Jimin goes No.1 again—now 31 months straight
BTS’s Jimin is back on top of the idol brand rankings—again. The Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute (KCRRI) named him No. 1 on the January 2026 Idol Individual Brand Reputation Rankings released on January 21, 2026.
And this one comes with a record attached. Jimin has now held the No. 1 spot for 31 consecutive months, a run that’s hard to match in any category. For January, his brand reputation index landed at 8,780,962.
Rounding out the top three, BLACKPINK’s Jennie took No. 2 and IVE’s Jang Wonyoung came in at No. 3, matching the widely shared standings seen in early coverage recapping the list.
The official numbers and how the ranking is built
KCRRI says it analyzed big data collected from December 22, 2025 to January 22, 2026 across 1,730 idols’ individual brands. The dataset totaled 160,367,806 points—up 4.05% from December’s 154,132,208.
The brand reputation index is built from four parts: consumer participation, media, communication, and community. So it’s not a music chart, and it’s not a sales tally. It’s a snapshot of online attention and discussion during the tracking period.
The “double milestone” records: overall + boy group streaks
The headline is the 31-month run on the overall idol individual ranking. But Jimin also extended another long streak: 35 consecutive months at No. 1 in the boy group individual category.
That’s what makes the result feel bigger than a one-off spike. The index rewards sustained visibility—steady mentions, steady engagement, steady conversation.
Why it stands out: even without nonstop promotions
What’s striking is the timing. Even without constant new solo activity, Jimin’s name keeps circulating in the places this ranking measures most: media coverage, community chatter, and fan-driven content.
Fans also point to the long tail of his 2024 solo era as part of the story. In recap posts like threads tracking the milestone, the narrative is simple: even older releases can keep pulling attention when the conversation never really dies down.
Jimin vs. Jennie: what the top-two finish suggests
With Jimin at No. 1 and Jennie at No. 2, January’s list puts two of K-pop’s strongest “brand names” right at the top. Not so much a rivalry as a reminder: both artists reliably dominate headlines, trends, and comment sections.
One note of caution, though. The research provided here confirms Jimin’s 31-month No. 1 streak, but it doesn’t support separate claims floating around online about Jennie holding No. 1 for 35 months on this same individual list—so that should be treated as unverified in this context.
Online reaction snapshot: “brand ranking king” discourse returns
As soon as the rankings dropped, the buzz followed. Fans pushed out streak graphics, month-by-month charts, and quick edits—basically the full celebration package.
“31 months straight” quickly became the centerpiece of fan-made streak charts and recap posts across platforms.
Quick facts readers will look for (at-a-glance)
- Ranking release date: January 21, 2026 (KCRRI)
- Data collection window: December 22, 2025–January 22, 2026
- Total big data analyzed: 160,367,806 (1,730 idols)
- Jimin’s brand reputation index: 8,780,962
- Streak milestones: 31 straight months (overall idol); 35 straight months (boy group)
What to watch next: BTS schedule and the next ranking cycle
As for what comes next, February’s list could get noisy fast—especially if BTS-related activity ramps up. Some reports have floated comeback timing and album details, including a title and date, but those specifics aren’t confirmed in the research provided here, so treat them as rumor until there’s an official announcement.
Still, the big question remains: can Jimin keep the streak alive once comeback season really hits and the ranking gets more volatile? January says yes—for now.
