Reaching for the moon, the 5th generation K-Pop boy group LUN8 is stealing hearts all over the world. With their boyish charms and disarming charisma, the members of LUN8 (Jin Su, Chael, Takuma, Jun Woo, Ian, Do Hyun, Ji Eun Ho, and Eun Seop) are putting their versatile talents on full display, and we just can't get enough. If you're a LUV8 (LUN8's fandom name), we can imagine that you feel the same way. So, to satisfy your fandom needs, we created an exclusive quiz in collaboration with LUN8 just for you!

LUN8 recently made a grand comeback with their 2nd mini-album "BUFF". With a sentiment of coming together to make dreams come true, LUN8 delivered vocals, visuals, and vibes in this release, complemented by the most addictive choreography and catchy rap verses. To think that such a production is coming from a rookie group truly makes it even more impressive.

To celebrate LUN8's return with "BUFF", we got together with the lovely boys of LUN8 and decided to create a very special quiz for LUV8!

EXCLUSIVE QUIZ: Which LUN8 Member Will Be Your Bestie?

We created the options for each question on the quiz from the LUN8 members' personal answers, edited for clarity.

Based on the LUN8 member your answers are most similar to, you can find out which LUN8 member is meant to be your very own bestie!

If you haven't taken the quiz yet, what are you waiting for? Take our EXCLUSIVE QUIZ made in collaboration with LUN8 first, and come back here to find out the full version of the members' answers! No cheating, though!

Did you take the quiz, LUV8? 🌙💛

Then, let's get into the LUN8 members' quiz answers!

LUN8 on X

What is your secret to making new friends?

I try to find common ground before starting a conversation.
Jin Su
I try to become friends by giving out some jelly.
Chael
Because I value the people I meet, I am still trying to come up with the best way to make new friends.
Takuma
I believe approaching with a sincere heart will open people up to me.
Jun Woo
I start a conversation by giving an ice cream or a drink.
Do Hyun
I start giving out candies!
Ian
If you approach everyone with no hesitation and treat them with kindness, I believe you will make a friend naturally.
Ji Eun Ho
I am quite sociable, so if there’s someone I want to be friends with, I go up to them and start talking and make them my friends.
Eun Seop

LUN8 on X

If you could have any SUPER POWER in the world, what would it be?

I would like to be able to never feel tired, even if I don’t sleep. While there might be more amazing and impressive powers, I think having the ability to not feel tired would allow me to live life more vigorously without losing the fun and sense of achievement that comes from working hard.
 
Jin Su
I want the ability to go back in time so I can continuously feel the happiness of spending enjoyable moments with my fans.
 
Chael
I want the power to control time.
Takuma
I would like to have healing powers to be able to cure all diseases. I want it because it's sad to be sick and when I get hurt during practice, I want to heal immediately.
 
Jun Woo
Although I want various superpowers, the one that comes to mind right now is the ability to move through space and time. If I could move through space and time, I think I could sleep more and then show the fans a better side of myself!
 
Do Hyun
Since I like dancing and I am very passionate about it, I want the ability to be the best dancer in the world.
 
Ian
I want the ability to teleport so I can travel anywhere in the world whenever I want.
Ji Eun Ho
I want the ability to stop time. If I could stop time, I would be able to sleep a lot and then only show my best side to the fans.
Eun Seop

LUN8 on X

If you could only listen to one LUN8 song from MON to SUN, what would it be?

I’d say 'MON2SUN.' It seems to be the song that best fits my taste.
 
Jin Su
I'll go with 'MON2SUN,' which makes me feel good the moment I hear it.
 
Chael
It's definitely 'GOT THE RIZZ.' I like it so much that I think I could keep listening to it.
 
Takuma
I think I'll listen to 'GOT THE RIZZ.' Because listening to an exciting song starting from the morning makes me feel like every cell in my body is waking up.
Jun Woo
If I could only listen to one song from this album, it would be 'GOT THE RIZZ.' I think it's a song that's very cheerful and listening to the lyrics gives me energy!
 
Do Hyun
It's 'MON2SUN.' In fact, I think about our fans all week, which fits well with the message of 'MON2SUN'.
 
Ian
I'll choose 'MON2SUN,' a song that's easy to listen to and that never gets old.
 
