The annual Forbes magazine ranking of the top 40 Korean celebrities has just been released, fresh out of the oven and piping hot for perusal. As always, try not to get too worked up if your favorite oppa/unni or bias didn’t make the top 40 this year, it’s just one ranking albeit a very influential one that has a lot of clout and prestige in the entertainment industry. I felt like this year has a lot more athletes on the list than usual, while very few gagmen (i.e. variety MCs and comedians) made the list. The top three hit up one from each celebrity field – male idol group EXO takes the top spot followed by Kim Soo Hyun representing the actors and rounding out number three is figure skating queen Kim Yuna.
Some notable movers and shakers within the acting industry: Kim Soo Hyun and Jeon Ji Hyun rocketing to the top of the list thanks to You From Another Star when last year in 2014 both were middle of the pack, scandal plagued Lee Byun Heon and Han Hyo Joo gone, Lee Min Ho also dropped from the rankings after the Heirs surge petered out while his Heirs costar Park Shin Hye made the list for the first time thanks to Pinocchio as did Lee Jong Seok for that drama along with Dr. Stranger, Suzy taking a big tumble with no acting project last year but still holding on, and both Misaeng leads Im Shi Wan and Lee Sung Min squeezing in towards the end. Have fun parsing the list and keep any ensuing debate civil and sane, m’kay?
Forbes Celebrity 40 is determined by first taking the top most searched Korean celebrities of the year on Nate and ranking them based on the following 4 criteria:
1. Earning – appearance fees, CF, album/drama/movie income, reported overseas income.
2. Media exposure – number of appearances in the top 3 newspapers, covers of 8 magazines, sports pages.
3. Television exposure – CF model ranking, appearances on talk shows and variety shows.
4. Professionalism – TV ratings for actors/MCs, total audience for movie actors, Gaon digital and physical sales rankings for singers, competition results for athletes
Forbes Power Celebrity 40 for 2015:
1. EXO (singer)
2. Kim Soo Hyun (actor)
3. Kim Yuna (athlete)
4. Jeon Ji Hyun (actress)
5. Sohn Yeon Jae (athlete)
6. Lee Seung Gi (actor)
7. Ryu Hyun Jin (athlete)
8. Song Heung Min (athlete)
9. SNSD (singer)
10. Sistar (singer)
11. Park Ji Sung (athlete)
12. Lee Jong Seok (actor)
13. Girl’s Day (singer)
14. IU (singer/actress)
15. Choo Shin Soo (athlete)
16. Jung Woo Sung (actor)
17. 2NE1 (singer)
18. APink (singer)
19. Hyun Bin (actor)
20. BEAST (singer)
21. Yoo Jae Seok (gagman)
22. Ki Seung Young (athlete)
23. Big Bang (singer)
24. Super Junior (singer)
25. Lee Seo Jin (actor)
26. Kim Hee Ae (actress)
27. Ha Jung Woo (actor)
28. Lee Yoo Ri (actress)
29. Kim Woo Bin (actor)
30. Song Hye Kyo (actress)
31. Oh Seung Hwan (athlete)
32. Jo In Sung (actor)
33. Park Shin Hye (actress)
34. Suzy (singer/actress)
35. Im Shi Wan (actor)
36. Park Inbi (athlete)
37. TVXQ (singer)
38. Park Hyun Sik (actor)
39. Lee Sung Min (actor)
40. Park Tae Hwan (athlete)
For comparison, Forbes Power Celebrity 40 for 2014 (last year):
1. SNSD (singer)
2. Big Bang (singer)
3. Suzy (singer/actress)
4. Ryu Hyun Jin (athlete)
5. EXO (singer)
6. Choo Shin Soo (athlete)
7. TVXQ (singer)
8. SHINee (singer)
9. Kim Yuna (athlete)
10. IU (singer/actress)
11. Park In Bee (athlete)
12. Yoo Jae Seok (gagman)
13. Psy (singer)
14. Lee Seung Gi (actor)
15. CNBlue (singer)
16. Lee Byung Hun (actor)
17. Kim Soo Hyun (actor)
18. Infinite (singer)
19. KARA (singer)
20. Song Kang Ho (actor)
21. Lee Min Ho (actor)
22. Song Heung Min (athlete)
23. Kim Tae Hee (actress)
24. 2NE1 (singer)
25. Hwang Jung Min (actor)
26. Girl’s Day (singer)
27. Song Joong Ki (actor)
28. Lee Bo Young (actor)
29. Yoo Joon Sang (actor)
30. Lee Dae Ho (athlete)
31. Ki Seung Young (athlete)
32. Park Ji Sung (athlete)
33. Shin Dong Yup (gagman)
34. Jeon Ji Hyun (actress)
35. Han Hyo Joo (actress)
36. Baek Ji Young (singer)
37. Jang Dong Gun (actor)
38. Kim Jun Hyun (gagman)
39. Park Chu Young (athlete)
40. Kim Min Hee (actress)
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Wow! So happy to see Im Shi Wan and surprised to see Park Hyun Shik, although both are from idol bands, too.
