BTS, Twice and IU were the top three singers of 2018 in Korea, according to a nationwide poll.

Research company Gallup Korea conducted the survey of 4200 respondents between 13 to 59 years old, asking them about their favorite singers.

BTS was named the best artist of 2018, with 24.4 percent of respondents saying so. The group moved up three spots from No. 4 last year. Twice ranked second with 11 percent, while IU followed closely with 10.2 percent.

Yonhap

Trot singer Hong Jin-young ranked fourth with 8.8 percent, while Wanna One ranked fifth with 8.2 percent. Red Velvet and Black Pink were Nos. 6 and 7 respectively.

With the poll covering a wide range of ages, veteran singers were also on the list of best artists. Jang Yun-jeong, Lee Seung-cheol and Cho Yong-pil ranked eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.

BTS was the only act that appeared in the responses of all the age groups. It ranked top among 13- to 18-year-olds and 19-to 29-year-olds as well as those in their 30s and 40s.

Although BTS was in sixth place for respondents in their 50s, the K-pop act was the only idol group to appear among that age group’s favorite singers.

By Lee Tae-hee (taeheelee@heraldcorp.com)