MR PORTER / Amber Liu's Twitter / GOT7 Mark's Instagram
Many dream of the chance to debut and stand on stage in front of millions as a K-Pop idol. The path to debut is long and difficult, but through years of hard work and perseverance, a handful of individuals are reborn as stars, either as part of a group or as a soloist.
Some idols even leave their home country in order to realize their dreams, coming from places like Japan, Taiwan, and the United States to name a few. Then, after polishing their skills and gaining some recognition in the K-Pop industry, there are a few idols that make a homecoming and try their hand outside of the Korean market.
That is certainly the case for some American born idols who have returned to the land of the red, white, and blue. Now, let's take a look at some of these American K-Pop idols active in the States.
Amber's Twitter
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Amber rose to fame as a member of SM girl group, f(x) for their unique concepts and legendary performances. She showed her skills, not only as a rapper, but as a talented vocalist, too. Now that she's returned back home to the States, Amber has continued to release music, collaborated with various content creators across multiple platforms, and appeared on various podcasts to talk about her music process and experience as a K-Pop idol. Amber certainly knows how to push the limits and show that she's still able to rock the stage.
Kevin Woo's Twitter
Kevin Woo left the Bay Area at the age of 15 in order to pursue his dreams of becoming a K-Pop idol. Since then, he has appeared at K-Con, hosted variety program "After School Club", and even became a creative director for Kollektion, becoming the first idol to venture into the world of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. Kevin made his American debut with R&B track, "Got It" on June 29, 2021. Recently, it was also announced that he would be making his Broadway debut through "KPOP The Musical". Kevin is definitely showing that he's not afraid to challenge himself and prove that he can succeed outside of Korea.
DIVE Studios
WooSung is another Los Angeles native and first arrived onto the K-Pop scene through SBS' survival program, "K-Pop Star". After some time, he eventually became the frontman of The Rose, making his formal debut in 2017. While still part of The Rose, WooSung made his solo debut in 2019 and even created his own label, Woolfpack, to promote his music. Outside of pop-rock, he has dabbled in genres like hip-hop, synth-pop, and more, showcasing a brand new side of himself. Even without a guitar in his hands, WooSung's melodic voice is enough to capture the hearts of fans everywhere.
DIVE Studios
Eric Nam has been making waves since his appearance on MBC's "Birth of a Great Star 2" in 2011. He has done everything from music shows, MC gigs, and variety programs making him a staple name in Korean entertainment. Now, Eric has gone independent, granting him artistic freedom and control over his music. This is made apparent through his album, "There And Back Again", as some tracks are a departure from his usual style. Along with his brothers, Eric has also established a podcast platform, Mindset, and has become a vocal mental health advocate. Eric Nam's transformation as an artist is undeniable and it is exciting to watch where he will go from here.
Singles
This Los Angeles born idol gained fame as a member of the globally famous boy group GOT7. Fans fell for his captivating good looks, amazing personality, and charismatic rapping abilities. Currently, Mark has left Korea and is now working on his own projects while still a member of GOT7. He's released numerous singles since then, connected with fans through streaming platform Twitch, and recently announced the release of his first solo album, "The Other Side" with a North American tour planned for later this year. It's an exciting time to be a Mark Tuan fan and see how he's changed through his upcoming album.
Which American-born K-Pop idol would you like to see active in the States? Let us know in the comments!
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