Yi Chen, a Chinese trainee on JTBC's audition show Project 7, recently caught fans’ attention by sharing that BTS member V is his role model.

What surprised viewers even more was Yi Chen’s connection to Korean history—he's a descendant of the famous independence activist Ahn Jung Geun.

During his introduction, he explained, “My great-great-grandfather is Ahn Myeong-geun, who fought for independence alongside Ahn Jung Geun.”

Born in 1998, Yi Chen has also impressed viewers with his fluent Korean, despite being a Chinese national. V, known as the "idol of idols," has inspired countless trainees and idols in the K-pop industry.

Members of popular groups like ENHYPEN and NEXZ, as well as new rookies from the fifth generation, often cite him as a major influence.

Among ENHYPEN members, Sunghoon, Jay, Sunoo, and Jake have named V as their inspiration, with Jungwon recently going blonde after being inspired by V's style, saying, “He looked so handsome; I wanted to try it too.”

Even rising rookie idols dream of following in V’s footsteps. Sogeon from NEXZ and Rihito Ikezaki from the Japanese group INI both shared V is the artist they hope to emulate.

Sophia, the leader of HYBE’s new girl group KATSEYE, also declared herself a huge fan of V after her group’s formation through Dream Academy, a global girl group audition program.

Olympic silver medalist Huh Mimi, known for her success in judo at the 2024 Paris Olympics, also admires V. As a descendant of independence activist Huh Seok, she dreams of meeting him one day, humorously wondering, “Will a silver medal be enough, or do I need a gold to meet him?”

Yi Chen’s admiration for V adds him to the long list of idols inspired by V’s charm and artistry, showing just how much V continues to influence the next generation.

Source: [1]

Actor Lee Min Ho recently shared an unforgettable and embarrassing moment from his early career, revealing how he became a “falling star” at his first Baeksang Arts Awards.

On the December 25th episode of You Quiz on the Block (Episode 274), Lee Min Ho made a guest appearance and reflected on his rise to fame.

The actor, known for his iconic role as Goo Jun Pyo in Boys Over Flowers, won the Best New Actor award at the Baeksang Arts Awards, but it wasn’t just his victory that grabbed attention.

Lee Min Ho recalled, "I was attending the Baeksang for the first time, and I was so excited. Since I wasn’t going as Goo Jun Pyo, but as Lee Min Ho, I styled my hair in a perm and was ready to go." However, things took an unexpected turn when he tripped and fell on the red carpet.

He sighed, recalling, "That day, I fell. I fell and created so many memes. Even now, I look back and think, 'How did I walk that quickly on the red carpet?'"

Laughing at his own clumsiness, he admitted, "I was moving at the speed of light, no composure, no focus. Honestly, more than the joy of winning the award, that day was chaotic and so embarrassing for me."

Though his win was a highlight, Lee Min Ho humorously shared that the incident of tripping overshadowed the excitement of his achievement.

It’s safe to say that while the fall became a funny meme, it also became a lesson in humility for the actor, and a moment that fans still remember to this day.

Source: [1]