If you think that Asian celebs are big NOW, you should have seen them in the 90s and 2000s. Pop and movie stars from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan were practically demigods – and many of them are still going strong.
Here are some celebs that you may have had a crush on back then:
RAIN
Before BTS, the most prominent K-pop idol in the 2000s was Rain (Jung Ji-hoon). Those who had a major crush on Rain back then knew him for his K-drama role as Lee Young Jae from Full House, other than his successful singing career. Fast forward to now, Rain is still singing actively… He is also married with children. (Wow, how time flies 😲)
F4 (Flower Four)/JVKV (2007 rename)
One of the most impactful boybands in Mandopop was F4, a Taiwanese boyband formed in 2001 after the main four starred in the popular Taiwanese drama series – Meteor Garden 1 & 2. Fans of this boyband have their own favourites (mine is Van Ness, still, after 20 years). F4 fans got their wish granted back in 2013 when the quartet reunited on stage for a Chinese New Year programme from Jiangsu TV.
2013 Reunion: [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z00_a4QCcOs[/embedyt]
Kwon Sang Woo
One of the OG K-drama crushes, Kwon Sang Woo starred in Stairway to Heaven as Cha Song Joo, back in 2003. He was everyone’s Oppa for the duration of the drama series. Now, Kwon Sang Woo is a businessman and still has an active acting career.
Bae Yong Joon
The OG K-drama Oppa way before Gong Yoo, Bae Yong Joo was the main male lead in the ever-popular K-drama Winter Sonata. His performance as Kang Joon-sang won everyone over. Not only that, Winter Sonata is said to be the K-drama that brought the K-wave to Asia and the world. Bae Yong Joo has retired from acting and is the chairman of an entertainment agency.
Fahrenheit/飛輪海
Fahrenheit was the boyband crush of many girls from 2005 onwards, with their iconic roles in the Taiwanese drama K.O. Series (终极系列). Wu Chun was arguably the most popular of the quartet. (My favourite was Calvin).
Who are your crushes from that era?
More on Asian celebrities? Read this:
Idol Wave: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Of Asian Pop Idol Culture
