However, their Communication Index was lower than TWS and ILLIT, indicating KiiiKiii struggled more than these groups to foster interactive fan engagement despite their visibility.
KiiiKiii’s 2nd mini album will be released on January 26, and they have also been named Seoul Ambassadors for “2026 Seoul – Morning Yellow,” the city’s design identity project. Their new album and assignment could boost their popularity and increase their brand reputation index next month.
4. CORTIS – Participation Powerhouses
Down to fourth, CORTIS, known as the creative crew, achieved a brand reputation index of 921,943. It saw a modest -6.17% decline from December’s 982,619. Unlike KIKI’s more significant drop, CORTIS’s decrease was not significant, yet still important.
The group achieved the highest Participation Index of 246,078, yet the lowest Community Index of 120,504 among the five groups.
This shows that though CORTIS activates fan participation, they struggle to build long-term community loyalty. High participation isn’t enough; fostering deeper bonds is key.
5. BABYMONSTER – Consistent Climbers
YG’s girl group, BABYMONSTER, secured fifth spot. The 7-member girl group achieved a brand reputation index of 668,909. It increased by 16.63% from December’s 573,549.
The group has proven themselves to be rookie monsters. Their YouTube channel has surpassed 11 million subscribers. This is also evident in their Community Index of 142,195, which indicates a strong community bond.
BABYMONSTER’s success comes from consistency—not virality. Their music, live shows, and creative involvement built loyal fan engagement beyond quick trends.
TOP 50
- TWS
- ILLIT
- KiiiKiii
- CORTIS
- BABYMONSTER
- Hearts2Hearts
- XLOV
- Alpha Drive One
- IZNA
- KickFlip
- AHOF
- MEOVV
- RESCENE
- KATSEYE
- IDID
- Unis
- eite
- ARTMS
- Baby DONT Cry
- NEXZ
- HORI7ON
- NOWADAYS
- Say My Name
- SPIA
- Geenius
- Lost
- Close Your Eyes
- KIIRAS
- BE BOYS
- A1
- Candy Shop
- HITGS
- BURVEY
- Luna8
- NEWBEAT
- ifeye
- tracer
- VVS
- Big O!cean
- ASC2NT
- MADEIN
- UNICODE
- NouerA
- USPEER
- BADVILLAIN
- All(H)Ours
- W!TCHX
- InAMinute
- BEWAVE
- S2iT
What The Rankings Reveal
The top five groups show different approaches and results in building brand popularity. TWS wins through trend adaptation and viral moments. ILLIT wins through international expansion and multilingual engagement. KiiiKiii showed that media visibility alone doesn’t sustain momentum. CORTIS revealed participation without community building limits growth. Finally, BABYMONSTER proved consistency beats virals.
These diverse strategies reveal an important truth. The January 2026 rankings reveal a clear pattern. K-pop’s next era belongs to groups that balance trendiness, international reach, and genuine fan connection. Long-term success demands global strategy, consistent creativity, and genuine community, not viral chasing. ILLIT and BABYMONSTER exemplify this formula: execution + expansion + community = icons.
With this insight in mind, are you surprised by TWS and ILLIT’s dominance? Do you think the rankings are fair, or should other groups rank higher? Let us know in the comments!
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