TREASURE have established themselves as an idol group worthy of endless praise. They're able to constantly sell out concert venues, put on spectacular performances on stage, and steal the hearts of fans through their loveable personalities. They are a multi-faceted group who have more than one shining star among their ranks. They truly live up to their name as complete gems in the K-Pop industry.

The idols have made a name for themselves as a group, becoming one cohesive unit both on and offstage. They're the complete package in more ways than one with each member being able to stand out on an individual level. One member who's been receiving a considerable amount of attention is one of the group's reliable leaders, TREASURE's JiHoon.

Along with co-leader, HyunSuk, JiHoon is able to bring the team together, making it possible to reach the level that they're currently at and continue to transform into a world-renowned idol group.

He's a valuable part to the YG boy group, producing his fair share of viral moments for not just the fandom, but the entire K-Pop community.

 

The Status Of TREASURE

Before diving into JiHoon as a person, let's talk about TREASURE as a group. The ten members have an iconic discography, releasing chart-topping hits like 'DARARI', 'JIKJIN', and 'BONA BONA'. With such addictive tracks, they've earned a total of of 2,657,383 monthly listeners on Spotify. Their official Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok account are similar in following, with their social media influence reaching 7 million, 7.45 million, and 7.5 million respectively. These are the numbers recorded as of April 16th, 2024 at 9:00 AM KST. This doesn't include the idol group's multiple X accounts, which together equal approximately 8.2 million.

Of course, TREASURE cannot be measured by numbers alone, as they've also won multiple awards such as Rookie of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10, among many others. Their most recent accolades come from ASEA 2024, as the idol group walked away with 3 separate awards from the event.

[#HI_TREASUREMAKER💎📸]

ASEA 2024
🏆ASEA THE BEST HIP-HOP
🏆ASEA THE BEST TOURING ARTIST
🏆ASEA PLATINUM WORLD WIDE

모두 트메 여러분들 덕분에
받을 수 있었습니다🥰

트메는 트레저 삶의 빛✨#TREASURE #트레저
🗓#240410 #ASEA2024#TREASUREinASEA2024 pic.twitter.com/gQUbjeVhdS

— TREASURE MAKER (@ygtreasuremaker) April 10, 2024

As a group, TREASURE have shown that they are able to command the spotlight, with each member contributing to the group's success. Their status as a prominent fourth generation group is undeniable with the stats to prove it.

 

JiHoon's Individual Skills

After going over TREASURE's effect as a group, we can now focus our attention on their trustworthy leader, JiHoon. The idol possesses sweet, honey-like vocals that can cover a myriad of different genres. From TREASURE's renowned dance tracks to more sentimental ballads, JiHoon can successfully pull them all off. His singing voice leaves a lasting impression that you'll end up thinking about all day long.

Vocals aside, JiHoon is truly a top tier performer, able to digest and execute the most difficult choreography out there. He's able to glide across the stage with little effort, able to effectively mesmerizes audiences, fans and non-fans alike. While at the beginning of his career, he had an incredibly adorable presence that had everyone smiling from ear to ear. But JiHoon has matured both personally and as an artist, being able to give such electrifying performances, befitting of an artist of his caliber. Even as he heads off stage, he remains as professional as ever, while also showing brief glimpses of enjoying the stage.

Outside of his work as an entertainer, JiHoon was casted as an MC for SBS' "Inkigayo". For a little over a year, Treasure Maker were able to see the idol weekly, hosting the music show, providing witty responses, and being the natural ball of sunshine that he is. He showcased particularly heartwarming chemistry with his fellow MCs, earning him even more fans in the process.

All of these skills combined helped JiHoon to shine even brighter than ever before. And as fans witnessed his continual growth, they couldn't be more proud of their hard-working and talented leader.

 

An Idol's Viral Effect

While JiHoon has always received attention from the fandom and viewers of SBS' "Inkigayo" during his time as MC, he's come into the spotlight once more through recent schedules.

