Singer-songwriter Hong Isaac, the winner of JTBC audition program “Sing Again 3” (2023-24) claimed victory on Favorite’s fifth weekly chart in February.

Favorite is a K-pop fan poll co-developed by digital streaming service Bugs and the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Weekly chart rankings are calculated through a combination of fan votes and an artist’s number of streams on Bugs.

Hong received a score of 43.2 percent, garnering a total of 263,945 votes and 0.2 percent of Bugs' streaming numbers to land in first place.

Girl group Twice followed in second place with a score of 35.1 percent, with 211,515 votes and 0.7 percent of Bugs streaming data. Singer-songwriter IU ranked in third place with 7.6 percent, amassing 543 votes and 7.5 percent of Bugs streaming data.

Celebratory videos of Hong and Twice will play at the Parnas Media Tower, located near COEX Mall in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, from Saturday to March 15.

While Hong came out on top on the weekly chart, IU ranked No. 1 on the essential; Playlist poll, with 2,874 votes and 8.7 percent of Bugs streaming data to earn a score of 45.3 percent.

essential; music playlist is Bugs’ curated music playlist series. An IU-themed essential; music playlist will be released on YouTube and on Bugs.

To find out more, visit Celeb Confirmed!


BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]