Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 is an annual list published by Forbes Korea magazine since 2009.[1][2] The catalog presents a compilation of the forty most powerful celebrities in the South Korean sports and entertainment spheres. These figures are classified based on their noteworthy accomplishments in their respective fields, media exposure, social media popularity, scope of appearances, and their earnings throughout the previous year.[3][4] Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 is the Korean version of the Highest-paid Celebrity 100 selected annually by Forbes in the United States.[5]
Selection process
The ranking is determined by calculating a "Celebrity Index" based on four main categories: annual earnings (from broadcasting, advertisements, music sales, and concerts), media exposure, social media presence, and professional awards. Starting in 2026, the process integrated a global fan voting component via the platform Mnet Plus, allowing domestic and international fans to influence the final rankings.[6]
Top 10 by year
2009
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuna Kim | Figure skater |
| 2 | Big Bang | Boy group |
| 3 | Wonder Girls | Girl group |
| 4 | Lee Hyori | Singer |
| 5 | Girls' Generation | Girl group |
| 6 | Park Ji-sung | Football player |
| 7 | Lee Seung-yuop | Baseball player |
| 8 | Rain | Singer |
| 9 | Yoo Jae-suk | Comedian, TV host |
| 10 | Kim Tae-hee | Actress |
2010
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuna Kim | Figure skater |
| 2 | Girls' Generation | Girl group |
| 3 | Park Ji-sung | Football player |
| 4 | Lee Byung-hun | Actor |
| 5 | Big Bang | Boy group |
| 6 | Go Hyun-jung | Actress |
| 7 | Lee Seung-gi | Singer, actor, TV host |
| 8 | Lee Hyo-ri | Singer |
| 9 | Yoo Jae-suk | Comedian, TV host |
| 10 | Kang Ho-dong |
2011
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Girls' Generation | Girl group |
| 2 | Park Ji-sung | Soccer player |
| 3 | Yuna Kim | Figure skater |
| 4 | Lee Seung-gi | Singer, actor, TV host |
| 5 | 2PM | Boy group |
| 6 | Yoo Jae-suk | Comedian, TV host |
| 7 | Lee Chung-yong | Football player |
| 8 | 2AM | Boy group |
| 9 | Shin-soo Choo | Baseball player |
| 10 | Kang Ho-dong | Comedian, TV host |
2012
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Girls' Generation | Girl group |
| 2 | Big Bang | Boy group |
| 3 | IU | Singer, actress |
| 4 | Kara | Girl group |
| 5 | Yuna Kim | Figure skater |
| 6 | Lee Seung-gi | Singer, actor, TV host |
| 7 | Park Ji-sung | Football player |
| 8 | Kim Tae-hee | Actress |
| 9 | Beast | Boy group |
| 10 | Park Tae-hwan | Swimmer |
2013
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psy | Singer |
| 2 | Girls' Generation | Girl group |
| 3 | Son Yeon-jae | Rhythmic gymnast |
| 4 | Kim Soo-hyun | Actor |
| 5 | Big Bang | Boy group |
| 6 | Park Tae-hwan | Swimmer |
| 7 | Song Joong-ki | Actor |
| 8 | IU | Singer, actress |
| 9 | Yuna Kim | Figure skater |
| 10 | Super Junior | Boy group |
2014
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Girls' Generation | Girl group |
| 2 | Big Bang | Boy group |
| 3 | Suzy | Singer, actress |
| 4 | Ryu Hyun-jin | Baseball player |
| 5 | Exo | Boy group |
| 6 | Choo Shin-soo | Baseball player |
| 7 | TVXQ | Boy band |
| 8 | Shinee | |
| 9 | Yuna Kim | Figure skater |
| 10 | IU | Singer, actress |
2015
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exo | Boy group |
| 2 | Kim Soo-hyun | Actor |
| 3 | Yuna Kim | Figure skater |
| 4 | Jun Ji-hyun | Actress |
| 5 | Son Yeon-jae | Rhythmic gymnast |
| 6 | Lee Seung-gi | Singer, actor, TV host |
| 7 | Ryu Hyun-Jin | Baseball player |
| 8 | Son Heung-Min | Football player |
| 9 | Girls' Generation | Girl group |
| 10 | Sistar |
2016
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exo | Boy group |
| 2 | Yoo Ah-in | Actor |
| 3 | Hyeri | Singer, actress |
| 4 | Girls' Generation | Girl group |
| 5 | Kim Soo-hyun | Actor |
| 6 | Big Bang | Boy group |
| 7 | Inbee Park | Golfer |
| 8 | Jun Ji-hyun | Actress |
| 9 | IU | Singer, actress |
| 10 | Jung-ho Kang | Baseball player |
2017
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park Bo-gum | Actor |
| 2 | Song Joong-ki | |
| 3 | Twice | Girl group |
| 4 | Exo | Boy group |
| 5 | BTS | |
| 6 | Suzy | Singer, actress |
| 7 | Song Hye-kyo | Actress |
| 8 | Kim You-jung | |
| 9 | Jo Jung-suk | Actor |
| 10 | Oh Seung-hwan | Baseball player |
2018
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BTS | Boy group |
| 2 | Wanna One | |
| 3 | Twice | Girl group |
| 4 | Exo | Boy band |
| 5 | IU | Singer, actress |
| 6 | Song Hye-kyo | Actress |
| 7 | Song Joong-ki | Actor |
| 8 | Park Bo-gum | |
| 9 | Yuna Kim | Figure skater |
| 10 | Hyun-jin Ryu | Baseball player |
2019
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| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackpink | Girl group |
| 2 | BTS | Boy group |
| 3 | Wanna One | |
| 4 | Kang Daniel | Singer |
| 5 | Red Velvet | Girl group |
| 6 | Park Na-rae | Comedian |
| 7 | Hong Jin-young | Singer |
| 8 | Han Ji-min | Actress |
