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K-pop girls rule S. Korea’s favorite singer rankings

December 19, 2014

IU is No.1, followed by Girls’ Generation and Sistar, according to a Gallup Korea poll

IU (Courtesy of hankooki.com)

K-pop idols ruled this year when it came to South Korea’s favorite singers.

The crown for the country’s favorite singer of 2014 went to 21-year-old superstar IU, according to a Gallup Korea poll released Thursday.

The poll, conducted from October to November with 2,774 people ages 13 to 59, saw IU take 12.9 percent of all votes, Yonhap reported.

The star, who ranked No. 6 last year in the same poll, dropped a new album, “Flower Bookmark,” in May this year. Her remakes of old classics — Sanwoolim’s “Meaning of You,” Cho Deok-bae’s “My Old Story” — were well-received.

Girls’ Generation, which saw numerous love scandals and the departure of member Jessica this year, came in a close second with 12.4 percent of votes. The group was the nation’s favorite singer from 2009 to 2011.

Following in third was girl group Sistar (10.8 percent), which released chart-toppers like “Touch my Body” and “I Swear” this year.

In fourth place was EXO (9.4 percent), last year’s “Growl” giants who have lost two members — Kris and Luhan — since May.

The rest of the top 10 included longtime vocalist Lee Sun-hee (8.4), Girl’s Day (7.9), Lee Seung-chul (7.8), Cho Yong-pil (7.2), BEAST (5.5) and Jang Yoon-jung.

Others in the top 20: Ailee (5.1), A Pink (4.1), Big Bang (3.8), Kim Dong-ryul (3.6), Seo Taiji (3.1), Kim Beom-soo (3.0), Sung Si-kyung (3.0), g.o.d (2.9), Tae Jin-ah (2.9) and Hong Jin-young (2.6).

While EXO was teens’ top choice for favorite singer, those aged 19 to 29, as well as those in their 30s, chose IU, Gallup Korea said. For those in their 40s and 50s, Lee Sun-hee topped votes.