Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia: From IU and Hwasa to Jackson Wang, all K-pop and K-drama stars who made it to list
Forbes has published their latest 30 Under 30 Asia list highlighting "the next generation of talent - on the court and the screen." The list features quite a few K-pop and K-drama stars who have managed to secure a global fan base with their enigmatic talents. From Mamamoo's Hwasa, K-pop queen IU, GOT7's Jackson Wang to South Korean actress Su-ji (Suzy) Bae, and Joo-hyuk Nam, here are all the names that made it to the list.
Forbes 30 Under 30 list also puts the spotlight on artistes who have made it to global popularity without the backing of a banner or company. Hong Kong rapper, singer and CEO of Team Wang, GOT7's Jackson Wang started building his own brand when he was still signed to JYP Entertainment. IU has been in K-pop as a soloist for over a decade.
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All the K-pop and K-drama stars in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia
Talking about the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, Forbes wrote, "As Asia sees the light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel, activists, entrepreneurs, scientists and young leaders on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2021 list are hard at work realizing the new normal." It added, "After the toughest year in their generation, these 300 Millennials and Gen Zs have persevered to survive and even thrive despite long lockdowns, restricted travel and uncertainties on all fronts. Most continued to grow their businesses and adapt to the changes brought about by the pandemic, while a few have even dared to start their ventures in the middle of crisis, spotting opportunities where others see obstacles."
Representing the 30 Under 30 pool, here are the K-pop and K-drama entertainers who have found ways to give comfort to fans even in a hopeless year.
Hwasa (Hae-jin)
Ahn Hye-jin aka Hwasa is Mamamoo's K-pop star, who not only helped her K-pop act chart globally, but also emerged as a solo singer with much impact - her solo debut EP 'Maria' debuted at number 7 on the Billboard World Albums and 81 on Billboard Top Current Albums Sales charts for the week of July 11, 2020. The singer also won multiple Best Solo Artist awards following the massive success of her solo debut.
Su-ji (Suzy) Bae
Hailed as 'Nation's First Love', Bae Su-ji, 26, started her career as a singer with JYP Entertainment group Miss A, but eventually found her foothold in acting with one hit show after another like 'Gu Family Book' (2013), 'Uncontrollably Fond' (2016), 'While You Were Sleeping' (2017), 'Vagabond' (2019) and 'Start Up' (2020). She has also starred in films debuting with 'Architecture 101' in 2012.
IU
Lee Ji-eun aka IU debuted in the music industry at the age of 15 and the name IU represented 'I' and 'you', where "you and I become one through music." Her sheer talent and stellar vocal abilities have ensured that IU remains top of her game, with every new album only charting higher and gaining attention from a global audience as well as the South Korean general population. Her recent comeback album 'Lilac' debuted at number one on Gaon Music Chart along with reaching at number one on Itunes in multiple countries.
Joo Hyuk Nam
South Korean actor Joo Hyuk Nam shot to popularity with his recent television show 'Start Up.' Previously, he has worked in shows like 'The School Nurse Files.' The actor also got critical appreciations for his immaculate performance in the Korean historical film 'The Great Battle', which eventually led to him winning the Best New Actor award at Korea's much-coveted Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.
Jackson Wang
Jackson Wang is no stranger to Forbes lists. The Chinese rapper previously featured in Forbes China Celebrity 100 list at number 41 in 2020. The solo star and member of GOT7 has built his own label, becoming the fastest Chinese artist to reach 10 million views on Vevo. Before becoming a singer, Wang also ranked eleventh in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics and snagged the first prize at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in 2011.
Check the complete list of Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia here.