Let the fan war star haha
Hahaha here to defend my bias and pride lol
So ready for the "My Oppa is ranked higher than yours!"
In Korea soo hyun and Jong suk are national favorite sons more than woo bin and minho. Koreans don't like Minho so much. That's why he's not here. Maybe they only like weak boys with beautiful faces.
ahahha.. seriously some people are believing this list. and the LMH part makes me laugh koala got rustled and calling heirs failure lol.
It dosen't hang the fact that KWB is bigger ljs --> more fans, cfs and everything take that ljs fans..
''change the fact that KWB is bigger ljs''
If i see the list right, LJS is ranked 12 while KWB is 29...
Is there a rivalry between these two friends?
@melissalionel
Where is it stated in this article that Heirs is a failure??? Heirs was in 2013, so it is not counted in the 2014 list.
LMH did not make the list simply because he did not have a drama or movie project airing in 2014 -> Zero TV or movie audience in 2014. He was very busy with filming his movie most of the year -> reduced media exposure. He does not appear on variety or talk shows -> neglible TV exposure. Don't worry, with movie & TV projects in 2015, he will reappear on the 2015 list.
Pls do not instigate a fanwar with thoughtless remarks. Thank you.
*negligible
dont worry dude, a lot of A-list stars did not made the list. they are probably discrete with their earnings,but that doesnt make them poorer than those on the list!
Hahaha, ocoala and her "obsessive love" for Minho , it's here again!
LJS is higher. He did a lot of the movie and dramas in 2014. In other hand, KWB spend most of the time filming. But KWB more marketable (LJS has more fans (pretty boys still big trend), but KWB more well known around general people (all ages) thanks to Friends 2). Look at the sales. KWB on the top 10.
geez, sorry.
P.S. But anyway, both deserved it. Hard work pays off.
Ahhh only jung woo sung and ha jung woo from movie stars are on the list. Was expecting either choiminshik or song kangho or hwang jung min to be in the list because of their movie succeses last year especially CMS from rosring currents. I guess the movie stars have lesser tv exposure...!
But a little curious at the tally scores for last year snd thid year seeing thst ha jung woo is not in it last year.
Kim Yu Na ad Son Yeon Jae! ♥ I so love them both! Though no Yoon Eun Hye or Yoo In Na, nice to see my idol IU still there ;)
Wow where did all the KWB/LJS animosity? I thought their fans were friends?
I don't know, maybe I missed a memo or something, because who cares if LJS is "marketable" (suddenly everyone is a marketing guru), or if KWB is "more popular" than PSH or the amount of CFs. All of them are buying buildings in Gangnam while you guys waste your time in petty fights over oppa and unnie.
Whatever lol
Touché LOL
Your oppa's success is never yours to defend so where does all that pride come from?
hahaha....
I think that was just a LMH fan up there trying to cause trouble lol, Jongsuk and Woobin fans don't care. Jongsuk and Woobin are both hard workers and supportive towards each other, we've never felt the need to compare since they both deserve their success.
More likely a LMH anti-fan trying to make LMH fans look bad.
LMH not being there isn't that shocking to me. The bulk of his fame has never been in his home country and Kim Woo Bin got more buzz from Heirs than he did in SK. I'm sure people will disagree with that tho...
Suzy being so low is kind of surprising, but she did nothing but CFs this year. Lee Sung Min is impressive!
But I'm cool with the list. My bias did well. :D
After Heirs in 2013, KWB also got a lot of buzz in 2014 from his rather successful movie The Con Artists, his web series, and several variety appearances.
i can almost taste the saltiness in the comments section! XD
Wow KSH you are really the best since you dont have project for 1 and half year but still soaring high.. grab the new kbs variety drama the Producer please.
+1 yes please!
The 2015 power ranking list is for earnings, exposure, ratings & audience for 2014. YFAS is one of the major reasons KSH moved from no. 17 to no. 2 in 2014. In fact, KSH has been on this list for at least the last 4 years, since TMETS. And with his new drama project in 2015 and ever increasing popularity, I think he will remain at the top end of the list for 2015 & beyond.
I thought he has confirmed the Producer?
he has so many CFs and he's in media a lot so that says it all. I hope Producer has good writing and directing since I m quite convinced with current potential casts (except for IU). He will leave on high note, if Producer does well in terms of rating and overseas popularity.
nice to see my biases on the list PSH, LJS and KSH..my felicitations to all.. not surprised with lmh , hes not that popular in his home country ..