Buckle up, world—Forbes Korea just named BTS’s Taehyung one of their “Top Global Breakout Stars” in the Idol Winner category, describing him as “a global pop icon and fashion muse.” That announcement landed on July 28, 2025, and yes, fans everywhere are both stunned and entirely unsurprised.
Here’s the part that’ll make anyone still sleeping on industry norms choke: V hasn’t dropped any new solo music recently. Heck, he hasn’t needed to. Even after stepping back from the spotlight, his influence refuses to take a vacation.
One user described him as “a trendsetter whose influence goes beyond the stage,” which is funny—because that’s exactly why he’s getting this accolade.
Fast-forward a little: HypeAuditor’s latest influencer metrics ranked Taehyung third among the Top 1000 Global Influencers, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. That’s right—he beat out major names like Selena Gomez and Kendall Jenner, making him the highest‑ranking entertainer globally and the top Asian celebrity on that list. Regionally, he took No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 3 in both the U.S. and Brazil.
Let’s break that down with some tea:
- Instagram followers jumped by 1.22 million within 25 days after returning to civilian life, totaling over 68 million—with more than 12.4 million from U.S. fans alone.
- His engagement rate sits at a sky-high 20.6%, the best among global celebs, with posts routinely scoring 14 million+ likes—often without comments enabled.
No solo music. No performances. No drama. Just Taehyung doing Taehyung things, and the numbers explode.
If that doesn’t sound like a superstar, I don’t know what does. It’s like showing up to the party late in a bathtub full of cash, and the world still charges the entrance fee just to see you walk in.
This Forbes Korea recognition isn’t about a comeback—it’s a celebration of orbit-level influence. It says: you don’t need to perform to be performative. You don’t need new songs to shape trends. You don’t need constant content to be irresistible.
What’s next? BTS is officially back, with a confirmed group comeback and world tour slated for spring 2026. But let’s be clear: V doesn’t need the group’s machinery to dominate. The man’s influence is already modular, omnipresent, unstoppable.
So here’s the takeaway: Forbes Korea didn’t name him a breakout star because he released something new. They did it because every time Kim Taehyung arises from silence, the world’s pulse syncs to his beat. And that, dear reader, is how you become a trendsetter whose influence genuinely goes beyond the stage.
We couldn’t be prouder.
