Forbes Korea recently released its “40 Most Influential Celebrities in 2026” list, recognizing influential figures in South Korean entertainment, popular culture and sports.
It is notable that BTS is at the top of the list, testifying to the group’s lasting influence after its members completed their military service and returned to the stage with their full training. Forbes points out that BTS is the first K-pop group to hold the top spot on the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks. The band is currently in the middle of a stadium tour, performing in numerous cities around the world.
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BTS and G-Dragon figure en tête de la liste des « 40 célébrités les plus influentes en 2026 ». Photo: @bts, @g-Dragon. |
In second position, we find G-Dragon, the leader of BIGBANG. Forbes Korea underlines that the artist maintains his status as an icon in music, fashion and popular culture. Previously, G-Dragon released his solo album Ãœbermensch and embarked on the G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR, a world tour that crossed 12 countries and 17 cities, attracting approximately 825,000 spectators.
Among the personalities from the sports world appearing in this ranking, we find Son Heung-min, ranked 4th. Forbes Korea indicates that this player joined Major League Soccer last August for one of the highest transfers. In 32 official matches, Son Heung-min scored 14 goals and delivered 19 decisive assists. His annual salary is approximately $11 million which places him second in MLS, behind Lionel Messi.
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D’après Forbes Korea, Son Heung-min is the most powerful athlete in South Korea. Photo : @sonheungmin. |
Meanwhile, BLACKPINK ranked third. The band recently completed their third world tour, DEADLINE, with 33 concerts in 16 cities. In February 2026, BLACKPINK made their comeback with their third mini-album, also titled DEADLINE. This album rose to the top of the Billboard Global 200 ranking, thus confirming its position as an essential K-pop female group on a global scale.
A highlight of this year’s ranking is almost all K-pop among the most popular groups. After BTS, G-Dragon, BLACKPINK and Lim Young-woong occupy 5th place. BTS members also appear individually in high rankings: Jin at 6th place, V at 7th, and Jungkook at 8th.
According to Forbes Korea this ranking is based on several criteria such as income, media coverage, influence on social networks and fan votes.
Source : https://znews.vn/nguoi-noi-tieng-quyen-luc-nhat-han-quoc-post1654610.html
