If you wonder, is it possible for us, non-Koreans, to be Kpop idols – here is the answer: IT IS POSSIBLE. Look at these non-Korean girls who manage to path their way to be female Kpop idols we know worldwide.
Successful Non-Korean Female Kpop Idols
1. Secret Number Dita
- Birth name: Anak Agung Ayu Puspa Aditya Karang
- Birth date: December 25, 1996
- Nationality: Indonesian
- Birth place: Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Dita is one of top non-Korean female Kpop idols. She is the second Indonesian idol to debut in a Kpop group (the first was Loudi in Kpop boy group 14U). She made her debut under Vine Entertainment with Secret Number on May 19, 2020.
2. Secret Number Denise
- Birth name: Denise Kim
- Birthdate: January 11, 2001
- Nationality: Korean-American
- Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States
Her first appearance was in a competition show Kpop Star 5 with her group, Mazinga Unit. After the elimination, Denise was said to become a trainee at YG Entertainment for about two years and left. In January 2020, Vine Entertainment announced that Denise is joining Secret Number. Unfortunately, Denise decided to leave the group on February 2022.
3. Secret Number Léa
- Birth name: Ogawa Mizuki
- Birthdate: August 12, 1995
- Nationality: Japanese
- Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Joining SKarf in 2012, Léa made her official debut as a member on May 31, 2013. The group disbanded quietly sometime in 2015. Afterward, Léa became a contestant on the survival show MIXNINE and was eliminated in episode 7, ranked #109. In February 2020, Léa became the fifth member of Secret Number. Joining Dita and Denise, Léa becomes one of the most successful non-Korean female Kpop idols.
4. Secret Number Jinny
- Birth name: Jinny Park
- Birthdate: January 20, 1998
- Nationality: American-Korean
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Jinny was a trainee at YG for 5 years, alongside the recent BLACKPINK members -Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa- and (G)I-DLE Miyeon, Fromis-9 Lee Seo-Yeon, Kim eun-bi, and Jung Hanna. After a lengthy journey, Jinny was announced as the first member of Secret Number under Vine Entertainment.
Learn more about Jinny, who once nearly became a BLACKPINK member.
5. BLACKPINK Lisa
- Birth name: Pranpriya Manoban (ปราณปริยา มโนบาล)
- Birthdate: March 27, 1997
- Nationality: Thai
- Birthplace: Buriram, Thailand
Who doesn’t know this Thai rapper, singer, and dancer in BLACKPINK, debuted in August 2016? Lisa has been titled as DABEME pop best dancer 2021 and crowned best dancer of 2021. Not only has she massive followers on Instagram, BLACKPINK Lisa YouTube channel, Lilifilm Official subscribers are also growing rapidly. There is no doubt that BLACKPINK Lisa is one of the most loved and successful non-Korean female Kpop idols.
6. BLACKPINK Rosé
- Birth name: Roseanne Park / Park Chae Young
- Birthdate: February 11, 1997
- Nationality: Korean (but born in NZ and raised in Melbourne, Australia)
- Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Rosé placed first in YG auditions in Australia and became a YG trainee for 4 years and 2 months. According to VLive Start Road from Jennie ep 2-3, Rosé is called ‘BLACKPINK’s goddess.’ She made her solo debut on March 12, 2021, with her first single album -R-.
7. TWICE Mina
- Birth name: Myoui Mina
- Birthdate: March 24, 1997
- Nationality: Japanese – American
- Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas, United States
Mina got cast while shopping with her mom and auditioned in a JYP audition in Japan. She has the shortest training period among the other TWICE members.
8. Jessi
- Birth name: Ho Hyun Joo / Jessica Ho
- Birthdate: December 17, 1988
- Nationality: Korean – American
- Birthplace: New York (raised in New Jersey)
Initially debuted in 2005, but then Jessi took a 5-year hiatus and left South Korea. In 2014, she returned and debuted in the trio Lucky J. In January 2019, Jessi left YMC Entertainment and joined P Nation.
Once we hear Jessi’s recent single, ‘Nunu Nana,’ it won’t come out of our brain.
9. TWICE Sana
- Birth name: Minatozaki Sana
- Birthdate: December 29, 1996
- Nationality: Japanese
- Birthplace: Tennōji-Ku, Osaka, Japan
JYP Entertainment scouting staff noticed Sana while shopping with her friends and invited her to participate in the annual JYP audition. Sana passed the audition and joined the JYPE trainee program in April 2012. After over a 3-year training, Sana debuted with TWICE.
10. f(x) Krystal Jung
- Birth name: Chrystal Soo Jung / Jung Soo Jung
- Birthdate: October 24, 1994
- Nationality: Korean-American
- Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Prefer to be called with her Korean name, Soo Jung debuted as a lead vocalist of f(x) in September 2009. She is not only good at singing, but she also aces in acting. Her acting skill as Oh Kang-hee in Police University makes people adore her more.
11. TWICE Tzuyu
- Birth name: Chou Tzuyu
- Birthdate: June 14, 1999
- Nationality: Taiwanese
- Birthplace: Tainan, Taiwan
JYP Scouting staff seems to have eagle eyes over talented girls. JYP discovered Tzuyu at the MUSE Performing Arts Workshop in Tainan in 2012. She became a trainee and made her debut with TWICE.
Tzuyu was ranked #2 on TC Candler’s “The 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2018”.
12. TWICE Momo
- Birth name: Hirai Momo
- Birthdate: November 9, 1996
- Nationality: Japanese
- Birthplace: Kyōtanabe, Kyoto, Japan
Although Momo was eliminated during the show SIXTEEN, J.Y.Park noticed her dancing skill and decided to add her as a member of TWICE.
The other non-Korean female Kpop idols we know:
13. I.O.I Some (Canadian)
14. Girl’s Generation-TTS Tiffany / Stephanie Young Hwang (American)
15. IZ*ONE Sakura (Japanese)
16. (G)I-DLE Minnie (Thai)
17. Momoland Nancy (American)
18. Jessica Jung (American)
19. IZ*ONE Nako (Japanese)
20. (G)I-DLE Yuqi (Chinese)
21. (G)I-DLE Shuhua (Taiwanese)
22. CLC Sorn (Thai)
23. EVERGLOW Yiren (Chinese)
24. WJSN Cheng Xiao (Chinese)
25. LOONA 1/3 Vivi (Chinese)
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