He even tied with no less than the President of the country himself.
In the list released by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday, January 20, it revealed the personalities that ranked in its 2025 National Image Survey.
These people or groups were deemed positive influences to the image of their country and were voted by about 13,000 respondents in over 26 countries.
Topping the charts is the K-pop boy band BTS, which scored 7.9%, followed by football player Song Heung Min, the girl group Blackpink, and actor Lee Min Ho.
But the list was not only exclusive to those based there, as It’s Showtime host Ryan Bang made it to the list, having placed in the 7th to 10th spot after tying with President Lee Jae Myun and Blackpink’s Lisa with 1.9%.
In his message on the noontime show’s live broadcast on Wednesday, he said, “Gusto ko siyempre magpasalamat sa inyong lahat, Republic of Korea, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, na na-appreciate ‘yung mga ginagawa ko rito sa Pilipinas.“
He also extended his gratitude to the Korean embassy in the Philippines and their Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa for “always choosing me as your host sa lahat ng Korean National Day here in the Philippines, lahat ng government events ako po ang pinipili niyong host for more than 10 years.”
“Thank you so much sa Korean government. Pumasok ako sa Top 10,” he added.
Bang also thanked his fellow It’s Showtime hosts, led by Vice Ganda, as well as their viewers, the madlang people.
Ryan Bang, according to his personal account, has been in the Philippines since 2005. Five years later, he would join show business after participating as one of the housemates and placing as the 3rd Big Placer of the reality show Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash of 2010.
Ryan would also be seen in various TV shows and movies, such as the gag show Banana Sundae, the drama film Seven Sundays and Da One That Ghost Away, and more.