Nostalgia alert: K-pop idols revive their iconic styles
Yoon Eun-hye / Captured from Yoon's YouTube channel
Some celebrities are turning back the clock by sharing images of themselves styled in their prime, evoking nostalgia among fans. Their throwback makeup and styling, reminiscent of their glory days, have drawn admiration for how little they’ve changed over the years.
Actress Yoon Eun-hye, a former member of the girl group Baby V.O.X, is a prime example. Yoon played the role of Shin Chae-kyung in the hit 2006 MBC drama "Princess Hours." Recently, she recreated her character’s look on her YouTube channel, wearing youthful makeup, a school uniform, and red-rimmed glasses. Yoon also shared photos of herself transformed into Shin Chae-kyung on her social media.
Chaeyeon / Captured from Chaeyeon's YouTube channel
Singer Chaeyeon appeared on her YouTube channel in a concept inspired by 2005. "I thought it would just be funny, but seeing myself like that got me emotional," she said, expressing surprise at how she looked in her old style. Wearing a white fur-trimmed jacket, she added, "I used to wear this all the time. It’s like I was going around saying, ‘I’m Chaeyeon, the celebrity.’ Doesn’t the outfit give off a luxurious vibe?" she joked.
Ham Eun-jung / Captured from Ham's YouTube channel
Ham Eun-jung, a former member of girl group T-ara and now an actress, also revisited her past image through her YouTube channel. "I’ll try to become T-ara’s Eun-jung again," she said. She completed her signature T-ara-era bold eye makeup with thick, elongated eyeliner and black shading in the triangular area under her eyes known as the "aegyosal zone." Wearing a wig, Ham closely resembled her former self. Reflecting on her transformation, she said, "I may not go all the way back to my T-ara days, but I’ll do my best to at least match a quarter of that energy."
These celebrity throwback transformations have sparked nostalgia among many fans, taking them on a sentimental trip down memory lane.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.