Forbes’ 30 Under 30: Korea’s Youth Powerhouse Steals the Spotlight in Asia

As the new year approaches, Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list for this year, featuring influential Koreans, has garnered renewed attention. Forbes unveiled its 2023 30 Under 30 Asia list back in May, showcasing young talents from 20 countries across 10 different sectors. India had the most representatives, with 75 teams, while Korea had 26 teams selected.

Korea particularly stood out in the domains of sports and entertainment. K-pop sensations NewJeans and LE SSERAFIM, along with actors Jung Ji So, Lee Yum Mi, and Kim Hye Yoon, who showcased exceptional acting skills in the OTT sector, were notable inclusions. Forbes acknowledged NewJeans as being “poised to become a K-pop sensation” and emphasized that members of NewJeans, such as Gucci (Hanni), Louis Vuitton (Hyein), and Burberry (Danielle), had been chosen as brand ambassadors for renowned global fashion brands.

Regarding LE SSERAFIM, Forbes stated that they are “currently the most popular K-pop girl group” and “bravely overcame scandals.” For actor Jung Ji So, Forbes mentioned her roles in the movie Parasite (2019) and the Netflix series The Glory (2023), while Lee Yu Mi was recognized for her roles in Squid Game (2021) and All of Us Are Dead (2022). Kim Hye Yoon was noted for her roles in the JTBC drama Sky Castle (2019) and The Girl on a Bulldozer (2022).

Creator Seo Won Jeong (WonJeong), who has secured 55 million followers on TikTok, also made the list as a content creator in the media, advertising, and marketing field. As of May, Seo Won Jeong ranked third in TikTok follower count, following BTS (59.7 million) and BLACKPINK (43.6 million). Through his channel, WonJeong, Seo was also selected as one of the 2022 Discover List 50, which announced the creators who had the most significant influence on TikTok in the past year.

Seo Kyoung Eunice Lee, a board member of Kakao Mobility and an associate at TPG, was the only Korean to make a list in the finance and venture capital sector. She collaborated with various companies and investors, including Google, Carlyle, and LG, to lead a $500 million investment in Kakao Mobility. Lee Seo Kyoung, the youngest female director of a major Asian IT company, graduated from Seoul National University and previously worked at JP Morgan Chase Investment Bank.

Additionally, Korean national football team player Cho Gue-sung and national short track team players Choi Min-jeong and Hwang Dae-hyun were selected. Cho Gue-sung, a 189 cm (6ft 2in) striker with idol-like good looks and skills, scored the first-ever multi-goal in a match against Ghana in the second round of the Qatar World Cup qualifiers. During the World Cup period, Cho attracted 2 million followers on Instagram.

By. Tae Sung Kim