Gallup Korea's Favorite Singer

Gallup Korea's Favorite Singer is a recurring survey conducted as part of the "What Koreans Like" (Korean: 한국인이 좋아하는) series. Launched in 2004 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Gallup Korea's founding, the survey is conducted every five years to explore various aspects of South Korean lifestyle and culture. This survey is distinct from the Gallup Korea's Singer of Year. Unlike the annual "Singer of the Year" polls, which have been released every December since 2005 to highlight the most impactful performances of a specific year, the "Favorite Singer" survey measures long-term public preference and is released only every five years.

1994

Top 10 Favorite Korean Singers of 1994[1]
Rank Name
1st Lee Mi-ja
2nd Cho Yong-pil
3rd Hyun Cheol
4th Na Hoon-a
5th Seol Woon-do
Patty Kim
Choi Jin-hee
6th N/a
7th
8th Shin Seung-hoon
9th Seo Taiji
Kim Won-jun
10th N/a

2004

Survey overview:

  • Survey period: May 13 to 29, 2004
  • Survey area: Nationwide (excluding Jeju Island)
  • Survey subjects: Men and women aged 15 or older
  • Sample size: 1,728 people
  • Survey method: Household visit individual interview
Top 10 Favorite Korean Singers of 2004[2][3]
Rank Name %
1st Lee Mi-ja 5.6
2nd Na Hoon-a 5.1
Rain 5.1
3rd N/a
4th Cho Yong-pil 4.8
4th Hyun-cheol 3.8
6th Tae Jin-ah 2.9
7th Shin Seung-hoon 2.7
8th Song Dae-gwan 2.5
9th Kim Gun-mo 2.4
10th Seol Woon-do 2.2

2009

Survey Overview:

  • Survey Period: May 20, 2009 – June 3, 2009
  • Survey area: Nationwide (excluding Jeju Island)
  • Survey subjects: Men and women aged 15 or older
  • Sample size: 1,700 people
Top 10 Favorite Korean Singers of 2009[4]
Rank Name %
1st Jang Yoon-jeong 7.4
2nd BIGBANG 6.8
3rd Tae Jin-ah 4.3
4th Lee Mi-ja 4.2
5th Girls' Generation 4.0
6th Na Hoon-a 3.6
7th Cho Yong-pil 3.2
8th Hyuncheol 3.0
Son Dam-bi 3.0
Lee Seung-chul 3.0
9th N/a
10th

2014

Survey Overview:

  • Survey Period: October 2nd to 29th, 2013
  • Survey area: Nationwide (excluding Jeju Island)
  • Survey subjects: Men and women aged 15 or older
  • Sample size: 1,700 people
Top 10 Favorite Korean Singers of 2014[5]
Rank Name %
1st Cho Yong-pil 7.2
2nd Lee Sun-hee 4.4
3rd Jang Yoon-jeong 3.9
4th IU 3.6
5th Tae Jin-ah 3.3
6th EXO 2.9
7th Lee Seung-chul 2.8
Lee Mi-ja 2.8
8th N/a
9th Na Hoon-a 2.5
10th Girls' Generation 2.1

2019

Survey Overview:

  • Survey period: May 9–25, 2019
  • Survey area: Nationwide (excluding Jeju Island)
  • Survey subjects: Men and women aged 15 or older
  • Sample size: 1,700
Top 10 Favorite Korean Singers of 2019[6][7]
Rank Name %
1st BTS 9.6
2nd Jang Yoon-jeong 6.8
3rd Na Hoon-a 4.6
4th IU 3.5
5th Cho Yong-pil 3.4
6th Lee Sun-hee 2.6
7th Tae Jin-ah 2.3
Lee Mi-ja 2.3
8th N/a
9th Lee Seung-chul 2.1
10th Kim Yeon-ja 2.0
Lee Moon-sae 2.0
Hong Jin-young 2.0
Twice 2.0
Park Hyo-shin 2.0

2024

Survey Overview:

  • Survey Period: March 22, 2024 - April 5
  • Survey area: Nationwide (excluding Jeju Island)
  • Survey subjects: Men and women aged 15 or older
  • Sample size: 1,777 people aged 13 or older
Top 10 Favorite Korean Singers of 2024[8]
Rank Name %
1st Lim Young-woong 10.3
2nd IU 9.0
3rd BTS 4.9
4th Na Hoon-a 4.0
5th NewJeans 3.5
6th Jang Yoon-jeong 3.4
7th Jin Sung 2.7
8th Young Tak 2.4
Song Ga-in 2.4
9th N/a
10th Blackpink 2.2

References

  1. ^ 갤럽리포트 1994년 11·12월(통권 제15호) - 한국인이 좋아하는 한국인 [Gallup Report, November–December 1994 (Volume 15) - Koreans Whom Koreans Love] (in Korean). Gallup Korea. December 5, 1994. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
  2. ^ 한국인이 좋아하는 40가지 [사람편] [40 Things Koreans Love [People Edition]] (in Korean). Gallup Korea. May 13, 2004. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  3. ^ 한국인이 좋아하는 것은? 장미꽃·박정희·가을… [What do Koreans like? Roses, Park Chung-hee, autumn…]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  4. ^ 한국인이 좋아하는 | 사람 - 가수 (2004-2009) [Koreans' Favorite People - Singers (2004-2009)] (in Korean). Gallup Korea. 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  5. ^ Hwang, Moon-kwon (2015-03-01). [문화] 한국갤럽. 한국인이 가장 좋아하는 가수: 2004년 이미자(5.6%) → 2014년 조용필(7.2%) [[Culture] Gallup Korea. Koreans' Favorite Singer: Lee Mi-ja (5.6%) in 2004 → Cho Yong-pil (7.2%) in 2014]. Seoul City Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  6. ^ 한국인이 좋아하는 40가지 [사람편] - 스포츠선수/가수/탤런트/영화배우/예능방송인·코미디언/소설가/역대대통령/기업인/존경하는인물 (2004-2019) [40 Things Koreans Love [People Edition] - Athletes/Singers/Talents/Actors/Entertainers/Comedians/Novelists/Former Presidents/Businessmen/Respected People (2004-2019)] (in Korean). Gallup Korea. May 25, 2019. Retrieved 2025-12-21.
  7. ^ 한국인이 좋아하는 | 스포츠선수 (PDF).
  8. ^ 한국인이 좋아하는 50가지 [사람2편] - 가수/탤런트/영화배우/예능방송인·코미디언/만화가·웹툰작가/유튜버 (2004-2024) [50 Things Koreans Love [Part 2]—Singers/Talents/Actors/Entertainers/Comedians/Cartoonists/Webtoon Artists/YouTubers (2004-2024)] (in Korean). Gallup Korea. April 5, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2025.