aespa Crowned as the Most Favorite Girl Group Among South Korean Soldiers, Said to Help Maintain Soldiers' Emotional Balance

aespa officially holds the title of the most favorite girl group among South Korean soldiers. This was revealed in a spring survey conducted by Kookbang Ilbo, the official media of the Ministry of National Defense of Korea.

The survey highlighted which K-pop stars are most anticipated to perform in military concert tours aimed at entertaining active soldiers. With a vote share of 18.1%, aespa managed to surpass several other big names.

Not just idols on stage, aespa's presence has apparently become an emotional boost for soldiers during their service. Some soldiers even associate their patriotism with the inspiration they receive from the members of aespa. Here is the complete review regarding aespa as the favorite girl group of South Korean soldiers.

1. Special Survey for Active Soldiers

Aespa Crowned as the Most Favorite Girl Group Among Korean Soldiers (credit: instagram/aespa_official)

This survey is conducted by Kookbang Ilbo, the official newspaper of the South Korean Ministry of Defense, as part of a monthly program titled Military Chart. This program involves active soldiers as respondents who voice their opinions on various topics close to military life.

Data collection took place from April 4 to 17, 2025, involving 309 soldiers from various military branches. The main focus of this survey is to find out which artist is most desired to perform at military concerts aimed at providing entertainment and motivation.

2. Aespa Tops the List of Most Favorite Girl Groups

Aespa Crowned as the Most Favorite Girl Group Among Korean Soldiers (credit: instagram/aespa_official)

Aespa successfully secured the top position with 18.1% of the votes from the total respondents. With this achievement, the group ranks highest in the entertainment preferences of soldiers, outperforming several other well-known idols.

A soldier stated that he was able to endure the tough times in the military because he was inspired by the figure of Karina from aespa. He felt more motivated to defend his country after imagining his idol as a source of encouragement.

3. Aespa's Music as an Emotional Balance Keeper

Aespa Crowned as the Most Favorite Girl Group Among Korean Soldiers (credit: instagram/aespa_official)

Aespa's music plays a significant role in maintaining the emotional balance of soldiers during their duty. Their energetic and spirited songs serve as a source of psychological strength in high-pressure situations.

One soldier expressed that he feels calmer and emotionally recovered every time he watches aespa's music videos after completing his daily activities. This proves that visual entertainment can be a light recovery tool in a military environment.

4. Other Big Names on the Favorite List

Aespa Crowned as the Most Favorite Girl Group Among Korean Soldiers (credit: instagram/aespa_official)

Although aespa took the top spot, fromis_9 came in second with a vote share of 16.2%. This indicates a tight competition among K-pop girl groups in terms of popularity within the military environment.

A sergeant mentioned that he often imagines fromis_9's songs while undergoing physical training like long marches, as their music provides him with an extra boost of motivation. Additionally, names like IU, IVE, and NMIXX are also mentioned as playing a role in providing mental strength through their touching lyrics.

5. Survey to Pay Attention to the Mental Health of Soldiers

Aespa has been crowned the most favorite girl group among Korean soldiers (credit: instagram/aespa_official)

This survey is part of the Military Chart, an initiative from the Ministry of Defense aimed at bridging the entertainment world with military life. This program is designed so that soldiers feel connected to popular culture during their mandatory military service.

Military Chart provides a participatory space for soldiers to express their opinions regularly every month, with relevant and entertaining topics. The presence of this program is seen as a form of attention to the mental well-being of soldiers through a cultural and entertainment approach.

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(kpl/sjn)