Today, Korean entertainment is not just limited to South Korea. Korean entertainment has spread its wings all across the world. People from countries like Japan, China, Thailand, and India have shown interest in working in the Korean entertainment industry. You would probably know that Sriya Lenka and Aria are Indians who are already idols in Korea.
But did you know that there are native South Korean celebrities who were once a citizen of another country but later on moved to South Korea to try their luck in the industry? Let’s look at all the South Korean celebrities, who were once citizens of some other foreign country and now hold dual citizenship.
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Roseanne Park, also known as Rose, is a singer and dancer of the girl group, Blackpink. She was born on February 11, 1997, in New Zealand and has spent her formative years in Australia. Rose auditioned with the South Korean label, YG Entertainment in 2012 and underwent four years of training before debuting with the girl group, Blackpink in August 2016. Currently, she holds dual citizenship of both New Zealand and South Korea. Rose is also famous for her golden voice.
You would be surprised to know that Our Beloved Summer actor, Choi Woo Shik holds Canadian citizenship. Woo Shik is a popular actor, who spent his childhood in South Korea before moving to Canada with his family. He stayed there until college, after which he decided to pursue an acting career back in South Korea. Since the 2010s, he has gained a large fan following. He has starred in some of the most popular Korean films, such as the Academy Award-winning, Parasite, The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, and Train To Busan.
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Ahn Hyo Seop is infamous for his role in the romcom, Business Proposal. His character ‘Kang Tae Moo’ gained instant love from the audience. But did you know he holds Canadian citizenship? Ahn Hyo Seop was born in South Korea, but his family moved to Canada when he was in elementary school. However, he chose to return to South Korea in his late teens to attend college and begin his career in the entertainment industry. He has starred in numerous dramas such as Dr. Romantic, Lovers Of The Red Sky, and A Time Called You.
Lily Jin Morrow, aka Lily, is a talented singer hailing from Victoria, Australia. She has a unique heritage, her father, Bruce Marrow, is Australian, and her mother, Park Jin-hee, is Korean. Lily is a part of the South Korean girl group, NMIXX. She signed the contract with JYP Entertainment after finishing fourth in the fourth season of the reality show, K-pop Star in 2015. She debuted as a member of NMIXX on February 22, 2022.
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Felix Lee was born on September 15, 2000, in Sydney, Australia. He is a talented member of the K-pop boy group, Stray Kids, which comes under JYP Entertainment. Felix is the lead rapper and lead dancer of the group. In addition to his rapping skills, Felix excels in beatboxing and piano. He is widely recognized for his unique, deep voice that can be heard in Stray Kids' music. Felix debuted with Stray Kids on March 25, 2018, with their album, I am NOT and its title track, District 9.
Ma Dong Seok is quite popular for playing antagonistic characters on screen. He also got a chance to work in the MCU film, Eternals. The renowned actor was born in South Korea and holds United States citizenship. Ma Dong Seok resided in Ohio for a while and even attended a community college there. However, his passion for the South Korean film industry drew him back to Asia, where he has become one of the biggest stars today. Ma Dong Seok also tied the knot with media personality, Ye Jung Hwa in 2021.
Joshua, whose full name is Joshua Hong, is a talented Korean-American singer and performer, who belongs to Pledis Entertainment. He is a valued member of the vocal team in the boy group, Seventeen. Joshua hails from California, where he spent most of his childhood. During his frequent visits to Koreatown, NYC, he was discovered by a Pledis Entertainment agent. After successfully auditioning, Joshua returned to South Korea to become an official trainee. Finally, on May 26, 2015, he debuted as a member of the boy group, Seventeen, achieving his dreams and winning the hearts of fans worldwide.
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Huh Yun Jin is a talented Korean-American singer-songwriter, who is currently based in South Korea. She is part of the popular girl group, LE SSERAFIM. Yunjin was born in South Korea on October 8, 2001, but grew up in Niskayuna, New York, United States. While attending Niskayuna High School, she developed a passion for musical theatre and singing. She later transferred to the Applied Music Department of Hanlim Multi Art School on March 4, 2019, where she pursued her musical education. Yunjin moved back to South Korea to become a trainee. Before joining LE SSERAFIM, Yunjin was a trainee at both PLEDIS Entertainment and SM Entertainment.
Ko Sung Hee is a talented actress, who holds dual citizenship in the United States and South Korea. Born to Korean parents, her father served as a Korean Ambassador to the US. Due to his position, the family stayed in the US until his work was completed. Ko Sung Hee tied the knot with her non-celebrity spouse in November 2022 and has recently portrayed the character of ‘Cha Na Rae’ in the popular comedy series, Gaus Electronics.
Kai Kamal Huening, better known as Heuning Kai was born on August 14, 2002, in Hawaii, USA. He is one of the five members of the K-pop group, TXT. Although he was born in the USA, he later moved to China and spent his formative years there before moving to South Korea. His mother is a South Korean, while his father is a German musician, Nabil David Huening.
Who is your favourite on the list? Let us know.
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