Did you expect Lee Jieun to surpass Cho Yongpil eventually 5
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No (1) 20%
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Yes (4) 80%
Gayo Top 10 was first aired in KBS on 1981, and lasted until 1998.
On that year it was discontinued, and replaced by Music Bank.
Music Bank sometimes didn't count #1s but its current system of counting #1s began on 2008 with some changes of determination methods. And the periods not covered were kinda the 'dark ages' of Korean pop and do not really count much.
Several singers have had long careers at the top.
Big Bang had #1s on the years of 2007, 2008, 2011,2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017. (Not counting individual activities.)
Seven years.
BTS had #1s on years 2015-2021.
Kim Gunmo, who had a long career, had #1s in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2001. Music Bank had stopped counting #1s in 2001 but he would have won since he had his final hit on 2003.
However, until recently no one could have it compared to Cho Youngpil, who has had #1s at 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989 Gayo Top 10 and 2013 in Music Bank.
9 years with at least a #1.
But, today, the unassailable record of Cho Yongpil who had at least a #1 for 9 years has sunken to the sea forever
Lee Jieun, Kpop's Greatest Reactionary, Greatest Anachronism and Greatest Obstacle against its world conquest, has had a #1 in Music Bank for 10 years.
She had Good Day (2010, 2011), You & I (2011, 12), Red Shoes (2013), Friday (2014),
(none in 2015 and 2016)
Palette (2017) , BbiBbi(2018), Love Poem and Blueming (2019), Celebrity, etc (2021) (Eight only won at Inkigayo so no 2020)
and Winter Sleep (2022)
Cho Yongpil
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1987
1988
1989
2013 - 9 years
Lee Jieun
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2017
2018
2019
2021
2022 - 10 years
So Lee Jieun has surpassed Cho Yongpil as of today.