These Were The 5 Most Popular K-Pop Idols At SM Entertainment Each Year For The Last Decade

Some were at the top of the list for several years!

While Google Trends may be only one measurement of a K-Pop idol’s success, it is a useful tool to see which artists have been the most-searched over periods of time, which is something no other platforms can really do!

EXO’s Chanyeol

The most popular idols in the K-Pop industry come and go over the years, often dependent on comebacks, scandals, rumors, or other events that give them attention.

Red Velvet’s Irene

As one of the biggest companies in the Korean entertainment business, SM Entertainment has pretty much always had some of their idols as the most discussed among K-Pop fans!

Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon

Here are the 5 most popular SM Entertainment idols of each year over the last decade, based on trends of searches on Google.

2011

5. Siwon (Super Junior)

4. Seohyun (Girls’ Generation)

3. Kyuhyun (Super Junior)

2. Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)

1. Yoona (Girls’ Generation)

2012

5. Seohyun (Girls’ Generation)

4. Leeteuk (Super Junior)

3. Siwon (Super Junior)

2. Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)

1. Yoona (Girls’ Generation)

2013

5. Seohyun (Girls’ Generation)

4. Taemin (SHINee)

3. Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)

2. Kyuhyun (Super Junior)

1. Yoona (Girls’ Generation)

2014

5. Baekhyun (EXO)

4. Sehun (EXO)

3. Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)

2. Eunhyuk (Super Junior)

1. Yoona (Girls’ Generation)

2015

5. Kyuhyun (Super Junior)

4. Sehun (EXO)

3. Yoona (Girls’ Generation)

2. Chanyeol (EXO)

1. Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)

2016

5. Yoona (Girls’ Generation)

4. Sehun (EXO)

3. Baekhyun (EXO)

2. Chanyeol (EXO)

1. Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)

2017

5. Yoona (Girls’ Generation)

4. Sehun (EXO)

3. Baekhyun (EXO)

2. Chanyeol (EXO)

1. Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)

2018

5. Kai (EXO)

4. Irene (Red Velvet)

3. Baekhyun (EXO)

2. Sehun (EXO)

1. Chanyeol (EXO)

2019

5. Kai (EXO)

4. Baekhyun (EXO)

3. Irene (Red Velvet)

2. Sehun (EXO)

1. Chanyeol (EXO)

2020

5. Kai (EXO)

4. Chen (EXO)

3. Chanyeol (EXO)

2. Baekhyun (EXO)

1. Irene (Red Velvet)

2021 (So Far)

5. Kai (EXO)

4. Jaehyun (NCT)

3. Irene (Red Velvet)

2. Chanyeol (EXO)

1. Baekhyun (EXO)

Source: K-Data