K-pop star joins int'l high IQ society
Block B's Park kyung, a regular guest on tvN's "Problematic Man," has become the first K-pop star to join Mensa.
By Ko Dong-hwan
Korea’s K-pop industry now has one more thing to be proud of other than borderless fandom and the world’s second-to-none idol culture: it has its first star to join Mensa, an international group of high-IQ people.
The breakthrough was led by boy band Block B’s Park Kyung, whose news spread online Tuesday.
Seven Seasons, the band’s agency, said the singer had passed a MENSA test, according to Sport Chosun. The band’s Facebook page also confirmed the news on Tuesday with a photo of the letter that informed him he had passed.
“tvN’s ‘Problematic Man’ team suggested Park sit the test,” the agency said, referring to the TV quiz show where celebrities known for their knowledge solve brain-teasing problems. Park is a regular guest.
“He accepted the challenge and, sitting the test on Sept. 24, has been informed that he passed the test. He is very pleased at the outcome.”
The rapper, 24, from the seven-member hip-hop band, has been impressive on the show, proving his superb math problem-solving skills.
Mensa, a non-profit organization founded in 1946 and based in England, is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It has offices worldwide, including Mensa Korea, and has given membership to over 121,000 people who scored at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized IQ test.
Mensa means “table” in Latin and the organization has some famous public figures as members, including Hollywood actress Geena Davis and Korean TV reporter Ryu Si-hyun and announcer Han Joon-ho.