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Five Korean idols and stars were included in Forbes's “30 Under 30 Asia: Class of 2021,” joining this year's list of the region's change-makers.

According to the publication, the 30 honorees for every category were chosen because they have “persevered to survive and even thrive despite long lockdowns, restricted travel, and uncertainties on all fronts.”

Forbes Asia Editor Rana Wehbe Watson added, “Most continued to grow their businesses and adapt to the changes brought by the pandemic, while a few have even dared to start their ventures in the middle of crisis, spotting opportunities where others see obstacles.”

The awardees, which were initially among the 2,500 online nominees, were chosen by a lineup of A-list judges and industry experts and were selected after their demonstration of “leadership, impact, the potential of success, and the embodiment of entrepreneurial spirit synonymous with Forbes.”

In the coveted list, Korean idols Jackson Wang, IU, Hwasa, and Nam Joo-hyuk were included.

Take a look at their write-ups below:

GOT7's Jackson Wang

Wang started out in the Korean boy band GOT7 before pursuing a career in China. His 2019 album 'Mirrors' was named the most popular album of the year by NetEase Cloud Music. Now a China brand ambassador for Fendi, Wang also has his own fashion label, Team Wang Design.

Lee Ji-eun (IU)

IU, whose real name is Ji-eun Lee, is one of the most successful solo singers of her generation. In January 2021, Lee won Song of the Year for 'Blueming' at the prestigious Golden Disc Awards. Released in November, 'Blueming' garnered more than 90 million views on YouTube. In May 2019, Lee's single 'Eight,' featuring Suga of K-pop supergroup BTS (also a 30 Under 30 Asia honoree, class of 2018), topped Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. Lee, who is the most followed soloist in Korea on Instagram, is also an accomplished actress, starring in TV hits like 'Hotel Del Luna' in 2019 and 'My Mister' in 2018.

MAMAMOO's Ahn Hye-jin (Hwasa)

Better known by her stage name Hwasa, Ahn is a member of K-pop girl group MAMAMOO, which was nominated Artist of the Year at the 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards. Ahn made her solo debut in 2019 with the single 'Twit.' The song garnered over 80 million views on YouTube and earned her the Best Solo Artist Award at the Golden Disc Awards. In June 2020, she released her debut EP, 'Maria,' which opened at No. 7 on the Billboard World Albums chart and No.1 on the U.S. iTunes Albums Chart -- a first for a Korean female solo artist.

Bae Suzy

Bae Su-ji, better known as Suzy, is one of the most popular actresses in South Korea. Bae was dubbed Korea's first love after her film debut in 2012. She has since starred in the box-office hit 'Ashfall' in 2019 and popular TV shows 'Vagabond' in 2019 and 'Start-Up' in 2020. Bae has a large social media following with more than 15 million Instagram followers, making her the second-most popular Korean actress on the platform. Bae first made her debut as a member of the K-pop girl group Miss A in 2010, which won the Best New Female Artist award at the Mnet Asian Music Awards the same year."

Nam Joo-hyuk

The South Korean actor starred in the popular TV series 'Start-Up', alongside fellow 30 Under 30 honoree Su-ji Bae, which was released in October 2020. He also co-starred in the Korean drama 'The School Nurse Files', which aired on Netflix in September. Nam made his big-screen debut in 2018 with the Korean historical film 'The Great Battle' and was critically acclaimed for his performance in the movie, winning Best New Actor at Korea's prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Meanwhile, check out the other Korean idols who made headlines in 2020: