Forbes Korea magazine revealed its 2021 Korea Power Celebrity 40 list of the most influential people in South Korea based on media exposure, broadcast appearance, income and social media (known as SNS or social networking service in Korea).
The top 10 are BTS, BLACKPINK, professional baseball player Ryu Hyun-jin, football player Son Heung-min, trot singer Lim Young-woong, professional baseball player Kwang-hyun Kim, entertainer and “nation’s MC” Yoo Jae-suk, trot singer Young Tak, trot singer Jung Dong-won and trot singer Jang Yoon-jeong.
BTS ranked first for the second straight year with a total score of 550.9, up from 373.6 last year. They ranked first in income and placed second in media exposure and social media. They were also first in 2018.
BLACKPINK rose to second this year from third last year with a score of 320.7. They placed first in social media, second in income and seventh in media exposure. They ranked first in 2019.
Ryu Hyun-jin grabbed third place 183.2, dropping from second last year. He ranked third in income.
Son Heung-min placed fourth with a score of 172.1, maintaining his ranking. He ranked first in media exposure.
Lim Young-woong ranked fifth with a score of 69.2 and this is the first time that he entered the list. He ranked first in broadcast appearance.
Forbes Korea noted that because of the trot craze in Korea last year, 10 trot singers entered this the 2021 Korea Power Celebrity 40.
Among actors, the new entries this year are “Itaewon Class” star Park Seo-joon (No. 14), “The Penthouse” actress Kim So-yeon (No. 24) and “Start-Up” star Kim Seon-ho (No. 31).
Here is the 2021 Korea Power Celebrity 40 list:
Ranking / Name / Field / Total Score / 2020 Ranking (Increase or Decrease)
- BTS (Singer) - 550.9 / 1 (0)
- BLACKPINK (Singer) - 320.7 / 3 (+1)
- Ryu Hyun-jin (Sports) - 183.2 / 2 (-1)
- Son Heung-min (Sports) - 172.1 / 4 (0)
- Lim Young-woong (Trot Singer) - 69.2 / New
- Kim Kwang-hyun (Sports) - 54.9 / New
- Yoo Jae-suk (entertainer) - 53.3 / 14 (+7)
- Young Tak (Trot Singer) - 50.2 / New
- Jung Dong-won (Trot Singer) - 50 / New
- Jang Yoon-jeong (Trot Singer) - 49.3 / 15 (+5)
- Lee Chanwon (Trot Singer) - 49.1 / New
- TWICE (Singer) - 40.4 / 9 (-3)
- IU (Singer) - 40.1 / 19 (+6)
- Park Seo-joon (Actor) - 38.2 / New
- Jang Minho (Trot Singer) - 36.9 / New
- Lee Min-ho (Actor) - 34 / New
- ASTRO's Cha Eun-woo (Singer) 33.5 / New
- Baek Jong-won (TV personality) - 32.4 / 16 (-2)
- Na Tae-joo (Singer) - 30.6 / New
- Kim Soo-hyun (Actor) - 30 / New
- Hyun Bin (Actor) - 29.5 / 29 (+7)
- Kim Hojoong Kim (Trot Singer) - 29.3 / New
- Bae Suzy (Actress) - 28.8 / New
- Kim So-yeon (Actress) - 28.7 / New
- Ju Ji-hoon (Actor) 27.2
- Kim Soo-chan (Trot Singer) - 27.1 / New
- Son Ye-jin (Actress) - 26.5 / 24 (-3)
28 Park Jin-young (Singer) - 26.1 / New
- Sung Si-kyung (Singer) - 25.3 / New
- Lee Seunggi (Actor) - 25.2 / 21 (-9)
- Kim Seon-ho (Actor) - 25 / New
- Park Se-ri (Broadcaster) - 23.9 / New
- Lee Hyo-ri (Singer) - 23.7 / New
- Kim Hee-ae (Actress) - 23.6 / New
- Kim Yeon-koung (Sports) - 23.5 / New
- Rain (Singer) - 23.1 / New
- Jo Jung-suk (Actor) - 22.3 / New
- Na Hoon-a (Trot Singer) - 21.4 / New
- Han So-hee (Actress) - 20.8 / New
- Park Shin-hye (Actress) - 20.0 / New