Since the early days of K-pop’s first generation, South Korean entertainment companies have actively scouted talent worldwide, frequently debuting idols from foreign countries. The United States, particularly Los Angeles, California, has long been a key source of talent due to K-pop’s strong American music influences. In recent years, however, Australia has gained prominence as a hotspot for discovering future K-pop stars, leading to a growing number of Aussie idols making their mark in the industry.

As more Aussie idols are pursuing their dreams in Seoul, let’s take a look at some of the most notable K-pop stars from Australia.

ROSÉ

Although Rosé was born in New Zealand, she relocated to Melbourne, Australia, at the age of seven, where she grew up. In 2012, she took part in a YG Entertainment audition in Sydney and outperformed 700 other contestants, securing the top spot. After that, Rosé moved to Seoul to begin her training, eventually debuting with BLACKPINK. Today, she stands as one of K-pop’s most renowned stars, both as the group's main vocalist and a successful solo artist.

BANG CHAN

Among the K-pop idols from Australia, the Stray Kids’ Aussie line stands out as one of the most popular and beloved. The group’s leader, Bang Chan, is a Korean-Australian who was born in Seoul but raised in Sydney, Australia. At just 13 years old, he passed the 2010 JYP Entertainment Global Audition held in Australia. He then moved to Seoul, where he trained for seven years before debuting with Stray Kids, marking the beginning of his journey to stardom.

FELIX

Stray Kids’ Felix, known for his distinctive voice and captivating stage presence, is one of the top Australian idols in the K-pop world. Born and raised in the Greater Western Sydney region, Felix relocated to Seoul in 2017 to be a trainee under JYP Entertainment. After less than a year of training, he participated in the Stray Kids’ survival show and earned his spot in the group and rose to fame as one of the most popular members.

HANNI

Hanni, the Vietnamese-Australian member of the popular K-pop girl group NewJeans, was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to Vietnamese parents. While in Australia, Hanni was part of the AEMINA Dance Crew, which specialized in K-pop dance covers. In 2019, she took part in the Plus Global Audition and moved to Seoul for training. By 2022, she had debuted as a member of NewJeans, quickly gaining recognition as one of the top Aussie idols. She is now also an ambassador for UGG Australia.

DANIELLE

Danielle, the Korean-Australian member of NewJeans, hails from Newcastle, New South Wales, and was born to an Australian father and a Korean mother. She spent her early childhood in South Korea, where she appeared on television shows like ‘Rainbow Kindergarten,’ ‘Jesse’s Play Kitchen,’ ‘My Heart’s Crayon,’ etc., and worked as a child model, before moving back to Australia in 2012. She later returned to Seoul to pursue her K-pop dreams and eventually debuted as a member of NewJeans in 2022.

LILY

In 2021, JYP Entertainment added another idol to its Aussie line with Lily’s debut as the main vocalist of NMIXX. Born in Marysville, Victoria, to an Australian father and a South Korean mother, Lily’s Australian-Korean heritage shaped her unique identity. She first gained national attention in 2014 when she competed on K-pop Star season 4, finishing fourth overall. After the show, both JYP and YG Entertainment scouted her, and she ultimately signed an exclusive contract with JYP in 2015.

JAKE

Jake, the Korean-Australian member of ENHYPEN, was born in Seoul but moved to Australia at a young age. After just nine months of training, Jake competed in the 2020 reality survival show ‘I-LAND,’ produced by Mnet and organised by Belift Lab. He finished in 3rd place, earning a spot in ENHYPEN and debuting with the group in November 2020. Jake’s success marked him as one of the standout fourth-generation Aussie idols in K-pop.

Who is your favorite idol from Australia? Drop a comment below!