| 9 | Son Heung-min | Football player |
| 10 | Exo | Boy group |
2020
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BTS | Boy group |
| 2 | Hyun-jin Ryu | Baseball player |
| 3 | Blackpink | Girl group |
| 4 | Son Heung-min | Football player |
| 5 | Bong Joon-ho | Filmmaker |
| 6 | Jun Hyun-moo | TV host |
| 7 | Park Na-rae | Comedian |
| 8 | Lee Soo-geun | |
| 9 | Twice | Girl group |
| 10 | Kim Hee-chul | Singer, TV host |
2021
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BTS | Boy group |
| 2 | Blackpink | Girl group |
| 3 | Hyun-jin Ryu | Baseball player |
| 4 | Son Heung-min | Football player |
| 5 | Lim Young-woong | Singer |
| 6 | Kwang-hyun Kim | Baseball player |
| 7 | Yoo Jae-suk | Comedian, TV host |
| 8 | Young Tak | Singer |
| 9 | Jung Dong-won | |
| 10 | Jang Yoon-jeong |
2022
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BTS | Boy group |
| 2 | Blackpink | Girl group |
| 3 | Son Heung-min | Football player |
| 4 | Hyun-jin Ryu | Baseball player |
| 5 | Lee Chan-won | Singer |
| 6 | Lee Seung-gi | Singer, actor, TV host |
| 7 | Lim Young-woong | Singer |
| 8 | Youn Yuh-jung | Actress |
| 9 | Yoo Jae-suk | Comedian, TV host |
| 10 | Jang Minho | Singer |
2023
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BTS | Boy group |
| 2 | Son Heung-min | Football player |
| 3 | Blackpink | Girl group |
| 4 | Song Joong-ki | Actor |
| 5 | Yoo Jae-suk | Comedian, TV host |
| 6 | Lim Young-woong | Singer |
| 7 | Son Suk-ku | Actor |
| 8 | Jang Minho | Singer |
| 9 | Jang Yoon-jeong | |
| 10 | Young Tak |
2024
| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackpink | Girl group |
| 2 | Son Heung-min | Football player |
| 3 | NewJeans | Girl group |
| 4 | Kim Min-jae | Football player |
| 5 | Lim Young-woong | Singer |
| 6 | Lee Jung-hoo | Baseball player |
| 7 | Jimin | Singer |
| 8 | Lee Kang-in | Football player |
| 9 | Jungkook | Singer |
| 10 | Ive | Girl group |
2025
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| Rank | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IU | Singer, actress |
| 2 | Son Heung-min | Football player |
| 3 | Aespa | Girl group |
| 4 | Jun Hyun-moo | TV host |
| 5 | Lim Young-woong | Singer |
| 6 | Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok | Professional gamer |
| 7 | Lee Jung-hoo | Baseball player |
| 8 | Seventeen | Boy group |
| 9 | Lee Kang-in | Football player |
| 10 | Yoo Jae-suk | Comedian, TV host |
Special recognition
For the 2026 edition, Forbes Korea introduced an official voting process through the Mnet Plus platform to factor fan support into the final rankings. The celebrity who secures the first place is awarded a physical winner's trophy and receives exclusive promotional rewards, including online PR and a featured advertisement in the Forbes Korea magazine. This voting system allows the public to have a direct voice in identifying the "Top Power Celebrity" of the year by evaluating public influence and cultural impact alongside the list's traditional metrics.[6]
References
- ^ Son, Yong-seok; Baek, Seul-gi (February 23, 2009). 김연아 1위 [Kim Yu-na 1st place]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021 – via Joins.
- ^ Hicap, Jonathan M. (March 5, 2014). "Girls' Generation tops Forbes Korea's 2014 celeb list". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ Benjamin, Jeff (February 28, 2013). "PSY, Girls' Generation Top Forbes Korea's Celebrity List". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ Cho, Deuk-jin (February 25, 2016). "Exo and Yoo Ah-in ranked top stars". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ 여경미 (April 28, 2025). K팝·K드라마 여왕 등극한 아이유. Forbes Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 28, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025 – via Naver.
- ^ a b Yeo, Kyeong-mi (April 28, 2026). "한국 최고의 '파워 셀럽'은 누구 (Who is Korea's best 'Power Celebrity'?)". Forbes Korea (in Korean). Retrieved April 28, 2026.
External links
- Full list of individuals in the 2025 list (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2024 list (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2022 list (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2021 list (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2020 list (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2019 list (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2018 list (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2017 list (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2016 list (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2015 list (in Korean)
- Top 10 individuals in the 2014 list
- Full list of individuals in the 2013 list (subscription required) (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2012 list (subscription required) (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2011 list (subscription required) (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2010 list (subscription required) (in Korean)
- Full list of individuals in the 2009 list (subscription required) (in Korean)
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