Celebrity Life

Many may know him as the Thai Prince of South Korea – Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul has been taking the entertainment industry by storm ever since he first debuted in 2008 as part of the South Korean hip-hop boy group 2PM.

When the band took an official hiatus in 2017 to complete their mandatory military service, Nichkhun, who was born in the US to Chinese parents, stepped out to pursue his own personal interests outside of the band. To great success too, in 2019, he penned and released an album in South Korea, China and Thailand called Me. Dabbling in acting, Nickhun has also been cast in the upcoming Hollywood film Hong Kong Love Story alongside fellow actors Byron Mann and Kenneth Tsang, and will be appearing in a Thai horror film called CRACKED.

As 2PM prepares to make their comeback this year with its latest album MUST, we catch up with Nichkhun to see how he's getting along with his bandmates, the new album release and the exciting new world of acting he's found himself in.

Nichkhun, congratulations on 2PM's latest Album MUST. How does it feel to unite with your bandmates after a 5-year hiatus?

Thank you. It was like a dream come true for me to be able to make a comeback again after so many years in hiatus. Though I worked on my own projects during that time I have missed being together with the whole 2PM. We had a lot of fun during production and promotion. It felt like yesterday when we last released our album.

What was the most exciting thing about making the new album?

Just the fact that all 6 are back together was the most exciting part and the rest just followed along. The same 6 kids reunited for a fun comeback.

What's next for 2PM?

Well we have another mini album releasing in Japan and we are definitely looking for any opportunity to perform live on stage. Just waiting for this fog to be lifted.

Congratulations also on your Hollywood debut! Has this always been a dream for you?

I always picture myself living in Cali one day and I know I’m a person who cannot stop working. Having worked out there is a big reason for me to live there so yes being in Hollywood was always a dream for me. But it’s a dream I’m not taking lightly so if I’m going to keep trying to make it in Hollywood I need to make sure I’m always on point.

What can you tell us about Hong Kong Love Story?

I don’t want to spoil too much but I play a wealthy playboy who loves to party with my brother from another mother played by Byron Mann. I feel like we have good chemistry. We always have fun and try out things outside of the script all the time. This may be a character the audience has never seen me play before so I hope they like him.

You also have a horror film in Thailand coming up called CRACKED.

I like to challenge myself and I feel like I always choose romantic comedy types of films because I feel comfortable playing those roles. But with CRACKED it’s dark, it’s depressing, it’s thrilling, and it gets your heart pounding. So I thought it would be another big step in my acting career if I can carry this role. I worked really hard in preparation for the film as well. Hope the audience will like it.

You're often casted as the rich man in acting projects. Do you feel typcasted?

I must admit that I do have an image that the public thinks of when they see me or hear my name. And I want to break away from that especially if I want to continue my acting career. That is why I chose a movie like CRACKED to show my more serious side.

You've really taken on a range of projects from acting to voice acting and singing. Do you have a preference for acting or singing now?

I enjoy both acting and singing. Singing brought me to where I am today and that’s something I’ll always do. But acting is like a new career path that is still yet to be explored so while continuing to be in 2PM I will also work hard as an actor. As for people I want to work with will probably be my members in 2PM. Most of them are known for their acting skills and it will be so much fun if we get to all be in the same project.

You're also working on a project in China. Can you tell us more about it?

I recently joined a Chinese TV show called《追光吧！哥哥2》. It's a performance competition program and there are elimination rounds. I can't spoil too much but I can tell you that everyone on the show is a tough competitor so I will need to prepare well for every round. Hope the viewers enjoy seeing me on the show. I am also taking Chinese lessons so that I can communicate with people on the show.

CREATIVE DIRECTION AND STYLING ALVIN GOH
RETOUCHING SHENG YANG
HAIR JEAN T @ ATEN STUDIO
MAKE-UP ALVIN GOH

The post Nichkhun on 2PM’s New Album and Finding New Passion in Acting appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Led by Japanese and Koreans, Asian stars are entering the much-hyped NFT space. We talk to the people behind the just-launched Hong Kong-based platform KLKTN, and artists such as Kevin Woo and Miyavi.

Tere’s no fandom quite like K-Pop or J-Pop fandom. Just google BTS Army and you get the idea. With social media, streaming and stardom in this era, the relationship between stars and their legions of fans is an ever-evolving beast. Now these musicians are dipping their toes into the world of blockchain and NFTs, hot on the heels of digital visual artists. Beyond the hype and headlines, there’s a fundamental shift in ownership and the artist-fan dynamic that could flip the way music is funded.

