Welcome to the 65th article of Kpopmap's weekly series exploring the amazing duality of K-Pop idols, actors, models, and more! Every week, we shine the spotlight on one artist who embodies the very essence of duality and has mastered the flair of harnessing their multifaceted talent to create the most brilliant, versatile art we have ever seen. As effortless as they make their craft look, there's a universe of talent that brings their hard work to fruition, and we must show appreciation where it's due.

You can find all of our "Bias Duality" articles in one place by clicking here!

This week's "Bias Duality" article is dedicated to an artist whose wonderful art makes our love for him grow deeper than his adorable dimples, VICTON's ByungChan. With 68.5% of the total votes cast by Kpopmap readers on the poll in our previous "Bias Duality" article, ByungChan was chosen by an overwhelming majority of fans to appear on this series!

To participate in choosing the artist who will be featured in our next "Bias Duality" article, you can vote for your favourite idol/actor below! If you would like to see a different idol/actor (one who is not mentioned in the poll) featured in the series, please leave their name in the comments section, and we will add them to the vote lineup next time!

Now onto our bias!

The Mesmerism Of Limitless Charms: ByungChan's Evolution & Personal Duality

If there's anything that runs deeper than ByungChan's dimples, it is his duality. Whether it be as an idol, an actor, a variety star, or a model, ByungChan has an innately precious versatility to him that puts us in a trance. His personality is multidimensional but well-rounded, making him not only an incredible artist but also a genuinely wholesome and inspiring human being. This is Choi ByungChan, and words cannot define his excellence, but we must try nonetheless. 

2022 marked the six-year debut anniversary of VICTON, one the most prolific, unique, and talented K-Pop boy groups in the industry. ByungChan became a trainee at IST Entertainment two years prior to his debut with VICTON, during which time he poured his soul into creating the best artistic version of himself.

After years of diligent hard work, polishing and refining his artistic faculties, ByungChan announced his arrival into the entertainment scene with the pre-debut reality show “Me7Nam” and won hearts at once. His popularity followed him along when he officially debuted as the vocalist and visual member of VICTON and eventually participated in the survival reality show  “Produce X 101”. Even though he had to withdraw from the competition due to increasing complications with Achilles tendonitis, ByungChan had already become quite the household name. Soon after, ByungChan debuted as an actor, and the rest is history.

Today, ByungChan is not only a prominent global figure in K-Pop but also a rising star in the acting industry, and there’s nothing more fulfilling than to watch him scale new heights of success with his limitless potential.

When asked what kind of idol ByungChan wanted to be, he answered that for him, being someone with a good personality and a polite disposition came first and foremost. While skills are indisposable, of course, ByungChan was thinking from the perspective of fans, who would want to look up to someone with a genuine, sincere, and upright nature. If that’s not the true definition of an “idol”, we don’t know what is!

In terms of ByungChan’s personality, there’s nothing more worthy of gushing over than the duality that he displays through the same. The first thing that comes to mind when we think of ByungChan’s personal duality is the way he is so unbelievably endearing, adorable, charming, and even coy at times, all the while exuding machismo, confidence, boldness, and conviction like no other. In fact, ByungChan is so aware of this duality that he never stops joking about it himself!

ByungChan can be playful, mischievous, and animated on the one hand, elegant, alluring, and poised on the other. Being the youngest in his own family and the fake maknae in VICTON (SuBin is the real maknae but one would think it’s actually ByungChan by the way he is babied by his members), it isn’t really surprising that ByungChan is bubbling with aegyo.

Even when he gets angry (his playful version of angry, that is), he looks as lovely as always, so much so that you cannot help but burst into a smile and give in to his demands. He gets excited easily over things like escape rooms and seeks out the little joys in life with zest, but he also gives his all in everything he does. Let's not forget that he is also great with children! 

Another lovable quality in ByungChan is that he is a proud son. After all, he adores his mother more than anything else in the world! This is probably why he is also a gentleman through and through, and it reflects in the way he interacts with fans. ByungChan puts great significance into communicating with his fans effectively and often. Naturally, sometimes, this mutual love translates into subtle not-so-subtle spoilers, and fans just can’t get enough. ByungChan’s relationship with ALICE is so wholesome and healthy that it almost feels like they’ve known each other forever now. As much as he loves his fans, ByungChan doesn’t hold back from clapping back at his haters, either! 

When it comes to his members, ByungChan is fiercely loyal and protective. He relies on them greatly but is also a pillar of strength for the group. He never hesitates to shower his members with love and affection, whether that be in the form of hugs, kisses, compliments or otherwise. Even when he needs to be held and consoled, he will first comfort his members before tending to himself. ByungChan is the happiest when he is with VICTON, and it shows.

