The most powerful celebrity in South Korea.

Forbes Korea has released its list of "Most Powerful Celebrities in 2026," with BTS, G-Dragon, BLACKPINK, and Son Heung Min among the top contenders.

Recently, Forbes Korea released its list of "40 Most Powerful Celebrities in 2026," recognizing influential figures in South Korean entertainment, popular culture, and sports .

Notably, BTS tops the list, demonstrating the group's enduring influence after members completed their military service and returned to performing with a full lineup. Forbes points out that BTS is the first K-pop artist to hold the number 1 position on the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks. The group is currently on a large-scale stadium tour, visiting numerous cities around the world .

BTS and G-Dragon lead the list of "40 most powerful celebrities in 2026". Photo: @bts, @g-Dragon.

Ranked second is G-Dragon, the leader of BIGBANG. Forbes Korea noted that the artist continues to maintain his iconic status in music, fashion, and popular culture. Previously, G-Dragon released his solo album Übermensch and embarked on the G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR, spanning 12 countries and 17 cities, attracting approximately 825,000 attendees.

A prominent representative from the sports field in the top group is Son Heung-min, ranked 4th. Forbes Korea reports that this player moved to Major League Soccer last August with a transfer fee among the highest. In 32 official matches, Son Heung-min scored 14 goals and provided 19 assists. Son Heung-min's salary is approximately $11 million per year, ranking second in the entire MLS after Lionel Messi.

Son Heung-min is the most powerful athlete in South Korea, according to Forbes Korea. Photo: @sonheungmin.

Meanwhile, BLACKPINK ranked third. Recently, the girl group completed their third world tour, DEADLINE, with 33 shows in 16 cities. In February 2026, BLACKPINK returned with their third mini-album, also titled DEADLINE. This album subsequently topped the Billboard Global 200 chart, further solidifying their position as a leading K-pop girl group globally.

A notable point in this year's list is that K-pop almost completely dominates the top group. After BTS, G-Dragon, BLACKPINK, and Lim Young-woong ranked 5th. BTS members also appeared individually in high rankings, such as Jin at 6th, V at 7th, and Jungkook at 8th.

According to Forbes Korea , the ranking is based on several criteria such as income, media coverage, social media influence, and fan votes.

Source: https://znews.vn/nguoi-noi-tieng-quyen-luc-nhat-han-quoc-post1654610.html