Girls' Generation has been voted as the most popular female artist for the first half of 2012.

According to the 'Celebrity Popularity Survey - First Half of 2012' conducted by Lees PR, Girls' Generation earned 26.9% of all votes under the female artist category, triumphing singer Park Jung Hyun who earned the spot last year after featuring on 'I Am a Singer'.

Singer IU who released her second full-length album 'Last Fantasy' this past November seized the #2 spot with 15.3% of the votes, followed by Wonder Girls (7.3%), Lee Hyori (7.1%), Baek Ji Young (6.5%), miss A (6.2%), and more.

Idol group Big Bang who are actively standing on stages not only in Korea but also in Japan, the US, and more seized the #1 spot under the most popular male artist category with 18.1% of the votes. Singer Lee Seung Gi came in at #2 with 11.3% of the votes, followed by 2PM (8.1%), Rain (6.9%), and 2AM (5.7%), while legendary idol group Shinhwa who made a comeback for the first time in 4 years with their 10th album 'The Return' last month came in at #10.

Won Bin proved to be the most popular male actor with 16.3% of all votes, and following closely behind him was actor Kim Soohyun with 16.0% of all votes. Behind them were actors Jang Dong Gun (9.2%), Hyun Bin (7.8%), Lee Seung Gi (6.5%), and Kang Dong Won (5.6%).

Kim Tae Hee was voted as the most popular female actress despite not taking on any recent roles in Korea, while Han Ga In came in at #2 with 16.9% of the votes. Trailing behind them were Ha Ji Won (12.6%), Shin Min Ah (6.8%), and Song Hye Kyo (6.6%).

Yoo Jae Suk and Shin Bong Sun were selected as the most popular comedians, while Park Ji Sung and Kim Yun Ah were selected as the most popular athletes.

Source & Image: MK