Where are K-pop’s original ‘Flower Boys’ now?

2PM's Nichkkun / Korea Times file

Before BTS, Stray Kids and NCT, there was an era when Korean entertainment media was ruled by “kkonminam” stars — literally, “handsome flower boys.”

Long before the word K-pop became a global shorthand, these soft-featured, camera-ready celebrities carried the kind of visual appeal and star power now associated with today’s idols.

Years have passed since then. For fans who still remember their heyday, there is an inevitable question: Where are they now? And perhaps a more honest, slightly appearance-obsessed one: How do they look now?

A recent wave of public appearances by stars from that era has given curious fans their answer.

One of the biggest names to earn the “kkonminam” label was Nichkhun of 2PM. From the moment he debuted, Nichkhun stood out for his striking looks, quickly earning the nickname “Thai Prince.” His polished image helped raise 2PM’s profile and made him one of the defining faces of the era.

So when Nichkhun appeared in a recent YouTube video centered on 2PM, fans did a double take — not only because it was a relatively rare appearance, but also because he looked a little more relaxed and fuller-faced than many remembered.

Nichkhun / Captured from YouTube

But then came the second look. Fans soon began to wonder whether the impression had more to do with lighting, camera angles and a bare-faced setting than any real transformation. At 2PM’s 15th anniversary concerts for its Japanese debut, held at Tokyo Dome on May 9 and 10, Nichkhun looked far closer to the sleek idol image fans remembered.

Backstage photos later posted on 2PM’s official Japanese account drew even more attention. In the photos, Nichkhun appeared to have brought back the “flower boy” visuals that first made him a standout, with sharper features and the same easy charm that helped define his early fame.

In 1998, a decade before 2PM made its debut, another K-pop group stepped into the spotlight: Shinhwa. One of its members, Eric, also made a recent public appearance that caught fans’ attention for how different he looked from the image many remembered.

At the wedding of fellow Shinhwa member Lee Min-woo, Eric arrived with his wife, actor Na Hye-mi, and was seen holding their child.

Eric / Captured from Zo Sun-hi's Instagram

Looking broader and more relaxed as he carried his son in one arm, Eric seemed less like the polished idol fans remembered and more like any other dad enjoying a family outing. Fans praised the shift, commenting that he seemed to have the calm confidence of a father of two.

For longtime K-pop fans, No Yoo-min of NRG may be a familiar name. Once considered one of the defining “kkonminam” idols of K-pop’s first generation, he later made headlines after marriage for looking less carefully maintained than fans remembered. Over time, that shift gave him a more relatable, neighborhood uncle kind of charm.

No Yoo-min / Captured from his Instagram

But No eventually turned things around. Over the past few years, he has been open about steadily working on his appearance, from consistent dieting to cosmetic procedures including under-eye fat repositioning and a hair transplant.

He has also been a beauty brand model for nearly a decade. In an exclusive interview with Xportsnews last September, No explained that marriage had changed his lifestyle in a relatable way.

“After I got married, I stopped paying attention to myself,” he said. “Couples eat together, drink together and enjoy late-night snacks. I was enjoying that happiness, and I gained a lot of weight. Then the beauty brand appeared like a lifesaver.”

Since then, he said, he has kept up a steady routine of self-care.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.