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Every BTS member's brand power ranked after military discharge; Jimin, Jungkook lead June K-pop reputation index

Every BTS member's brand power ranked after military discharge; Jimin, Jungkook lead June K-pop reputation index

Indian Express5 hours ago

All seven members of BTS have returned home after serving 18 months in the military. With that, Jimin, Jungkook, RM, Jin, Taehyung, Suga, and J-Hope have made a collective comeback on June's brand reputation ranking, without even dropping any new music yet. The big return also sent HYBE's previously tanking stock soaring within days. The list was released by the Korean Business Research Institute, and the ranking is done for each K-pop idol individually based on their activity, consumer participation, media coverage, community buzz, and more. (Data collected between May 21 and June 21.)
Just days before, KBRI released the group ranking list, where BTS got edged out by rising K-pop boy band SEVENTEEN, recently named Global K-pop Stars of the Year by an American outlet. This latest list dropped just hours after Suga wrapped his public service and officially rejoined the group.
Also read: 34th Seoul Music Awards full winners list: BTS' Jimin wins special award, i-dle creates history, BLACKPINK Rose, TXT, G-Dragon win big
For June, Jimin takes the lead, topping the overall list of top 30 with a brand reputation index of 6,301,075. The Filter crooner saw a massive 76.51% jump in his score since May. The highest-ranking phrases for Jimin remained 'Filter,' 'ARMY,' and 'Park Jimin,' while the related keywords set included 'military discharge,' 'donate,' and more. His positive-to-negative analysis also jumped, with a 94.04% positivity rate. Coming in second is fellow BTS member Jungkook—the duo had enlisted in the military together. His brand index for June was 5,189,119, with a dramatic 86.60% spike. BTS' Jin followed at No. 6 with 3,221,688 points, taking the third-highest spot among the group. V, aka Kim Taehyung, snagged the No. 7 position with a score of 2,517,299. J-Hope, aka Jung Hoseok, fresh off wrapping his world tour, ranked 12th with 1,394,483 points. Meanwhile, RM and Suga landed at 15th and 16th with 1,283,645 and 1,218,910 points, respectively.
BIGBANG member G-Dragon is currently on his 'Übermensch' world tour, which has shot his brand value through the roof. The K-pop idol ranked third on the list with a reputation index of 4,521,564. Meanwhile, ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo, who is set to hold an individual fan sign before enlisting in the military later this year, followed with a score of 4,140,574. Wanna One's Park Ji Hoon climbed to number 5 with 4,026,558, riding high on the success of his Weak Hero Class 2 stint, an almost 80% spike from his May score. The reputation ranking was conducted across 755 active K-pop male idols.
Also read: BTS loses brand value ranking to K-pop's rising superstars despite major military comeback in June: Check out the Top 20
Check out top 30
BTS's Jimin
BTS's Jungkook
BIGBANG's G-Dragon
ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo
Wanna One's Park Ji Hoon
BTS's Jin
BTS's V
Wanna One's Kang Daniel
Super Junior's Kyuhyun
RIIZE's Wonbin
EXO's Baekhyun
BTS's j-hope
HIGHLIGHT's Yoon Doojoon
NU'EST and Wanna One's Hwang Minhyun
BTS's RM
BTS' Suga
Wanna One's Ong Seong Wu
RIIZE's Sungchan
SEVENTEEN's Jeonghan
SHINee's Key
EXO's Kai
NCT's Doyoung
Super Junior's Kim Heechul
Wanna One's Kim Jae Hwan
TXT's Yeonjun
GOT7's Jinyoung
SEVENTEEN's Hoshi
BIGBANG's Taeyang
SEVENTEEN's Mingyu
THE BOYZ's Sunwoo
(Via soompi)

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Ju Haknyeon shares bombshell statement about THE BOYZ exit amid prostitution scandal: 'I was branded sex offender overnight'
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Time of India

time27 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Ju Haknyeon shares bombshell statement about THE BOYZ exit amid prostitution scandal: 'I was branded sex offender overnight'

Former THE BOYZ member Ju Haknyeon has finally spoken out after being swept into a week-long whirlwind of scandal, accusations, and what he claims was an unfair exit from his group. In a heartfelt Instagram post shared on June 22, 2025, Haknyeon offered his version of events that portrays a very different picture from the headlines that have dominated K-pop news recently. Ju Haknyeon scandal: How did it all begin? It all began when reports emerged that Ju Haknyeon had met with former Japanese adult film star Asuka Kirara. While the initial reaction was one of curiosity and criticism, things escalated quickly. The Korean outlet TenAsia dropped a bombshell allegation, claiming that Haknyeon had solicited prostitution from Kirara. Though no legal charges were initially confirmed, his ouster from the group led to speculations and left fans heartbroken. Now, Haknyeon is speaking out, sharing his side of the story in detail as fans rally behind him, calling his sudden exit from the group deeply troubling. Ju Haknyeon shares a lengthy statement following exit from The BOYZ Taking to Instagram on June 22, Ju Haknyeon shared a detailed statement revealing what happened behind the scenes after the scandal broke. He stated that he informed his agency before the media got involved and claimed he was later hit with a hefty contract termination fee. 'Before the agency received an inquiry from Shūkan Bunshun, I was the first to hear that photos had been taken. I immediately explained the situation truthfully to the company and asked for their help.' According to Haknyeon, he didn't try to cover anything up. He claims he came clean to his agency, IST Entertainment, before any media reached out and asked for their guidance in handling the matter responsibly. He also says he acknowledged his mistake—but not the crime he's being accused of. 'I acknowledge the part where I was in the wrong and tried to make choices that would minimise the damage to the other members.' Here, he seems to admit to at least part of the allegations—likely the fact that he met with Kirara—but insists that his intention was never to cause harm to his groupmates or fans. 'The agency sent a termination agreement… and a massive penalty.' 'However, the agency suddenly sent over a termination agreement and an agreement statement that asked I pay over ₩2.00 billion KRW (about $1.46 million USD). They also asked for a massive penalty amount that is not even claimable under the terms of our contract.' Haknyeon claimed that the agency demanded a staggering financial penalty and pushed for immediate contract termination without negotiation. The suddenness of the demand seems to have caught him off guard. 'Unable to accept such an unreasonable demand, I refused to sign the termination agreement on June 17, 2025. The very next day, the agency abruptly released an official statement announcing my departure from the group.' This timeline suggests he was essentially forced out of THE BOYZ before any criminal article had even gone public. To him, that felt suspicious. 'I was instantly branded a sex offender… within two days' 'Immediately after, reports started appearing about me meeting an AV actress, and then a shocking exclusive from TenAsia accused me of prostitution. Based on that report, I was instantly branded a sex offender by other media, bloggers, and YouTubers.' Haknyeon said he became a target almost overnight, not just by the media, but also by online voices eager to jump on the story. The following day, someone filed a police report against him based solely on TenAsia's article. 'The speed and sequence of these events felt too coordinated—it was as if someone was fabricating a reason for my contract termination.' 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Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty To London Assault; Faces Additional Weapon Charge
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News18

