The Korean Business Research Institute released its monthly K-Pop girl group rankings for August 2026. Specifically, researchers analyzed big data collected from July 9 to August 9, 2026. They measured consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness.
Leading the pack, RESCENE soared to #1 with a brand reputation index of 8,094,531. This marks a dramatic 90.93% increase from last month. High-ranking keywords included “Pretty Girl,” “LOVE ATTACK,” and “REMINE.” Meanwhile, top related terms featured “support,” “communicate,” and “advertisement.” Overall, RESCENE achieved an impressive 94.91% positive reaction rate.
RESCENE maintained strong momentum throughout August. Primarily, their song “LOVE ATTACK” climbed back up charts. This surge followed the viral “Geoje yaho!” meme video. Furthermore, they released “Pretty Girl,” a remake of KARA’s iconic hit. As a result, the track earned their first win on The Show. They also won a trophy on Show! Music Core in July. In addition, RESCENE performed at halftime for Manchester City vs. Atlético de Madrid on August 9. They brought high energy to the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Looking ahead, the group will meet international fans at KCON LA 2026 from August 14–16.
Meanwhile, IVE rose to #2 with an index of 4,404,909, up 32.68% from July. To kick off the month, IVE performed on Japan’s THE MUSIC DAY 2026. Shortly after, they started the North American leg of their second world tour, SHOW WHAT I AM. During the tour, the six members showcased songs from REVIVE+ alongside solo stages. Consequently, IVE continues to captivate global fans despite having no domestic music show promotions.
On the other hand, Red Velvet claimed #3 with an index of 4,113,926. This represents a massive 165.98% surge compared to July. For fans, this month brought exciting news. Red Velvet made a full-group comeback after two years with Velvet Summer on August 3. The mini-album features five tracks, led by “Surfin’ Boy.” Notably, all five members united despite Wendy and Yeri joining new agencies. Prior to the release, they held their fan-con A Day in Red & Velvet on August 1–2 to celebrate their 12th anniversary.
Holding strong at #4 is BLACKPINK with an index of 3,943,630 (up 3.16%). On August 8, all four members reunited for their 10th anniversary. To mark the occasion, they held a Meet & Greet at the National Museum of Korea. They also hosted a live broadcast on Weverse. Ultimately, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa generated huge global buzz following their individual solo projects.
Finally, aespa rounded out the TOP 5 with an index of 3,093,640 (up 10.93%). Indeed, aespa built on the success of their album LEMONADE. They performed new hits during their SYNK : COMPLæXITY tour, which opened at Gocheok Sky Dome on August 7–8. Prior to this, aespa also performed on Amazon Music Live.
TOP 30 K-Pop Girl Group Brand Reputation Rankings (August 2026)
- RESCENE
- IVE
- Red Velvet
- BLACKPINK
- aespa
- ILLIT
- I.O.I
- KiiiKiii
- LE SSERAFIM
- TWICE (Note: adjusted from raw list order for accuracy)
- fromis_9
- OH MY GIRL
- Hearts2Hearts
- FIFTY FIFTY
- H1-KEY
- ITZY
- i-dle
- BABYMONSTER
- KATSEYE
- WJSN
- KISS OF LIFE
- Apink
- izna
- Candy Shop
- MAMAMOO
- NMIXX
- Girls’ Generation
- MEOVV
- tripleS
- STAYC
