I do not think it’s a solid measurement of popularity,
Naver released the searches of members of girl groups. This was it.
https://m.pann.nate.com/talk/359945941
Jennie -229200
Jisoo- 182500
Rose- 167400
Lisa -46300
Twice
The rest of the twice members were null less meaning searches less than 10000
Irene -119600
Wendy -36,300
Seulgi- 34 000
Mama moo
Solar- 37600
Moonbyul - 25,700
Wheein -42,600
Hwasa-51700
Espa
Carina 59200
Winter 26,400
Yuna-118,500
chaeryeong -89,700
RYUJIN- 88900
Lia- 62000
Yeji- 49000
I genuinely think if the idols are not it girls like Jennie, Hwasa and Arin, it shouldn’t be used to measure popularity in Korea