The first being TREASURE's dating survival program, "Shining SOLO". From the skills he's acquired as an idol and his own personal upbringing, JiHoon captivated both the viewers and female participants. He was considerate, kindhearted, and a mood maker, quickly dispelling any awkwardness that might have entered TREASURE CASTLE. By the end of "Shining SOLO" Part 1 (spoiler alert!), he was one of the two members who received the coveted title of "Mr. TREASURE".

shining solo (part 1)'s resident chef + mr treasure (w asahi ❤️)!!! jihoonie you did well 🤍 i'm glad to know there are so many people who see and appreciate all of your charms and efforts<3
#빛나는SOLO #Shining_SOLO#JIHOON #지훈 #TREASURE #트레저 pic.twitter.com/sW5XeDVkGl

— 🌷✨ (@celestialspjh) April 1, 2024

There were various comments across social media praising JiHoon for the various charms he showcased over the course of the show.

JiHoon went viral once again through his adorable interaction with Special MC Billlie's Tsuki at the ASEA 2024. After a brief chat and as Tsuki was getting ready to move on, JiHoon innocently asked, "Is that it?", causing the Special MC to become flustered.

we are now watching the “Jihoon Rizz” live at an award show 😩 pic.twitter.com/hSgzxSsEoy

— shan (@parkbeaus) April 10, 2024

Tsuki immediately apologized and the interview continued while the venue continued to smile and laugh at this hilarious moment. Even netizens couldn't stop reacting to the hilarious situation.

These recent instances and past performances show that JiHoon is a natural born entertainer. He's a quick and witty thinker, has innate star qualities, and continues to remain humble through it all. With such a solid foundation and having constant improvement, JiHoon will surely continue to be a shining light, not only to Treasure Maker, but to the K-Pop community worldwide.

Have you been following TREASURE's JiHoon? What do you think about the idol?

Every K-Pop fan chooses a bias, yet every K-Pop fan knows that sometimes having a particular bias is not a choice. Sometimes your bias chooses you. There's just a special charm that they have that grabs a hold of you.

It is always fun to imagine how compatible you and your bias are, or if your biaswrecker is going to come in and steal their spotlight.

At Kpopmap, we have an extensive library of K-Pop boyfriend quizzes where you can test the power of fate when it comes to you and your bias/biaswrecker. You can see if you'll choose your bias or if a biaswrecker will choose you.

Here is a list of all of the boyfriend quizzes on the Kpopmap website. We have a number of other quizzes on the site too, so make sure to check them out here!

If you are interested in girl group quizzes, check them out in this article, too.

Note: This list will be regularly updated, so keep an eye on it!

 

A.C.E

 

AB6IX

 

ASTRO

 

ATBO

 

ATEEZ

 

BAE173

 

BOYNEXTDOOR

 

BTOB

 

BTS

 

CIX

 

CRAVITY

 

DAY6

 

DKB

 

DRIPPIN

 

ENHYPEN

 

EPEX

 

EXO

 

Golden Child

 

GOT7

 

iKON

 

JBJ

 

JUST B

 

Kang Daniel

 

LUN8

 

MCND

 

MONSTA X

 

NU'EST

 

NCT

 

N.Flying

 

OMEGA X

 

ONEUS

 

ONF

 

P1Harmony

 

Park JiHoon

 

PENTAGON

 

RAINZ

 

RIIZE

 

SEVENTEEN

 

SF9

 

 

Stray Kids

 

SUPER JUNIOR

 

SuperM

 

TAN

 

TEMPEST

 

TEEN TOP

 

THE BOYZ

 

The Rose

 

The New Six (TNX)

 

TREASURE

 

TRENDZ

 

TXT

 

UNB

 

UP10TION

 

VAV

 

VERIVERY

 

VICTON

 

VIXX

 

Wanna One

 

WEi

 

WINNER

 

X1

 

xikers

 

ZEROBASEONE

 

Do you have any boyfriend quizzes that you would like us to create? Leave a comment down below!

One thing that goes hand in hand with K-Pop are variety programs. With the help of these shows, both veterans and rookies have the opportunity to become better known to the public and earn a following outside of their music. Variety programs allow these artists to showcase their unique personalities, causing fans to fall deeper in love with their favorite stars.

However, one aspect that has remained a sensitive topic for both fans and idols is dating. Even under the premise of a dating program, these idols are put under a microscope and scrutinized over anything romantic. With the boon of dating shows in the past few years and the participation of idols, perception seems to be changing.

Idols being on a dating show isn't some foreign concept, nor was it born overnight. It's gone through its fair share of changes, culminating in both success and pushback from numerous fanbases.

 

The First Idol Dating Programs

One of the first dating reality shows that included K-Pop idols is the famous "We Got Married". Making its premiere in spring of 2008, it paired various celebrities and had them act as married couples. Some famous idol pairings include SHINee's TaeMin and Son NaEun, BTOB's Yook SungJae and Red Velvet's Joy, along with CNBLUE's Jung YongHwa and Girls' Generation's SeoHyun.

