First Of Each Nationality Active In The Industry
There are have been many different idols of different nationalities that have been active in the K-POP industry, or have been associated with it! Here you will find a list of the first idols of specific nationalities that have been active!
Argentina
Maria Chantal Videla
Stage Name: Chanty
Birth Name: Maria Chantal Videla
Birthday: December 15, 2002
Nationality: Filipina-Argentinian
Member of: LAPILLUS
Active from: 2022 – present
Instagram: @itsmaria.chantal
— She was born in Manila, Philippines.
— She debuted as a member of girl group LAPILLUS, under MLD Entertainment, in 2022.
— She was previously active as an actress and a model.
Australia
Jang Hanbyul
Stage Name: Hanbyul
Birth Name: Jang Hanbyul
Birthday: July 4, 1990
Nationality: Korean-Australian
Member of: LedApple
Active from: 2011 – 2014
Instagram: @onestarbyul
— He was born in Brisbane, Australia.
— He was a member of boy group LedApple under Starkim Entertainment. He joined the group in 2010, and left in 2014. He wanted to focus on his solo career.
— He is currently active as a soloist under BIG OCEANENM.
Britain
Sam Carter
Stage Name: Sam
Birth Name: Sam Carter
Birthday: October 14, 1987
Nationality: British-Korean
Member of: LUNAFLY
Active from: 2012 – 2017
Instagram: @cartersamsc
— He was born in London, England.
— He debuted as member of Nega Network’s boy group LUNAFLY in 2012. The group has been inactive since 2017.
— He is currently active as a singer-songwriter and music producer. He is also the DJ for Arirang Radio’s Super K-Pop.
Brazil
Victor Han
Stage Name: Victor Han
Birth Name: Victor Han Baccic Galvão
Birthday: June 18, 1996
Nationality: Korean-Brazilian
Member of: About U
Active from: 2018 – 2020
— He was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
— He debuted with rock band About U in 2018, but was forced to leave in 2020. He broke a drumstick, while staring into the camera after a performance of their song ‘Who Took My Candy’.
— He wants to pursue a solo career, and was active as a drummer and YouTuber, but his channels have been deleted.
Canada
Lee SooA
Stage Name: Annie
Birth Name: Lee SooA
Birthday: April 16, 1978
Nationality: Korean-Canadian (possibly)
Member of: Tashannie
Active from: 1999 – 2000
— She was born in Vancouver, Canada.
— She debuted as a member of short-lived duo Tashannie, under World Music Entertainment, in 1999. The group would disband a few months later in 2000.
— She left the industry in 2004 after suffering from a severe back injury while working on a musical.
Chile
Jung Howon
Stage Name: Howon
Birth Name: Jung Howon
Birthday: October 27, 1992
Nationality: Korean-Chilean
Member of: W24
Active from: 2018 – present
— He was born in Santiago, Chile.
— He debuted as a member of JARMY Entertainment’s rock band W24 in 2018.
China
Shirayuki
Stage Name: Shirayuki
Birth Name: Shirayuki / Baixue
Birthday: September 29, 1986
Nationality: Chinese-Japanese
Member of: Circle
Active from: 1998 – 2000
Instagram: @baixue0929
— She was most probably born in Japan (as she attended elementary school there).
— She debuted as a member of girl group Circle, under Chosun Music and Soma Office, in 1998. The group would disband in 2000.
— She is currently active as a model.
China (Uyghur)
Xiào Dōngchéng
Stage Name: Manny
Birth Name: Xiào Dōngchéng
Birthday: November 17, 2001
Nationality: Chinese (Ethnicity: Uyghur)
Member of: VARSITY
Active From: 2017 – 2018
Instagram: @manny_arab
— He was born in Gansu, China.
— He debuted as a member of Korea’s Global K Center’s boy group VARSITY in 2017. The group would later move to Jungle Entertainment. In 2018, member Damon would confirm that the group disbanded.
— He is currently active as an artist and a dancer.
France
Olivia Rite
Stage Name: Olivia
Birth Name: Olivia Rite
Birthday: July 1, 1990
Nationality: French
Member of: The Gloss
Active from: 2013 – 2014
Instagram: @oliviarite
— She was born in France.
— She debuted as a member of girl group The Gloss, under MGMC Korea Limited, in 2013. The group would disband in 2014 after the company stated the members were going to focus on individual activities.
— She is currently active as a singer.
