South China Morning Post names BTS, Korean football team as 'Asian Icons of the Year'

Hong Kong media group South China Morning Post (SCMP) named BTS member Jin, girl group Blackpink, actor and model Hoyeon, Park Seo-joon and the Korean national football team on a list of "11 Asian icons who shaped 2022" announced Thursday.

From left to right, Jin of K-pop boy band BTS, actor and model Hoyeon, actor Simu Liu, and actor Michelle Yeoh, named on South China Morning Post's ″Asian Icons of the Year″ list announced Thursday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hong Kong media group South China Morning Post (SCMP) named BTS member Jin, girl group Blackpink, actor and model Hoyeon, Park Seo-joon and the Korean national football team on a list of "11 Asian icons who shaped 2022" announced Thursday.

Jin was ranked fourth, Blackpink fifth, Hoyeon sixth, Park eighth and the national football team eleventh on the list of eleven.

Regarding Jin, who recently began his military service, SCMP said that “considering the international reputation of BTS, we cannot help but pay homage to the courage and sense of responsibility of the 30-year-old Jin.”

SCMP also paid tribute to girl group Blackpink for their record sales of K-pop albums and noted that the group was named “Entertainer of the Year” by the Times magazine.

At the same time, SCMP praised actor and model Hoyeon for her role in 'Squid Game,' saying “there is no denying that she is a star born from the series.” Of Park, it wrote that “he joined the Marvel cinematic universe through 'Captain Marvel 2' this year.”

The newspaper also noted the Korean national football team and explained that “this all-star team advanced to the round of 16 by defeating the Portuguese national team led by Cristiano Ronaldo,” adding, “It was a touching moment in World Cup history.”

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]