Ji Eun Ho
I'll listen to 'MON2SUN'! It's my favorite song, and the meaning of the song, 'Thinking of you from Monday to Sunday,' is a message I want to tell our fans!
 
Eun Seop

Do you think you GOT THE RIZZ?

I am still in the process of acquiring it.
 
Jin Su
I was born with “RIZZ”.
 

 
Chael
Of course I got the “RIZZ”!
 
Takuma
I always have ‘RIZZ’..
 
Jun Woo
I think that my ‘RIZZ’ is my shy smile.
 

 
Do Hyun
I think I am too ‘RIZZ’ right now.
 

 
Ian
For sure! I was born with ‘RIZZ’!
 
Ji Eun Ho
My ‘RIZZ’ is my sweet voice!
 
Eun Seop

LUN8 on X

When making plans, are you meticulous or spontaneous?
 

I try to be meticulous when I make plans, but when I carry out those plans, I try to be as flexible as possible and change them a lot.
 

 
Jin Su
I am a rather spontaneous person.
 

 
Chael
I tend to go with the flow, so I am more of a spontaneous person.
 
Takuma
I am meticulous. If I don’t come up with a plan before I execute, I get nervous very easily. So, I try to come up with a plan from the beginning to the end.
Jun Woo
I tend to come up with meticulous plans. For example, if I were to go on a trip, I’d come up with a very detailed plan to spend my time more efficiently.
Do Hyun
My MBTI contains J, which describes meticulous people. So, I am quite meticulous.
 

 
Ian
I am very spontaneous!
 
Ji Eun Ho
I like to be spontaneous!
 
Eun Seop

Choose your favorite PASTEL color!

Grey.
 

 
Jin Su
Pastel blue.
 

 
Chael
Purple!
 

 
Takuma
Red. I am an energetic and passionate person, so I like red.
 
Jun Woo
I think pastel pink is a very nice color. It’s chic and cute at the same time.
 
Do Hyun
My favorite pastel color is the sky blue.
 
Ian
I like the shade of purple from pastel.
 
Ji Eun Ho
I usually like pastel tones. Among them, sky blue is my favorite.
 
Eun Seop

LUN8 on X

How do you approach your goals?

Through deep consideration and analysis, I find the things that I need to do, and try my best to approach my goals.
 

 
Jin Su
I get motivation from people around me and try very hard to achieve my goals.
Chael
I try to find the problems first and develop myself by fixing those problems and moving forward.
 
Takuma
While setting high goals is good, I tend to achieve things one by one as if I am clearing a mission in a video game to move forward.
 
Jun Woo
After we set our goals, we talk to each other a lot about what to do and how to achieve those goals and come up with plans.
 
Do Hyun
I achieve small things first to get to the bigger goal.
 
Ian
I try to come up with the things that I can do to achieve my goals, and accomplish them one by one. Eventually, I get to my goals or get closer to accomplishing them.
 

 
Ji Eun Ho
I set a step-by-step guide to achieve my goals and accomplish them one by one. The joy of accomplishment helps me to move on to the next step which eventually leads me to my final destination.
 
Eun Seop

If you could enter into any K-Drama with your bestie, where would you go?
 

I want to enter “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God”, and make Goblin / Kim Shin my friend.
 

 
Jin Su
I want to enter all the dramas that starred Cha EunWoo and live a life as the characters he played.
 
Chael
Since it was a show that I really enjoyed, I want to enter “All of Us Are Dead”.
 
Takuma
"Love Revolution" is the one. I think it would be fun and interesting to go to school and hang out with Ian.
 
Jun Woo
I want to enter any kind of drama with Ji Eun Ho. It would be fun and interesting as long as I am with Ji Eun Ho.
 
Do Hyun
It’s "Dream High". Because no matter when and where, I want to become a singer.
 
Ian
Since I’d like to live in the past, I want to enter “The Moon Embracing the Sun"!
 

 
Ji Eun Ho
I’d like to go into "Descendants of the Sun" with my members. It would be fun if I were the highest rank in the drama and saw my members speaking formally to me.
 
Eun Seop

And there we have it!

What did you think of the LUN8 members' full answers to our quiz questions?

Did you relate to your bias or think similarly while answering the quiz?

