BTS has officially claimed the No.1 spot on Forbes Korea’s “40 Most Powerful Celebrities of 2026” ranking, reaffirming the group’s unmatched influence across entertainment, culture, and global pop music.
The annual list recognizes the most influential public figures in South Korea based on several criteria including income, media exposure, social media impact, and fan voting power.
According to Forbes Korea, BTS continued to demonstrate extraordinary global dominance following the members’ military discharge and full-group reunion activities.
The publication highlighted that BTS became the first K-pop act ever to remain at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart for three consecutive weeks. The group is currently conducting a massive stadium world tour spanning multiple cities worldwide.
Ranking second on the list was G-Dragon, who continues to maintain his legendary status in music, fashion, and pop culture.
Forbes Korea noted the success of G-Dragon’s solo album Übermensch as well as his large-scale G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR, which reportedly visited 17 cities across 12 countries and attracted approximately 825,000 attendees.
Meanwhile, BLACKPINK secured the No.3 position after successfully completing their third world tour DEADLINE, featuring 33 concerts in 16 cities.
Earlier this year, BLACKPINK also returned with their third mini album DEADLINE, which later topped the Billboard Global 200 chart and further strengthened the group’s reputation as the world’s leading K-pop girl group.
The highest-ranking sports figure on the list was Son Heung Min, who placed fourth overall.
According to Forbes Korea, Son transferred to Major League Soccer in the United States last August through one of the league’s highest-profile transfer deals. During the season, the football star recorded 14 goals and 19 assists in 32 official matches.
Reports also stated that Son currently earns approximately 11 million USD annually, making him the second-highest-paid player in MLS behind Lionel Messi.
Trot superstar Lim Young Woong rounded out the Top 5.
One particularly notable aspect of this year’s ranking was the overwhelming dominance of K-pop artists near the top of the list.
Several BTS members also ranked individually, with Jin placing sixth, V ranking seventh, and Jungkook taking eighth place.
The results once again highlighted the immense global reach of Korean entertainment and the growing influence of K-pop artists beyond music alone, extending into fashion, media, advertising, and international cultural trends.
Sources: Znews
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