Forbes has released the 11th annual edition of its 30 Under 30 Asia list, featuring 300 young entrepreneurs, leaders, artists, athletes, innovators and more across the Asia-Pacific region.
The list highlights individuals, all under the age of 30, pushing boundaries in 10 diverse categories that include Consumer & Enterprise Technology, AI, Entertainment & Sports, Social Impact, and Finance & Venture Capital. With 18 countries and territories represented, India has the most entries (78), followed by China (46), Australia (38), Japan (32), and Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea with 18 each.
Among those on this year’s 30 Under 30 Asia Entertainment & Sports list are three K-pop groups shaping the future of music, reflecting K-pop’s continued dominance in the industry.
i-dle
CUBE Entertainment’s girl group—currently comprising Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua—debuted in 2018 with the tropical pop track ‘LATATA’ under the name (G)I-DLE. It went on to release multiple chart-topping albums and released hits like ‘Queencard’ and ‘TOMBOY.’ Soojin left the group in 2021 amid school bullying allegations.
In 2025, the quintet rebranded itself as ‘i-dle’ and released its eighth EP, ‘We Are,’ which sold over one million copies in its first release week. That same year, it also grabbed the Grand Prize at the 34th Seoul Music Awards.
The all-female act has 145,700 followers and 7.6 million plays on Anghami and 6.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify to date.
CORTIS
CORTIS — derived from the phrase ‘COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES’ — entered the Forbes‘ Under 30 Asia list just less than a year after launching into the K-pop scene under HYBE’s subsidiary BIGHIT MUSIC. MARTIN, JAMES, JUHOON, SEONGHYEON, and KEONHO are the label’s first boy group in six years, following BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
Described as a “young creator crew,” the five members were hands-on in the choreography and music video production on their first EP, ‘COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,’ which debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, and their second EP, ‘GREENGREEN,’ which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3.
The rookies currently have 3,000 followers and 303,200 plays on Anghami and 12.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
NMIXX
NMIXX is the second K-pop girl group to earn a spot on this year’s 30 Under 30 Asia list.
The sextet officially launched under JYP Entertainment in 2022 with members LILY, HAEWON, SULLYOON, BAE, JIWOO and KYUJIN. NMIXX is known for its experimental genre-blending style called ‘MIXX POP,’ which combines elements of pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music.
Last October, the act’s first studio album, ‘Blue Valentine,’ nearly topped Korea’s Circle Album Chart and took home 10 music awards. In February 2026, it became the first K-pop group to perform at Brazil’s iconic Carnival.
NMIXX has 25,300 followers and 1.1 million plays on Anghami and 5.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Who else made the cut?
South Korean choreographer and dancer Leejung Lee also debuted on the list. She got her start as the first female member of the dance group Just Jerk Crew before going on to choreograph performances for artists such as NCT’s TAEYONG, BLACKPINK, JEON SOMI, and TWICE. She also created the choreography for ‘Soda Pop’ in Netflix’s 2025 animated hit ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’