We hope Kpopmap's EXCLUSIVE QUIZ helped you get closer to the LUN8 members!

Until next time, stream "BUFF"!

There’s no doubt that a new K-Beauty product is always trending, especially when a K-Celeb is the face of said product. In recent news, we’ve seen big names like SEVENTEEN’s WonWoo named as the new model of Korean beauty brands like The Face Shop, ZEROBASEONE becoming the new faces of COLORGRAM, and RIIZE becoming the new models of ETUDE, and many more.

There is an abundance of K-Beauty brands with K-Celebs as the face/model/ambassador of the brand - and fans are dedicated to buying these products to support their favorite K-Pop idol or Korean actor. The Olive Young top product ranking (of Apr. 25, 2024) is a great example of this. Out of the 8 products shown, 4 of them have K-Celebs (namely MONSTA X's HyungWon, Go YounJung, 2AM's Jo Kwon, and ZEROBASEONE's Kim JiWoong) as the face of the product, which can increase the odds of consumers buying the product.

Olive Young Screenshot (25/04/2024)

If you've ever wondered why brands opt to add celebrities to their marketing campaigns, a look at the following data from 2021 by LaunchMetrics proves the impact that Korean celebrities (namely BLACKPINK's Jennie and JiSoo, and BIGBANG's G-Dragon) have had on international luxury brands for fashion and cosmetics (which has only grown stronger since then).

LaunchMetrics

If that is the impact that K-Celebs can have on international brands, then it goes without saying that they would have a similar impact on local K-Beauty brands, too.

However, recently fans have been raising the question wondering why K-Celebrities (especially veterans and big names) don't venture into creating their own cosmetics and beauty brands. If they did, surely they'd make a lucrative profit from their fans' support...

In the case of the Western world, artists like Beyoncé, Selena Gomez, and Rihanna have infiltrated the global beauty market with their respective brands. Beyoncé has recently gone viral for her content utilizing her hair care products Cécred, Selena Gomez has become a sensation on social media with her cosmetics brand Rare Beauty, and Rihanna has also created a cosmetics brand that is a staple on the dressing tables of many in the form of Fenty Beauty. So, why don't K-Celebrities leverage their fandoms and take the leap?

The K-Beauty Celebrity Cosmetics Landscape Is Not Non-Existent

If you're looking for K-Celebrity cosmetics, but feeling bleak because you can't find any, then don't despair. There is one brand that you can seek out!

That's not to say that K-Pop idols haven't ventured into creating their own cosmetics brands at all. Jeon SoMi is one of the first K-Pop idols to attempt her own cosmetics line.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 글맆 GLYF (@glyfing)

She launched the makeup brand GLYF which she had been working on since 2023.

Negative Reactions To A K-Celebrity Makeup Line

However, the product launch was met with some pushback from netizens as they questioned her intention/sincerity and the pricing of the product.

Some argued that Jeon SoMi's first product, the ILLUÉTTE Highlighter Palette (four colors) at 43,000 Korean won (about 31.39 USD), is too expensive.

Whilst this sentiment spread across communities, to be objective, similar celebrity brands in the West charge similarly or even more. The Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter (one or two colors) retails for 74,100 Korean won (about 54.02 USD) and the Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter (one color) retails for 25 USD (about 34,274 Korean won).

On the other hand, if you compare a similar highlighter palette (with 4 colors) from the Korean brand IPKN called the IPKN Flap One Face Palette, it retails for 32,000 Korean won (about 23.23 USD).

Note: all prices and conversions are as of Apr. 24, 2024.

GLYF Official / Fenty Beauty Official / Rare Beauty Official / Olive Young

Taking these brands into consideration, Jeon SoMi's product is slightly on the pricey side but not entirely out of reach. It is up to consumers to buy a product in their comfortable price range.

The Likeliness Of More K-Celebs Opening Brands In Future

Whilst K-Pop idols are at a career and popularity advantage to launch products in the form of beauty and fashion brands, there might be some hesitance on their part due to potential backlash from fans. Jeon SoMi is one case study, but so is former Girls' Generation member Jessica Jung, who faced backlash from her agency when trying to launch her current fashion brand BLANC & ECLARE.

