K-pop boy band Big Bang and CL of girl group 2NE1 are included in Time magazine’s online reader poll for this year’s 100 most influential people, Time announced Wednesday.

Big Bang and CL are the only Koreans among 127 candidates in the online poll that features U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.


World-famous musicians including Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Adele and Ariana Grande have also been nominated for the top 100 list.

Time 100 is the magazine’s annual list of 100 most influential people in the world, spanning politics, entertainment, business, technology, science, religion and other fields. TIME editors determine the official list based on the online poll’s results.

Big Bang ranked at fourth place with 1.8 percent of the votes, while CL tied for 22nd place along with other candidates including Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence. 

CL made the candidate list for Time 100 for the second straight year.


“The singer has graduated from one-fourth of hit South Korean girl group 2NE1 to front-row presence at fashion shows and solo artist in her own right thanks to songs like “Doctor Pepper” and ‘Hello Bitches.’” Time stated.

Five-member boy group Big Bang was also nominated, due to its series of successful world tours in the past years. 

“With One Direction on hiatus, this South Korean group has been hailed as ‘the biggest boy band in the world,’ even booking arenas in the U.S. without a Hot 100 hit thanks to their fervent fan base,” Time stated.

Asian star, actor and singer Rain first made it on the “Time 100” in 2006 and for a second time in 2011. PSY was nominated for the list in 2013, but didn’t make it to the final list.

Voting closes at midnight on April 10. This year’s official Time 100 list will be announced April 21.

By Jung Eun-jin (jej2403@heraldcorp.com)