How to vote for 2025 Korea First Brand Awards? Complete nominations list and all you need to know as Cha Eun-woo, Day6, & more bag noms

The 2025 Korea First Brand Awards honor top brands and influential figures in South Korea. Since its inception in 2003, the event has been a key measure of brand performance, relying heavily on consumer feedback to identify the most trusted and impactful names across various industries.

Each year, the process combines consumer input with expert opinions to identify brands expected to lead the upcoming year. This approach highlights figures and companies that have the potential to shape South Korea’s cultural and commercial landscape.

Through this thorough evaluation, the awards have become an important annual event for assessing brand reputation and consumer loyalty. Fans can participate in consumer surveys organized by the Korea Consumer Forum to vote for the 2025 Korea First Brand Awards on their official website.

This year, the awards are based on an extensive survey involving over 52,696 participants and over 1,402,744 cases, as of the time of this article's writing. The survey is vital in determining which brands and personalities resonate most with the public. Categories range from entertainment and music to lifestyle, recognizing South Korean actors, idols, entertainers, sports figures, and popular programs.

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The complete nominee list for the 2025 Korea First Brand Awards: Cha Eun-woo, Day6, and more

Here is the complete list of nominees for the 2025 Korea First Brand Awards.

Promising Comedians (Male) to Lead 2025

• Kwak Beom (Meta Comedy)
• Hwang Jae-seong (SM C&C)
• Lee Chang-ho (Meta Comedy)
• Lee Sang-jun (Cube Entertainment)
• Kim Hae-jun (Meta Comedy)

Promising Male Actors (Movies) to Lead 2025 nominees for Korea First Brand Awards

• Ha Jung-woo (Workhouse Company)
• Jo Jeong-seok (Jam Entertainment)
• Hwang Jung-min (Sam Company)
• Kang Dong-won (AA Group)
• Koo Kyo-hwan (Namoo Actors)
• Lee Seong-min (Hodoo Entertainment)
• Lee Je-hoon (Company on)

Entertainers (Female) Expected to Lead 2025

• Ji Ye-eun (CP Entertainment)
• Uhm Ji-yoon (Meta Comedy)
• Lee Eun-ji (Cube Entertainment)

Promising Male Solo Singer to Lead 2025

• G-DRAGON (Galaxy Corporation)
• Lim Young-woong (Fish Company)
• Baekhyun (INB100)
• Yeonjun (Big Hit Music)
• Key (SM Entertainment)
• Kang Daniel (ARA)

Anticipated Programs Leading 2025 (OTT Entertainment)

• Queen Bee Game (Wavve)
• SNL Korea Season 6 (Coupang Play)
• Black and White Chef Cooking Class War (Netflix)
• Rap: Public (Tving)

Anticipated Female Entertainer Leading 2025 nominees for Korea First Brand Awards

• Haewon (JYP Entertainment)
• Tsuki (Mystic Story)
• Chuu (ATRP)
• Karina (SM Entertainment)

Promising Entertainers (Female) Leading 2025

• Kim Sook (T.N Entertainment)
• Hong Jin-kyung (T.N Entertainment)
• Park Na-rae

Promising Female Comedian Leading 2025

• Kang Yu-mi (Story Island)
• Lee Su-ji (IHQ(sidusHQ))
• Park Se-mi (Meta Comedy)
• With Jeong (Total Set)

Most Anticipated Male Actor (OTT) Leading 2025

• Kim Dong Wook (Key East)
• Seol Kyung-gu (cjes studio)
• Lee Jun-hyuk (Ace Factory)
• Kim Seong-cheol (Story J Company)
• Kentaro Sakaguchi (Tristone Entertainment)

Promising Male Idol (Rising Star) Leading 2025

• N.SSign (nCH Entertainment)
• Lun8 (Fantagio)
• Plave (VLAST)
• Xikers (KQ Entertainment)
• Evnne (Jellyfish Entertainment)

Anticipated Male Entertainers Leading 2025

• Lee Jun (Frain Global)
• Kim Seok-hoon (Mystic Story)
• Defconn
• Im Woo-il

Expected Programs Leading 2025 (Educational Entertainment)

• Heart-pounding Speakers (MBC)
• Giant's Shoulders (TV Chosun)
• Please Give Me Grades, Teachers (Channel A)

Web Entertainment MC (Male) Expected to Lead 2025

• Lee Mu-jin (Big Planet Made Entertainment)
• SHOWNU & JUNGWOO (Starship Entertainment, SM Entertainment)
• Kim Jaejoong (iNKODE)
• Lee Chang-seop (Fantagio)