Some fans perceive pursuing businesses like this as a distraction and a lack of dedication to being an idol. Even in the West, Rihanna has received a lot of backlash for not releasing music and focusing solely on her beauty brand, for example.

As K-Pop fandom prioritizes a relationship with the K-Pop idol, for instance, whilst there might be an outpouring of support for the idol's brand - fans might not like the change in focus.

There is also the issue of K-Pop idols losing out on much-needed brand deals essential to marketing their groups or themselves. This is because beauty brand models are usually tied to only promoting that specific brand due to exclusivity clauses in the contract.

Lastly, and naturally, creating a brand in a saturated market is also a huge risk that K-Celebs may not have the time or energy to take on. Especially in South Korea, where K-Beauty giants such as Olive Young rule the day, it might be difficult to navigate the brands under that umbrella and other competitors. Even a brand (distributor) as huge as Sephora (selling international brands) has had to close down operations in South Korea due to being unable to beat the local K-Beauty market.

If competition can be this fierce between distributors, then it will undoubtedly be just as fierce amongst actual brand competitors.

However, there is still hope that more K-Celebs will take the leap to create products that can help fans feel closer to or like them.

What do you think? Should more K-Celebs be starting beauty brands? Do you reckon that being the face of another K-Beauty brand and not starting their own is the best way for K-Celebs to be part of the K-Beauty industry?

The K-Pop industry is known to be a revolving door of innovation, creativity, and impactful star presence. The Hallyu wave has effectively taken over the world with idol groups and soloists, along with riveting K-Dramas at the forefront. Just like previous years, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted the Overseas Hallyu Survey to determine overseas fans' favorites in various categories.

The main purpose of this survey is to compile the data on the impact of the Hallyu wave. With a sample size of 25,000 people from over 26 countries, the 2024 Overseas Hallyu Survey tries its best to show an accurate representation of what types of K-Content is being consumed in different countries.

In one part of the survey, respondents were asked "Who is currently your favorite Korean group/artists?". Let's find out their answers below!

Top 5 Favorite K-Pop Groups/Artists

1. BTS

GQ Korea

With an impressive 29.1%, BTS takes the top spot among overseas fans' favorite K-Pop idol groups/artists. While the BTS members were active with solo schedules, they slowly made their way into the army, one by one, in order to carry out their mandatory military enlistment. Despite fulfilling their national duty, the iconic boy group's musical influence, positivity, and unique outlook have cemented them as a top idol group.

2. BLACKPINK

BLACKPINK's Official Instagram

Following in second is world-renowned girl group BLACKPINK. They were selected by 13.1% of respondents as their favorite idol group. After the conclusion of their Born Pink World Tour, the iconic girl group decided to stay together with YG for group promotions, but would pursue their individual endeavors under a separate companies. Despite this, the very essence of BLACKPINK still resonated deeply with K-Pop fans across the globe for both their music and individuality.

3. Psy

SBS

When 'Gangnam Style' first dominated the world charts, it seemed like a fever dream. However, through its success, the Korean wave was able to make a resounding resurgence worldwide. This international success has remained with Psy since, praised for his contributions to Korean entertainment and culture. Psy had a somewhat quiet 2023 but was still able to fill concert venues and remained at the forefront of overseas fans' hearts, being selected by 2.9%.

4. BTS' JungKook

BTS' Official Facebook

BTS as a whole were successful soloists in 2023, however, the one member who was selected by 2.7% of overseas fans as their favorite artist was none other than the golden maknae himself, BTS' JungKook. Coming out with the album "GOLDEN", comprised of hits like 'Seven', 'Standing Next To You', and '3D', JungKook's career was elevated to another level. He was able to showcase his individuality as an artist, becoming a beloved name among the K-Pop community and beyond.

5. IU

IU Official

Rounding out the list at no. 5 is the lovely singer-actress, IU. The award-winning soloist was selected by 2.1% of overseas fans. In 2023, she earned immense love for her appearance in hilarious yet heartwarming sports movie, "Dream". Aside from this, IU is an artist that millions love worldwide, praised for her swoon-worthy musicality and incredible artistic prowess.

