Kim Soo-hyun claims the top spot in the 17th-week Big Data Actor Brand Value Rankings, outshining Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok. His strong fan support also boosts him to third in the Star Ranking poll for male actors, highlighting his lasting popularity.
Big Data Actor Brand Value Rankings
Kim Soo-hyun earned first place in the 17th-week Big Data Actor Brand Value Rankings with 136,987 points. His score comes from metrics like article readership, reader recommendations, comments, likes, brand power votes, and article sponsorship. This ranking shows his strong connection with fans and the public.
Kim Hye-yoon took second place with 121,896 points. Her score dropped slightly from the previous week, but her loyal fans kept her high in the rankings. Byeon Woo-seok, a rising star, landed third with 77,058 points, showing a week-on-week increase in public interest.
The rankings are based on data collected by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute. They analyzed big data from actors in dramas, movies, and OTT platforms. The data covers media coverage, participation, interaction, and community engagement.
Detailed Metrics Breakdown
Kim Hye-yoon led article readership with 30,351 points, followed closely by Byeon Woo-seok at 30,118. Lee Jun-young scored 22,289, YoonA had 21,216, and Park Ji-hoon earned 20,875. These numbers show how much attention each actor’s articles received.
In reader recommendations, YoonA topped the list with 1,191 points. Kim Hye-yoon followed with 1,187, Byeon Woo-seok had 802, Park Bo-gum scored 582, and Lee Byung-hun earned 524. This metric reflects how often readers suggested articles about these stars.
Comment activity was close, with Kim Hye-yoon at 11,562 and Byeon Woo-seok at 11,558. Their fans showed strong engagement online. Other actors trailed behind in this category, highlighting the tight race between the top two.
Song Hye-kyo led MSN Likes with 2,847 points, while Byeon Woo-seok had 1,924. Kim Soo-hyun ranked 40th with 112 likes, but this had little impact on his overall score. The MSN Likes metric shows social media engagement but weighs less in the total ranking.
The Superstar Brand Power Vote showed Kim Soo-hyun’s dominance with 2,262,570 votes. Kim Hye-yoon earned 1,484,880 votes, YoonA had 680,010, and Byeon Woo-seok scored 601,110. This vote reflects direct fan support and heavily influences the rankings.
Star Ranking Poll Success
Kim Soo-hyun also climbed to third in the Star Ranking poll for male actors in the 110th round, held from April 24 to May 1, 2025. He earned 11,546 votes, jumping from seventh place in the previous round. This surge pushed him past Kim Nam-gil, who held third earlier.
Lee Junho led the poll with 40,302 votes, followed by Byeon Woo-seok with 24,208. The Star Ranking platform lets fans vote weekly for their favorite stars. Top-ranked actors can earn digital certificates or billboard ads if they hold first place for four weeks.
Kim Soo-hyun’s jump from 540 votes in the 109th round to 11,546 shows his fans’ dedication. His rise reflects his strong presence in the industry, even amid challenges.
Kim Soo-hyun’s Recent Projects
Kim Soo-hyun’s success ties to his role in the hit drama Queen of Tears, which set a record for tvN’s highest drama ratings. The drama, written by Park Ji Eun, follows a married couple’s emotional journey through a crisis. His performance as Baek Hyun-woo earned widespread praise.
He is also on his EYES ON YOU Asia tour, connecting with fans across the region. Despite controversies, his fanbase remains loyal, driving his high rankings in both polls.
“Kim Soo-hyun’s ability to connect with audiences is unmatched. His performance in Queen of Tears was a game-changer.” — Industry analyst
Kim Hye-yoon’s Steady Rise
Kim Hye-yoon’s second-place ranking stems from her role as Im Sol in Lovely Runner, a time-slip romance drama. The show, based on a web novel, follows a fan who travels back in time to save her favorite star, played by Byeon Woo-seok. Her chemistry with him won over viewers.
Her consistent engagement across readership and comments shows her growing influence. Fans also praised her at the 2024 Brand of the Year Awards, where she and her Lovely Runner co-stars won multiple trophies.
“Kim Hye-yoon’s Im Sol was so relatable. She brought so much heart to Lovely Runner.” — Fan comment on social media
Byeon Woo-seok’s Growing Fame
Byeon Woo-seok’s third-place ranking reflects his breakout role as Ryu Sun-jae in Lovely Runner. His performance, combined with his charm, has built a strong fandom. He also topped the advertisement model rankings in January 2025, beating Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Hye-yoon.
His fanbase showed strong support in comments and votes, nearly matching Kim Hye-yoon’s numbers. His appearance at the 2024 Asia Artist Awards with Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Hye-yoon further boosted his visibility.
“Byeon Woo-seok is the new heartthrob. His role in Lovely Runner made me a fan!” — Netizen comment
Challenges Amid Success
Kim Soo-hyun faced challenges in early 2025, including a controversy involving allegations about his past relationship with Kim Sae-ron. On March 31, 2025, he held a press conference in Seoul to deny the claims, stating they were false. He also filed a lawsuit against the Garo Sero Institute for spreading rumors.
“I never dated Kim Sae-ron as a minor. These claims are baseless.” — Kim Soo-hyun at his press conference
Advertisers sued him for damages, with one lawsuit demanding 3 billion won. Another lawsuit, filed in May 2025, sought 2.8 billion won. His agency responded briefly, saying they were reviewing the claims. Some brands, like CJ Foodville and Prada, ended their contracts with him.
Despite these issues, Kim Soo-hyun’s rankings show his fans’ unwavering support. Posts on X reflect mixed sentiments, with some defending him and others discussing the lawsuits.
“At just 24, SooHyun achieved what no one else has—one of the highest viewership ratings in K-drama history: 42%. A legacy, not just a number. Let the haters talk—facts like that don’t fade.” — @HGWSXQ on X
“Kim Soo Hyun ranks in the top 3 on a star power chart despite ongoing controversy.” — @allkpop on X
Public and Fan Reactions
Fans of Kim Soo-hyun rallied online, boosting his votes in the Star Ranking poll. They also praised his Queen of Tears performance, calling it one of his best roles. Some expressed concern over the lawsuits but remained supportive.
“Kim Soo-hyun doesn’t deserve this hate. His work speaks for itself.”
“Queen of Tears was iconic. He’s still the king of K-dramas.” — Netizen comments
Kim Hye-yoon’s fans highlighted her emotional depth in Lovely Runner. They shared clips of her scenes, praising her chemistry with Byeon Woo-seok. Byeon Woo-seok’s fans, meanwhile, celebrated his rising fame, calling him the “next big thing.”
“Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok’s chemistry in Lovely Runner was unreal!”
“Byeon Woo-seok is stealing hearts everywhere. Can’t wait for his next project!” — Fan comments
Current Updates
Kim Soo-hyun continues his EYES ON YOU tour, with recent stops in Asia. His drama Knock-Off, originally set for April 2025 on Disney+, is on hold due to the controversy. Filming remains suspended, and no new release date has been announced.
Also Read : Kim Soo-hyun Climbs to Third in Star Ranking Male Actor Category Despite Controversy
Kim Hye-yoon is in talks for new projects after Lovely Runner’s success. She’s also active at fan events, keeping her connection with supporters strong. Byeon Woo-seok is preparing for a potential Lovely Runner reunion project with Kim Hye-yoon, as he confirmed interest in working with her again.
CREDITS: Naver, Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute
