Broadcast date: March 2
Starring: BTS, EXO, GOT7, Big Bang, Black Pink, Twice

Naver’s video streaming platform V Live has become an almost essential part of K-pop fandom.

As of March 1, the platform hosts a total of 999 channels run by, or for, K-pop stars and celebrities.

That means you can expect to find one channel for virtually every Korean celebrity that you know of.

The Korea Herald has looked into channel rankings based on the number of followers, which could provide a useful snapshot of the K-pop landscape.


1. BTS is by far the most followed act on V Live

Big Hit Entertainment’s seven-member boy band is undoubtedly a global K-pop titan and its presence on V is suitably strong.

The group is followed by a whopping 12.8 million followers at the time of writing. It is the only act that has surpassed the 10 million follower mark.

(Big Hit Entertainment)

The gap between BTS and the runner-up -- SM Entertainment’s EXO -- is nearly 5.5 million, as EXO’s tally stands at 7.1 million.

BTS has produced 609 videos in total, including V Live-exclusive variety show “Run BTS!” and unscripted live broadcasts to celebrate special days and milestones such as members’ birthdays and their winning of a Billboard award.

“V Live and BTS grew together to this day,” BTS member Suga said in a recent V Live award party, after winning four trophies -- best artist, best channel, best V original, video of the year.


2. The top three most followed are all boy bands

The top three channels have a combined follower base of 24.7 million, nearly half of South Korea's population. They are BTS, EXO and JYP Entertainment’s GOT7 -- all boy groups.

(SM Entertainment)

BTS and GOT7 are septets and EXO is a nine-member group.

GOT7 (Naver's V Live)

The fourth in the ranking is also a boy band -- Big Bang of YG Entertainment at 5.3 million followers.

The band is currently inactive due to members’ military enlistment.

SM, YG and JYP were once considered titans in the industry, but their early success pales in comparison to the underdog Big Hit’s global breakthrough with BTS.


3. Black Pink is the queen of K-pop

Coming at fifth in the follower tally is YG Entertainment’s girl group Black Pink.


The quartet, which has 5.19 followers on V Live, is rising on the global music scene -- aiming to write the history of female K-pop artists.

A major feat for a K-pop act male or female, Black Pink landed on the cover of the March edition of the US music magazine Billboard.

On V Live, the group is chased by JYP’s Twice, a prolific streamer that has 4.66 million followers.


Naver’s real-time broadcasting app V allows fans to interact with their favorite K-pop stars through live broadcasts. The app is available for Android and iOS. For more information, visit http://www.vlive.tv.

By The Korea Herald (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

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