Australia has produced several prominent K-pop idols, including Rosé (BLACKPINK), Felix & Bang Chan (Stray Kids), Jake (ENHYPEN), Lily (NMIXX), and Hanni & Danielle (NewJeans), who often bring their unique Australian backgrounds, accents, and experiences to the global K-pop scene, contributing to its growing international appeal.
Hanni of NewJeans
Hanni, one of the five members of the band NewJeans, is yet another Melbourne-born K-pop star who's quickly becoming one of the biggest names in the industry. Raised in Australia with Vietnamese heritage, Hanni moved to Seoul in 2020 at just 16 to train under Hybe Entertainment.
And if you ask K-pop fans like me, we will recite the “Aussie Line” of Rosé, Bang Chan, Felix, Jake, Lily, Hanni and Danielle. Most people will have no idea who they are. So, here's a primer. Probably the most famous K-pop Aussie is Rosé ( Roseanne Park /Park Chae-yeong) from BLACKPINK, the world's most streamed group.
Simple answer: There's a huge Asian population that lives in Australia. Personally, I believe that due to proximity, more aussies try out for kpop groups compared to Asians from Canada, Britain, and the US.
The Blackpink member who is Australian (and from New Zealand) is Rosé (Roseanne Park), who was born in New Zealand but raised in Melbourne from age seven, attending school there and developing her singing in church choirs before moving to Korea for training.
Stray Kids has two Australian members, Bang Chan and Felix, both hailing from Sydney, Australia, making them a significant part of the group's global appeal and identity, often referred to as the "Aussie line" alongside other Australian K-pop idols like BLACKPINK's Rosé. Bang Chan, the leader, was born in Seoul but raised in Sydney, while Felix was born and raised in Sydney, notes Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Roseanne Park (born 11 February 1997), known mononymously as Rosé (Korean: 로제), is a New Zealand and South Korean singer and songwriter. Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Rosé moved to South Korea and signed with label YG Entertainment following a successful audition in 2012.
Holland is known as "the first openly gay K-pop idol". He is an only child. His parents found out about his sexuality after he discussed it in an interview.
For decades, K-pop fans dreaded the “seven-year curse.” Under Korea's standard entertainment contract, the maximum term for exclusive deals is capped at seven years. As groups approached that mark, breakups, member departures or label changes became common. The curse claimed some of the industry's biggest names.
Yes, Christians can listen to K-pop, but it depends on individual discernment, as opinions vary from it being perfectly fine to problematic, focusing on lyrics, themes, and avoiding obsession or idolatry, with many Christians enjoying it in moderation while some avoid certain songs or content due to spiritual concerns. The key is personal conviction, ensuring music doesn't hinder faith, glorify sin, or become a replacement for God, and there are even devout Christian K-pop artists.
The global K-pop movement has well and truly hit Australia, with TWICE's current tour officially breaking the record for the best-selling K-pop tour in Oceania. The record-breaking milestone marks another huge moment for TWICE, who continue to raise the bar for K- pop worldwide.
Twelve years later, the once self-described “shy” and “normal” Melbourne teen has become global K-pop sensation Rosé, whose hit song has had almost 2 billion YouTube views, and is inspiring the next crop of local stars.
NewJeans had two Australian members, Hanni Pham (Vietnamese-Australian, from Melbourne) and Danielle Marsh (Korean-Australian, from Newcastle, NSW), but Danielle's contract with ADOR was terminated in late 2025, leaving Hanni as the sole Australian member. Both Hanni and Danielle grew up speaking English with strong Australian accents, bringing unique global representation to the group.
As if paralleling this trend, K-pop fandom has become conspicuously multiracial; although K-pop performers are predominantly ethnic Koreans, K-pop nowadays commands a global audience that is not limited to just a few ethnic and racial categories.
Jake (제이크) is a South Korean-Australian rapper and singer-songwriter under Belift Lab. He is a member of the boy group ENHYPEN.
The Academy Australia | Kpop Boot Camp | Idol Training.
While K-pop is generally a difficult industry for overt LGBTQ+ expression, pioneers like Holland (openly gay solo artist) and recent examples like Bain (of JUST B, who came out in 2025) are notable, alongside figures like Jiae (former WASUP, bisexual) and Harisu (pioneering transgender entertainer), showcasing increasing visibility despite societal challenges in South Korea. Many other idols show LGBTQ+ support or hint at fluidity, but these individuals are known for their public declarations.
For many years, BoA held the record as the youngest idol at debut, as she released her first album “ID; Peace B” at the age of 13 years and 9 months! It was only in June 2022 that her record was broken by Haeun (formerly Lapillus), as she was even 2 months younger at her debut.
Top 10 Hardest K-Pop Dances to Pull Off
Image: Photo: Instagram / @official_marykiko. K-POP star Hansol recently came out as asexual. Hansol, of the group ToppDogg, came out via an Instragram livestream, Gay Star News has reported. “I have been thinking a lot,” Hansol said.
K-Pop celebrities with twins
Jo Youngmin and Jo Kwangmin debuted together in 2011 as part of the K-pop boy group Boyfriend, under Starship Entertainment. Known for their identical looks and synchronised choreography, the twins quickly became fan favourites, often performing side by side in mirrored styling.
Jungkook is very open in his support for the LGBTQ+ community - YouTube.
In Blackpink, Lisa is the non-Korean member, hailing from Thailand, while Rosé (Korean-New Zealander) was born in New Zealand but grew up in Australia, making Lisa the only member of a different nationality, with Jennie and Jisoo being fully Korean.
Most rosés can, and in many cases, should be drunk within 12 months of their vintage year. However, plenty of rosé wines taste better after a year or two, and some can even be aged for up to ten years, much to the delight of your taste buds!
K-pop idol Rosé of Blackpink fame grew up in Australia – but she could never have made it big here.