Kamal Ghorui
South Korea’s entertainment industry does well when things are intense. Idols practice for hours, record music, travel the world, and perform in front of a lot of people all the time. But a lot of them relax by playing online games, which millions of fans know well. Gaming has been a part of Korean pop culture for a long time, so it’s not surprising that a lot of K-pop stars log in to play games and stream them.This crossover shows a more laid-back side of idols to their fans. Instead of polished performances on stage, viewers see competitive instincts, playful trash talk, and real excitement during matches. Some idols even stream on a regular basis, making gaming a second community where music fans and gamers meet. These five K-pop stars have successful careers at the top of the charts and in the world of livestream gaming.
Five K-pop stars who also stream games on the side
1. Hongseok (Pentagon )
Yang Hong-seok from the Pentagon has a quiet reputation among fans as a serious gamer. The singer likes fast-paced shooters and plays Sudden Attack a lot. This Korean game is often compared to CS:GO. His love for the game led to a memorable fan moment when he held a virtual fan-sign event in the game’s lobby. He even sang Pentagon’s song “Dr. Bebe” for his teammates during the session. Fans can sometimes see Hongseok playing games on the group’s official YouTube channel.
2. Miryo (Girls with Brown Eyes)
Jo “Miryo” Mi-hye is known for her sharp rap delivery, but she also loves playing video games. She started streaming in 2019 and has tried out a number of platforms, such as Twitch, AfreecaTV, and YouTube. Miryo likes a lot of games, including League of Legends, PUBG, Dead by Daylight, and Overwatch. Sometimes she plays casual games with Son Ga-In, another member of Brown Eyed Girls. She was so into Overwatch that she even used makeup to make Ashe look like her during streams.
3. Members of EXO
Through SM Entertainment’s streaming series Super Idol League, a few members of EXO have become well-known in the gaming world. Park Chan-yeol played Honor of Kings, and Byun Baek-hyun and Oh Se-hun joined games in League of Legends and PUBG. The show features idols playing popular games and talking to fans at the same time. It also has other SM artists, like Kim Heechul from Super Junior and Sunny and Taeyeon from Girls’ Generation.
4. LE SSERAFIM’s Sakura
It’s no secret that Miyawaki Sakura loves to play games. The Japanese idol has a PC, a PlayStation 4, and a Nintendo Switch, among other gaming systems. Her gameplay videos, especially from battle royale games like Fortnite, sometimes show up on her personal YouTube channel. Fans often praise her skill level, which shows that she is more than just a casual gamer.
5. Soyeon (G)I-DLE
Jeon Soyeon, the leader of (G)I-DLE, mixes music and gaming culture in a way that works. She played Akali in the middle lane during a League of Legends livestream while showing off K/DA merchandise. She has a deeper connection to the game. Soyeon and Miyeon, two other members of K/DA, performed the hit song “POP/STARS” at the 2018 League of Legends World Championship. This brought the virtual characters to life on stage.For fans, these times make it hard to tell the difference between being a pop star and being a gamer. Idols change completely when they pick up a controller. Just another player trying to win on the screen.