Top 5 Favorite K-Pop Groups Regional Breakdown

Translated by Kpopmap.com

Although the above artists were the overall consensus among overseas fans, there were some outliers among the various regions. In Asia - Oceania TWICE and BLACKPINK's Lisa took no. 4 and no. 5. Stray Kids were included in the Top 5 of the Americas and Europe. Then BIGBANG's G-Dragon was present among the fans in the Middle East and Africa. However, one common factor among all regions was BTS' place at the top. Even in a year where they all slowly transitioned into military service, they remained the hottest K-Pop act that the world has ever seen.

However, speaking of consistency, BLACKPINK remained at a constant no. 2, while they were beaten out by BTS' loveable maknae, JungKook, among the overseas fans in Africa. These rankings have remained quite similar over the past several years.

As seen through the results of the Overseas Hallyu Survey over the years, BTS and BLACKPINK remain a force to be reckoned with. They worked tirelessly, standing on the biggest stages worldwide, communicating with fans through whatever means possible. They built up a long-standing legacy within the K-Pop community that surely won't crumble anytime soon. And despite all the criticism and hardships they might have faced along the way, the groups remained resolute in their commitment to their profession as idols, leveling up at various moments of their career. Both BTS and BLACKPINK have become frontrunners of the K-Pop industry, recognized by millions, if not trillions, around the globe.

The BTS & BLACKPINK Effect

It's hard to describe just how big of an influence BTS and BLACKPINK have had on the K-Pop community, resulting in both groups being no. 1 and no. 2 on overseas fans' top 5 list. With such longevity in their careers and the ability to connect to audiences beyond music, they've become a mainstay within the various micro-communities scattered across K-Pop. Currently, the two groups are taking a pause in their careers as a group, with BTS in the military and BLACKPINK focusing on their solo endeavors. However, both BTS and BLACKPINK continue to show up in netizens' mentions, extending their reach past the dedicated fandoms of ARMY and BLINK.

Kpopmap

As a result of their continuing fame, despite being in a rest period of their group career, the sentiment towards the two are quite positive as fans patiently wait for their return.

Kpopmap

And while it might be some time until we're able to see both BTS and BLACKPINK take the stage as a full group, this proves one thing: they show no signs of slowing down. The fact that people are still mentioning and searching about the two groups showcases their massive allure, bewitching the entire world to fall into their ocean of charms. This affection is well-earned, backed up by spectacular stages, heartwarming social media interactions, and being treated to additional content, so their absence is rarely felt. With this, it's quite likely that even future iterations of the Overseas Hallyu Survey will result in the idol groups being no. 1 and no. 2 once again.

Other Consistent Star-Studded Names

JYP Entertainment

The prestige of BTS and BLACKPINK aside, along with Psy, there are even more names that deserve recognition for leading the Hallyu wave to even bigger heights. When talking about the globalization of K-Pop, one cannot forget about JYP Entertainment girl group TWICE. They've become a sturdy cornerstone within the industry, consistently selling out concert venues and becoming more than a national gem. Now, fans everywhere cheer their name at their various world tour stops and all across social media.

Kpopmap

The interest over time towards TWICE has remained consistently high over the past 5 years, peaking around the times of their world tour, year end award show performances, and new releases. With such a strong fanbase and even interest from casual K-Pop fans, the girl group has an enormous stake in the K-Pop industry. Their presence is undeniable and will surely continue to persist, even with the changing of generations.

Then there's celebrated veteran, IU, who has managed to remain in the top 5 K-Pop acts for overseas fans for the past several years. Her sheer influence in the K-Pop scene cannot be understated, as she's also able to bridge the gap between music show stages and drama film sets.

Kpopmap

Over the past 5 years, similarly to TWICE, netizen's interest over time towards the soloist have remained at a constantly high rate, showing huge jumps during song releases, news of her relationship status, and the moment she announced her world tour. Apart from BTS, BLACKPINK, and Psy, these two amazingly talented and renowned artists have remained at the top of the K-Pop scene, receiving love from international fans far and wide.

Newer groups from the fourth and fifth generation are currently showcasing a parade of talents, vying for the top spot in overseas fans' heart. Only time will tell if they'll have the ability to be included in the Overseas Hallyu Survey and be mentioned among the top 5 groups of overseas fans.

What do you think of the results of the Top 5 K-Pop Idols/Artists for the 2024 Overseas Hallyu Survey?