10 most powerful Korean celebrities of 2021, revealed: K-pop superstars BTS and Blackpink, footballer Son Heung-min and comedian Yoo Jae-suk made Forbes’ prestigious list

Dec 17 , 2021

BTS, Blackpink, Son Heung-min and more most powerful South Korean celebrities in the world. Photos: @bts.bighitofficial, @jennierubyjane, @hm_son7, @jaesukkie1408, @yoonjung_lemonade, @zerotak_mandarin9707/Instagram

Forbes Korea revealed its list of most powerful Korean celebrities, titled Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40. The annual list gauges the influence of superstars on the global stage based on media exposure, popularity on social media, TV appearances and earnings. The star-studded list includes the hottest K-pop idols, baseball players, trot singers and more who made significant contributions to Korean culture and the country’s global image.

So who made it to the top 10?

1. BTS

K-pop group BTS became the first Asian group to win the American Music Award for artist of the year. Photo: @bts_bighit/Twitter

It’s no surprise that megastar K-pop group BTS topped the list after its success on global music charts and many history-making moments this year. The song Butter led the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks straight before it was replaced by none other than another BTS single, Permission To Dance, which also led the chart for another record-breaking eight weeks, per The Manila Bulletin.

This year, they became the first Asian group to win the American Music Award for artist of the year, reports Teen Vogue.

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BTS performs during the 49th Annual American Music Awards at Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California on November 21. Photo: Reuters

The band’s stardom has brought it a huge fortune of about US$50 million and each of the seven members’ net worth is about US$20-25 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

2. Blackpink

Blackpink members Rosé, Jisoo, Jennie and Lisa. Photo: @blackpinkofficial/Instagram

The “queen” crown no doubt belongs to Blackpink. It took the powerhouse girl group only five years to become one of the world’s most popular bands, reigning not only in music, but also fashion. Its many achievements include becoming the first K-pop group to reach 1.7 billion views on YouTube in September for single Ddu-Du Ddu-Du and surpassing Justin Bieber as the most subscribed artist on YouTube with 70.5 million subscribers.

Besides lucrative endorsement deals, all four members also serve as ambassadors for some of the world’s most luxurious brands – Jisoo for Dior, Jennie for Chanel, Rosé for Yves Saint Laurent and Lisa for Celine. The members have a net worth around US$10 million each, reports SportSkeeda.

3. Ryu Hyun-jin

Olympic gold medallist Ryu Hyun-jin. Photo:@hyunjinryu325/Instagram

Olympic gold medallist Ryu Hyun-jin, also known as the “Korean monster”, became the first Korean-born pitcher to win the Warren Spahn award granted to the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Professional baseball pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin plays for the Toronto Blue Jays. Photo:@hyunjinryu325/Instagram

In 2019, Ryu signed a four-year, US$80-million-dollar deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, reports CBS Sports. The 34-year-old reportedly earns an annual salary of US$20 million, per Spotrac. As of 2021, his net worth sits at US$35 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

4. Son Heung-min

Football star Son Heung-min plays as a forward and winger for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. Photo: @hm_son7/Instagram

Son Heung-min, who is the captain of the South Korea national football team and a forward and winger for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, is widely regarded has one top three Asian players in European football history.

The 29-year-old star became the first Asian player to score more than 50 goals in the Premier League in early 2020, helping his team reach the finals in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League in recent years, according to Goal. Son won the Fifa Puskás Award in 2020 for the best goal scored in the past 12 months. He’s also been named best footballer in Asia six times by Titan Sports.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean striker Son Heung-min celebrates during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa on October 3. Photo: AFP

In July, the football star signed a new four-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur, which will keep him with the team through 2025, reports Yonhap News Agency. Son has an average annual salary of £7.28 million (about US$9.6 million), according to Spotrac.

5. Lim Young-woong

Trot singer Lim Young-woong won Mr. Trot in 2020. Photo: @im_hero_____/Instagram

Lim Young-woong, a trot singer, rose to popularity when he won TV show Mr. Trot in 2020. He has since won the top 10 artists award and the best solo male artist award at the 12th Melon Music Awards in 2021.

The 30-year-old singer was ranked 11 in a list of most expensive advertisement models. The star has dozens of endorsement deals for food, cosmetics, car and clothing brands under his belt. He earns about US$3.4 million just from advertisements alone, according to AllKpop.

6. Kim Kwang-hyun

Major League Baseball star Kim Kwang-hyun. Photo: @cardinals/Instagram

Another left-handed Major League Baseball star, Kim Kwang-hyun, has played for the St. Louis Cardinals and in the KBO League for the SK Wyverns.

The starter-turned-reliever has become the club’s “dark horse”, saving his team from moving into a playoff position for two seasons, reports Yonhap News Agency. The 33-year-old player has an average salary of US$4 million, reports Spotrac.

7. Yoo Jae-suk

South Korean comedian Yoo Jae-suk is known as the “nation’s MC”. Photo: @yoojaesuk0814/Instagram

South Korea’s “national MC” is known for his quick wit and as the host of popular variety television shows, including Infinite Challenge, Running Man, Happy Together and Hangout With Yoo. He also famously appeared Psy’s Gangnam Style music video in an eye-catching yellow suit.

This year, the comedian took home the television category Daesang (grand prize) award at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards for the second time since 2013, reports Koreaboo.

The 49-year-old comedian is the highest-paid television personality in Korea and among the most sought-after stars for endorsement deals. He earns up to US$21,000 per episode and about US$4.7 million in advertisement revenue, according to Cosmopolitan.

8. Young Tak

Singer Young Tak came in at second place on Korean TV show Mr. Trot. Photo: @zerotak_mandarin9707/Instagram

Though he debuted in 2007, Young Tak got his big break after landing second place in popular show reality show Mr. Trot. The singer found fame later in life, at the of 37, after his single Jjiniya became a hit.

Young Tak rose to stardom after singing Jjiniya. Photo: @goe_gimhae/Instagram

He then appeared in reality TV show Romantic Call Centre and Mister Trot F4 Academy, which helped further raise his stardom.

9. Jung Dong-won

Jung Dong-won appeared on Mr. Trot. Photo: @dongwon_15/Instagram

The 14-year-old “little prince of trot” was an audience favourite and landed an impressive fifth place in Mr. Trot last year. The singer is also a prolific actor, and has starred in multiple films and shows included Mr. Trot: The Movie (2020), TV dramas Goosebumps (2021) and Goo Pil Soo Is Not There (2022) and TV shows The Racket Boys (2021), Hidden Singer: Season 6 (2020), among others, before releasing his first album “Nostalgia, A Generous Giving Tree” last month.

South Korean trot singer Jung Dong-won. Photo: @dongwon_15/Instagram

The “trot prodigy” is expected to be a future hallyu star.

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10. Jang Yoon-jeong

Jang Yoon-jeong is a popular trot singer. Photo: @do.couple/Instagram

The 41-year-old trot star rose to fame after her single Eomeona! was released in 2004 following her 1999 debut. The song is largely credited in helping re-popularise trot music in South Korea. Jang is also the third most popular singer in the country, according to Ranker, and also one of the highest-paid. She has estimated fortune of about US$1 million, reports What’s The Net Worth.

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Fame and celebrity

Rosé, Jisoo, Jennie and Lisa have cemented their status with deals with Chanel, Dior, YSL and Celine, and raked in billions of YouTube views for Ddu-Du Ddu-Du
Winner of Mr. Trot Lim Young-woong, Major League Baseball Player Ryu Hyun-jin, Young Tak and Jang Yoon-jeong are also among the most influential hallyu stars, according to Forbes Korea