With K-pop dominating worldwide music charts, Korean dramas captivating international audiences, and Korean skincare emerging as a global sensation, Korean celebrities, with their stardom and massive following on social media, have risen to prominence worldwide. Many prestigious luxury brands have capitalized on this popularity. Here, we present the top ten Korean celebrities with international endorsements.
1. J-Hope
The BTS superstar attended Louis Vuitton's Fall 2023 Menswear show in Paris in January 2023. On February 24th, Louis Vuitton announced J-Hope as their new house ambassador for their men's Fall Winter 2023 Campaign via Instagram, saying, "uarmyhope for Louis Vuitton. The Maison is thrilled to welcome the world-renowned rapper, singer-songwriter, and music producer as our new house ambassador."
2. Kim Tae-hyung aka V
French luxury brand Cartier, valued at 12.5 billion dollars, has enlisted Kim Taehyung, also known as V from BTS, as its global brand ambassador for the 'Panthère de Cartier' campaign. Their announcement on 'X' read, "The Maison is delighted to introduce the pop icon V of bts_bighit as our newest Cartier ambassador, showcasing the Panthère de Cartier collection." Cartier further commented, "The pop icon V possesses the same creative spirit and magnetic gaze as the panther."
3. Jimin
Jimin's journey from his early days as a dancer in Busan to his current global stardom serves as an inspiration to many. The American luxury jewelry brand "Tiffany & Co" unveiled BTS's Jimin as their newest house ambassador. Jimin expressed, "It is a tremendous honor to collaborate with Tiffany and embody the brand's values of design, innovation, and artistry."
4. Jisoo
Jisoo's association with Dior dates back to 2021, earning her the nickname 'human Dior' from fans. The Black Pink fashion icon graced the Dior Autumn/Winter 2023 show in a dazzling amethyst dress. As Dior's global brand ambassador for the spring/summer 2024 fashion show, Jisoo appeared in an elegant black ensemble. Additionally, she holds the title of global ambassador for the French luxury watchmaker and jeweller Cartier. Dior's announcement on September 27, 2021, stated, "Dior is thrilled to announce that JISOO, the BLACKPINK singer, actress, and Dior global ambassador for fashion and beauty, will personally attend the DiorSS22 show by Maria Grazia Chiuri on September 28."
5. Lisa
Thai-born Lisa of Black Pink represents multiple international brands. Lisa made history as the first female ambassador in Asia for the Scotch whiskey brand Chivas. With millions of followers on Instagram, the K-pop star is also the face of global luxury brands such as "BVLGARI," "MAC," and "Celine." According to 'BVLGARI,' Lisa's "bold and exclusive performances" and her "modern and trendy image as a fashion icon" align perfectly with the brand's identity.
6. Suga
With "The Last" reaching 100 million streams on Spotify in October 2021, Suga, professionally known as 'Suga,' has captivated millions worldwide. Suga is the latest face of 'Valentino.' Creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli remarked, "He is a multi-faceted artist, an interpreter who uses his talent and work to express himself with energy and authenticity. He perfectly embodies everything that DI. VAs testimonials stand for diversity, inclusivity, creativity, and passion."
7. Park Bo-gum
The star of "Love in the Moonlight" (2016) serves as a global brand ambassador for the French luxury brand Celine. Park Bo-gum, the first male actor to join the Parisian brand's family, showcased an E-boy look as part of Celine's Boy Doll collection. He recently attended Celine's 2023 spring/summer men's wear collection show in Paris alongside fellow ambassadors like V and Lisa.
8. RM
The Italian luxury brand Maison Bottega Veneta officially introduced BTS's group leader RM as their new brand ambassador. Kim Namjoon, better known as RM, attended the brand's Fall 2023 show at Milan Fashion Week, sparking collaboration rumors. The news broke when the fashion house's creative director, Matthieu Blazy, posted a campaign photo of the star with the caption, "Andiamo! Welcome to the family."
9. Song Hye-Kyo
The Glory" actress Song Hye-Kyo is a beloved figure for luxury brands. She became the first Korean actress to represent the Italian fashion house Fendi. Previously, she served as the Asia-Pacific brand ambassador for the luxury heritage brand Chaumet in 2018. With 17 million Instagram followers, Hye-Kyo reportedly earned $650k per post for Fendi. As a face of Bottega Veneta, she also starred in the brand's spring-summer fashion film titled "La Donna Che Amiamo" (the woman we love).
10. Minji
In February 2023, the 18-year-old NewJeans star became Chanel's newest global ambassador. Minji will represent the brand in three categories: fashion, watches, and beauty. According to her agency Ador, this marks the first time that Chanel has selected a single ambassador.
