IVE Tops June Girl Group Brand-Reputation Rankings, as I.O.I Wins First “Music Core” Trophy With “Suddenly”

South Korea’s K-pop industry saw two notable developments this week: IVE claimed the top spot in June’s girl group brand-reputation rankings, while I.O.I achieved a historic milestone by winning their first-ever first-place trophy on MBC’s “Music Core” for their 10th-anniversary hit, “Suddenly.” The rankings—based on big-data analysis by the Korean Business Research Institute—cover the period from May 14 to June 14, while the “Music Core” win was announced during the June 13 broadcast.

IVE Leads June Brand Reputation Rankings With a 29% Score Jump

According to data compiled by the Korean Business Research Institute, IVE maintained its position at the top of this month’s brand reputation list for girl groups. The group’s brand reputation index rose to 6,025,982, reflecting a 29.21% increase compared with last month.

The institute evaluated brand perception using multiple indicators, including consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community indexes, all derived from big data collected over the same monthlong window.

In IVE’s keyword analysis, high-ranking terms included “LUCID DREAM,” along with references to members such as Jang Won-young and themes tied to world tours. On the sentiment side, the group’s positivity-negativity evaluation scored at 92.59% positive reactions, signaling overwhelmingly favorable public response.

BLACKPINK Holds Steady in Second, While ILLIT, aespa, and TWICE Round Out the Top Five

BLACKPINK remained in second place with a brand reputation index of 5,651,105—an improvement of 43.28% month over month. Like IVE, BLACKPINK’s standing suggested sustained audience interest alongside increasing momentum in public conversation.

ILLIT held the third position with a brand reputation index of 3,830,314, up 14.30% from May. The following month, aespa climbed into fourth place after an 18.08% increase to 3,177,356. TWICE completed the top five, scoring 2,812,048 and registering a more modest 3.44% rise.

These shifts highlight how brand performance in K-pop can evolve even when top rankings appear stable—small changes in audience interaction and media visibility can move groups up the list over a single month.

I.O.I’s “Suddenly” Earns First “Music Core” Win After 10 Years

In parallel with the brand reputation news, I.O.I made history on the music program circuit. On the June 13 episode of MBC’s “Music Core,” the group competed for first place with ILLIT’s “It’s Me” and aespa’s “LEMONADE.”

I.O.I ultimately took the win with 7,815 points, marking their first-ever first-place trophy on “Music Core” since their debut 10 years ago. The result adds an unusual chapter to the group’s legacy—reinforcing how anniversaries and comeback-era campaigns can generate renewed industry and audience attention.

Soompi also noted that the broadcast featured a wide lineup of performers, including BOYNEXTDOOR, BABYMONSTER, TREASURE, izna, MEOVV, tripleS, and FIFTY FIFTY, among others—reflecting the broader competitive ecosystem that shapes weekly music-program outcomes.

Why Both Stories Matter: Brand Momentum Meets Chart Visibility

While the brand-reputation survey and the “Music Core” results measure different things—public perception versus program scoring—they converge in one key theme: visibility.

On one side, the brand reputation ranking quantifies how often groups appear in public conversation and how strongly audiences engage across multiple channels. On the other, music-show wins translate audience demand into a high-stakes outcome determined by program rules. Taken together, the stories suggest a feedback loop common in K-pop: media coverage and fan participation can amplify attention, while high-profile victories can further boost sentiment and discussion.

Notably, both IVE and aespa appear across this week’s narratives: IVE leads brand perception, while aespa is named among I.O.I’s direct “Music Core” rivals—illustrating the ongoing presence of top acts across different performance and measurement frameworks.

What to Watch Next

For K-pop fans and industry observers, the next test will be whether these momentum indicators persist beyond this reporting window. The brand-reputation figures are updated monthly, meaning the standings for June may shift quickly as new releases, promotions, and tour-related discussion peak.

Meanwhile, music-show results often influence downstream activity: awards attention can strengthen promotional cycles, and competitive lineups can shape which groups gain the most traction in subsequent weeks. With I.O.I now holding a landmark win for “Suddenly,” attention may intensify on future stages, while groups like ILLIT and aespa will likely face renewed pressure to translate their weekly competitiveness into comparable outcomes.

In short, this week’s headline-grabbing moments show K-pop’s dual engine—brand perception and public performance wins—continuing to drive both narrative and market visibility.