A lot of K-pop stars have mentioned once or twice in their career that they pursued their dreams to become idols because they were inspired by their ultimate favorite K-pop idols.
Here are eight K-pop fanboys who also became idols themselves.
1. Park Jihoon
Park Jihoon is a longtime fan of V and has been caught fanboying over him on multiple occasions. "I respect V of BTS because I like how he acts on stage with his facial expressions," Park said, drawing attention by copying V's signature sexy facial expression on stage. As time goes by, Jihoon, himself, said he leveled up from being a fan to a now close friend with BTS member V. "We're now playing games together. I'm busy these days, so I can't keep in touch with him, but I've gotten close with Jin," he said.
2. VIXX's Hongbin
VIXX's leader revealed that he only auditioned for JellyFish Entertainment because his idol Park Hyoshin is signed under this agency. He shared that even though other companies reached out to him, he always denied them until the day Jellyfish Ent. called. He accepted the audition offer immediately and became close friends with his idol and mentor during his trainee days.
3. EXO's Xiumin
EXO's eldest member revealed that he's a big fan of TVXQ! Xiumin shared that his favorite member from the group is Shim Changmin and that if it weren't for TVXQ, he wouldn't have auditioned for SM Entertainment or even be part of EXO. He confessed that when he first met the senior group, he froze up and just wanted to follow everything they said, "They were like gods to me," the idol confessed. Now, he's close to the TVXQ member, fulfilling his fanboy heart.
4. SEVENTEEN's Hoshi
The idol grew up watching and listening to SHINee, and he's known to be a huge Shawol even to his fans. When SEVENTEEN joined Star Show 360 as guests, Hoshi shared how every night he listens to SHINee's songs before he sleeps and that he loves their music so much it pushed him into becoming an idol.
5. Stray Kids' Hyunjin
When the survival show Stray Kids were starting out, the contestants got a surprise visit from two GOT7 members. And of course, as Hyunjin was incredibly excited about the particular guest. He couldn't help but fixate on the beauty of Jinyoung!
6. INFINITE's Sunggyu
INFINITE's leader has one of the most successful fanboy stories in the industry. He grew up listening to the band NELL all throughout his childhood. Fortunately for Sunggyu, he encountered the band's manager while he was working at a cafe near Woollim Entertainment. The manager saw potential in him and offered him an audition. Soon enough, he was under the same label as his idols who became his close friends.
7. Third Kamikaze
Lapat Ngamchaweng, also popularly known by the nickname Third, is a Thai singer and actor. He is a part of the Thailand boy groups Nine by Nine (9x9 or 9by9), Trinity_TNT and former artist of Kamikaze. This idol is known to be such a huge EXO-L and Blink through his social media posts, and now he is an idol with dreams of taking the path in the music industry.
8. Karl Girbaud Limpin
Karl is a 19-year-old K-Trainee from the Philippines who loves dancing and takes so much inspiration from Chris Brown, plus the groups Stray Kids and Bigbang. He also gives lessons to students specializing in K-Pop and hip-hop.
