These are the Top 10 Most Influential K-Pop Idols in the Last Decade

By Robyn Joan Aug 30, 2021

K-Pop idols - and celebrities in general - undoubtedly have a huge influence on the public, and every year the biggest celebrity influencers change depending on several factors. As people in the public eye, K-Pop idols are no strangers to being searched on the internet and looked up to.

Through the use of Google Trends and Social Influencer, here is a peek at the Top 10 most influential K-Pop idols of each year from 2011 and all the way to 2021!

These are the Top 10 Most Influential K-Pop Idols in the Last Decade:

2011

(Photo : Instagram: @dlwlrma)

By the end of 2011, IU was the most influential K-Pop idol. 2011 was the year IU rose to prominence with the release of her second studio album, "Last Fantasy," as well as making her acting debut in KBS2's "Dream High."

1. IU

2. Girls' Generation's YoonA

3. CL

4. HyunA

5. Girls' Generation's Seohyun

6. Girls' Generation's Taeyeon

7. Jessica Jung

8. Park Bom

9. BIGBANG's G-Dragon

10. Super Junior's Heechul

2012

(Photo : News1)

Back in 2012, the K-Pop industry was filled with legendary songs from BIGBANG, such as "Fantastic Baby," so it's no wonder G-Dragon topped the year as the most influential K-Pop idol.

1. BIGBANG's G-Dragon

2. Girls' Generation's YoonA

3. HyunA

4. Girls' Generation's Seohyun

5. Girls' Generation's Taeyeon

6. IU

7. CL

8. Jessica Jung

9. SHINee's Taemin

10. Girls' Generation's Tiffany

2013

(Photo : Instagram: @yoona__lim)

2013 was a great year for SM Entertainment artists. Not only did Girls' Generation release their hit song "I Got a Boy," but EXO dropped "Growl," and SHINee's "Dream Girl." For 2013, YoonA was the most influential K-Pop idol.

1. Girls' Generation's YoonA

2. BIGBANG's G-Dragon

3. SHINee's Taemin

4. CL

5. Girls' Generation's Taeyeon

6. IU

7. Girls' Generation Seohyun

8. BIGBANG's Taeyang

9. EXO's Sehun

10. EXO's Baekhyun

2014

(Photo : 8thGravity (Wikimedia Commons))

Although 2014 was a rocky year for the K-Pop industry, many still continued to bloom. Once again topping as the most influential K-Pop idols are those who previously topped the list, such as G-Dragon.

1. BIGBANG's G-Dragon

2. BIGBANG's Taeyang

3. Girls' Generation's YoonA

4. CL

5. Girls' Generation's Taeyeon

6. IU

7. EXO's Baekhyun

8. Jessica Jung

9. EXO's Sehun

10. EXO's Kai

2015

(Photo : Instagram: @twicetagram)

2015 was a year the K-Pop industry witnessed the birth of the third generation idols, who easily landed a spot in the hearts of many! Not only that, but this was the year TWICE made their debut, with Tzuyu becoming the most influential idol in 2015.

1. TWICE's Tzuyu

2. BIGBANG's G-Dragon

3. Girls' Generation's Taeyeon

4. EXO's Baekhyun

5. CL

6. Girls' Generation's YoonA

7. IU

8. EXO's Chanyeol

9. EXO's Sehun

10. BIGBANG's Taeyang

READ ALSO: #TzuyuDeservesBetter: JYP Entertainment Slammed for Alleged Mistreatment of TWICE Tzuyu

2016

(Photo : Wikimedia Commons)

Third generation idols continue to dominate the industry, with successes from BTS and TWICE. In 2016, BLACKPINK also made their highly successful debut, becoming one of the top rookies in that year.

1. BIGBANG's G-Dragon

2. EXO's Chanyeol

3. IU

4. Girls' Generation's Taeyeon

5. EXO's Baekhyun

6. Girls' Generation's YoonA

7. BTS' V

8. CL

9. BTS' Jimin

10. EXO's Sehun

2017

(Photo : Twitter: @bts_twt)

2017 became BTS' year with the achievements the group were starting to stack both domestic and international, so it's no wonder BTS dominated the list. Besides that, there is a clear transition from the second generation to third generation K-Pop groups.

1. BTS' V

2. BTS' Jimin

3. BIGBANG's G-Dragon

4. BTS' Jungkook

5. IU

6. EXO's Baekhyun

7. BTS' Suga

8. TWICE's Nayeon

9. TWICE's Tzuyu

10. Sunmi

READ ALSO: BTS denies Claims that ARMYs Manipulated Billboard 100 Chart

2018

(Photo : Instagram: @jennierubyjane)

2018 was a year filled with K-Pop bops that dominated numerous domestic and international charts, such as BLACKPINK's "DDU-DU DDU-DU," BTS' "IDOL" and "Fake Love," and TWICE's "Yes or Yes." In 2018, BLACKPINK's Jennie was the most influential K-Pop idol.

1. BLACKPINK's Jennie

2. EXO's Kai

3. BLACKPINK's Lisa

4. BTS' Jimin

5. BTS' Jungkook

6. BTS' V

7. BLACKPINK's Jisoo

8. TWICE's Nayeon

9. IU

10. BLACKPINK's Rosé

2019

(Photo : Facebook: Super Junior)

BLACKPINK, BTS, and TWICE continue to dominate Google Trends in 2019. However, this year, Super Junior's Heechul and TWICE's Momo became the most influential K-Pop idols with the news of their dating!

1. Super Junior's Heechul

2. TWICE's Momo

3. BLACKPINK's Lisa

4. BTS' Jimin

5. BTS' Jungkook

6. BTS' V

7. IU

8. BLACKPINK's Jisoo

9. BLACKPINK's Jennie

10. TWICE's Nayeon

2020

(Photo : Instagram: @eunwo.o_c)

In 2020, BTS and BLACKPINK continue to dominate eight out of the top 10 spots in Google Trends. This year, ASTRO's visual, Cha Eun Woo, became the most influential K-Pop idol.

1. ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo

2. BLACKPINK's Jisoo

3. BLACKPINK's Lisa

4. BTS' Jungkook

5. BTS' Jimin

6. BTS' V

7. BLACKPINK's Rosé

8. BLACKPINK's Jennie

9. IU

10. BTS' Suga

2021

(Photo : Instagram: @lalalalisa_m)

2021 is another year to look forward to as it's jam-packed with popular releases, such as BLACKPINK's Rosé solo debut, and Lisa's pending debut in September. BTS' also released their record-breaking hit, "Butter." Most notably, IU has remained in the Top 10 for the past decade, showing no signs of decreasing popularity whatsoever!

1. BLACKPINK's Lisa

2. BTS' Jungkook

3. BTS' Jimin

4. BTS' V

5. BLACKPINK's Jisoo

6. BLACKPINK's Jennie

7. BLACKPINK's Rosé

8. IU

9. Jeon Somi

10. ASTRO's Cha Eun Woo