K-pop male idols’ search chart in Korea in 2021: SM accounted for more than half but completely ‘lost’ to BTS in the top 3

What is surprising is that there is not a single representative of YG and JYP Entertainment appearing on this chart.

One of the most common criteria to determine the popularity of K-pop idols in a given market is search volume on web portals. This also applies in Korea when the online community, in general, has been searching for the names, pictures, or information of many different Kpop idols as a way to show their interest.

From statistical data on web portals, Korean netizens recently shared a list showing which male idols are the most searched for in Korea this year (as of May). 8). Below are the search rankings of K-pop male idols on Korean portals in 2021!

1. V (BTS)

2. Jungkook (BTS)

3. Jimin (BTS)

4. Cha Eunwoo (ASTRO)

5. Baekhyun (EXO)

6. Suga (BTS)

7. Jin (BTS)

8. Taemin (SHINee)

9. Jaehyun (NCT)

10. Haechan (NCT)

11. RM (BTS)

12. D.O. (EXO)

13. Kyuhyun (Super Junior)

14. J-Hope (BTS)

15. Doyoung (NCT)

16. Jaemin (NCT)

17. Onew (SHINee)

18. Mark (NCT)

19. Taeyong (NCT)

20. Key (SHINee)

21. Chanyeol (EXO)

22. Renjun (NCT)

23. Sehun (EXO)

24. Yeonjun (TXT)

25. Sungchan (NCT)

26. Beomgyu (TXT)

27. Juyeon (The Boyz)

28. Minho (SHINee)

29. Kim Yohan (WEi)

30. Chenle (NCT)

The overwhelming domination of SM Entertainment idols is plain to notice as Super junior, SHINee, EXO and NCT members hold up to 17 spots in the list mentioned above. However, despite accounting for more than half of the top 30, the highest-ranking achieved by SM idols is only the 5th place that Baekhyun gained. Meanwhile, the entire top 3 belongs to BTS members, and BTS is also the only group in which all the members are in the top 30 (or more specifically, the top 15).

Furthermore, it is unexpected that no male idols from 2 YG and JYP appear on the aforementioned list. Furthermore, another prominent boy group, SEVENTEEN, does not have a member in the top most-searched in Korea.

Netizens commented, “More than half of the list are SM artists”, “Why aren’t there any SEVENTEEN members…”, “I’m not sure about other groups but for NCT 127 and NCT Dream this is exactly the order of popularity”, “BTS is amazing…All the members made it to the top”, “As expected of V… ㅋㅋ”, “All 3 first places are BTS”, “Wow how many SM idols are on this list?” “,…