Artists like BLACKPINK’s Rosé and Stray Kids’ Bang Chan have blended their Korean heritage with their Western upbringings, giving a special flavor to their music. They prove that K-pop isn’t just catch tunes and choreographies, it’s a global phenomenon with idols who bring a mix of cultures into the game.
This top 10 list celebrates idols who aren’t just K-pop stars but cultural bridges, let’s dive in:
10. Bang Chan – “Eternity” (Stray Kids)
The idol was born in South Korea and raised in Sydney, Australia. He plays a key role in Stray Kids as a writer and producer.
09. Rosé & Bruno Mars – “APT” (BLACKPINK)
New Zealand and South Korean diva Rosé from BLACKPINK recently dropped this bop with Bruno Mars, conquering both Asian and Western charts along the way.
08. Somi – “Fast Forward”
Somi, who has Dutch-Canadian and Korean heritage, drops this playful dance track that’s equal parts Western vibes and K-pop catchiness.
07. Jessi – “Zoom”
The Korean-American rapper, raised in New Jersey, gives her signature fierce vibe in this viral track that’s all about flexing with confidence.
06. Jay Park – “All I Wanna Do”
Seattle-born Jay Park serves up R&B magic with this easygoing jam, adding a mix of English and Korean lyrics to emphasize his cultural duality.
05. AleXa – “Wonderland”
Born and raised in the U.S., AleXa brings bold performances and explosive beats in a song that won the American Song Contest.
04. Jennie – “Mantra” (BLACKPINK)
Born and raised in South Korea, the BLACKPINK rapper and singer studied in New Zealand for five years before returning to South Korea. Now, she is making waves with this sassy anthem.
03. Jaehyun – “Unconditional” (NCT)
The NCT member was born and raised in South Korea until the age of five. After that, he moved to Connecticut with his parents and returned to his home country at ten. Now, he is currently making us bop with his recent solo work.
02. Danielle – “Part of Your World” (NewJeans)
The NewJeans member was born in Australia to an Australian father and a South Korean mother. In 2009, Danielle and her family moved to South Korea, where she trained to debut in NewJeans.
01. Vernon – “Black Eye”
Born in New York to a Korean father and an American mother, he moved with his family to South Korea at the age of five.