Highly Anticipated Program (Cooking Show) Leading 2025

• Backpacker 2 (tvN)
• Sister's Direct Delivery from the Mountains (tvN)
• Jungle Food (SBS)
• Three Meals a Day Light (tvN)

Promising Male Actor Leading 2025

• Yoon San-ha (Fantagio)
• Park Ji-hoon (YY Entertainment)
• Zion (RBW)
• Jaechan (Dongyo Entertainment)

Advertising Model (Male) Expected to Lead 2025

• Cha Eun-woo (Fantagio)
• Byun Woo-seok (Baro Entertainment)
• Kim Soo-hyun (GOLDMEDALIST)
• Lim Young-woong (Fish Company)

Expected Professional Entertainers Leading 2025

• Choi Tae-seong (Various Korean History)
• Chung Seung-je (MK Edutainment)
• Jo Jeong-sik (Megastudy Education)
• Orbit

Promising Professional Baseball Team Leading 2025 nominees Korea First Brand Awards

• Kiwoom Heroes
• Samsung Lions
• Doosan Bears
• LG Twins
• SSG Landers
• Lotte Giants
• Hanwha Eagles
• NC Dinos
• Kia Tigers
• KT Wiz

Anticipated Female Radio DJ Leading 2025

• Kim So-young (MBC Standard FM)
• Ahn Young-mi (Media Lab Ciso)
• Eun Ga-eun (KBS 2Radio)
• Joo Hyun-young (SBS Power FM)

Female Idols (Newcomers) Leading 2025

• Unis (F&F Entertainment)
• Katseye (Hive Universal)
• Illit (Belief Lab)
• Meovv (The Black Label)
• Baby Monster (YG Entertainment)
• Rescene (The Muse Entertainment)
• SAY MY NAME (iNKODE)

Promising Actress (Scene Stealer) Leading 2025

• Moon Geun-young (Cree Company)
• Jang Young-nam (Jam Entertainment)
• Jeong In-ji (People Entertainment)
• Park Ji-young (Frain Global)

Promising Multi-trainer (Male) Leading 2025

• Go Kyung Pyo (CLN Company)
• Kim Jaejoong (iNKODE)
• Dex (Kick the Hurdle Studio)
• John Park (Music Farm Entertainment)
• Ryu Soo-young (KX Entertainment)

Promising Sports Entertainer Leading 2025

• Playground (Rico Sports Agency)
• Kim Jun-ho (Mars City Hall Fencing Team)
• Choi Jun-seok (Stadium & S)

Female Celebrity YouTuber Leading 2025

• Park Na-rae -Narae-sik
• Hyoyeon - Hyoyeon's Level Up (SM Entertainment)
• Hye-ri - I am Lee Hye-ri (Sublime)

Anticipated Male Actors Leading 2025 (Hot Trends) nominees Korea First Brand Awards

• Hwang In-yeop (KENSTUDIO)
• Noh Sang-hyun (Eco Global Group)
• Kang Hoon (Enpio Entertainment)
• Kim Young-dae (Outer Universe)
• Kim Jae-young (Management S)

Female Idols to Watch Out For in 2025 (Rising Stars)

• YOUNG POSSE (DSP Media, Beats Entertainment)
• Fifty Fifty (Attract)

Anticipated Entertainment Idol (Male) Leading 2025

• Lee Jin-hyuk (Bill Entertainment)
• Bam Bam (Abyss Company)
• Lee Jang-jun (Woolim Entertainment)

Promising Character Leading 2025

• The Broken Bear (Wandering YURANG)
• Catch! Teenieping (SAMG Animation)
• Luffy (Pororo the Little Penguin) (Iconix)

Esports to Watch in 2025 nominees Korea First Brand Awards

• Overwatch (Blizzard Entertainment)
• Starcraft (Blizzard Entertainment)
• PUBG: Battlegrounds (Krafton)
• Valorant (Riot Games)
• Sudden Attack (Nexon Games)
• League of Legends (Riot Games)

Promising Actresses (Drama) to Lead 2025

• Shin Min-a (AM Entertainment)
• Keum Sae-rok (BH Entertainment)
• Kim So-yeon (Jay Wide Company)
• Jung So-min (Link Hashtag)
• Shin Hye-sun (IOK Company)
• Lee Ha-nui
• Kim Tae-ri (Management MMM)
• Park Shin Hye (Salt Entertainment)
• Shin Ye-eun (Anpio Entertainment, JYP Entertainment)
• Jang Na-ra (Rawon Culture)

