Okay, let’s be honest — nothing makes fans swoon more than when their fave idol suddenly switches to flawless English (or any other language) in an interview. And guess what? BTS RM, Apink Naeun, and a few more idols are so good at it that people often mistake them for native speakers.
With K-pop’s popularity exploding worldwide, idols don’t just perform for Korean audiences anymore. They’ve got fans in literally every corner of the planet. And while music does break barriers, language is still a big one. That’s why so many idols put serious effort into learning new languages — to connect better with their international fans.
Here are five idols who never studied abroad for years but still managed to surprise everyone with their amazing skills.
1. BTS RM
Leader of BTS and everyone’s unofficial translator — yes, it’s RM. His English is next-level, and you’ve probably seen him slay international interviews, big award shows, and even speeches at the UN. He’s so smooth that people assume he grew up overseas.
But nope — RM actually taught himself by watching Friends on repeat. With his crazy high IQ (148, by the way), he managed to pick up the language naturally. Now he speaks Korean, English, and Japanese like it’s no big deal. Honestly, genius.
2. Apink Son Naeun
Naeun is proof that you don’t need to live abroad to sound confident in English. During overseas events, she often takes the mic and introduces the group, and fans always notice her polished accent.
She once shared that she was super serious about studying back in school, even becoming class leader and winning awards. Smart, talented, and stylish — no wonder her English sounds so sharp.
3. Jang Wonyoung
Former IZ*ONE member Wonyoung left everyone speechless when she casually chatted in English with Tyler on tvN’s Problematic Men. He even complimented her on her accent, saying her pronunciation was really impressive.
Turns out, she started learning young — her parents sent her to an English kindergarten instead of a Korean one. Later on, she wowed fans again by picking up Japanese quickly for IZ*ONE’s Japan promotions. Talk about a fast learner!
4. EXID Hani
Brains, beauty, and bilingual — that’s Hani for you. Not only is she fluent in English, but she can also speak Chinese. She used to mention on shows that she was an honor student, and it shows — she scored an insane 900 on the TOEIC test after just two months of studying.
No wonder fans call her the total package. She’s not just talented on stage, but seriously smart too.
5. SHINee Key
Key’s English is so good now that fans forget he only studied abroad for six months as a student. Since then, he kept practicing and got better year after year.
And he didn’t stop at English — Key is fluent in Japanese and is learning Chinese too. He often surprises fans during live streams or video calls by switching between languages like it’s second nature. Truly a global idol.
Final Thoughts
These idols prove that you don’t have to grow up overseas to master another language. Whether it’s RM charming the UN, Naeun leading introductions, or Key chatting effortlessly with fans, they show how dedication pays off. And honestly? It just makes us love them even more.
Source: kpopstarz
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