Today (Friday, Feb 12) is Lunar New Year. While this is a time most idols would get a break and spend time with their families, several foreign idols will be unable to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are 10 popular foreign idols who will be spending Lunar New Year in South Korea, without their families.
1. BLACKPINK Rosé
: Rosé
In BLACKPINK's documentary, "BLACKPINK: Light Up The Sky," Rosé even sheds tears as she thinks back to her family in Australia. Sadly, she will be unable to return to Australia, as they have closed their borders to international flights.
2. BLACKPINK's Lisa
Lisa is from Buriram, Thailand, and grew up there with her Thai mother and Swiss stepfather. She left Thailand in 2011 after passing the YG Global Auditions in Thailand in 2010. She was only 13 years old. Lisa grew up training to debut in BLACKPINK and is now busy with her activities in South Korea. She will be unable to return to Thailand for Lunar New Year as Thailand will continue to have its borders closed until the second quarter of 2021.
3. TWICE's Momo
Momo was only 16 years old when she moved to South Korea. She was born in Kyoto, Japan, and was scouted by JYP Entertainment. After a successful audition, she left Japan to train in South Korea. Momo trained for three years before making her debut in TWICE. Since then, she is known as one of the most popular foreign K-pop stars and is praised for her amazing dance skills. Momo will be unable to return to Japan, as the nation has closed its borders.
4. TWICE's Mina
Mina was born in Texas, United States, but grew up in Kobe, Japan. All of her family members remain in Japan. Mina moved to South Korea in 2014 after being street cast in Osaka with her mother while shopping. She was only 17 years old. She trained for a year before debuting with TWICE. Like Momo, Mina will be unable to return to Japan, as the nation has closed its borders.
5. TWICE's Sana
Sana is another member of TWICE's Japan line. Sana was born and raised in Osaka, Japan, and had even trained under EXPG in Osaka to be a J-pop idol. She was scouted by JYP Entertainment while in a shopping mall and moved to South Korea in 2012 to train. She was only 16 years old. She trained for three years before making her debut in TWICE. She, too, will be unable to return to Japan, as the nation has closed its borders.
6. TWICE's Tzuyu
Tzuyu was born and raised in Tainan, Taiwan. She was scouted during a performing arts workshop in her hometown, and she moved to South Korea in 2012. She was only 13 years old when she began training. Tzuyu trained for three years before debuting with TWICE. While Taiwan has re-opened its borders, it is highly unlikely she will be traveling to Taiwan for the Lunar New Year due to the long self-quarantine period.
7. Red Velvet's Wendy
Wendy was born in Seoul, South Korea, but spent her formative years in Canada. Wendy returned to South Korea in 2012 after being cast by SM Entertainment while accompanying a friend for the company's global auditions. Wendy is known to have a lot of love for her family. During a past concert in Canada, she was seen shedding tears as she spoke about her family. Sadly, she will be unable to return home, as they have locked their borders to international travelers.
8. (G)I-DLE's Yuqi
Yuqi was born and raised in Beijing, China. Yuqi moved to Soth Korea in 2015 after passing the company's audition in China. As she was only 16 years old, her parents highly opposed her dreams to be a singer, but she persuaded them and moved to South Korea. Yuqi is known to have a lot of love for her parents. During her appearance on MBC's "The Gashinas", she shared a heartbreaking video letter for her parents, where she expressed how much she loved them and how apologetic she was she cannot always see them. She also promises to be a daughter they are proud of.
While China has opened its borders to national, it is highly unlikely she will be traveling to China to celebrate the Lunar New Year with her family due to the long self-quarantine time.
9. SEVENTEEN's Joshua
SEVENTEEN member Joshua is a second-generation Korean-American from Los Angeles, California. Joshua moved to South Korea in 2013 after being street cast at an event in Koreatown, where he was playing the guitar. After moving to South Korea, he trained for two years and two months. While Joshua can return to the United States for Lunar New Year, as the borders are not closed for travelers coming from South Korea, it is highly unlikely that he will return as Los Angeles is one of the states with the most active COVID-19 cases.
10. Henry Lau
Born to a Hong Kong father and a Taiwanese mother, Henry was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. His family still resides there, while he lives in South Korea. Henry moved to South Korea in 2006, at only 17 years old, after passing the SM Global Auditions in Toronto. Henry is another idol with a lot of love for his family. However, like Wendy, he will be unable to return home for the Lunar New Year due to Canada's travel restrictions.
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Written by Alexa Lewis