Anticipated Entertainer (Male) Expected to Lead 2025

• Lee Soo Geun (Big Planet Made Entertainment)
• Kim Sung-joo (The United Project)
• Boom (T.N Entertainment)
• Jeon Hyun-moo (SM C&C)

Promising Male Vocalist Who Will Lead 2025

• Lee Mu-jin (Big Planet Made Entertainment)
• Woody (Golden Moon Entertainment)
• Bang Ye-dam (GF Entertainment)
• Car, the Garden (Artist Company all around)
• Lee Chang-seop (Fantagio)

Highly Anticipated Program (Music Entertainment) to Lead 2025 nominees Korea First Brand Awards

• The Country is a Singer (KBS2)
• The Seasons (KBS2)
• Synchroyou (KBS2)
• The Listen: We're Together Again (SBS)

Advertising Model (Female) Expected to Lead 2025

• IU (EDAM Entertainment)
• IVE (Starship Entertainment)
• Go Yoon-jung (MAA)
• Kim Ji-won (HighZium Studio)
• New Jeans (ADOR)

Anticipated Female Web Entertainment MC to Lead 2025

• REI (I'll Try Anything)
• Haewon (Work Doll) (JYP Entertainment)
• Jihyo (Tenant) (JYP Entertainment)

Anticipated Female Idols Who Will Lead 2025

• Aespa (SM Entertainment)
• Kep1er (WAKEONE, CLEP ENTERTAINMENT)
• Fromis_9 (Pledis Entertainment)
• New Jeans (ADOR)
• Le Sserafim (Source Music)
• STAYC (High Up Entertainment)
• KISS OF LIFE (S2 Entertainment)
• NMIXX (JYP Entertainment)

Promising Actresses to Lead 2025 nominees Korea First Brand Awards (Hot Trends)

• Kim Ah-young (AIMC)
• Jeong Chae-yeon (BH Entertainment)
• Noh Yoon-seo (MAA)
• Jang Gyu-ri (Namoo Actors)

Rising Star Actress to Lead 2025

• Han Jae-yi (Andmark)
• Park So-jin (Noon Company)
• Lee Se-hee (Jay Wide Company)

Promising Male Idol Who Will Lead 2025 nominees Korea First Brand Awards

• BOYNEXTDOOR (KOZ Entertainment)
• ATEEZ (KQ Entertainment)
• Stray Kids (JYP Entertainment)
• The Wind (Withus Entertainment)
• RIIZE (SM Entertainment)
• ENHYPEN (Belief Lab)
• NCT 127 (SM Entertainment)
• VANNER (Klep Entertainment)
• ZEROBASONE (Wake One)
• P1Harmony (FNC Entertainment)

Rising Star: Male Actor to Lead 2025

• Hong Kyung (Management mmm)
• Bae Hyeon-seong (Awesome ENT)
• Heo Nam-joon (H.SOLID)

Expected Programs to Lead 2025 (Crime Prevention)

• Brave Detectives 4 (E Channel)
• Hidden Eye (MBC every1)
• Detectives' Trade Secrets (Channel A)

Promising Radio DJ nominees Korea First Brand Awards (Male) Who Will Lead 2025

• Lee Moon-se (Hello, This is Lee Moon-se) (MBC Standard FM)
• I Am (Kiss the Radio) (KBS Cool FM)
• Son Tae-jin (Son Tae-jin's Trot Radio) (MBC Standard)
• Sunwoo (Idol Radio Season 4) (MBC FM4U)
• Bong Tae-gyu (This Beautiful Morning, It's Bong Tae-gyu) (SBS Power FM)

Hot Icon (Male) Expected to Lead 2025

• Na Young-seok
• Lee Chang-ho (Meta Comedy)
• Mimi Minu

Promising Actresses (Movies) to Lead 2025

• Kim Go-eun (BH Entertainment)
• Han Seonhwa (KeyEast)
• Jang Yoon-ju (Esteem, XYG Studio)
• Lee Ju-myeong (Alien Company)

Promising Celebrity YouTuber (Male) Who Will Lead 2025

• Kangnam (Neighborhood Friend Kang Nami) (Sandbox Network)
• Car the Garden (Artist Company all around)
• Jeong Jae-hyung (Fairy Jae-hyung) (antenna)
• Daesung (Collection of Daesung) (R&D Company)

