BTS Tops November 2026 K-Pop Boy Group Brand Reputation Rankings, ATEEZ and CORTIS Follow

BTS continues to command the K-pop boy group landscape, securing the No. 1 position in South Korea’s November 2026 boy group brand reputation rankings.

The latest result, announced on Nov. 7 by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute, highlights the group’s continued influence even as competition from other popular acts becomes increasingly noticeable.

Comprising RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, BTS recorded a brand reputation index of 7,637,748 for November. Although the figure represents a marginal decline of 0.69% from its October score of 7,690,856, the group maintained a substantial lead over the other contenders.

What makes this month’s rankings particularly interesting is the movement among the groups immediately below BTS. ATEEZ and CORTIS recorded notable increases, while established acts such as Stray Kids and BIGBANG experienced declines.

BTS Maintains Its Lead Despite Slight Monthly Decline

According to the institute, the November assessment was based on 50,185,216 pieces of boy group brand reputation big data collected between Oct. 7 and Nov. 7. This represented a 10.18% decrease from the 55,871,402 data points examined in October.

Despite the overall reduction in the dataset, BTS remained comfortably ahead of the competition. Its November index covered four key areas: consumer participation, media coverage, communication, and community engagement.

The group’s lead is particularly significant when compared with the second-place entry. ATEEZ recorded 4,220,430 points, leaving a considerable gap between the two acts. BTS’ latest result therefore reflects more than simply retaining its position at the top; it demonstrates the scale of its brand presence relative to the other groups included in the assessment.

The slight decline in its score also needs to be viewed in context. Brand reputation rankings measure several forms of online activity and public engagement, meaning monthly movements do not necessarily indicate a corresponding change in music sales, streaming performance, or an artist’s overall popularity.

ATEEZ and CORTIS Emerge as Notable Movers in November

While BTS held on to the top position, ATEEZ delivered one of the month’s strongest performances among the leading groups. The eight-member act, consisting of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho, secured second place with 4,220,430 points.

Its score increased by 15.22% compared with October, making the group’s upward movement particularly noteworthy. The result places ATEEZ firmly among the leading names in the November assessment and highlights its continued ability to attract attention in a competitive K-pop market.

CORTIS also made an impressive showing by claiming third place. The rising five-member group, comprising Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyun, and Keonho, recorded 3,096,515 points, marking a 13.53% increase from the previous month.

The group’s position is especially interesting given the presence of several established acts further down the list. Its third-place finish puts it ahead of groups with considerably longer histories in the industry, including Stray Kids and BIGBANG.

These results illustrate the changing dynamics of K-pop’s boy group landscape. While established acts continue to benefit from years of audience recognition, newer groups are also finding ways to build visibility and strengthen their standing.

Stray Kids and BIGBANG Complete the Top Five

Stray Kids ranked fourth in November with a brand reputation index of 2,726,772. The eight-member group, consisting of Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N, recorded a 16.74% decline compared with its October result.

BIGBANG followed in fifth place with 2,492,966 points. The group, comprising G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung, experienced a more substantial monthly decrease of 21.90%.

Although both acts remained within the top five, their positions reflect a different monthly trend from those of ATEEZ and CORTIS. The contrast between the groups also demonstrates why the November results deserve attention beyond the overall ranking order.

For established names, maintaining a place among the leading acts remains an achievement in itself. However, the increases recorded by ATEEZ and CORTIS show that the competition for public attention is far from static.

‘ARMY,’ ‘Arirang’ and ‘World Tour’ Define BTS’ November Brand Keywords

One of the most revealing aspects of the November report was the language associated with BTS. Koo Chang Hwan, director of the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute, noted that the group’s high-ranking link analysis was dominated by terms such as “record,” “sell out,” and “certify.”

Meanwhile, the leading keywords associated with BTS were “ARMY,” “Arirang,” and “World Tour.” The group also recorded an exceptionally high positive sentiment score of 93.52%.

The keyword findings are particularly relevant as BTS continues its global ARIRANG World Tour. The connection between the group’s name, its fandom, and its ongoing concert schedule suggests that its current activities are important elements of the public conversation surrounding the septet.

The presence of “ARMY” among the leading keywords also highlights the role of the group’s fanbase in sustaining its visibility. BTS has built a global community that continues to engage with its music and activities, making fan participation an important part of its public identity.

The appearance of “Arirang” and “World Tour” further connects the group’s latest brand reputation performance with its current touring chapter. Rather than being associated only with its established discography, BTS is generating attention through its ongoing activities as a group.

A Competitive K-Pop Landscape Beyond the Top Five

The November assessment also included a wide range of active and legacy boy groups, underlining the diversity of the current K-pop industry.

Among the other acts evaluated were EXO, ENHYPEN, SEVENTEEN, TWS, NCT, BOYNEXTDOOR, Super Junior, Wanna One, MONSTA X, 2PM, BTOB, THE BOYZ, ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE, HIGHLIGHT, GOT7, TVXQ, SHINee, INFINITE, TREASURE, PENTAGON, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, SHINHWA, and KickFlip.

The presence of both veteran groups and newer acts makes the monthly assessment a useful snapshot of the industry’s changing competitive environment. Different generations of K-pop performers continue to attract audiences, while their positions in the rankings shift according to the activity and engagement measured during each assessment period.