Ryan Bang Among Top 10 Figures "Positively Influencing" South Korea's Global Image

Ryan Bang has been associated with Filipino show business for more than a decade now. A South Korean national who found fame through reality television, the comedienne and host has always worn his heritage with pride, while also embracing the Pinoy culture he's immersed himself in.

In a recent survey done by South Korea's Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Tourism, Ryan's was one of the names that arose as a top ambassador of Korean culture. Thanks to individuals like him, the country's global image has increasingly been seen in a positive light.

The 2025 Korea National Image Survey was conducted throughout October 2025, with 13,000 foreign nationals across 26 countries asked about their perception of South Korea. Data revealed that 82.3% of respondents regarded the country positively. This is a 3.3% point increase from the previous year's survey, making it the highest figure recorded in its history.

The country that revealed the highest favorability to South Korea was the United Arab Emirates at 94.8%. The UAE is followed by Egypt at 94%, the Philippines at 91.4%, Turkey at 90.2%, India at 89%, and South Africa at 88.8%.

When respondents were asked about the public personalities that shaped their perception of South Korea, Ryan's name emerged among the top 10. The list, as translated, is as follows:

1. BTS

2. Son Heung Min

3. BLACKPINK

4. Lee Minho

5. Idols, girl groups, boy groups, singers

6. Jungkook of BTS

7. President Lee Jae Myung

8. Presidents and leaders

9. Ryan Bang

10. Lisa of BLACKPINK

Cultural content, such as K-pop, Korean dramas, and films, was seen as one of the top factors in informing the respondents' perception. Notably, 69.3% of surveyees from the Philippines named this type of content as "a major reason" for their view on South Korea. Similar findings were also found in data gathered from neighboring countries Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Ryan's inclusion in the list stems from years and years of representing both South Korea and the Philippines in his public works. He first arrived in the Philippines in 2005, and five years later, found himself becoming a runner-up on a teen edition of Pinoy Big Brother (only placing second to Big Winner James Reid). He began his regular hosting stints on It's Showtime in 2012 and has been active in the country's showbiz scene. Through the years, he's opened a number of businesses, which are mostly food and beverage concepts centered on Korean cuisine.

In 2024, Ryan revealed that he was actually offered a role on the K-drama Red Swan, which would film certain scenes in the Philippines. However, he declined the role as it would potentially paint the country in a bad light. "For me, hindi kasi maganda yung image [ng Pilipinas na pinapakita nila]. Gusto ko 'pag pinalabas 'to sa Korea, maganda image ng Pilipinas," he said.