Similarly, in his position as a member of VICTON, ByungChan never backs down from any challenges. His go-to modus operandi is “Nothing is impossible for VICTON”, which drives him to constantly improve and outdo himself. In fact, this is one of the reasons why ByungChan is so incredible at anything he puts his mind to. He’s the type of person who wins no matter what but makes it look effortless. Behind the scenes, he’s putting his blood, sweat, and tears into getting good results. 

The divinity in ByungChan comes not just from his godly physique but also from the way his bright and captivating aura surrounds him like a halo. Speaking of his physique, newer fans might be surprised to hear that ByungChan has been dubbed as the “weakest” in VICTON. Still, when it comes to dealing with rogue bugs in the house, it is ByungChan who steps up. In essence, ByungChan might be sculpted like a Greek statue, but he is still tiny enough to put in our metaphorical pockets.

V For VICTON, V For Versatility: ByungChan's Vocal & Stage Duality

If there’s such a thing as the voice of romance, Choi ByungChan’s gentle, dreamy singing voice is exactly what it is. Characterized by a pure, light, and clear tone, ByungChan adds a touch of delicate sweetness to VICTON’s sonic aesthetic. It is inherently classic, unique, and extremely needed, especially with how impactful and memorable it is. The power his voice holds is not solely dependent on riffs or runs. Rather, it is purely emotional and evocative. There’s truly nothing like it in this world!

Besides having a stable and rare register range, ByungChan has a penchant for incorporating a variety of technical flourishes in his vocals. His tonal versatility is a thing of wonder, and the way his vocal color can change with/adapt to the concept he is going for truly speaks volumes of his talent. The way ByungChan transitions between a breathy, vulnerable tone to a more assertive chest and head voice is ethereal, to say the least. His falsettos blend seamlessly with his light mix range and conjure the most gorgeous melodies. 

For instance, when talking about ByungChan’s light vocal colour, you can listen to his covers of ‘Love Always Run Away’ by Lee MoonSae, ‘Everytime’ by EXO’s Chen and Punch, ‘I Think About You’ by one more chance (for which he participated in rap-making), ‘To You My Light’ by Maktub ft. Lee RaOn and ‘Oh Little Girl’ by Slate. Similarly, in terms of his darker vocal colour, check out VICTON’s ‘Mayday’ and ‘What I Said’ for a perfect masterclass in duality. 

Now, if ByungChan’s vocals weren’t addictive enough, the man is also a genius in performance. When we say “performance”, we don’t just mean choreography and dance. No, that would fall under technical execution, which ByungChan is certainly brilliant at. What we want to draw your attention to is the complete package because ByungChan’s stage duality is as diverse as VICTON’s discography.

When you see ByungChan perform, it is hard to decide which part you want to focus your attention on - his unrivaled facial expressions, the subtle but striking shift in his gaze, his unbeatable energy, the way he personalizes the choreography, adding his own hue to it, the smoothness with which he commands the stage and owns his time, the fluid grace he embodies or the way it makes you feel.

ByungChan is an artist who knows the importance of stillness and movement, which is what lends a quality of consciousness and purpose to each step that he takes. It almost seems as if not a hair moves without ByungChan willing it to, and that is where the grandeur of his performance lies. 

Some ByungChan fancams you do not want to miss include - 'Mayday' and 'What I Said' at "MCOUNTDOWN", 'Virus' at "SBS Inkigayo", 'Howling' for Studio Choom's "Be Original", 'Stupid O'clock' at "SBS Inkigayo" for mysterious and brooding ByungChan and 'Nostalgic Night' at "MCOUNTDOWN", 'Time Of Sorrow' at "MCOUNTDOWN" and ‘Circle' at "VICTON COMEBACK SHOW : The future is now" for sentimental, passionate and romantic ByungChan.

Just like his vocal duality, a quick change of concepts will bring out entirely different versions of ByungChan, and you’ll be left in awe each time. He can be intimidating and smug, enchanting and princely, powerful and bewitching, but the best part is that he can do it all at once if he wants to. How the bubbly little ball of sunshine transforms into a beast on stage will always be a mystery of the world that we love to indulge ourselves in. 

ALICE's Wonderwall: ByungChan's Screen Duality

When ByungChan debuted in the K-Drama industry, the doors to an ideal future for Hallyu opened up. Carrying on his legacy of sincerity and star power in the acting world, ByungChan was instantly recognized for his multifaceted skills and versatility. 

