Korea's Official 'Singer of the Year' Poll Reveals a Nation Divided by Music

Gallup Korea's highly anticipated annual survey has named the nation's favorite singers for 2025, revealing a stark generational divide in musical taste. While IU reigns supreme among Koreans under 40, trot superstar Lim Young Woong continues his unrivaled dominance with the over-40 demographic. The poll, which surveyed 5,148 people across the country, provides an official snapshot of who truly captures the heart of Korea's music fans.

Under 40: The Reign of IU and K-Pop Titans

Among citizens aged 13 to 39, solo artist IU took the top spot with a commanding 20.1% of the vote. Following her closely is a lineup of K-pop's most powerful girl groups, underscoring their immense popularity. BLACKPINK secured the second position with 18%, while aespa (14%), IVE (12.2%), and NewJeans (12%) rounded out the top five. The enduring influence of global icons was also clear, with BTS (10.9%) and BIGBANG's G-Dragon (10.7%) maintaining strong positions in the top 10.

Age 40 and Above: The Unbreakable Hold of Trot

For Koreans aged 40 and over, the music landscape looks entirely different. Trot singer Lim Young Woong was the undisputed champion, capturing a massive 29.1% of the votes for the sixth consecutive year. The rest of the list is dominated by fellow trot and ballad singers, with Jang Yoon Jung (12.3%) and Lee Chan Won (12%) taking second and third place, respectively. Notably, IU was the only artist to bridge the generational gap, appearing at number six (7.7%) on this list, making her the sole musician to rank in the top 10 for both demographics.