Forbes Korea has finally dropped its highly-anticipated ‘Power Celebrity’ list of 2024 and K-pop juggernauts like BLACKPINK and NewJeans have clinched the top spots. While BLACKPINK topped the coveted list, NewJeans stood third and BTS’ Jimin secured the seventh place. Check out the top 10 most powerful Korean celebrities of 2024, according to Forbes.
Forbes Korea‘s Power Celebrity 40 list started in 2009. Every year, the magazine picks the 40 most influential personalities in entertainment and sports based on their achievements, social media popularity, earnings and more. BTS topped the Forbes Power Celebrity list in 2023, while BLACKPINK held the third spot.
The quartet of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa are the reigning queens of K-pop and rightly so. Despite being on hiatus since 2022, the girls continue to dominate the music scene with their solo music releases, brand deals, world tours, Coachella performances and more.
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South Korean soccer star Son Heung-min is next on the list, maintaining his position from last year. The captain of both Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the South Korea national team, Son is regarded as the greatest Asian footballer of all time.
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Despite being fairly new on the K-pop scene, NewJeans has already amassed a massive fan following. Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein have delivered countless hits since their 2022 debut. They recently made history by becoming the first K-pop group to win Group of the Year at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
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Another soccer player dominating the top five is a South Korean footballer and Bayern Munich member Kim Min-jae. Nicknamed Monster, the 27-year-old is considered one of the best defenders in the world.
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Popular as the only musician that can potentially top K-Pop idols, Lim Young-woong is a ballad, pop and trot singer, entertainer and YouTuber. Woong recently announced his much-anticipated comeback with a double-single album, which is slated to release on May 6, 2024.
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Baseball sensation Lee Jung-hoo never ceases to grab headlines with his impressive stats. Jung-hoo plays for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He previously played in the KBO League for the Kiwoom Heroes.
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Even though BTS didn’t make the cut to the top 10 this year, Jimin shines bright in the seventh spot – courtesy of his solo ventures. Jimin released his debut solo album, Face in 2023, comprising chart-breaking singles like Set Me Free Pt. 2 and Like Crazy. He recently made history as Like Crazy became the first Korean solo song to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify.
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The third soccer player to make it to Forbes Korea’s Power Celebrity 2024 list is Lee Kang-in, who’s a part of Paris Saint-Germain and the South Korea national team. The footballer has represented his nation’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
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The second BTS member to make it to the top 10, Jungkook made the whole world groove to his rhythm with his performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. From Dreamers and Left and Right to Seven and 3D – Jungkook has dropped multiple hit singles in recent times.
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Rounding up the top 10 list of most powerful Korean celebrities is another K-pop girl group, IVE. The six-member band, comprising Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo, debuted in 2021 and has since delivered smashing hits as well as embarked on a successful world tour.
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(Hero image credit: blackpinkofficial/ j.m/ Instagram)
(Feature image credit: blackpinkofficial/ Instagram)
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong
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