"He should be no.1"- Fans divided over BTS Taehyung's 7th place finish on TC Candler's 100 Most Handsome Faces of 2025 list

On December 29, 2025 (local time), TC Candler released its annual list of The 100 Most Handsome Faces of 2025, placing BTS member V aka Kim Taehyung, at rank 7. He emerged as the only South Korean artist to make it into the Top 10, leading the list among K-pop artists. ENHYPEN’s Ni-ki, who is Japanese by nationality, followed at rank 10.

The list, published by TC Candler, a platform widely known for its global beauty and popularity rankings, quickly became a major topic of discussion among international netizens. Featuring celebrities from diverse ethnicities, cultures, and styles, the 2025 rankings once again drew attention, particularly to the Top 10 placements, several of which prompted strong public reactions.

The 2025 ranking was Taehyung’s tenth consecutive year of being featured on TC Candler’s list. He previously made history in 2017 by becoming the first Asian to claim the top spot on The 100 Most Handsome Faces ranking. In 2024 he was placed on the rank 11 on the list.

Taehyung’s seventh-place ranking in the The 100 Most Handsome Faces of 2025 led to mixed responses online. While a section of fans congratulated him and celebrated his inclusion in the Top 10, others questioned the ranking and expressed that he deserved a higher position. One fan reaction that gained traction read,

“He should be no.1.”

Fans stressed that Taehyung would be always at the top of the list in their view.

Some fans said they chose not to acknowledge the ranking, stating that the criteria used for the list were not clearly defined.

On the other hand, many fans chose to celebrate the result by congratulating Taehyung on his ranking.

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Zhang Zhehan tops TC Candler’s 2025 Most Handsome Faces List as BTS’ Taehyung ranks 7th alongside other K-Pop stars

Chinese actor Zhang Zhehan secured the top position on TC Candler’s The 100 Most Handsome Faces of 2025 list. He was best known for his work in period dramas, including Legend of Yunxi and Word of Honor, in which he played Zhou Zishu. However, his first-place ranking drew mixed reactions online, with some netizens questioning the decision due to his prolonged absence from major mainstream projects.

The list also paid tribute to late Chinese actor and singer Yu Menglong, who was placed fifth. TC Candler accompanied his ranking with the phrase “gentle soul that deserved better" and included a call for "truth justice answers" for the actor’s death.

TC Candler’s Top 10 list for The 100 Most Handsome Faces of 2025 is as follows

1. Zhang Zhehan
2. Jacob Elordi
3. Ayden Sng
4. Henry Cavill
5. Yu Menglong
6. Halil İbrahim Ceyhan
7. V aka Kim Taehyung (BTS)
8. Chris Hemsworth
9. Lucien Laviscount
10. Ni-ki aka Nishimura Riki (ENHYPEN)

Apart from the artists featured in the top 10, several other K-pop idols also appeared on TC Candler's the 100 most handsome faces of 2025 list. Their rankings and respective groups are as follows:

• Jungkook (BTS) – ranked 14 on the list
• Hyunjin (Stray Kids) – ranked 18 on the list
• Cha Eun-woo (ASTRO) – ranked 33 on the list
• Shotaro (RIIZE) – ranked 35 on the list
• Wonbin (RIIZE) – ranked 44 on the list
• Jake (ENHYPEN) – ranked 46 on the list
• Mingyu (SEVENTEEN) – ranked 55 on the list
• Zhang Hao (ZEROBASEONE) – ranked 56 on the list
• Jimin (BTS) – ranked 60 on the list
• Beomgyu (TXT) – ranked 70 on the list
• Juyeon (THE BOYZ) – ranked 75 on the list
• Keonho (ONEUS) – ranked 77 on the list
• Felix (Stray Kids) – ranked 83 on the list
• Taeyong (NCT) – ranked 87 on the list
• San (ATEEZ) – ranked 92 on the list

The 100 Most Faces list, published annually by TC Candler and The Independent Critics since 1990, is one of the most internationally recognized beauty rankings. It draws billions of social media impressions and features celebrities from over 50 countries.

As per TC Candler, the list is not based on popularity or nationality but considers a range of factors beyond appearance, including presence and individuality. Each year, only 100 faces are selected from over 500,000 celebrities, with the rankings shaped by global public participation and suggestions.

TC Candler has stated that the purpose of the list is to offer new viewpoints and spark wider conversation, rather than reflect mainstream popularity. Visual appeal is only one part of the evaluation, with additional emphasis placed on qualities such as poise, elegance, originality, confidence, charisma, and overall impact in defining a standout face.

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Meanwhile, On December 1, 2025, Forbes Korea ranked BTS' Taehyung fifth in its Korean Idols of the Year list, making him the highest-ranked male idol and the only male in the Top 10.

Edited by Adrija Chakraborty