BTS Keep Their Crown While CORTIS Makes Stunning Leap to No. 2 in September K-Brand Index

BTS continue to show the strength of their brand power, securing the No. 1 position in the September K-Brand Index boy group rankings. While the global superstars held on to the top spot, rookie group CORTIS jumped to second place, signaling growing attention for the new act.

The Asia Brand Research Institute released the latest rankings on Tuesday, Oct. 6, after analyzing a massive 732,951,709 pieces of online big data collected throughout September.

The index examined the 30 leading artists based on portal search volume, offering a snapshot of which boy groups generated the strongest online presence during the month.

BTS Remain at The Top

BTS’ continued presence at No. 1 highlights the group’s enduring influence in the K-pop industry. Even as the boy group landscape continues to evolve with newer acts gaining attention, BTS remain a major force in online brand activity.

The K-Brand Index does not rely on conventional public surveys. Instead, it examines digital behavior, including online searches and content consumption, to determine how much attention a particular brand is receiving.

That makes BTS’ position particularly notable, as their name continues to command substantial interest across online platforms.

CORTIS, meanwhile, secured second place and emerged as one of the biggest talking points in this month’s ranking. Their position places them directly behind BTS, reflecting the rapid growth of interest in the rookie group.

Ryu Won Seon, head of the institute’s research center, said, “BTS maintains top-tier influence, and CORTIS continues its steep growth, holding first and second place. The top five structure has become even clearer.”

RIIZE, ATEEZ And Stray Kids Complete Top Five

The remaining positions in the top five remained unchanged from the previous ranking. RIIZE took third place, followed by ATEEZ at No. 4 and Stray Kids at No. 5.

The consistency of the top five suggests that these groups continue to maintain strong levels of online visibility and public interest. While CORTIS’ rise stands out, the established names surrounding the rookie group show just how competitive the boy group rankings remain.

For RIIZE, ATEEZ and Stray Kids, maintaining their positions within the top five also reflects their continued ability to generate online activity across the month.

SEVENTEEN And NCT Move Up

Further down the chart, SEVENTEEN and NCT each moved up one position. SEVENTEEN climbed to sixth place, while NCT followed at No. 7.

BIGBANG recorded an even bigger improvement, moving up two spots to eighth. The group’s continued presence among the top 10 demonstrates that established K-pop acts can still generate significant online attention alongside newer generations of artists.

ENHYPEN also made an important move, entering the top 10 at No. 9. TWS, meanwhile, experienced the biggest decline among the top 10 groups, dropping four positions to land at No. 10.

What Does Rankings Say About K-Pop’s Changing Landscape?

The September results offer an interesting look at how established global acts and rising groups are competing for attention in the digital space.

BTS’ No. 1 position demonstrates the group’s continued brand strength, while CORTIS’ second-place finish gives a clear indication of the growing interest in the rookie group. At the same time, the presence of groups such as RIIZE, ATEEZ, Stray Kids, SEVENTEEN, NCT, BIGBANG, ENHYPEN and TWS shows the breadth of acts attracting significant online engagement.

Because the K-Brand Index focuses on online activity rather than traditional survey responses, its rankings can also reflect changes in what fans are actively searching for and consuming online.

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