MANILA, Philippines — Television host and entrepreneur Ryan Bang has been recognized as one of the public figures positively shaping South Korea’s image overseas, according to the 2025 Korea National Image Survey released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Jan. 20.
Bang placed ninth in the survey’s list of South Korean figures seen as having a favorable influence on the country’s global reputation. He received 1.9 percent of responses, tying with President Lee Jae-myung, political leaders and Lisa of BLACKPINK in a four-way tie.
The government-led poll was conducted in October 2025 and surveyed nearly 13,000 respondents across 26 countries, the ministry said.
Global K-pop phenomenon BTS topped the list with 7.9 percent of responses, followed by football star Son Heung-min, girl group BLACKPINK and actor Lee Min-ho. Idol boy and girl groups and BTS member Jungkook also ranked ahead of Bang.
After the results were made public, Ryan expressed his appreciation on social media, posting on X, “Thank you.”
A South Korean national who has built his career largely in the Philippines, Bang first gained public attention after joining "Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash 2010," where he emerged as Second Big Placer. He went on to establish himself as a mainstay on Philippine television and is currently one of the hosts of ABS-CBN’s noontime program “It’s Showtime.”
He has also ventured into the food business, expanding his profile beyond entertainment.
The same survey found that South Korea’s overall national image has reached its highest level since measurements began in 2018, with 82.3 percent of respondents holding a favorable view of the country. This marked a 3.3 percentage point increase from 2024 and set a new record for the study.
Cultural exports were identified as the strongest factor shaping perceptions of South Korea. About 45.2 percent of respondents cited K-pop, television dramas and films as the main reason for their positive impression, particularly among younger audiences.
The influence of Korean cultural content was most pronounced in the Asia-Pacific region. In the Philippines, 69.3 percent of respondents pointed to culture as a key reason for their favorable view of South Korea, followed by Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Other factors contributing to South Korea’s image included modern lifestyle and culture, products and brands, and economic development, the ministry said.