Diamond life

JUYEON of THE BOYZ is a crown jewel of the idol industry; hardy enough to chip away at any pretence and multifaceted in his own colourings of reality. Equipped with all the makings of a superstar and then some, JUYEON speaks to Men’s Folio on the power of authenticity in his bid toward global stardom.

-  Vanessa Grace Ng

What is image to an idol? Far deeper than just the face value of a good looking entertainer, K-pop idols stand to be lauded, scrutinised and even crucified by a public audience that judges from the sidelines.

The “image” system can be analysed like a diamond would be. Replacing metrics of cut, colour, clarity and carat with vocal registers, instincts for stage presence, and abilities to execute complex choreography — all of which stand to sum up these gem-like performers. Since the concept of “image” is a prismatic one, there will inevitably be facets doused in each idol’s genuine personality — each plane coloured in charms that are distinctively theirs. It is how they are able to distinguish themselves from the rest and what allows some to sparkle brighter than others.

JUYEON is as brilliant as they come. He is one-eleventh of the “allcentre” group THE BOYZ, where every member boasts their allure and above all — distinct centre-worthy visuals. Despite the handsome renown of the group, JUYEON has community-crowned membership in the group’s “Bermuda Line” — which entails the figurative experience of getting lost in his and fellow members HYUNJAE and YOUNGHOON’s visuals. But the emphasis on appearances is simply an add-on to the talent of THE BOYZ.

Six years have seen the members through formidable endeavours. Some include acrobatic stunts in sub-zero temperatures for yearend broadcasts, mastering Spanish lyrics for a cover of Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito”, and conquering two survival programmes: Road to Kingdom — which they won — and Kingdom: Legendary War — where they clinched second place. All of this is to say that JUYEON possesses the idol image from the get-go. And then it really gets going.

HI JUYEON, IT IS GREAT TO MEET YOU. GIVEN YOUR MANY NICKNAMES ONLINE — “BUCKET HAT GUY”, “GENTLE GIANT” AND “BABYDOLL” TO NAME A FEW — HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE KNOWN?