5 K-Pop Idols That HATE Being Famous

What would it be like if you couldn't go grocery shopping, go on a date, visit your loved ones in the hospital, and couldn't do everything else that people do on a daily basis? Simply, whatever you do that normal people do will be the talk of the town the next day. I wonder if anybody would dare date you if their face was going to be shared all over the internet within seconds. This is the life of a K-pop idol. And this is the price idols have to pay for all the popularity they gain.

While some idols are okay with it, there are some who are strictly private and avoid publicity at all cost. They are extremely good at creeping in and out of crowds unnoticed. Let’s find out the top 10 K-pop stars who hate fame and manage to stay off the radar of fans.

First we have Irene, the leader of Red Velevt. We know she is from Dague and has a younger sister. There is nothing known about her family in comparison to other Red Velvet members. It is clear that while Wendy, Yeri, and Joy have bubbly personalities, and Seulgi, being the unni, takes care of all, the leader, Irene, is a somewhat reserved type. Despite her cold aura, Irene is considered a caring leader. Even in interviews, it is very rare for her to speak as the leader. Red Velvet members have shared pictures of their siblings, and they openly talk about their family. But it is very difficult to get anything out of the ice princess. It is said that Irene’s younger sister and mother run a restaurant in Daegu. People who have seen her say she doesn’t look like Irene but has her own unique beauty. She is also taller than Irene.

Next we have Chanwoo from Ikon. According to IKonics, the maknae of the group is the most secretive. Chanwoo had been in the public eye since childhood because he portrayed Li Min Ho’s childhood version both in Boys over Flowers and Heirs. This means that he should be known by not only K-pop fans but general drama fans as well, right? But fans know nothing about his family. Four years ago, it was revealed that he has a brother two years older. And the IKon members didn’t know Chanwoo had a brother. The group members themselves say that they know very little about Chanwoo’s family. Some fans speculate that he is actually from a chabeol family.

Next on our list, can you guess? This main vocal from one of the most famous boy bands, in the prime of his career, suddenly announced that his fiancée is pregnant and he is getting married. Seriously, Dispatch, where were you? This man is none other than Chen from EXO. Nobody knew about his love life until this news was officially announced by SM Entertainment on January 13th, 2020. The Korean EXO-Ls were outraged and demanded Chen be expelled. However, there was no reaction from SM and the international fan base was already getting ready to welcome the baby. After a couple of months, Chen enlisted for mandatory military service. Then, the fans were bombarded with the news of the second baby. To date, no one knows who his wife is and not a single photo of his girls has been published. Yes, we know they are both girls, because that’s what the official statement said. Fans are waiting for Chen to appear in Return of Superman with the two daughters, but I highly doubt it given his personality.

Imagine being a member of the biggest boy band and yet being secretive about everything. Kim Seokjin, or as we all know, Jin, is very private about himself. But his brother and the other group mates spill the tea sometimes. What we know about Jin is that his brother is Kim Seok-Jung, and he, in partnership with Jin, runs a Japanese restaurant. Have you seen a photo of a pretty lady being shared, stating that she is Mr. Worldwide Handsome’s mother? Now that is a fake, guys. According to a picture he once shared, Jin's mom is indeed pretty. But that’s all we know about his family. His father is rumored to be a CEO but wishes to keep it under wraps. That is what is being said. Finally, we know nothing about his family history, hobbies, or interests other than what has been speculated.

The number 1 on our list is... yes, you guessed it right. DO from EXO. The world-famous idol who is living under a rock. EXO is one of the most popular boy bands not only in South Korea but in the world. With that much fame and being a very successful actor, what do you know about him? Honestly, fangirling Do Kyungsoo is boring, don’t you agree? He has no social media presence. He has never posted his photos on Bubble, the official platform that connects SM artists and fans. He would post a random picture of the sky or a flower and would post, "Did you have a good day?" And the best part about this man is that he hangs out with the social butterfly Chanyeol, and while Chanyeol gets all the attention, DO manages to sneak out unnoticed. Being an introverted DO once revealed how hard it had been for him to be an idol in his twenties. He thought of giving up. This man enlisted for mandatory military service before all of his senior members; he wanted to be out of the spotlight once more. And in the military, he became a member of the kitchen staff, yet again minimizing his presence. DO would always be extremely successful, either as a singer, actor, or chef. But we fans will never learn anything about his personal life.

What is clear is that all of these idols are talented and successful. This shows us that most fans are not actually bothered by an idol's personal life, but what matters is their talent. Comment below and let us know if we missed any artists you think are always trying to stay out of the spotlight. Take care, subscribe to Keep Up With Korea!