Under this article, we have listed the top most Korean Power Celebrities who have the most powerful personal brand in South Korea. The name as the most powerful Korean Celebrity is based on the four most powerful aspects of their career professional activities, such as their media exposure, broadcast activities, profits from income, earnings from advertising campaigns, and social media.
Presently Korean stars are loved and recognized by so many people around the world, with hundreds of millions of fans throughout Korea, China, Japan, South East Asia, the United States, and almost every other corner of the world.
The power of these celebrities is determined in the media by the frequency of mentions in news headlines from 53 national media Korea outlets who are registered with the Korea Press Foundation.
These Korean celebrities are the most powerful celebrities amongst viewers of all ages by considering factors such as appearances on dramas and variety programs, viewership ratings, and different roles.
These powerful celebrities earn a good amount of money through their appearances in films, television broadcasts, and advertisements which are most loved and appreciated by the audiences, not just that but the catch is they earn profits from songs or the performances, annual salary, and prize money. They also earn from their official accounts, including YouTube subscribers, fan following on V Live, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
This list consists of the Top 17 Korean Power Celebrities of the Korean industry’s worlds of music, film, television, sports, and the arts, with the exclusion of celebrities.
BTS (Musical Band)
BTS is a Korean musical boy band, professionally known as the Bangtan Boys. This musical boy band was formed by seven Korean teen boys back in Seoul, Korea. Now it’s been 7 years since the formation of the Bangtan Boys. These boys made their first debut as a musical band, in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment, which was released as their debut single album, 2 Cool 4 Skool.
They are mostly loved and known by their different musical styles within a group of seven boys who have evolved to include a wide range of genres. After gaining a lot of popularity among the young generation, their band name was changed to Beyond the Scene in July 2017. By 2017, BTS spanned into the international music market, leading the Korean Wave into the United States and breaking numerous sales records. After then BTS boys became the first Korean group to receive a certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) with their hit single “Mic Drop.”
Then in 2018, their success rose to the sky when BTS had the second and third best-selling albums globally and were the second best-selling Korean artists of South Korea, worldwide. Then in 2019, BTS became the first Korean group since The Beatles to earn three number one albums in less than a year.
Presently, their devoted followers styled as “ARMY,” have kept them trending on social media at most public appearances. Surpassing the records of the international sales with their new musical releases on YouTube and international and domestic charts.
According to sources, each member has its net worth in addition to the money they make with BTS. BTS is the highest-paid and most powerful K-pop musical band with a net worth earning $57 million.
Hyun-jin Ryu (Baseballer)
Hyun – jin Ryu is a popular South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the team Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. Hyun-jin Ryu was born on March 25, 1987, in Incheon and went to Incheon’s Dongsan High School. He completed his master’s degree in community physical education from Daejeon University.
After completing his education, Ryu made his debut in Major League Baseball played against the San Francisco Giants on April 2, 2013. Where he was allowed 10 hits in 6.1 innings but only one earned run later on he picked up his first Major League win on April 7 over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hyun – Jin Ryu became the first player from the KBO to join an MLB team through a posting session. He is also the first Korean pitcher to start in a World Series game. He enjoys huge popularity amongst South Korean baseball players, drawing South Korean fans as well as fans of Korean ancestry in nearly every stadium he pitches. Ryu is best known for being an MLB All-Star and the MLB ERA leader back in 2019, with a net worth of $35 million.
Black Pink (Musical Girl Band)
Black Pink is a Korean musical girl band that was professionally formed by YG Entertainment, with four beautiful yet talented girl members. The girl musical band’s name ‘Black Pink’ symbolizes that they are a team that encompasses not only beauty but also great talent, which we don’t doubt.
Black Pink made their first debut as a musical band back in, August 2016. They released their single album, named Square One, where they also feature “Whistle” and “Boombayah”. Moreover, after a big hit of their debut single, the single became the first ever to enter on South Korean’s Gaon Digital Chart and the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.
According to the Billboard Hot 100, Black Pink is the highest-charting female Korean musical band. The power of these four girls has broken numerous online records throughout their career, with their releases. There is a great musical competition between the two most followed and loved Korean musical groups, BTS and Black Pink.
Presently, BTS the most beloved boy musical group and Black Pink is the most-followed and loved girl group on Spotify and the most-subscribed music group, female act, and Asian act on Youtube. As also their devoted followers and subscribers who are known as “BLINKS,” kept them trending on social media at most public appearances.
Each member of Black Pink earns a good amount of money because the ladies grew up wealthy, judging by their high-end journeys in education, additionally Black Pink as a group earns a net worth of approximately $35 million.
Son Heung-min (Footballer)
Son Heung-min is a South Korean professional footballer who was born on 8 July 1992 in Chuncheon, Gangwon. Admiring his father, who was a former football player and now known as a manager for South Korean National Football B Team.
Son Heung-min also had an interest in football. He plays as a striker and also a winger for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and captains the South Korea national team. He made his first football debut in the first match of the Tottenham’s of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League on 17 September 2015, where Andros Townsend was replaced by Son Heung Min.