Germany
Ida Dene Simmons
Stage Name: Isak
Birth Name: Ida Dene Simmons / Kim Isak
Birthday: May 25, 1985
Nationality: German-American
Member of: Isak N Jiyeon
Active from: 2002 – 2004
Instagram: @realisak
— She was born in Frankfurt, Germany.
— She debuted under SM Entertainment, as a member of R&B duo Isak N Jiyeon in 2002. The group would disband in 2004.
— She currently works as a VJ at Arirang Radio, and has been with the station for over 10 years.
Hong Kong
Jackson Wang
Stage Name: Jackson
Birth Name: Wang Jia Er / Wang Ka Yee
Birthday: March 28, 1994
Nationality: Chinese (Hong Kong)
Member of: GOT7
Active from: 2014 – present
Instagram: @jacksonwang852g7
— He was born in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
— He debuted as a member of JYP Entertainment’s boy group GOT7 in 2014.
— He is currently active as a solo artist.
India
Shreya Lenka
Stage Name: Sriya
Birth Name: Shreya Lenka
Birthday: September 15, 2003
Nationality: Indian
Member of: BLACKSWAN
Active Since: 2022 – present
Instagram: @sriyalenka.bs
— She was born in Odisha, India.
— She was a part of DR Music’s trainee project Cygnus in 2021.
— She is currently a member of BLACKSWAN, having been added in 2022.
Indonesia
Edward Wen
Stage Name: LØUDI
Birth Name: Edward Wen / Won Ji Hoon
Birthday: April 13, 1996
Nationality: Indonesian
Member of: 14U, JN Entertainment Boy Group
Active from: 2017 – 2019, 2020 – 2021
Instagram: @seoulology_00
— He was born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
— He debuted as a member of BG Entertainment’s boy group 14U in 2017, but the group would go their separate ways in 2019. He was also revealed as a member of JN Entertainment’s unnamed pre-debut boy group in 2020, but this group would disband before any official releases.
— He is currently a soloist under AiMERS Entertainment. He is set to make his debut soon.
Israel
Sophia Ramazanova
Stage Name: Sophia
Birth Name: Sophia Ramazanova
Birthday: September 3, 1994
Nationality: Russian-Israeli
Member of: O My Jewel
Active from: 2017 – 2018
Instagram: @sonysonny03
— She was born in Russia.
— She debuted as a member of Acoustic Company and Frientree Entertainment’s girl group O My Jewel in 2017. The group would disband 5 months later in 2018.
— She is currently active as a model.
Italy
Kim Yuri
Stage Name: SEO Sarang
Birth Name: Kim Yuri
Birthday: June 19, 1994
Nationality: Korean-Italian
Member of: O My Jewel
Active from: 2017 – 2018
Instagram: @s__sarang
— She was born in Italy.
— She debuted as a member of Acoustic Company and Frientree Entertainment’s girl group O My Jewel in 2017. The group would disband 5 months later in 2018.
— She is currently active as a beauty influencer.
Japan
Kunimitsu Shoo
Stage Name: Shoo
Birth Name: Kunimitsu Shoo / Yoo Sooyoung
Birthday: October 23, 1981
Nationality: Korean-Japanese
Member of: S.E.S
Active from: 1997 – 2002, 2016
Instagram: @shoodesu
— She was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
— She debuted as a member of girl group S.E.S, under SM Entertainment, in 1997. The group would disband in 2002, but would reunite in 2016 for their 20th anniversary.
— She is a soloist. She is active on her Instagram.
Macau
Alexander Lee Eusebio
Stage Name: Alexander
Birth Name: Alexander Lee Eusebio
Birthday: July 29, 1988
Nationality: Macanese
Member of: U-KISS
Active from: 2008 – 2011
Instagram: @xander0729
— He was born in Hong Kong.
— He debuted as a member of NH Media’s boy group U-KISS in 2008. He would leave the group in 2011. He revealed, in 2020, that he was kicked out of the group, because he wasn’t popular.
— He is currently active as an actor. He is also active as a Station Master for the current season of JOOX Idol Station, and is a DJ for TBS eFM K-Ride.
Malaysia
Isaac Voo Kai Meng
Stage Name: Isaac
Birth Name: Isaac Voo Kai Meng
Birthday: December 12, 1994
Nationality: Malaysian
Member of: IN2IT
Active from: 2017 – present
Instagram: @isaacvkm_1212
— He was born in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
— He partook in the survival show Boys24, and finished in a high ranking position, thus allowing him to debut in boy group IN2IT in 2017. The group is currently independent.