Before debuting with VICTON, ByungChan made a cameo in Apink member Jeong EunJi’s drama “Sassy Go Go”. Years later in 2020, now an established idol, ByungChan was cast in the youth drama “Live On” as Kim YooShin. 

Kim YooShin is a high-school student with a bright and outgoing personality. He is childlike and innocent at times, especially in matters of love, but he is also inventive and smart. YooShin is the type of person everyone wants as a friend, but he is also the perfect lover boy who will give you the world. ByungChan’s natural acting in this drama drew much attention from fans and critics alike, who lauded him for doing such a great job on his first drama. 

2021 gave us a diametrically opposed ByungChan as Kim GaOn/Kang EunSeo in “The King’s Affection”, which recently became the first-ever K-Drama to win the Best Telenovela award at the International Emmy Awards. Just like ByungChan’s stage duality never fails to surprise us pleasantly, his transformation into the delphic, dark, and conflicted Kim GaOn was a spectacular sight to behold. The constant oscillation in GaOn’s feelings, the pent-up grief that always threatened to spill over - ByungChan delivered these emotions with such nuance that we could not help but fall in love with him. What is even more impressive about this role is that ByungChan performed his stunts himself, regardless of how intricate or elaborate they were. This is the perfect time for a gentle reminder that this is also the man who gets scared of popping a balloon with a drop of orange juice. 

Finally, we have ByungChan’s latest work - “Business Proposal” to bring back the universal little brother energy that we so love and adore. Shin HaMin brought in much of the comic relief in the drama when things were getting more complicated, making sure that the audience were immersed but also comforted. He is competitive, sassy, and knows how to get his way with people, especially Kang TaeMu (Ahn HyoSeop). At the same time, he is also protective of his sister Shin HaRi (Kim SeJeong), and loves her to no end. From covering for her to teasing the life out of her, HaMin has all bases covered. The subtle shades of duality ByungChan portrays throughout the show have our eyes turning into hearts while our sides hurt from laughter. 

In the future, we’d love to see ByungChan take on genres like thriller, horror, and melodrama because, given his intrinsic talent for mastering any character he plays, it would be a sheer delight to see him tap into more unconventional roles and acting styles. With how quickly ByungChan is rising in the industry, there is no doubt that we will have innumerable more opportunities to fawn over him and his sundry characters.

Chick-Puppy Meets Supermodel: ByungChan's Aesthetic Duality

ByungChan's Instagram

Fluffy, high-fashion, boyfriend material - these are the words that pop into our heads the moment we think about ByungChan’s personal aesthetic, and the duality in our expression is all too apparent. Choi ByungChan has an authentic, timeless visual taste in fashion that goes beyond trends. Instead, ByungChan curates his own aesthetic and sticks to it, which is what has birthed what we call “the ByungChan look”. 

Denim and white tees, cardigans, and hoodies, saturated as well as pastel colors are staples in ByungChan’s closet. At the same time, when he walks into a photoshoot in a suit and tie or even more glamorous stage outfits, it is only a matter of time before our knees go weak. At this point, this contrast is so stark yet perfectly fitting, that ByungChan has us convinced that he might as well have a twin! 

ByungChan can make you swoon in a leather jacket and melt you into a puddle with a cozy sweater. One moment, you could be scrolling through his Instagram (@b__yccn) like the 1.9 million people who follow him at the time of writing, appreciating his OOTDs where he’s posing like the boy next door, but in the next moment, you’ll find his Men’s Health cover and rethink your entire life. ByungChan might be your bias, but ByungChan himself will also bias-wreck you. Such is the power of his aesthetic duality. 

When ByungChan smiles, allowing his dimples to shine in all their glory, we can quite literally feel our blues being washed away. When he laughs, we cannot help but laugh along, almost as if his happiness is contagious! Besides, the dedication he has towards his fans and his determination to be happy with ALICE, is one of the many reasons why it’s so rewarding to be his fan. At the same time, with a switch of a concept on screen or stage, ByungChan becomes a dazzling chimera that we look up to with the utmost respect and admiration.

At the end of the day, no matter how much we rhapsodize about Choi ByungChan, we can only capture a fraction of his greatness. The vastitude of talent, the ocean of charisma, and the universe of excellence that he holds within, are the finer things in life that we're blessed to be experiencing in the same timeline as him. With an extraordinarily bright future ahead of him, we cannot wait to see what ByungChan has in store for us next.

What is your favorite thing about ByungChan's duality? Tell us in the comments section down below!

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