Weekly Korea Market Intelligence
K-App Marketing Newsletter
Korea App Rankings, Platform Updates, and Market Signals
Issue 03 · July 26–August 2, 2026
South Korea’s charts split between quick-hit entertainment and all-in-one utilities this week. CookieRun: Crumble debuted at No. 1 on both free-game charts, short-drama apps rose sharply on Android, and cinema apps dominated iOS. At the same time, Hana 1Q climbed to the top of Android and No. 2 on iOS.
Weekly scan
This Week in Three Signals
CookieRun leads both game charts
CookieRun: Crumble entered at No. 1 on both Korean free-game charts. NetShort and DramaWave also rose into Android’s free-app Top 5.Chart source: Apple App Store and Google Play free charts, snapshot August 2, 2026.
Cinema apps take over iOS
CGV ranked No. 1, while Megabox rose 89 places to No. 4. The chart confirms visibility during the late-July period, but not the cause of the movement.Chart source: Apple App Store free-app chart, snapshot August 2, 2026.
Hana 1Q gains across both stores
Hana 1Q rose to No. 1 on Android and No. 2 on iOS. The cross-platform move is clear, although rankings alone cannot establish what caused it.Chart source: Apple App Store and Google Play free charts, snapshot August 2, 2026.
Main recurring dashboard
Korea App Rankings
iOS Free Apps — Top 10
| # | Icon | App | WoW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | CGV | ▲ 2 |
| 2 |  | Hana 1Q (Hana Bank) | ▲ 4 |
| 3 |  | Google Gemini | ▼ 1 |
| 4 |  | Megabox | ▲ 89 |
| 5 |  | Naver Plus Store | — |
| 6 |  | DramaWave | ▲ 3 |
| 7 |  | DramaBox | ▼ 3 |
| 8 |  | Trip.com | ▲ 3 |
| 9 |  | Catchtable | ▲ 4 |
| 10 |  | Claude | ▼ 3 |
Source: Apple App Store free-app chart, snapshot August 2, 2026.
Android Free Apps — Top 10
| # | Icon | App | WoW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Hana 1Q (Hana Bank) | ▲ 5 |
| 2 |  | PDF Reader, PDF Viewer | ▲ 1 |
| 3 |  | ChatGPT | ▼ 2 |
| 4 |  | NetShort | ▲ 20 |
| 5 | | DramaWave | ▲ 32 |
| 6 |  | Government24 | ▼ 4 |
| 7 | | Naver Plus Store | ▼ 3 |
| 8 |  | QR Scanner | — |
| 9 | | All PDF Reader, PDF Viewer | ▲ 50 |
| 10 |  | Digital Onnuri | ▼ 3 |
Source: Google Play free-app chart, snapshot August 2, 2026.
iOS Free Games — Top 10
| # | Icon | App | WoW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | CookieRun: Crumble | NEW |
| 2 |  | Ggumteul Defense Squad | NEW |
| 3 |  | Soul Hunter Idle | NEW |
| 4 |  | Family Go! | — |
| 5 |  | Bus Traffic Fever! | ▲ 9 |
| 6 |  | Jewel Coloring | — |
| 7 |  | Roblox | ▼ 2 |
| 8 |  | Block Out! | ▲ 1 |
| 9 |  | Search It | ▲ 8 |
| 10 |  | Toxic Love: Dark Boyfriends | ▲ 8 |
Source: Apple App Store free-game chart, snapshot August 2, 2026.
Android Free Games — Top 10
| # | Icon | App | WoW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | CookieRun: Crumble | NEW |
| 2 |  | Granado Espada M | NEW |
| 3 |  | Woman Warrior Idle | NEW |
| 4 |  | Yulhyul Gangho: Next | NEW |
| 5 |  | Gale Knights Idle | ▼ 4 |
| 6 |  | Magic Sort! | ▲ 10 |
| 7 |  | Heart of Valor | ▼ 5 |
| 8 |  | Gossip Harbor | — |
| 9 |  | Block Blast! | ▲ 11 |
| 10 |  | Royal Smash! | ▲ 3 |
Source: Google Play free-game chart, snapshot August 2, 2026.
Ranking observation: Entertainment and utility split the week’s charts. CGV ranked No. 1 on iOS and Megabox rose 89 places to No. 4, while NetShort and DramaWave climbed to Nos. 4 and 5 on Android. Hana 1Q reached No. 1 on Android and No. 2 on iOS. In games, four new Android entries filled the Top 4, led by CookieRun: Crumble at No. 1 on both stores. No verified explanation was found for 7-Eleven’s 70-place iOS decline.Chart source: Apple App Store and Google Play free charts, snapshot August 2, 2026.Store rankings indicate chart position only. They are not confirmed downloads, revenue, active users, or market share.
Market developments
What Changed This Week
CookieRun: Crumble Debuts at No. 1 on Both Stores
What happened: Devsisters launched CookieRun: Crumble globally on July 30, extending the long-running CookieRun IP into an idle RPG built around rapid growth and automated progress. In the August 2 snapshot, the title ranked No. 1 in Korea’s iOS and Google Play free-game charts. (1)
Why it matters in Korea: The launch combines a familiar Korean game IP with a low-maintenance play loop. Its immediate chart position shows strong launch-week visibility, though the rankings alone do not establish retention, revenue, or the reasons users installed it. Chart source: Apple App Store and Google Play free-game charts, snapshot August 2, 2026.
Foreign-company takeaway: International game teams should treat established IP as an entry point, then adapt the interaction model to local usage habits. Make progression, rewards, and session length clear before assuming brand recognition alone will carry the launch.
Hana 1Q Reaches No. 1 on Android
What happened: Hana 1Q rose five places to No. 1 on Android and four places to No. 2 on iOS. Earlier in 2026, the rebuilt app recorded a 1.76 million monthly user increase and a 1,548% growth rate, according to Mobile Index data reported by Digital Times. (2) Chart source: Apple App Store and Google Play free-app charts, snapshot August 2, 2026.
Why it matters in Korea: The ranking move follows Hana Bank’s repositioning of mobile banking as a broader platform with personalized finance and lifestyle features. The timing is consistent with greater app visibility, but the chart does not prove the redesign caused this week’s rise.
Foreign-company takeaway: Fintech and SaaS teams entering Korea should expect incumbent banks to compete beyond transactions. A narrow feature advantage may not be enough when local banking apps bundle investment, commerce, rewards, and daily-use services.
Watch Next
Can CookieRun Hold the Top Spot?
CookieRun: Crumble entered at No. 1 on both free-game charts only days after launch. Next week’s snapshot will show whether the debut converts into sustained chart visibility or settles after the initial launch window. Chart source: Apple App Store and Google Play free-game charts, snapshot August 2, 2026.
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