Myanmar
Su Nadi Soe
Stage Name: Didi
Birth Name: Su Nadi Soe
Birthday: January 16, 1998
Nationality: Burmese
Member Of: Rumble-G
Active from: 2021 – present
Instagram: @rumbleg_didi
— She was born in Yangon, Myanmar.
— She debuted as a member of WinnerZone Entertainment’s girl group Rumble-G in 2021.
Mongolia
Il Lyulin
Stage Name: Lyulin
Birth Name: Il Lyulin
Birthday: July 14, 1991
Nationality: Mongolian
Member of: BBde Girl
Active from: 2012 – 2013
— She was born in Mongolia.
— She debuted as a member of girl group BBde Girl, under Big Star Entertainment, in 2012. The group would disband shortly after in 2013.
— Her current whereabouts are unknown.
Netherlands
Ennik Somi Douma
Stage Name: Jeon Somi
Birth Name: Ennik Somi Douma / Jeon Somi
Birthday: March 9, 2001
Nationality: Korean-Canadian-Dutch
Member of: I.O.I, Girls Next Door, Unnies, X4
Active from: 2016 – 2017
Instagram: @somsomi0309
— She was born in Ontario, Canada.
— She debuted as a member of girl group I.O.I, under YMC Entertainment and CJ ENM, in 2016. The group would disband in 2017. She has gone on to be in many project groups, including Girls Next Door, Unnies and X4.
— She is currently active as a soloist under YG Entertainment.
Philippines
Kriesha Tiu
Stage Name: Kriesha Chu
Birth Name: Kriesha Ziskind Teo Tiu
Birthday: December 20, 1998
Nationality: Filipina-American
Occupation Soloist
Active From: 2017 – present
Instagram: @kzt__
— She was born in Makati, Philippines.
— She debuted as a soloist in 2017.
Romania
Shào Xī Mēng Nā
Stage Name: Mayna
Birth Name: Shào Xī Mēng Nā
Birthday: May 12, 2000
Nationality: Chinese-Romanian
Member of: HOT ISSUE
Active from: 2021 – 2022
Instagram: @shaoxi_yayou
— She was born in Romania.
— She debuted as a member of S2 Entertainment’s girl group HOT ISSUE in 2021. The group would have a short-lived career and would disband in 2022.
— She appears to be active in China.
Russia
Park Euna
Stage Name: Sona-K
Birth Name: Park Euna
Birthday: July 12, 1998
Nationality: Chinese-Russian
Member of: O21
Active from: 2016 – 2017
Instagram: @djkkkiki
— She was born in Wonju, South Korea.
— She debuted as a member of FNC China and Houxiu TV’s girl group O21 in 2016. The group would disband in 2017, due to the THAAD issue.
– She is currently active as a model, as well as a DJ under the name KK Wang.
Senegal/Belgium
Samba Fatou Diouf
Stage Name: Fatou
Birth Name: Samba Fatou Diouf
Birthday: March 23, 1995
Nationality: Senegalese-Belgian
Member of: BLACKSWAN
Active from: 2020 – present
Instagram: @b_fatou_s
— She was born in Yoff, Dakar, Senegal.
— She debuted as a member of DR Music’s girl group BLACKSWAN in 2020.
Singapore
Natasha Low
Stage Name: Tasha
Birth Name: Natasha Low
Birthday: October 11, 1993
Nationality: Singaporean
Member of: SKarf
Active from: 2012 – 2014
Instagram: @tashaalow
— She has born in Singapore.
— She debuted as a member of girl group SKarf, under Alpha Entertainment Korea, in 2012. The group would disband in 2014.
— She is currently active as an actress and YouTuber under TCP Artistes.
Ferlyn Wong
Stage Name: Ferlyn
Birth Name: Ferlyn Wong
Birthday: February 1, 1992
Nationality: Singaporean
Member of: SKarf
Active from: 2012 – 2014
Instagram: @ferlyngofficial
— She was born in Singapore.
— She debuted as a member of girl group SKarf, under Alpha Entertainment Korea, in 2012. The group would disband in 2014.
— She is currently active as a soloist under GIF Music, a record label she co-founded.
Spain
Daniela Lacave
Stage Name: Nia
Birth Name: Daniela Lacave
Birthday: January 15, 2002
Nationality: Spanish
Member of: PRISMA
Active from: 2020 – 2021
Instagram: @nia.prisma
— She was born in Valencia, Spain
— She debuted as member of girl group PRISMA, under UnionWave, in 2020. It is presumed that the group has disbanded as there has been no activity since 2021. Their contracts expired in early 2022.
