On May 21, the Korean Corporate Reputation Research Institute analyzed 224,437,903 pieces of brand big data from 100 actors appearing in dramas, movies, and OTT series aired between April 21 and May 21, 2026. The results were indexed using a brand reputation algorithm based on consumer participation, media coverage, communication, and community activity.
The top 30 actor brand reputation rankings for May 2026 are: Byeon Woo-seok, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Hae-jin, Kim Jae-won, Kim Hye-yoon, Koo Kyo-hwan, Chae Won-bin, Go Youn-jung, Lee Sang-yi, Moon Ga-young, Kim Go-eun, Park Bo-young, Shin Hye-sun, Ha Jung-woo, Yoon Kyung-ho, Kang Mi-na, Gong Seung-yeon, Baek Sun-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jeon So-young, Yoo Su-bin, Heo Nam-jun, Jung Woo, Park Jung-min, IU, Lee Jun-young, Ahn Hyo-seop, Gong Myung, Moon Chae-won, and Seo Ji-hye.
Byeon Woo-seok claimed 1st place with a brand reputation index of 13,270,451, consisting of a participation index of 3,766,564, media index of 3,762,739, communication index of 3,072,912, and community index of 2,668,235. This is a massive 98.14% increase compared to his index of 6,697,568 in April.
Park Ji-hoon took 2nd place with a brand reputation index of 11,929,116 (participation: 2,021,204, media: 1,965,254, communication: 3,821,594, community: 4,121,064), marking a 24.40% increase from April’s 9,589,456.
Yoo Hae-jin landed in 3rd place with a brand reputation index of 8,213,699 (participation: 1,505,242, media: 2,539,603, communication: 2,494,756, community: 1,674,097), a 65.50% jump from April’s 4,963,024.
Kim Jae-won ranked 4th with a brand reputation index of 6,374,939 (participation: 2,335,279, media: 1,695,214, communication: 1,218,609, community: 1,125,836).
Kim Hye-yoon came in 5th with a brand reputation index of 5,919,748 (participation: 1,437,149, media: 1,406,623, communication: 1,595,329, community: 1,480,647), which is a 20.24% increase from April’s 4,923,335.
Koo Chang-hwan, director of the Korean Corporate Reputation Research Institute, analyzed the results, stating, “In the May 2026 actor brand reputation analysis, Byeon Woo-seok’s brand took 1st place. The total actor brand big data increased by 29.81% compared to April’s 172,894,764. Specifically, brand consumption rose by 36.02%, brand issues by 30.64%, brand communication by 32.47%, and brand diffusion by 21.89%.”
He added, “Byeon Woo-seok’s brand was analyzed as 1st place, growing alongside a strong fandom community. Park Ji-hoon, who is receiving high consumer interest in both movies and dramas, ranked 2nd, while Yoo Hae-jin, the Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize winner, ranked 3rd.”
Meanwhile, Byeon Woo-seok appeared as Prince Ian in the MBC drama ’21st Century Daegun Buin’, which ended on the 17th. ’21st Century Daegun Buin’ has faced heavy criticism due to controversies over historical distortion. Consequently, Byeon Woo-seok, IU, writer Yoo Ji-won, and director Park Jun-hwa have issued apologies.
Byeon Woo-seok is set to meet the public again through his next project, the Netflix series ‘Solo Leveling’.
