Industry Insiders Rank The Top 10 Stars Leading Korean Content In “2021 Power People Survey”
The 2021 Power People survey brings together 200 entertainment industry insiders (from agency and network employees to reporters and content producers) who all voted on which Korean stars are leading the current K-Content breakthrough around the world. Here are the singers and actresses who made the top 10 rank.
10. Kim Seon Ho
Actor Kim Seon Ho received three votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
Before becoming embroiled in a recent and ongoing controversy, Kim fast became one of the year’s most well-known K-Drama actors with his role in tvN‘s Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
9. BLACKPINK
BLACKPINK, the only girl group to appear on the list, received three votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
While BLACKPINK is still yet to release Korean music as a group this year, they did drop their Japanese version of The Album several months ago, peaking at no.3 on the Oricon chart. Plus, their online concert—The Show—was watched by over a quarter of a million viewers earlier this year.
8. IU
Soloist IU received five votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
As usual, IU’s music has been huge with fans all around the world this year. “Celebrity” topped the Gaon Digital Chart for six consecutive weeks and racked up over 450 Perfect All-Kills, while Lilac received platinum certification for over 250,000 sales.
7. Jennie (BLACKPINK)
BLACKPINK’s Jennie, the only individual group member to appear on the list, received seven votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
2021 has been a major year for Jennie as an endorser, becoming the face of Chum Churum soju back in February and scoring the Calvin Klein SS2021 collection deal in spring—among others.
6. Yoon Yuh Jung
Actress Yoon Yuh Jung received eight votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
While Yoon Yuh Jung has long been one of Korea’s most beloved actresses, she really hit the global radar this year when she played grandma Soon Ja in the award-winning movie Minari. Yoon herself even picked up Oscar and BAFTA awards for Best Supporting Actress.
5. Jung Ho Yeon
Actress and model Jung Ho Yeon received 11 votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
Jung scored her breakout acting role this year as Kang Sae Byeok on Netflix‘s Squid Game, rising to 23 million followers and counting just a few weeks after the show dropped.
4. Lee Jung Jae
Actor Lee Jung Jae received 13 votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
Also rising to international stardom with Squid Game, Seong Gi Hun actor Lee Jung Jae has been nominated for multiple awards this year (including from prestigious ceremonies like the Blue Dragon Film Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards).
3. Lim Young Woong
Trot singer Lim Young Woong received 14 votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
While he’s less well-known internationally than he is in South Korea, Lim Young Woong’s fame only keeps rising. This year, his song “My Starry Love” peaked at no.1 on the Gaon Weekly Chart, and he even scored his first win on MBC‘s Show! Music Core.
2. Yoo Jae Suk
Television personality Yoo Jae Suk received 27 votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
The well-known variety show star left FNC Entertainment this summer and signed with Antenna. This year, he’s been a main cast member on multiple shows, from tvN’s Sixth Sense 2 to SBS‘s Running Man.
1. BTS
And at the top of the list is BTS, who received 91 votes from industry insiders in the 2021 Power People survey.
From “Butter” to “Permission to Dance,” BTS has topped charts around the world this year multiple times—including the prestigious Billboard Hot 100. Other achievements include a GRAMMYs performance, a Coldplay collab, and another successful online concert event with Permission to Dance On Stage.
Other stars and figureheads who received votes in the survey include SM Entertainment‘s found Lee Soo Man and HYBE founder Bang Si Hyuk (who received four votes each), SEVENTEEN, Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon, Song Joong Ki, and Han So Hee.
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