20 K-Pop Idols You Should Be Paying Attention To Because They Can Do Almost Anything
While some idols specialise in one talent, such as singing, rapping or dancing, many have more than one that they pursue and develop in their career. And then there are others who seem to succeed at just about everything! While this list is certainly not exhaustive, here are 20 K-Pop idols with versatile talents that they’ve utilised and developed throughout their careers.
1. Key (SHINee)
Key is a hugely talented singer, dancer, rapper, actor and fashion designer, and he also writes music for SHINee and his duo with Infinite‘s Woohyung, Toheart. He is an artist, having held his own exhibition, and prior to debuting with SHINee was a professional water skiier. He was also special editor and columnist for Elle Korea and can speak four languages.
2. G-Dragon (BIGBANG)
G-Dragon wasn’t named 2016’s most influential person under 30 in Asia’s entertainment and sports by Forbes for nothing – he has a wide skillset that he’s put to good use in his 10 plus years in the industry. He’s a singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion icon known for penning chart-topping singles for not only himself but many other K-Pop idols. To top it off, he’s got his own cafes and fashion lines.
3. Rocky (ASTRO)
As ASTRO‘s lead rapper, Rocky has got the skills, but he is also a talented singer, choreographer and dancer, helping to choreograph the group’s songs. He can also act, having shown off his skills in the pre-debut web series To Be Continued.
4. BoA
The Queen of K-Pop can do it all – sing, dance, write, compose and act, all in three different languages. She’s fluent in Japanese and English along with native Korean and has recorded songs in Mandarin Chinese, and has had a successful music and acting career in America, Japan, China and Korea. She was the producer for Produce 101 Season 2 and a judge on K-Pop Star.
5. ZICO (Block B)
ZICO is the leader of Block B, but he’s also had an extremely successful solo career as a rapper. Not only that, he’s a skilled dancer and producer, and he can sing as well. He is also well-known in the industry as a talented songwriter and hip-hop artist.
6. Soyeon [(G)I-DLE]
Soyeon is the leader of G-IDLE and the main rapper, lead dancer, vocalist, cenre and visual – and she also composes the group’s songs. She composed, arranged and wrote the lyrics for their latest track, “HANN”. She appeared on Unpretty Rapstar and Produce 101 and was praised for her well-rounded skills.
7. Mark (NCT)
Mark is part of all three NCT subunits as a main rapper, lead dancer, visual, and leader, but in addition he writes his own raps, occasionally composes for NCT, and can sing.
8. Jackson (GOT7)
Jackson is a rapper, singer and dancer in GOT7, but is also known for his appearances on Korean reality television, notably Roommate. He is active in China as a solo artist, brand model and TV host, and a tourism ambassador for Hong Kong. To add to the list, he wrote his own lyrics to his solo tracks and co-composed and arranged the music. Plus, he used to be a pro fencer and speaks Chinese, Korean and English.
9. N (VIXX)
As the leader of VIXX, N is the main dancer, lead vocalist and visual member, but he’s also an accomplished choreographer, actor, presenter, and radio host. He appeared in many variety shows and dramas, including Hitmaker, where he showed off his rapping skills as a member of Jeong Hyeong Don and Defconn‘s first project group, Big Byung. He’s co-MC’d Show! Music Core and Weekly Idol, has his own radio show, and has an active acting career in dramas and musicals. He’s choreographed VIXX’s performances as well as MYTEEN.
10. CL (former 2NE1 member)
CL was the leader and main rapper of one of the biggest K-Pop girl groups of the 2000’s, 2NE1, until it disbanded in 2016, but she also has a massively successful solo career as a rapper and singer, and the girl can dance. Not only that, she writes and composes music, having an active hand in writing the lyrics for certain 2NE1 tracks and her own songs.
11. Young K (DAY6)
Young K is a singer, songwriter and rapper, and is DAY6‘s bassist, vocalist and rapper. He’s credited with writing most of the lyrics for his rock band.
12. Seungri (BIGBANG)
Seungri is, of course, one of the main vocals of BIGBANG, but he’s branched out into so much more. He’s had a successful acting career in Korea and Japan, is a solo artist, owns several businesses, is fluent in more than one language, and is an accomplished MC and variety star in Japan and Korea. He also writes and produces his own music.
13. Jay Park
Jay Park is a singer, rapper, actor, dancer and choreographer, songwriter, producer, and co-founder of two big music labels, AOMG and H1GHR Music. He has successful careers in both the US and South Korea.
14. Jinyoung (GOT7)
Jinyoung can sing and dance well, but also spent time training as a rapper to participate in GOT7‘s duo JJ Project. He has helped write, compose, and choreograph GOT7’s songs, and showed off his acting and presenting skills with roles in several dramas and MC’ing Inkigayo.
15. Jisung (Stray Kids)
Jisung is a triple threat as not only one of the three members of 3RACHA (Stray Kids‘s pre-debut rap line, with Chan and Chongbin) and Stray Kids’s main rapper, but he is also an accomplished vocalist and dancer. In addition, he helps with composing and writing lyrics, can speak basic Malay and is fluent in English.
16. Lay (EXO)
Lay, or Yixing, is a singer, dancer and rapper, as a member of EXO, EXO-M and his own successful solo career. He is also a producer, composer, and songwriter, and has written an autobiography. He is fluent in Korean, Mandarin and English and can also speak Cantonese and Japanese. He plays the guitar, piano and the flute, and has had a successful acting career in South Korea and China. He was a teacher and producer on on Idol Producer and is a huge brand ambassador in China. He came in at the 20th spot on the 2017 Forbes China Celebrity 100 List with estimated earnings of 120 million yuan.
17. Henry (former Super Junior member)
Henry is a musical genius, able to play multiple instruments, sing, dance and produce, and has made a career for himself as an actor. He’s also well-known as a variety show entertainer and can speak Korean, English, Mandarin, Cantonese and French. Not only that, he’s opened up his own Chinese restaurant in Gangnam.
18. Jungkook (BTS)
Jungkook really is the golden maknae! He’s BTS‘s main vocalist, in the dance line, sub-rapper, centre and visual and produces and writes music as well. He also records and edits his own videos, and has a talent for drawing and painting.
19. Chanyeol (EXO)
Chanyeol is part of EXO’s rap line, but he’s also a talented singer, song writer, composer, actor and model. He plays drums, guitar and piano. He’s been a popular variety show participant and appeared in both film and dramas, as well as collaborated in the production of several soundtracks. In addition, he’s a fashion icon, having been invited to Tommy Hilfiger‘s London fashion show in 2017.
20. Chaeyoung (TWICE)
Chaeyoung is TWICE‘s main rapper but the girl can sing, as evident in her Melody project. She also wrote all the lyrics to her raps when she was a contestant on SIXTEEN and has writing credits in some of TWICE’s songs. Add in her dancing skills and she really is a multi-talent.
