ILLIT’s Wonhee Reigns Supreme, Minju Takes #2 Spot in January 2026 Rookie Brand Rankings! TWS Dohun Hot on Their Heels 🔥👑

The K-pop landscape is a whirlwind of talent and trending moments, and **Hello Korea** is always here to bring you the freshest insights! This **January 2026**, the highly anticipated Rookie Idol Individual Brand Reputation Rankings have been unveiled by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute, and the results are a definitive statement on who’s currently captivating the global audience.

Taking the crown for the month is none other than **ILLIT’s Wonhee**, a force to be reckoned with since her debut! Right on her heels, securing the second spot, is fellow **ILLIT** member **Minju**. And making a strong presence at third place is **TWS’s Dohun**, proving that these new faces are already leaving an indelible mark on the industry.

The extensive analysis, conducted from **December 2, 2025**, to **January 2, 2026**, saw a staggering 4,503,573 pieces of rookie idol individual brand big data extracted. This marks a slight but significant 0.19% increase from the previous month’s 4,495,159 data points, indicating growing public engagement with new idols.

The rankings are meticulously calculated based on a Brand Reputation Index, which reflects how consumer online habits influence brand consumption. It measures crucial metrics such as positive and negative evaluations, media interest, and consumer communication volume. This comprehensive assessment integrates participation, media, communication, and community indexes across both boy and girl groups.

So, who made it into the elite top five for **January 2026**?

• 🥇 **ILLIT Wonhee**
• 🥈 **ILLIT Minju**
• 🥉 **TWS Dohun**
• 4️⃣ **Cortis Gunho**
• 5️⃣ **Hatz2Hatz Ian**

Breaking down the numbers, **ILLIT Wonhee** recorded an impressive Brand Reputation Index of **365,844**. Her individual scores were stellar: Participation Index 81,180, Media Index 56,161, Communication Index 71,698, and a remarkable Community Index of 156,805. This represents an astounding **38.50%** surge from her previous month’s performance!

Meanwhile, **ILLIT’s Minju** showed an even more explosive growth, with her Brand Reputation Index reaching **332,365**, a phenomenal **62.05%** jump from last month. **TWS Dohun** also saw a respectable **9.19%** increase, while **Cortis Gunho** climbed by **24.50%**. Interestingly, **Hatz2Hatz Ian** experienced a slight dip of 1.80% in this competitive landscape.

According to Koo Chang-hwan, director of the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute, the overall rookie idol personal brand big data witnessed a 0.19% increase. Delving deeper into the analytics, while brand consumption, issue, and communication indices saw minor declines, brand diffusion (reach and spread) soared by an impressive **24.78%** – a key indicator of rising visibility!

Speaking of **ILLIT’s Wonhee**, her brand’s link analysis highlighted keywords like ‘lovely,’ ‘mature,’ and ‘growing,’ signaling her evolving image. Furthermore, her keyword analysis showed strong associations with ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE,’ ‘Holiday Version,’ and ‘Global Chart,’ reflecting her expanding appeal and recent activities. Her positive-to-negative ratio stood at an impressive **84.90%** positive, solidifying her wholesome and adored public image.

This month’s comprehensive analysis included a total of 48 rookie idol individual brands, featuring prominent names like **ILLIT Wonhee**, **ILLIT Minju**, **TWS Dohun**, **Cortis Gunho**, **Hatz2Hatz Ian**, **Hatz2Hatz Jiwoo**, **ILLIT Yunah**, and **Miyao Anna**, among others, all vying for global recognition.

The meteoric rise of **ILLIT** so early in their career is truly something to behold, signaling a powerful new force in the industry. It’s clear that their unique charm and strategic global outreach are resonating deeply with fans worldwide.

The competition is fierce, but these rookie idols are proving they have what it takes to capture hearts and climb the charts. We can’t wait to see what heights they reach next!

Editor: Mia Kang 🌈

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