The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for idol groups!

The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness indexes of 100 idol groups, using big data collected from April 24 to May 25.

BTS continued their winning streak at the top of the rankings this month with a brand reputation index of 24,441,487. High-ranking phrases in the group’s keyword analysis included “YouTube,” “Twitter,” and “Jimin,” while their highest-ranking related terms included “shining,” “appear,” and “cute.” BTS’s positivity-negativity analysis also revealed a score of 90.56 percent positive reactions.

BLACKPINK also maintained their position at second place on the list with a brand reputation index of 8,002,206.

Finally, TWICE came in at a close third this month, scoring a total brand reputation index of 7,702,170 for May.

Check out the top 30 for this month below!

1. BTS
2. BLACKPINK
3. TWICE
4. IZ*ONE
5. NU’EST
6. Oh My Girl
7. Red Velvet
8. EXO
9. INFINITE
10. Lovelyz
11. AB6IX
12. WINNER
13. EXID
14. NCT
15. The Boyz
16. MAMAMOO
17. SEVENTEEN
18. BIGBANG
19. (G)I-DLE
20. Girls’ Generation
21. Weki Meki
22. GFRIEND
23. SHINee
24. TXT
25. GWSN
26. Super Junior
27. WJSN (Cosmic Girls)
28. Apink
29. fromis_9
30. BTOB

Source (1)

Chosun Ilbo has reported that Yoo In Suk, the former CEO of Yuri Holdings, has admitted to soliciting prostitution with Seungri at Seungri’s home in 2015.

According to the reports, Yoo In Suk admitted to the charges when he was recently questioned by the police. On May 23, the police stated that Yoo In Suk admitted to soliciting prostitution services from two women on December 23, 2015 at an apartment in Gangnam, Seoul that Seungri lived in. The reports also state that one of the women who was there was questioned by police and stated, “We went to the address given to us by Madam, and Seungri and Yoo In Suk were there. When we were each chosen by them, we went into separate rooms.”

Previously, Channel A’s “News A” had released an exclusive report on May 18 stating that Seungri had admitted to soliciting prostitution during his pretrial detention warrant questioning.

Chosun Ilbo’s report states that when asked by police why he and Seungri solicited prostitution services at Seungri’s home in 2015, Yoo In Suk is said to have replied, “We were going to call the prostitutes for Japanese business partners the next day, and we wanted to see what they would be like so we called them.” Seungri and Yoo In Suk have been charged with covering the costs of a five-star hotel for a Japanese businessman and his acquaintances for three days from December 24, 2015, as well as soliciting prostitution services for the group across two days.

Seungri is said to have paid for the approximately 30 million won (approximately $25,200) in hotel fees using a YG Entertainment company card. The women who were called to Seungri’s home are also said to have been a part of the ten women who were solicited for prostitution services at the hotel.

The police believe that Yoo In Suk has solicited such services for Seungri multiple times. According to a source from the police, “While Seungri was living in an apartment in Mapo, Seoul in 2015, he is believed to have engaged in sexual relations through prostitution services called on by Yoo In Suk. A prostitute who visited Seungri at his Mapo apartment was questioned and stated, ‘I didn’t know who had called for me, so I was surprised to see Seungri there.'”

The police are currently continuing their investigation into both Yoo In Suk and Seungri after their pretrial detention warrant requests were dismissed by the courts.

Source (1) (2)

BIGBANG’s T.O.P is wrapping up his military service!

On May 21, Yongsan District Office revealed, “Choi Seung Hyun’s [T.O.P’s given name] discharge date is July 8. Due to the reduction regulation that was applied to public service agents starting from last year, his service period has been shortened by about 27 days.”

Originally, T.O.P’s discharge date was set to the beginning of August, but due to the new reduction regulations implemented in 2018, his service period has been shortened.

On July 27, 2018, the government revealed Defense Reform 2.0, which shortens the military service period. In the case for public service agents, the reform has been applied gradually in steps starting with those who started their service on October 3, 2016.

Although T.O.P began his service in February of 2017 as a conscripted policeman, he lost his position due to his marijuana case. On January 26, 2018, T.O.P was transferred to the Yongsan District Office to resume his duties as a public service worker.

Although reports surfaced suspecting that T.O.P had been receiving special treatment while serving his mandatory military duties, the Yongsan District Office fully denied the reports with a thorough explanation, confirming that T.O.P submitted all the required documents needed to prove the validity of his reasons for taking sick leave.

Source (1)