Here are the artists that caught the attention of agency staff, network employees, reporters, and more.
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In a recent survey for Joy News 24, 200 Korean entertainment industry insiders (from agency and network employees to reporters and content producers) all voted on the top artists of the year—and these seven stars all made the cut.
7. Lee Mujin
Lee Mujin took joint 6th place in the industry insider survey with 4 votes. This year, Lee Mujin saw success on the Korean charts with “Traffic Light, “The Assignment Song,” “Scent of the Day,” and “Fall in Fall.” He’s currently nominated for accolades at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
6. Jeon Somi
Jeon Somi took joint 6th place in the industry insider survey with 4 votes. This year, Somi saw success on the Korean charts with “DUMB DUMB” and “XOXO.” Her first album, XOXO, sold over 30,700 copies on Hanteo within its first day of release, and Somi is currently nominated for accolades at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards and 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
5. NCT
NCT took 5th place in the industry insider survey with 7 votes. This year, NCT’s units saw success on the Korean charts with “Hot Sauce,” “Hello Future,” “Sticker,” and “Favorite.” NCT 127’s latest album, [Favorite], sold over 1,174,000 copies on Hanteo, and NCT is currently nominated for accolades at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards and 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
4. Lim Young Woong
Lim Young Woong took 4th place in the industry insider survey with 9 votes. This year, Lim Young Woong saw success on the Korean charts with “My Starry Love.” He is currently nominated for accolades at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards.
3. aespa
Aespa took 3rd place in the industry insider survey with 12 votes. This year, aespa saw success on the Korean charts with “Next Level” and “Savage.” Their album, Savage, sold over 147,000 copies on Hanteo within its first day of release, and aespa is currently nominated for accolades at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards and 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
2. IU
IU took 2nd place in the industry insider survey with 14 votes. This year, IU saw success on the Korean charts with “Celebrity,” “Lilac,” and “Strawberry Moon.” Her latest album, Lilac, sold over 216,000 copies on Hanteo within its first day of release, and IU is currently nominated for accolades at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards and 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
1. BTS
And BTS swept the top spot in the industry insider survey with a staggering 152 votes. This year, BTS saw success on the Korean charts with “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” and Coldplay collaboration “My Universe.” Their latest physical release, Butter, sold over 1,711,870 copies on Hanteo within its first day of release, and BTS is currently nominated for accolades at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards, 2021 American Music Awards, and 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, MONSTA X, AKMU, and Baek Yerin were also named as top artists in the survey.
