The K-Stars Who Made It Into the “Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia” List This Year
Every year, Forbes Magazine selects notable people under 30 in various industries to create a list called “30 Under 30.”
As many notable people are doing notable things worldwide, there is a list to represent different regions.
Here are the notable Korean stars—from K-Pop groups to athletes to actors—who made it into the “Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia” list for 2023 in the “Entertainment and Sports” category.
Cho Gue Sung
The 25-year-old soccer player gained exponential popularity after his impressive goal during last year’s FIFA World Cup. With his undeniable soccer skills and good looks, Cho Gue Sung has become Korea’s sweetheart, and many expect him to continue to flourish in his soccer career.
Choi Min Jeong
At only 25 years old, this South Korean short-track speed skater is a three-time Olympic Champion, a four-time World Champion, and the current world record holder for the 1500m. Choi Min Jeong recently won the gold medal in the women’s 1500m short-track event during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, giving her the nickname “The Queen of Korean Short Track.”
NewJeans
This five-member K-Pop girl group formed by ADOR has been a success since they grabbed everyone’s attention with their 2022 debut song, “Attention.” NewJeans is known for catchy songs like “OMG” and “Hype Boy” and is especially known for their nostalgic 1990s throwback concepts, as showcased by their song, “Ditto.” The members consist of Minji (19), Hanni (19), Danielle (18), Haerin (17), and Hyein (15).
Hwang Dae Heon
The 24-year-old speed-skating Olympian is a world record holder for the men’s 1000m short-track speed skating competition. Hwang Dae Heon represented South Korea in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and was named the best-performing male athlete of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Jung Ji So
The 24-year-old actress made her global rise to fame through the Academy Award-winning film Parasite as Park Da Hye, the daughter of the wealthy Park family. Since then, Jung Ji So has continued to prove her acting skills, successfully taking on complex roles, such as the younger version of Song Hye Kyo‘s character in the Netflix hit K-Drama The Glory.
Kim Hye Yoon
After debuting in 2013, the 27-year-old actress became known to the world through her portrayal as the studious and competitive Kang Ye Seo in JTBC‘s hit K-Drama Sky Castle. Kim Hye Yoon eventually went on to win many awards, such as the “Best New Actress Award” at the 2022 Blue Dragon Film Awards and the “Rising Star Asia Award” at the New York Asian Film Festival‘s Star Asia Awards for her performance in the Korean thriller film The Girl on a Bulldozer.
LE SSERAFIM
LE SSERAFIM is a five-membered K-Pop girl group that debuted in May 2022 under Source Music. Just as their name is an anagram of the words “I’m fearless,” the group sings songs about being fearlessly strong and fearlessly themselves. Although they were initially a six-member group, now the group consists of Sakura (25), Kim Chaewon (23), Huh Yunjin (22), Kazuha (20), and Hong Eunchae (17), and they have made their mark in K-Pop history with their success and influence.
Lee Yoo Mi
The world was introduced to the talented 29-year-old actress through her moving performance as Ji Yeong in Netflix‘s revolutionary K-Drama Squid Game in 2021. Lee Yoo Mi continued to thrive in her acting career, showing her different sides and charms through various productions, such as All of Us Are Dead (2022), Young Adult Matters (2022), and more.
LØREN
Also known as Lee Seungjoo, the 28-year-old singer-songwriter and producer debuted in November 2020 with “Empty Trash” under The Black Label and creates music through his own label, Fire Exit Records. Within three years, LØREN has become recognized for his identifiable signature sound: a heavy rock sound similar to the nostalgic bands of the 2000s.
Congratulations to these talented stars for all their hard work in 2023!
