The Brand of the Year Awards is back! From K-pop victors like BTS‘ Jin, BLACKPINK members to K-drama rising stars Lee Jun Young, South Korean entertainment talents claimed brand buzz over the year, all thanks to fan votes.
Hosted by the Korea Consumer Forum, the country’s largest brand awards ceremony celebrates its 23rd anniversary this year. With nationwide votes pouring in, the public has already picked its winners. International award categories also include fellow South-east Asian nations China, Vietnam and Indonesia, given the Hallyu Wave’s global impact.
Following a consumer voting period extending from June 30, 2024, to July 3, 2025, the beloved Korean stars have again stood their ground as both domestic and global celebrities. The anticipated photo wall event was finally held at the Dynasty Hall at Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Thursday morning (KST), August 28.
Here are all the winners of the 2025 Brand of the Year Awards:
2025 Brand of the Year Awards winners list out!
Best Female Entertainer Idol: IVE’s An Yujin
Best Band: DAY6
Best Male Advertisement Model: Lim Young Woong
Best Female Advertisement Model: IVE’s Jang Wonyoung
Best Male Rookie: CLOSE YOUR EYES
Best Female Rookie: Hearts2Hearts
Best Male Singer: G-DRAGON
Best Female Singer: BLACKPINK’s Rose
Hot Trend (Female Idol): KATSEYE
Rising Star (Female Idol): SAY MY NAME
Best Male Idol: Stray Kids
Best Female Idol: UNIS
Hot Icon (Male): WOODZ
Rising Star (Male Idol) – Vietnam: ARrC
Crossover Group (literal translation): Libelante
Traditional Musician: Song So Hee
Brand of the Year winners – international categories
Best Female Solo Singer – Vietnam: BLACKPINK’s Jisoo
Best Female Idol – Vietnam: aespa
Best Male Solo Singer – Vietnam: Kim Jae Joong
Best Male Idol – Vietnam: TEMPEST
Rising Star (Male Idol) – Vietnam: ARrC
Korean Game: In the SEOM with BTS
Best Band – Indonesia: DAY6
Best Male Solo Singer – Indonesia: G-DRAGON
Best Female Solo Singer – Indonesia: BLACKPINK’s Jennie
Female Vocalist – Indonesia: IU
Rising Star (Male Idol) – Indonesia: NCT WISH
Rising Star (Female Idol) – Indonesia: Hearts2Hearts
Best Male Idol – Indonesia: SEVENTEEN
Best Female Idol – Indonesia: aespa
K-drama winners – Brand of the Year 2025
Best Male Idol Actor: Park Jinyoung (GOT7)
Best Drama Actress: Park Bo Young
Best Actress – OTT (Female): IU
Best Actor – OTT (Male): Park Bo Gum
Rookie Actor: Cha Woo Min
Rookie Actress: Shin Si Ah
Rising Star (Male Actor): Lee Jun Young (of Weak Hero Class 2 fame)
Rising Star (Female Actor): Roh Jeong Eui
Scene Stealer Actor: Choi Dae Hoon
Scene Stealer Actress: Lee Bong Ryun
Best Actress – Vietnam: IU
Best Actor – Vietnam: Park Bo Gum
Best Actor – Indonesia: Byeon Woo Seok
Best Actress – Indonesia: Go Youn Jung
Brand of the Year Awards – entertainment
Best Female Variety Show Star: Jang Do Yeon
Best Male Variety Show Star: Yoo Jae Suk
Best Male Entertainer: Moon Se Yoon
Best Female Entertainer: Hong Hyun Hee
Announcer-Entertainer: Kang Ji Young
Sport Entertainer: Lee Se Dol
Best MC: Park Kyung Rim
Best Comedian: Kim Won Hoon
Best Comedienne: Lee Eun Ji
Web Entertainment MC (Female): Jang Do Yeon for Salon Drip
Radio DJ (Male): Kim Tae Kyun for 2 O’Clock Escape Cultwo Show
Radio DJ (Female): Wendy for Wendy’s Young Street
Best Male Multi-tainer: Park Bo Gum
Best Female Multi-tainer: Lee Young Ji
Athlete of the Year: E-sports icon ‘Faker’
Chef: Jung Ji Sun
Male Celebrity YouTuber: Choo Sung Hoon
Female Celebrity YouTuber: Lee Soo Ji (‘Hot Issue Ji’)
Male Web Variety Show MC: Kai – Jeongwaja
YouTube Comedy Channel: ‘beautyfool’
Best Shows
Talk Show: You Quiz on the Block
Dating Show: I Am Solo
OTT Variety Show: Kian’s Bizarre B&B
Weekend Variety Show: Running Man
Observational Variety Show: Home Alone
Sports Variety Show: Shooting Stars
Competition Show: Immortal Songs
Travel Variety Show: Adventure by Accident 4
This is a developing story.