For the first time ever, Forbes spread its iconic 30 Under 30 lists to include Asia. And amidst the 300 young people who made Forbes’ list were several of K-pop’s rising stars.
Three K-pop stars were featured in the top 30 Under 30 Entertainment and Sports starts in Asia, with Big Bang’s G-Dragon prominently highlighted by the list. Super Junior’s Choi Siwon and Girls’ Generation’s Im YoonA also made the cut.
Forbes chose G-Dragon for standing out amidst K-pop’s boy bands and for being a “front-row fixture at Chanel Shows.”
“It may sound like a cliché, but I think maintaining one’s original intention is the best career advice I’ve been given,” G-Dragon told Forbes.
Both Siwon and YoonA were highlighted for their careers as singers and actors, as well as their popularity in China. The two are managed by SM Entertainment.
Actress Michelle Yeo, director Anthony Chen, and SM Entertainment’s executive vice president Nikki Semin Han were judges for compiling the list.
Actor Kim Soo Hyun, Olympian figure skater Im YoonA, and opera singer Lim Hyung Joo were also featured on the Forbes list.
Non-Korean stars on the list included Liam Hemsworth (Australia), G.E.M (Hong Kong), and numerous other top Asian stars.
