Even Without Promoting, NewJeans Cracks Joynews Top 8 as RESCENE Wins the Poll

RESCENE won Joynews' survey of the public's favorite idols of 2026 with 108 votes, 41 clear of runner-up BTS at 67. That's not a close race, and the group's own fans on theqoo described the tally as "a wall."

The poll surveyed 1,000 members of the general public aged 18 and older nationwide. IVE took third with 42 votes, and the rest of the top eight ran as follows:

• 4. Jang Wonyoung: 25 votes
• 5. IU: 18 votes
• 6. ATEEZ's Choi San: 15 votes
• 7. NewJeans: 14 votes
• 8. A2O LITE: 13 votes

Two results stand out. RESCENE, a rookie-tier group, beat two of the biggest names in K-pop by a margin that isn't explained by fandom size alone, since this was a general-public sample rather than a fan vote. And NewJeans landed in the top eight without a promotion cycle to its name this year, which is the line commenters kept returning to.

BTS's second place drew its own argument. Some read it as proof the group is still BTS, while one commenter claimed a lack of Korean promotion is turning them into has-beens. Same data, opposite conclusions.

What theqoo users said

1. 1

   NewJeans still showing up without any promotion is amazing. Congrats to RESCENE, too.

2. 2

   NewJeans are legendary.

3. 3

   Wow, NewJeans, hahaha.

4. 4

   I miss NewJeans.

5. 5

   When is NewJeans ever going to make a comeback?

6. 6

   Omo, I miss NewJeans. I'm waiting for them.

7. 7

   I miss NewJeans, and I like the songs from A2O LITE and RESCENE too.

8. 8

   NewJeans are impressive, and people won't forget them.

9. 9

   NewJeans are daebak.

10. 10

    It's funny how, no matter how much people fabricate things or push viral marketing, the truth comes out once the year-end rankings arrive.

11. 11

    I figured BTS would be on the list, but with so little Korean promotion, it does look like they're turning into has-beens.

12. 12

    As expected, BTS are BTS.

13. 13

    RESCENE are seriously national idols now.

14. 14

    ATEEZ!!!!!

15. 15

    RESCENE's vote count is a wall.