Kim Ji-won's 'Doctor X' finale opens door for Kim Yoo-jung to top K-brand index actor rankings

Actor Kim Yoo-jung in a scene from the tvN drama series "100 Days of Lies." Big data analysis for November points to Kim topping the actor brand index. [tvN]

Kim Ji-won topped the K-brand index actor rankings based on an analysis of about 483.86 million big data entries collected throughout October.

Kim Ji-won, star of "Doctor X: Mafia in White," claimed first place in the actor category of the K-brand index after the Asia Brand Research Institute analyzed approximately 483.86 million online big data entries — drawn from the top 30 actors by portal search volume — between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31. With the drama series wrapping up Saturday, analysts say the stage is now set for Kim Yoo-jung, the lead of the rival hit "100 Days of Lies," to take over.

The K-brand index is an online big data analysis system developed by the Asia Brand Research Institute in collaboration with domestic and international researchers. It aggregates digital data generated in everyday life to serve as an objective reference indicator of public awareness and response.

In the October data, Kim Ji-won and Kim Yoo-jung held first and second place, respectively, followed by Byeon Woo-seok (3rd), Go Youn-jung (4th), Shin Min-a (5th), Chu Young-woo (6th), Seo Kang-jun (7th), Park Bo-gum (8th), Song Kang (9th) and Gu Kyo-hwan (10th).

Actor Kim Ji-won has continued to draw attention even after the finale of "Doctor X: Mafia in White," after it emerged that Kim gave heartfelt off-set gifts to the child actors who played siblings in the drama series. [Instagram]

Starting Sunday, "100 Days of Lies" — in which Kim Yoo-jung plays the lead — stands alone as the dominant drama series following the conclusion of "Doctor X: Mafia in White." Analysts widely expect Kim Yoo-jung's brand index score to climb as a result.

The November K-brand index results, due in about 20 days, are widely expected to show Kim Yoo-jung rising to first place.

The October results reshuffled the top of the rankings, with Kim Ji-won and Kim Yoo-jung claiming first and second place. Byeon Woo-seok, who had led the September rankings, dropped to third.

Shin Min-a climbed one spot to fifth place, while Chu Young-woo, Seo Kang-jun, Song Kang and Gu Kyo-hwan all entered the top 10 for the first time. So Ji-sub and Lim Ji-yeon, meanwhile, fell out of the rankings.

abc@heraldcorp.com