Seoul, en.SERU.co.id — Forbes Korea has released its annual Power Celebrity 40 list for 2026, with BTS taking the top spot as a group.
The ranking looks at a mix of factors: earnings, media attention, online presence, and global fan votes collected through Mnet Plus. It’s the first year the publication has included fan voting on that scale.
BTS returned to No. 1 after their full-group comeback earlier this year. The band is estimated to have earned around 334 billion won (roughly Rp 3.8 trillion) from their March album, world tour, and major brand deals with names like Louis Vuitton and Dior.
Here’s the top 10:
- BTS (Group)
- G-Dragon (Big Bang)
- BLACKPINK (Group)
- Son Heung-min (Footballer)
- Lim Young-woong (Trot singer)
- Jin (BTS)
- V (BTS)
- Jungkook (BTS)
- Lee Jung-hoo (Baseball player)
- J-Hope (BTS)
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The list shows just how much K-pop still dominates Korean pop culture influence. Seven of the top 10 spots went to music acts, with solo BTS members: Jin, V, Jungkook, and J-Hope, all landing in the top 10 individually.
“BTS reclaimed the top position on the annual ranking, which weighs income, media buzz, and fan votes. All seven members landed in the top 20,” Forbes Korea noted.
Sports stars like Son Heung-min and Lee Jung-hoo also made strong showings, proving athletes continue to hold serious cultural weight in Korea.
On the acting side, IU ranked as the highest-placed female actress at No. 19 overall.
This year’s Power Celebrity list feels a bit more global than before, thanks to the new fan voting system. It’s been a go-to benchmark for measuring celebrity influence in Korea since 2009, balancing commercial success with cultural impact.
*(Source: Forbes Korea, MB.com.ph, and related reports)