While it was well known by audiences and participants that this was a fake relationship, many became immersed into every single moment, as if they were getting a sneak peak of what these stars would be like if they were to actually date. The pairings produced such incredible chemistry, earning nicknames like the 'Goguma Couple' (YongHwa and SeoHyun) or the 'Bbyu Couple' (SungJae and Joy).

Another dating program with idols that surfaced in 2012 is tvN's "The Romantic and Idol". For its first season, it featured second and third generation idols in JiHyun (former 4Minute), AOA's HyeJeong, Jei (former FIESTAR), SeungAh (former Rainbow), Park HyungSik (ZE:A), GOT7's Jay B, 2PM's Jun.K, and MBLAQ's Mir. The group traveled to Jeju Island where they would stay for 4 days and 3 nights, get to know each other, and hopefully walk away being chosen at the end.

Then there's "SHINee's YunHaNam", featuring the SHINee members themselves. Through the show they proceeded to go on dates with older women, showcasing their charm as fresh-faced rookies in the scene. These programs were extremely fun and romantic, but also produced countless moments that made your entire body curl upwards in secondhand embarrassment.

 

Perception Of Idols Dating

To become an idol, one must dedicate countless hours of their life to honing their craft. They must reach a level of astounding dancing prowess, vocal stability, and outward charm to captivate the masses and become a chart-topping artist within the K-Pop industry. Of the many things that they can and cannot do, it's to date. This is due to the image of an idol and the fan culture within the industry.

However, with the modern globalization of K-Pop, sentiments toward idols dating have slowly started to change. It's becoming more and more evident that K-Pop stars are more than the vocal and dancing geniuses that regularly grace our screen. They're human just like everyone else, with fans slowly accepting the fact that these celebrities can go around, date, and find love too.

Slowly, but surely, idols have been starting to go out on a limb and have become participants in traditional dating programs, not under the premise of a simple variety program. Rather, they become vocal and sincere in their search for love. Some names include EuiJin (former A.CIAN & UNB) and soloist Sori who appeared on different seasons of Mnet's "Somebody", as well as DaHye (former BESTie) in the most recent "Transit Love 3".

While it was surprising to see K-Pop idols participate in these dating programs and actively look for a relationship, it portrays their human desire to be loved by someone else, outside of their beloved fans.

 

The Appearance Of A New Type Of Dating Reality

The beginning of March marked the start of a brand new dating reality program: TREASURE's "Shining SOLO". Where the idol dating programs of the past and ones idols participated in actually focused solely on romance, the series with TREASURE takes a different approach. The members go into the program with the intent of showcasing their various charms and capturing the hearts of the young women they meet. However, it ends not in a relationship, but one member being dubbed as "Mr. TREASURE", erring more on the side of a competition show.

It takes various components from traditional dating programs, while adding on its own spin to create a unique, never-before-seen experience for both the members and audiences watching at home. Prior to its premiere, however, it's worth noting that "Shining SOLO" did not receive a favorable response from netizens.

Upon its announcement, many were left scratching their heads with numerous responses asking if it's real or if anyone would dare to watch it. Even the international K-Pop community who is at times more open were having second thoughts on whether "Shining SOLO" should be something they watch or skip due to the pure nature of dating programs.

However, all the criticism aside, the idol "dating" show became a viral hit, with its first episode being its most watched at 7.7 million views on YouTube (as of April 9, 2024). The sincerity of the TREASURE members, their chemistry with the female participants, and their genuine reactions played a huge part in the program's worldwide success.

Even non-fans have been actively tuning in, falling for TREASURE's various charms. This could very well mark a new era of dating programs for idols. If geared under this lens, there's a fair chance that other groups could follow this model. In turn, they could capture the heart of netizens with their romantic tendencies. However, there's also the possibility that this may become a one-and-done type of occurrence. "Shining SOLO" puts idols in a new light, offering TREASURE the chance to openly experience what it's like to date, while still maintaining their idol image.

Whether or not more groups/companies will create their own "dating" program remains to be seen. However, after the success of "Shining SOLO", it can be a program millions look forward to.

What are your thoughts on K-Pop idols being on dating programs? Do you think they should follow the model of "Shining SOLO"?