The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for individual boy group members!

The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, media coverage, communication, and community awareness indexes of 645 boy group members, using big data collected from August 17 to September 18.

BTS swept the top seven spots on the list this month, with Jimin claiming No. 1 in the rankings for the 21st consecutive month. Jungkook came in at No. 2 for September, followed by V at No. 3, Suga at No. 4, RM at No. 5, Jin at No. 6, and J-Hope at No. 7.

Jimin scored a total brand reputation index of 9,531,956 for September, marking a 47.18 percent rise in his score since August. High-ranking phrases in his keyword analysis included “Filter,” “America’s Got Talent,” and “Music Camp,” while his highest-ranking related terms included “achieve,” “prove,” and “release.” Jimin’s positivity-negativity analysis also revealed a score of 91.55 percent positive reactions.

Check out the top 30 for this month below!

1. BTS’s Jimin
2. BTS’s Jungkook
3. BTS’s V
4. BTS’ Suga
5. BTS’s RM
6. BTS’s Jin
7. BTS’s J-Hope
8. EXO’s Baekhyun
9. ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo
10. EXO’s Kai
11. Super Junior’s Kim Heechul
12. SHINee’s Taemin
13. EXO’s Chanyeol
14. Super Junior’s Kyuhyun
15. BIGBANG’s G-Dragon
16. ASTRO’s Moonbin
17. MONSTA X’s Minhyuk
18. MONSTA X’s Shownu
19. Super Junior’s Donghae
20. Super Junior’s Eunhyuk
21. SEVENTEEN’s Jun
22. NCT’s Mark
23. SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan
24. BTOB’s Eunkwang
25. The Boyz’s Hyunjae
26. NCT’s Taeyong
27. Highlight’s Yoon Doojoon
28. EXO’s Sehun
29. SEVENTEEN’s Jeonghan
30. NCT’s Jaehyun

Source (1)

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K-pop has experimented with many musical genres, which differentiates it from mainstream pop. Naturally, disco music was bound to find its way into our favorite artists’ releases, and it continues to do so to this day.

Here is a compilation of disco-infused songs throughout the years that will make you want to boogie down!

1. Dal Shabet – “Hate, Don’t Hate!”

Dal Shabet brought disco to the streets with their catchy song and popping dance moves, and you can only love it!

2. Super Junior D&E – “Oppa, Oppa”

Super Junior is known for their wholesome concerts. “Oppa, Oppa” has a touch of disco all over the music and choreography and gives a glimpse of the fun Donghae and Eunhyuk have on stage.

3. Crayon Pop – “Saturday Night”

One group that is known to have tried all kinds of funky styles is Crayon Pop, and they delivered again in this disco-infused song and MV.

4. Uhm Jung Hwa feat. BIGBANG’s T.O.P – “Disco”

If there is anyone who can teach us how to disco, it would be Uhm Jung Hwa in her lit duet with T.O.P. Talk about the perfect combo!

5. T-ara – “Round and Round”

Everything about “Round and Round” screams disco: from the upbeat instrumentals to the MV setting. The dance routine oscillates between classic disco moves and cute pop moves.

6. Wonder Girls – “2 Different Tears”

Wonder Girls was one of the few groups who experimented with different styles from across the decades. This time, they landed in the ’80s with “2 Different Tears” and a fashion style to match!

7. 9MUSES – “Figaro”

One listen to “Figaro” will make you think that disco is 9MUSES’s musical style of choice. The ladies embraced the genre so well that you’d think it is their signature concept by default.

8. PSY – “Napal Baji”

There isn’t a style that PSY can’t pull off, and disco is right on top of his list of achievements. Wardrobe? Check. Groove? Check. Attitude? Double check!

9. Eric Nam feat. Hoya – “Ooh Ooh”

Another artist who does it all is none other than Eric Nam. Not only does he clean up well, but he also embodies the disco ambiance with his sleek moves and soulful voice!

10. SISTAR – “Alone”

Disco seems to be a favorite sound for second-generation girl groups, and SISTAR made sure to join the party.

11. WINNER – “LOVE ME LOVE ME”

The quartet has blessed us with many melodious songs, and it was only a matter of time until they implemented disco vibes in their music.

12. IN2IT – “Sorry For My English”

When it comes to bringing disco to life, IN2IT has nothing to apologize for! This lively sound is the perfect background music for a chill party on the weekend.

13. Park Jin Young & Sunmi – “When We Disco”

No one nails tasteful concepts like Park Jin Young and Sunmi. Combining their equal love for vintage sounds, the pair graced us with a one-of-a-kind collaboration.

14. BTS – “Dynamite”

What started as a laid-back song to cheer on BTS fans around the world became a chart-topper hit that reintroduced disco into the K-pop scene. It’s fair to say that this single’s effect is nothing short of dynamic!

Which disco-themed song makes you footloose? Let us know in the comments below!

Esmee L. is a Moroccan lively dreamer, writer, and Hallyu enthusiast.

On September 16, the Ground Operations Command’s general military court held Seungri’s first hearing.

Seungri’s side stated, “We deny all charges except his violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.”

Seungri has been indicted on eight charges including purchase of prostitution services, prostitution mediation, embezzlement, violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Economic Crimes (an additional charge for embezzlement of a sum exceeding a certain number), violation of the Food Sanitation Act, habitual gambling, violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, and violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes. Seungri’s case was transferred to the military courts after his enlistment in March.

Seungri is suspected to have arranged prostitution services for foreign investors in order to procure investments for his businesses between December 2015 and January 2016. Around the same time, he also allegedly purchased prostitution services himself.

He was also indicted for suspicions of embezzling 528 million won (approximately $448,900) from club Burning Sun to use for his club Monkey Museum and siphoning Yuri Holdings funds worth 22 million won (approximately $18,700) by disguising it as the employees’ legal fees.

Seungri allegedly gambled on several occasions at casinos in Las Vegas between December 2013 and August 2017 and used a total of 2.2 billion won (approximately $1.87 million). He is suspected of exchanging $1 million for casino tokens and not reporting the exchange, which is a violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.

At court, Seungri’s legal representative stated, “The defendant (Seungri) has no motive to mediate prostitution. He did not play any role in Yoo In Suk’s prostitution mediation.” Former Yuri Holdings CEO Yoo In Suk pleaded guilty to his charges including prostitution mediation in June. In regards to suspicions that Seungri purchased prostitution services for himself, they said, “Seungri does not remember if he had intercourse with the woman in question, and he thought the woman was someone Yoo In Suk had sent because she simply wanted to meet him.”

The legal representative added, “Habitual gambling can only be recognized after considering not only the amount of money gambled, but all aspects including the total number of times gambled, duration, motive, and previous conviction. Gambling was not the purpose of the defendant’s visit to the United States, and he carried out all of his scheduled activities during his stay.”

Regarding suspicions that he filmed and spread illegal footage, Seungri’s legal representative said, “He did not take the photos himself. He only shared photos that he received from an adult entertainment establishment in a group chat with his friends.”

Seungri personally spoke about his alleged violation of the Food Sanitation Act in relation to his operation of club Monkey Museum, saying, “After receiving the correction order, all of the problematic structures were taken out. I was mostly overseas due to my activities as a celebrity, so I could not confirm it with my own eyes.”

Seungri admitted to one charge, his violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, and stated that he was reflecting on his wrongdoing.

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