Look-Alikes: Kim Hyun Joong versus Wu Chun versus Yamapi

I’m back in trailing the Asian entertainment scene. I will not deny that I am currently more immersed in Asian shows than in Western TV series. The Korean variety shows has especially hooked me up with their humor and witty situations. In diving through the faces of Korean entertainment, I was especially drawn to SS501 Kim Hyun Joong… and how he reminded me of other Asian idols who somehow look like him.

Look-Alikes : Asian Idols

Kim Hyun Joong is one of the most popular idols of Korea. He’s got the talent, the personality, the charm.. and he’s also got the face… What about the face? Well, it’s a face that appears to be common among popular idols in Asia. Yamashita Tomohisa a.k.a. Yamapi, a very popular idol in Japan, has almost the same features. These two are almost always being compared, with Hyun Joong sometimes credited to be popular in Japan because he looks like Yamapi. I would also like to add a popular face to be compared with these two, this time another popular idol from Taiwan: Farenheit’s Wu Chun, who I can say also commands a huge fan base not just in Taiwan but across Asia, too.

Japan’s Idol: NEWS – Yamapi

Tomohisa Yamapi

His real name is Tomohisa Yamashita, but is more popularly known by his nickname Yamapi. Yamapi entered the entertainment business when he was 11 and eventually grew to idol stardom. He is currently one of the top male idols of Japan.

Yamapi is the leader and (accepted widely) the best dancer of Jpop group NEWS. He has also collaborated with a fellow pop idol and formed Shuji to Akira. He is also successful as a solo artist, and is also a songwriter.

As the trend of Asian singers goes, Yamapi also delved into acting and was as successful at the craft as he is in the music scene. He has acted in a great many TV dramas and films, and has even won awards for his roles. He is usually one of the male leads in his dramas. For supporting roles, he also stands out with his onscreen charm and suave portrayals.

Taiwan’s Idol: Farenheit – Wu Chun

Wu Chun

The oldest of the three, Wu Chun shot to fame as an actor. Afterwards, he joined the popular Taiwanese boyband Farenheit and went on to become one of the top idols and leading men of Taiwanese TV. He was formerly a model and a fitness instructor in Brunei, where he lived.

Aside from being an actor and singer, Wu Chun is also a businessman. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia) and founded their family’s gym, Fitness Zone, in Brunei.

Wu Chun was recently awarded the Young Entrepreneur of the Year (under real name Goh Kiat Chun) back in August during the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards in Brunei.

South Korea’s Idol: SS501 – Kim Hyun Joong

Kim Hyun Joong

Kim Hyun Joong is a freshie when compared to Yamapi and Wu Chun. Hyun Joong only entered the entertainment industry in 2005, and has achieved relative success as a singer. He is the leader and oldest member of boyband SS501, and has also been appearing in variety shows.

Hyun Joong, as an individual, skyrocketed to fame just recently with his involvement in We Got Married, a reality show where couples are paired up to be husband and wife. Hyun Joong plays the younger husband in an older-woman-and-younger-husband marital life. His 4D personality was exhibited and it charmed a big audience that led to a huge fan base.

Hyun Joong is also just starting onto the drama scene. He was just recently casted as Yoon Ji Hoo, the Korean version of Hanazawa Rui of the popular manga-turned-TV-series Hana Yori Dango. This is his first major acting role and he has shown some passion towards the craft that many can’t help but anticipate great things from him in the future.

Who’s the Idol of the Idols?

Can you choose between these three? Each of them has given us proof that they really deserved to be called idols. Each of them has certainly made a mark in the industry with their idol concepts. I have not really watched Wu Chun’s progress but his entrepreneurship efforts boosted him up for me. On the other hand, I have seen Yamapi’s enough to know that there’s no doubt Japan has a gret idol. Hyun Joong is still starting up on the acting path but he has continuously shown great effort and passion in everything he does… Argh! I can’t choose!