time41 minutes ago

  • News18

Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty To London Assault; Faces Additional Weapon Charge

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Will there be K-Pop Demon Hunters 2? Fans demand a sequel for Netflix movie after emotional twist and Rumi's cliffhanger ending
Will there be K-Pop Demon Hunters 2? Fans demand a sequel for Netflix movie after emotional twist and Rumi's cliffhanger ending

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Will there be K-Pop Demon Hunters 2? Fans demand a sequel for Netflix movie after emotional twist and Rumi's cliffhanger ending

K-pop Demon Hunters made its global debut on Netflix on June 20, 2025, and it didn't take long to grab the spotlight. Brought to life by Sony Pictures Animation and directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the animated musical fantasy has managed to wow global fans, thanks to its bold mix of K-pop energy, demon-slaying action, and eye-popping visuals that feel like a concert-meets-battlefield dreams come true. The animated action film featuring a fierce girl group battling demons by night and performing on stage by day has become a pop culture moment that's impossible to ignore. And now, just days after its release, fans are already asking, Will there be a sequel? Let's explore. What's K-pop Demon Hunters about? The film follows Huntrix, a chart-topping K-pop girl group made up of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, who aren't just idols but also undercover demon hunters. When the lights go down and the encore ends, these girls swap their microphones for magical weapons, facing off against their biggest threat yet: the Saja Boys, a rival boy band possessed by demons. Their sinister plan is to drain fan energy during concerts to shatter the Honmoon, a mystical barrier that keeps the demon realm sealed away. In this universe, music is more than performance. Each song fuels their combat, turning high-stakes battles into electrifying stage shows where every note could mean survival. K-Pop Demon Hunters ending explained! The climactic moments of K‑pop Demon Hunters hinge on a major twist that Rumi is revealed to be half-demon, a truth she's hidden her whole life. As the daughter of a fallen demon hunter and an unnamed demon father, Rumi has lived with shame and fear over this side of herself. Her adoptive mother, Celine, has long helped her suppress that identity, hoping that completing the Honmoon barrier would rid her of it altogether. But during the final battle, when Gwi‑Ma's trance threatens to overwhelm the city, Rumi fully embraces both her human and demonic sides. Her emotional arc, centred on self-acceptance, proves to be her greatest weapon. In a moving moment, she sings a new original song that speaks directly to her inner conflict, disrupting Gwi-Ma's hold over the city and empowering Mira and Zoey to join her in battle. Jinu, the Saja Boys' leader and a former human turned demon, sacrifices himself to protect Rumi, adding emotional weight to the climax. In the end, Huntrix defeats Gwi‑Ma and restores the Honmoon, but Rumi's identity journey remains unresolved, setting up the potential for future stories that dive deeper into her origins and the mystery surrounding her parents. Will there be K-Pop Demon Hunters 2? Fans say this is just the beginning. The movie ends with a finale that many viewers say feels more like a setup than a conclusion. One person said on X, "Hear me out: this is just the beginning, and this is a setup for more, and we get to see more about their backgrounds and the lore. Trust me, we will get either a sequel or two OR a series. Although it may take a while getting songs as high quality as the movie." Hear me out: this is just the beginning and this is a set up for more and we get to see more about their backgrounds and the lore. Trust me, we will get either a sequel or two OR a series. Although it may take a while getting songs as high quality as the movie Another user said, "They're definitely setting up for a sequel because the honeymoon didn't turn gold by the end of it, and Celine still hadn't accepted Rumi; therefore, Jinu is still alive. Stay with me now." cw: kpop demon hunters definitely setting up for a sequel bc the honmoon didn't turn gold by the end of it and celine still hadn't accepted rumi therefore jinu is still alive stay w me now "I just watched K-pop Demon Hunters and it was amazing, I need a sequel or the whole ahh trilogy," a third fan added. I just watched K-pop Demon Hunters and it was amazing, I need a sequel or the whole ahh trilogy "You know what we need for that sequel? More of Celine and Rumi. Their plot was unfinished, I need Celine to fully accept who she is," a fourth user mentioned. Kpop Demon Hunters Spoilers //... You know what we need for that sequel? More of Celine and Rumi. Their plot was unfinished, I need Celine to fully accept who she is. #KPOPDEMONHUNTERS Whether it's a sequel, spin-off, or even a live-action version, fans believe K-pop Demon Hunters is far from over. With its bold visuals, fun story, and strong fanbase, it feels like just the beginning.

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