Foreigners in K-Pop is common nowadays, and a majority of foreign K-Pop idols hail from China. Curious about which Chinese idols are killing the game right now and are still actively promoting? Check them out here!
This list does not contain idols who hail from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
1. NCT Dream's Chenle
Chenle debuted in 2016 as a member of the third NCT sub-unit, NCT Dream. He is actively promoting with the group as their main vocalist. Prior to debuting with NCT, Chenle made his solo debut in China, appearing on shows and releasing three solo albums. He even featured in a movie! He made headlines in Korea and internationally when it was revealed that he came from a well-off family, and even showed how luxurious his house is on the show "One Night Sleepover Trip."
NCT Dream released their new album, "Reload," on April 29, along with the title song "Ridin.'" The album proved the group's formidable strength after pre-selling 500,000 copies, reaching a double platinum status on Gaon album chart, and being nominated for bonsang.
2. NCT Dream's Renjun
Renjun debuted alongside Chenle in 2016 as the main vocalist, lead dancer, and visual of the third NCT sub-unit, NCT Dream. Prior to debuting in Korea, Renjun had already learned Korean, since he studied in a Korean Ethnic High School back in China, which means he had grown up bilingual speaking Chinese and Korean. He also understands English.
3. NCT/WayV's Xiaojun
Xiaojun debuted with WayV in 2019 as the group's main vocalist and sub-rapper. Xiaojun was raised in a family that loved music, and both his father and his brother are part of the industry, which naturally led him to be musically inclined. Prior to debuting with WayV, he was a participant in a Chinese survival show called "X-Fire". Though WayV originally debuted in China, they are actively promoting in Korea, appearing on variety shows and music shows. He speaks Korean, Chinese, and English.
In June this year, WayV unveiled their much-anticipated comeback album "Awaken The World," with the title track "Turn Back Time." The album garnered stellar accomplishments, such as debuting No. 9 on Billboard World Albums, ranking No. 1 in 21 regions on iTunes Album Chart, No. 1 on QQ Music Popularity, and many more.
4. SEVENTEEN's The8
The8 debuted with SEVENTEEN in 2015 as the group's lead dancer, sub vocalist, and sub rapper. He is part of the group's performance team and is in charge of b-boying in the group, and had learned b-boying in China for six years before moving to Korea in 2013. He has also been practicing Chinese wushu since he was five years old. Other than his activities with the group, The8 was a dance mentor for "Idol Produce Season 2", a survival show in China. He also participated in the Chinese show "The Collaboration", where artists come together and collaborate with one another.
Considering their massive - and continuously growing popularity in Korea and all over the world - SEVENTEEN's 7th mini-album, "Heng:garae," released in June, achieved jaw-dropping successes after it sold over 1 million copies on Hanteo and ranked No. 1 on the Album Chart.
5. NCT/WayV's Winwin
Winwin originally debuted with NCT 127 in 2016 as the group's lead dancer and sub-vocalist. He debuted in Japan with the group. In 2018, he debuted with NCT U for their "BOSS" comeback. He then debuted with WayV in 2019. Prior to his debut, Winwin trained in traditional Chinese dance, making him flexible and fluid when he dances. He promotes with WayV in China and Korean.
6. PENTAGON's Yanan
Yanan debuted with PENTAGON in 2016 as the group's sub vocalist and visual. Both his parents are Chinese but he was born in Hokkaido. He moved to China as a baby. Yanan can play a traditional Chinese instrument called the Ehru, which he learned for around 10 years. Yanan participated in the Chinese show "The Collaboration", where artists come together and collaborate with one another. Yanan has been on a hiatus since July of 2019 after his company, Cube Entertainment, announced that he needed to take a break due to health concerns.
Pentagon is said to make their Japanese comeback sometime in August, though it remains uncertain if Yanan will partake in it as he wasn't part of the group's previous return.
7. SEVENTEEN's Jun
Jun debuted with SEVENTEEN in 2015 as the group's lead dancer and sub vocalist and is part of the group's performance team. Prior to debuting in Korea, he was a child actor in China. Jun said he was interested in K-Pop because many Chinese student had started getting interested in and had heard about it from his peers. Like The8, Jun is also experienced in wushu and is good at kung fu. Jun participated in the Chinese show "The Collaboration", where artists come together and collaborate with one another.
8. NCT/WayV's Kun
Kun formally debuted with NCT U in 2018, but had sang the Chinese version of NCT U's "Without You" in 2016. After his debut with NCT U, Kun debuted with WayV in 2019 as the leader, main vocalist, and sub rapper. Prior to debuting with NCT and WayV, he lived in Taiwan for two years and was part of a Taiwanese group called Change. He was also part of a group called Tiger Boys 2, a spin-off of the popular Chinese boy group Tiger Boys, but left the group to focus on his studies.
9. EXO's Lay
Lay debuted with EXO in 2012 as the group's main dancer, sub vocalist, and sub rapper. Prior to his debut with EXO, he was a child star in China, appearing on numerous variety shows. Originally, Lay debuted with EXO-M, EXO's Chinese unit that made music in Mandarin and promoted in China. He started promoting in Korea following the merging of EXO-K and EXO-M.
Lay proved his strength as a soloist when he released his first-ever solo track, "Monodrama," a Station song in 2016. In the same year, he officially made his solo debut through "what U need," and first EP "Lose Control" thereafter. Other than music, Lay has acted in various Chinese movies and dramas, such as "The Golden Eyes."
He recently competed on iQIYI's "CRZ 2" against fellow singers, songwriter, and producers. He's currently participating as a dance mentor on "Street Dance of China 3" against fellow powerhouses GOT7's Jackson Wang, UNIQ's Wang Yibo, and Wallace Chung.
On June 21, Lay finally dropped the second part of his 4th album, "LIT," which achieved 1st place and sold 2 million copies on QQ Music.
Which Chinese idol is your favorite?