Hot Icon nominees Korea First Brand Awards (Female) Expected to Lead 2025

• Ji Ye-eun (CP Entertainment)
• Gabee (And Entertainment)
• Ralral

Highly Anticipated Program (Travel Variety Show) to Lead 2025

• Men Who Clean the Earth (MBC)
• Outside the Tent is Europe (tvN)
• Nidonnaesan Dokbak Tour 3 (Channel S)
• It's a Good Thing You Got Some Rest (MBC)

Promising Female Solo Singer Who Will Lead 2025

• Yena (Above Entertainment)
• Nayeon (JYP Entertainment)
• Hwasa (P nation)
• Lee Young-ji (Mainstream)
• Karina (SM Entertainment)
• Jennie (OA Entertainment)
• Rose (The Black Label)

Promising Male Actors (Drama) to Lead 2025

• Choi Jin-hyuk (Anicenty)
• Byun Yo-han (TEAMHOPE)
• Lee Jin-wook (BH Entertainment)
• Jung Hae-in (FNC Entertainment)
• Kim Nam-gil (Gilstory Entertainment)
• Han Seok-kyu (Clover Company)
• Ji Jin-hee (Lead Entertainment)
• Kim Myung-min (Simstory Co., Ltd.)
• Son Hyun-joo (Billions)

Promising Male Idol nominees Korea First Brand Awards (Newcomer) Who Will Lead 2025

• NCT WISH (SM Entertainment)
• TWS (Pledis)
• NOWADAYS (Cube Entertainment)
• TIOT (RedStartENM)

Expected Multi-trainer (Female) Who Will Lead 2025

• Ra Mi-ran (Cjes Studio)
• Yeom Jeong-ah (Andmark)
• Han Ga-in (BH Entertainment)
• Uee (Lucky Company)

Promising Band to Lead 2025

• DAY6 (JYP Entertainment)
• QWER (Tamago Productions)

Promising Male Actors (Newcomers) Who Will Lead 2025

• Kang Sang-jun (Cree Company)
• Hong Sa-bin (Sam Company)
• Baek Seo-hoo (nCH Entertainment)

Promising Female Vocalist Who Will Lead 2025

• Seonwoo Jeong-ah (Magic Strawberry Sound)
• Casey (Nextar Entertainment)
• White (HYNN) (New Order Entertainment)
• Lee Ye-jun (HNS HQ)
• An Shin-ae (Pination)

Promising Male Actor (Scene Stealer) Who Will Lead 2025

• Kim Sung-kyun (UL Entertainment)
• No Jae-won (Eye Company)
• Choi Won-young (Walnut & You Entertainment)
• Ji Seung-hyun (Big Whale Entertainment)
• Yoon Ji-on (Ieum Hashtag)
• Choi Jae-rim (For Kyyks)
• Kim In-kwon (IOK Company)
• Go Jun (Saram Entertainment)

Promising Actresses nominees Korea First Brand Awards (Newcomers) Who Will Lead 2025

• Chae Won-bin (Outer Universe)
• Hong Ye-ji (Big Whale Entertainment)
• Kang Na-eon (Enter Seven)

Promising Chefs Who Will Lead 2025

• Edward Lee (610 Magnolia)
• Roi Choi (Restaurant Neo)
• Lee Mi-young
• Yoon Nam-no (Dip)
• Kim Mi-ryeong (Advanced Cuisine)
• Baek Jong-won (The Born Korea)
• An Seong-jae
• Jeong Ji-seon (Tienmimi, Sonic E&M)
• Choi Hyun-seok (Whipple and Andy)
• Kwon Seong-jun (Via Toledo Pasta Bar)

Promising Female Acting Idol Who Will Lead 2025

• Choi Yu-jin (WAKEONE, CLEP ENTERTAINMENT)
• Seunghee (WM Entertainment)
• Wooyeon (H Music Entertainment)

Promising Actresses nominees Korea First Brand Awards (OTT) Who Will Lead 2025

• Go Min-si (Mystic Story / Mystic Actors)
• Lee Se-young (Frain Global / Frain TPC)
• Kim Hee-ae (YG Entertainment)
• Kim Hyun-joo (IOK Company)
• Kim Min-ha (Eye Company)

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Fans invited to vote in the 2025 Korea First Brand Awards via an online survey

For online voting, fans can visit the official Korea First Brand Awards website and locate the "Survey" or "Vote" sections. During the voting period, consumers are asked to choose their favorite brands, celebrities, and programs across multiple categories.

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Fans are excited to participate in the 2025 Korea First Brand Awards and eager to support their favorite brands, celebrities, and programs. The voting process has generated buzz, with many looking forward to seeing the results shape the entertainment landscape of 2025.