— She is active as a model.
Switzerland
Elody Loda
Stage Name: Loda
Birth Name: Elody Loda
Birthday: May 20, 2011
Nationality: Swiss-Korean
Member of: Re:Kids Bloom
Active from: 2021 – present
Instragram: @ppt_elodyloda
— She was born in Germany.
— She debuted as a member of Retune Music’s kid girl group Re:Kids Bloom in 2021.
— She is also active as a model.
Taiwan
Amber Liu
Stage Name: Amber
Birth Name: Amber Josephine Liu
Birthday: September 18, 1992
Nationality: Taiwanese-American
Member of: f(x)
Active from: 2009 – 2019
Instagram: @amberliu
— She was born in Los Angeles, California, United States.
— She debuted as a member of SM Entertainment’s girl group f(x) in 2009. In 2019, her contract would expire, and she would decide not to renew. The group has not disbanded.
— She is currently active as a soloist under Steel Wool Entertainment.
Thailand
Nichkhun Horvejkul
Stage Name: Nichkhun
Birth Name: Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul
Birthday: June 24, 1988
Nationality: Thai-American
Active from: 2008 – present
Instagram: @khunsta0624
— He was born in Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States.
— He debuted as a member of JYP Entertainment’s boy group 2PM in 2008.
— He is currently active as a singer and actor.
United States
Cha Yumi
Stage Name: Yumi
Birth Name: Cha Yumi
Birthday: December 21, 1977
Nationality: Korean-American
Member of: Baby V.O.X
Active from: 1997 – 1998
Instagram: @lolafair
— She was born in Los Angeles, California, United States.
— She debuted as a member of DR Music’s girl group Baby V.O.X in 1997. She would leave the following year due to an injury on stage.
— She is currently active as an indie singer under the stage name Lola Fair. She also runs a jewelry website.
Vietnam
Ha Hwang Haiyen
Stage Name: Haiyen
Birth Name: Hoàng Hải Yen / Ha Hwang Haiyen
Birthday: June 12, 1986
Nationality: Vietnamese
Member of: M.I.SO
Active from: 2008 – 2010
— She was born in Vietnam.
— She debuted as a member of girl group M.I.SO.
— She was active as an actress in the later part of her career, but her current whereabouts are unknown.
Wales
Shannon Williams
Stage Name: Shannon
Birth Name: Shannon Arrum Williams-Lees
Birthday: May 26, 1998
Nationality: British-Welsh-Korean
Occupation: Soloist
Active from: 2014 – 2019
Instagram: @sharonarrumwilliams
— She was born in London, United Kingdom.
— She debuted as a soloist under MBK Entertainment in 2014, but announced that she would be leaving the company and would no longer be making music in South Korea in 2019.
— She is currently active as a content creator and gamer.
Bonus:
*The bonus section includes trainees, survival show contestants, and singers/artists who have worked in the industry, or have been closely related to it.
China (Han)
Eva Yao
Stage Name: Eva
Birth Name: Yao Yifan
Birthday: November 29, 1998
Nationality: Chinese (Ethnicity: Han)
Occupation: Trainee
Active from: 2021
— She was born in China.
— She was a pre-debut member of SKYLE (then known as Good Luck Girls).
— She is possibly still a trainee under One Cool Jacso Entertainment.
Jennifer Zhou
Stage Name: Jennifer
Birth Name: Zhou Ziqian
Birthday: August 14, 1998
Nationality: Chinese (Ethnicity: Han)
Occupation: Rapper, Performer
Active from: 2021
Instagram: @_jen008
— She was born in Baoshan District, Shanghai, China.
— She was a pre-debut member of SKYLE (then known as Good Luck Girls).
— She is possibly still an artist under One Cool Jacso Entertainment. She is active in China, and also sometimes posts vlogs on her YouTube channel.
Croatia
Šime Košta
Stage Name: Sime
Birth Name: Šime Košta
Birthday: January 17, 1991
Nationality: Croatian
Member of: EXP Edition
Active from: 2017 – 2018
Instagram: @sime.exp.edition
— He was born in Zadar, Croatia.
— He debuted as a member of boy group EXP Edition in 2017. The group would be the first all non-Korean group to debut. They had their start in the industry as a result of joining the ‘I’m Making A Boy Band’ project. The group hasn’t released music since 2018, but still often get together.
— He is currently active as a singer and theatre actor.
