Heo Nam Jun Leads July Rising Star Brand Reputation Rankings

Heo Nam Jun has taken the No. 1 spot in the latest monthly rising star brand reputation rankings, placing him at the front of a closely watched list that tracks momentum across Korean entertainment.

The Korean Business Research Institute released its July rankings for rising stars after analyzing big data collected from May 30 to June 30. The institute’s index combines several measures of public attention, including media coverage, consumer participation, interaction, and community awareness.

According to the newly released figures, Heo Nam Jun topped the chart with a brand reputation index of 4,326,723. The result puts the actor ahead of a field that spans K-pop groups, drama actors, film names, variety personalities, and solo artists, underscoring how broadly the term rising star is being applied in the current Korean entertainment market.

A Tight Race At The Top

Girl group RESCENE followed in second place with a brand reputation index of 4,259,501. The group also recorded a 15.17 percent increase compared with the previous month, making their result one of the clearest signs of upward movement in the July list. While Heo Nam Jun finished first, the gap between first and second was relatively narrow, suggesting that public attention around newer or fast-rising names remains fluid.

Jin Ki Joo came in third with a brand reputation index of 4,128,452, keeping the top three separated by less than 200,000 points. Park Ji Hoon ranked fourth with 3,941,209, and his score rose 10.86 percent from last month. Byeon Woo Seok rounded out the top five with 3,820,933, maintaining strong visibility after a period in which he has remained a frequent name in drama and celebrity coverage.

The top five reflect a mix of acting and idol-related momentum rather than a single genre trend. That matters because brand reputation rankings are not the same as music charts, drama ratings, or box-office reports. They are designed to measure how often a name appears in public conversation and how actively audiences interact with that coverage.

Idols, Actors, And Groups Share The Same Field

Beyond the top five, the July top 30 shows the wide range of names currently drawing attention. CORTIS ranked sixth, followed by Kim Moo Yul, Kim Yong Bin, Stray Kids, and Jang Han Byul to complete the top 10. Seongri, Park Ji Hyeon, I.O.I, WOODZ, and Lim Ji Yeon followed, giving the middle of the chart a varied mix of singers, actors, and idol-linked names.

The remaining ranked names included Lee Sang Yi, Jung Kyung Ho, Han Hye Jin, ENHYPEN, Lee Jong Suk, Kim Jae Won, Lee Jun Young, Go Youn Jung, Joo Woo Jae, DAY6, RIIZE, Kim Se Jeong, Rowoon, Lee Jung Jae, and Jung Woo. For international fans, the presence of groups such as Stray Kids, ENHYPEN, DAY6, RIIZE, RESCENE, CORTIS, and I.O.I may be especially notable because the ranking places idol acts directly beside actors with strong drama or film profiles.

That cross-category format is one reason these monthly lists are often watched by entertainment fans and industry observers. A high placement can reflect active promotions, recent projects, social media conversation, fan engagement, or renewed attention from variety appearances and news coverage. It does not necessarily mean every ranked name is promoting the same kind of work at the same time.

What The Ranking Signals

For Heo Nam Jun, the No. 1 result adds another marker of public recognition at a time when brand visibility can shape casting buzz, advertising interest, and international fan discovery. For RESCENE, the second-place finish and double-digit monthly increase point to growing audience awareness in a crowded idol market where new groups have to fight for every share of attention.

Park Ji Hoon’s continued top-five placement also stands out because he has built recognition across both music and acting. Byeon Woo Seok’s fifth-place position reinforces his sustained name value, while Jin Ki Joo’s third-place result reflects steady interest in performers whose drama work keeps them visible beyond short promotional cycles.

As always, brand reputation rankings are best read as a snapshot rather than a final verdict. They show which names generated measurable conversation during a specific data window, not a permanent hierarchy of popularity. Still, July’s list offers a useful look at where attention is currently moving across the Korean entertainment landscape, with actors and K-pop artists competing side by side for public mindshare.