Son – Heung Min also did 21-month military service after helping South Korea to victory in the 2018 Asian Games. Despite his military services his net worth is now roughly 28 Million euros and listed among the most powerful celebrities of South Korea.
Bong Joon-ho (South Korean Film Director)
Bong Joon-ho was born on September 14, 1969, in Gongdeok-dong, Daegu, South Korea. He is by profession a film director, a producer, and screenwriter. He made his first debut with his directorial debut film, in 2000 which was the black comedy, named Barking Dogs Never Bite.
He is best known for his characterizing the social themes, genre-mixing, black humor, and sudden tone shifts, where he Displays strong subject matter while often filled with black humor plus those are socially and politically conscious films. His characterizing made him achieve Best Director at the 92nd Academy Awards. His one of the best directed films which were applauded by the critics, Snowpiercer (2013), Okja (2017), and Parasite (2019).
He is now one of the most demanding directors every actor wishes to work with. He is the first director to be on the list of South Korean billionaires.
Jun Hyun-moo (TV Host)
Jun Hyun-moo is a South Korean Host and Famous Television Personality. He was born on November 7, 1977, in Seoul, South Korea. He completed his higher education at Yonsei University with a degree in Sociology and English Literature.
Jun Hyun-moo made his first debut as a TV host named Vitamin back in 2008 which went on air for 4 years. After his debut, he hosted different TV shows and also won the award of Best Radio Host for Good Morning FM at the 20th Korean Entertainment Art Awards.
Presently he is cast in a TV show Money Road. Despite his Shows, he makes a good amount of money through his social media accounts through sponsorships, advertisements, and appearances.
Park Na-Rae (Comedian)
Park Na-Rae was born on October 25, 1985, in Mangwol-RI, Muan-gun, South Korea. Park Na – Rae is a popular South Korean TV show host and a Comedian. She went to Anyang Arts High School for her schooling. After completing her higher education she, later on, went to continue her further studies at Sangmyung University.
After successfully auditioning for the 21st class of comedians, Park made her debut as a Comedian on Gag Concert. She was nominated for the Comedian of the Year Award. Being a comedian, back in 2019 she released a Netflix stand-up comedy special named Park Na-Rae, Glamour Warning, which made her the first Korean female comedian to do so, she is now listed among the most powerful South Korean celebrities as a first female Korean comedian.
Lee Soo-geun (Comedian)
Lee is a South Korean Comedian, who was born on February 10, 1975, in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Lee worked as a recreational instructor when he first entered the industry then he also took part in a singing contest at the River Music Festival of MBC.
He made a breakthrough in his professional career after being a part of the variety show Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days on KBS. The concept of 1N2D is fun traveling with friends and visiting less known travel destinations throughout Korea. He joined the show in the premiere episode that aired on August 5th, 2007. Later on next year, he achieved the Excellent Corner Award for Comedy Division by KBS Entertainment Awards.
The famous South Korean Comedian Lee Soo-Geun’s net worth is $59 Million at the age of 44 years old. He earned the money being a professional Comedian.
Twice (Musical Girl Band)
Twice is another South Korean musical girl group, composing nine girl members. Twice was formed by JYP Entertainment under the television program ‘Sixteen’ in 2016 where they made their first musical debut as a girl group on October 20, 2015.
Twice rose to domestic fame in 2016 and made a breakthrough with their single “Cheer Up”, This single was ranked number one on the Gaon Digital Chart. Last year, Twice became the best-selling Korean girl group of all-time competing the Black Pink band.
Earlier this year, Twice signed with Republic Records for American promotions as part of a partnership with JYP Entertainment. Twice is beating Black pink by $3 million. According to reports, Twice has a net worth of around $35 million. Twice is not considered as the most influential and powerful musical girl group after Black Pink.
Kim Hee-chul (Singer/TV Host)
Kim Hee-chul who is popularly known as Heechul, is a famous South Korean Singer, Song composer, and TV show host. Heechul was born on July 10, 1983, in Wonju, Gangwon-Do, South Korea. He is one of the members of the South Korean boy band Super Junior. He also participated in different musical shows and he was also a member of the former disbanded pop-rock duo Kim Heechul & Kim Jungmo. He had a great command of musical instruments such as Vocals and drums.
He completed his graduation from Sangji University in informatics through Bachelor’s Degree Examination for Self-Education, In 2009. Before completing his graduation he made his first musical debut as a member of the 12-member project group appearing on the music program Popular Songs of the SBS, performing their first single, “Twins (Knock Out)”.
Afterward along with his musical career, he started TV show hosting. In 2010, Heechul was cast as a regular cast member on Radio Star, for which he achieved the award for “Best Newcomer Award” at the 11th MBC Entertainment Awards.
In 2015-16, he rose to success when he appeared on the variety shows Knowing Bros and Weekly Idol. Heechul earns a considerable amount of money for being a host in addition to his musical career has a net worth estimated at about $2.5 million dollars.