Haiti
Gueshnia Dorcinvil
Stage Name: Nina
Birth Name: Gueshnia Dorcinvil
Birthday: July 12, 1996
Nationality: Haitian-American
Member of: HoneyBees
Active from: 2022 – present
Instagram: @_mylittlenina
— She was born in Miami, Florida, United States.
— She was added as a member of dance group HoneyBees, under LA Entertainment, in July 2022. The group were originally (supposedly) going to debut as an idol group, but are now going to be focusing on dance covers.
Iran
Zahra Soleymani
Stage Name: Herin (formerly Noura)
Birth Name: Zahra Soleymani
Birthday: November 4, 2000
Nationality: Iranian
Occupation: Trainee
Active from: 2021
Instagram: @im_herin
— She was born in Iran.
— She was announced as a contestant of Find Rookie, a survival show to find members for GKM NEO’s girl group PBT (presently known as Muutive). The survival show would end up being cancelled as a result of COVID-19.
— She is active on her Instagram. She does Taekwondo, and also plays guitar.
Kazakhstan
Zhalinova Aiganym
Stage Name: Aiganym
Birth Name: Zhalinova Aiganym
Birthday: November 18, 2000
Nationality: Kazakh
Member of: Alpha Ray (SG Girls)
Active from: 2020 – 2021
Instagram: @azhkzkr
— She was born in Aktobe, Kazakhstan.
— She was officially introduced as a member of Alpha Ray (SG Girls) in November of 2020, but it would be announced in January of 2021 that she has left the company and the group.
— She has posted regularly on her YouTube channel, but seems to be living a normal life.
Mexico
Eddie Valencia
Stage Name: Eddie
Birth Name: Eddie Valencia
Birthday: December 20, 1998
Nationality: Mexican (Latino-American)
Member of: LALARY, First Bite
Active from: 2018 – present
Instagram: @qxeddie
— He was born in Mexico.
— `He debuted as a member of music and dance co-ed group First Bite in 2018. He would go on to debut in US-based co-ed group LALARY in 2019.
— He is also active as a dancer.
Morocco
Emma
Stage Name: Emma
Birth Name: —
Birthday: 2002
Nationality: Morrocan
Member of: AngelRus
Active from: —
Instagram: @emma.m.a42
— She was born in Morocco.
— She was originally set to debut in LPA Entertainment’s new multinational girl group, AngelRus, in November of 2022. The CEO of their company announced the group is currently on hiatus and would be reorganizing, so it is not clear if she will debut.
Portugal
Frankie DaPonte Jr.
Stage Name: Frankie
Birth Name: Frankie DaPonte Jr.
Birthday: February 16, 1989
Nationality: Portuguese-American
Member of: EXP Edition
Active from: 2017 – 2018
Instagram: @frankie.exp.edition
— He was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, United States.
— He debuted as a member of boy group EXP Edition in 2017. The group would be the first all non-Korean group to debut. They had their start in the industry as a result of joining the ‘I’m Making A Boy Band’ project. The group hasn’t released music since 2018, but still often get together.
— He is currently active as an actor and a realtor. He also spends his time travelling the world.
Sweden
Han Byeol
Stage Name: Han Byeol
Birth Name: Han Byeol
Birthday: November 18, 2005
Nationality: Korean-Swedish
Occupation: Trainee
Active from: 2021 – present
— Her birthplace is unknown.
— She took part in the survival show CAP-TEEN. She was also a contestant on Kpop Star 6: The Last Chance.
— Her current whereabouts are unknown.
Venezuela
Nicole Harddisson Hernandez
Stage Name: Nicole
Birth Name: Nicole Harddisson Hernandez
Birthday: August 25, 1999
Nationality: Venezuelan-Spanish
Member of: KAACHI
Active from: 2020 – present
Instagram: @kaachi_nicole
— She was born in Mérida, Venezuela.
— She debuted as a member of London-based K-POP girl group KAACHI, under FRONTROW RECORDS, in April 2020. The group would make their debut in Korea later in the same month.
— She is also active as a dancer.
Note: Please don’t copy/paste the content of this page to other sites/places on the web. Please do respect the time and effort the author put into compiling this profile. If you need/want to use info from our profile, please kindly put a link to this post. Thanks a lot! – KProfiles.com
— Note #2: Many of the idols/singers featured in the bonus section aren’t inherently K-POP idols, hence why they are in this section. I have added them in as, until now, they are the first of their nationality to try and become active in the industry or to release music in the Korean language.
post by casualcarlene
(special thanks to brightliliz)
Which person were you most excited to see become active in the industry? Are there any other idols or singers that I’ve forgotten? Feel free to leave a comment down below!
