It’s no surprise that K-pop is a multinational affair, with fans, songwriters and idols alike coming from all over the world to get into the world Korean music.
When it comes to idols from outside of Korea, Australia is one of the first countries that comes to mind for many K-pop fans. And why wouldn’t it? Some of the biggest and most popular idols in all of K-pop come from the land down under. So, we decided to take a look at some of them.
Blackpink – Rosé
Born in New Zealand and raised in Melbourne, Blackpink’s Rosé has quickly become the most famous Australian in K-pop, and as such is now one of the most recognizable Australian singers in the world. Encourage by her father, she auditioned for YG Entertainment in Sydney, coming first amongst over seven hundred auditionees, and moved to Seoul two months later.
Stray Kids – Felix
Born in Sydney and growing up in Byron Bay, Stray Kids’ Felix has one of the most recognizable Australian accents of any of the members on this list, and his habit of using casual Aussie slang in everyday conversation is a draw-in for many fans. His new ASMR show now sees him explaining slang phrases to the audience.
Stray Kids – Bang Chan
Born in South Korea and raised in the same Byron Bay neighbourhood as fellow member Felix, Stray Kids’ Bang Chan is recognizable for his weekly vlive “Chan’s Room”, which attracts a sizeable audience due to his tendency to speak in both Korean and English on them, giving Western fans an unprecedented opportunity to see inside the life of a K-pop idol.
ZE:A – Kevin Kim
Born in South Korea and raised in Sydney, ZE:A’s Kevin moved back to Australia after his contract with Star Empire Entertainment ended and became the host of Australian multicultural broadcaster SBS’s radio network SBS PopAsia, and was even named Australia’s most eligible bachelor by Cosmopolitan in 2018.
Enhypen – Jake
Born in South Korea and raised in the sunny city of Brisbane, Enhypen’s Jake is the newcomer Aussie to the scene of K-pop, coming to fame through his participation in Mnet’s hit show “I-LAND” and as a member of the monster rookie group. Jake is an only child from a wealthy family, and named his dog after the Eric Clapton song “Layla”.
Which Aussie K-pop idol is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