“What attracted me the most to NFTs was the fact that I had absolute ownership of my music and art,” says Korean-American K-pop star Kevin Woo. “I was able to create something special for my fans that had value emotionally and economically. It was a brand new way for me to express myself creatively.”

Woo has released limited-edition collectable artwork inspired by his latest single “Got It”, all produced in collaboration with Hong Kong-based NFT platform KLKTN (Kollektion). But that’s not all – his NFTs come with behind- the-scenes Moments in Woo’s life, private virtual-viewing parties with the singer and even exclusive one-on-one mini “dates”, where you can video chat with Woo as he drives around LA.

“Fans can get directly in on the fun and even take valuable assets for themselves as keepsakes,” says Woo. “Through NFTs, fans can now collect, own and share a piece of my music and artwork, allowing them to be a part of my artistic journey and eventually helping me produce more content for them.”

On the KLKTN platform, these artist NFTs are billed like a sexier, dynamic digital version of old-school sports trading cards, with each granting the owner special access and specialised content by said artist. Another star working with KLKTN is Japanese rock legend, singer and guitarist Miyavi, who has massive local and worldwide followings.

The possibilities are endless … We’re creating native data for the entire digital future

Jeff Miyahara

“NFTs are something I’d never experienced before. Not only to me, but it’s also a new possibility for us. It’s a part of the future,” Miyavi says. “The world, especially the digital world, is evolving rapidly. How people consume content is changing.”

“We think we’re really on the cusp, the leading edge of this new universe, of being able to engage not only with traditional forms of entertainment but doing so in a more robust way via the internet and blockchain to an entire global audience,” says KLKTN co-founder and chief creative officer Jeff Miyahara. As one of Japan’s most sought-after music producers and songwriters, Miyahara’s idea for KLKTN came about when his Pro League NBA friends told him about NBA’s Top Shot, a pioneering sports NFT platform.

“I thought, ‘Wow, what would happen if we cracked this model, we could do something really similar to this, but for the music industry,’” he explains. “It’s not just looking at the players, but there’s an entire level of fandom around it, there’s an entire layer of community. And so that’s really where this conversation started.”

Through mutual friends, he talked to finance and tech expert Daisuke Iwase (who at the time was enduring Hong Kong’s brutal three-week hotel quarantine). And through many conversations and combined expertise, a partnership for KLKTN was born. Working through the logistics, tech, legalities and creative side of this new sector in blockchain business was a big effort for the core team. Currently, the concept has few competitors in the music industry and has just happened to capture the explosive first wave of NFT mania.

Remember this March when the art world was shaken as an NFT by digital visual artist Beeple reached US$69 million in a Christie’s auction? That elevated him from relative public obscurity to the three most valuable artists alive today – and also marked a milestone in the NFT boom. With much hype and bandwagon jumping; there’s the obvious subsequent talk of a bubble. Iwase and Miyahara, however, are being careful to future-proof their platform for longevity and quality content. “We want to create something that’s lasting and sustainable,” says Iwase, who’s now KLKTN’s CEO.

“This is my second start-up, you know. A year from now, I don’t want this NFT bubble bursting and then looking stupid. We want to create something that has real value.” What does that mean in the world of NFTs? Are there not hundreds of thousands of people digitalising their artwork as an NFT and trying to flog it in cyberspace? The last time a friend showed me a nascent NFT marketplace for art, it was hardly an impressive array, yet basic digital works by unknown visual artists were on there for tens of thousands of dollars. But as with platforms like NBA’s Top Shot show, there’s a way to connect popular culture with this still rather niche technology. “With this new NFT technology, it adds another layer of engagement, ownership and security too,” adds Miyahara.

Many of the leaders in the NFT music and entertainment world just happen to be from Asia, where fervent social-media engagement, online shows and virtual events have already boosted that culture of fandom. For K-Pop, J-Pop and music fans alike, the team at KLKTN is betting on real value coming from quality content that might give fans intimacy and exclusivity with their preferred artist.

Price points can start low, at US$5-$10 upwards per NFT here because, Iwase says, they want to capture real fans of this music, rather than just crypto sharks or NFT speculators. By winning over genuine fans who “wouldn’t mind trying new things for the sake of engaging with their favourite artists”, KLKTN can get a true sense of how the fandom will engage in the long term.

“I think we want to create products that our fans will genuinely enjoy, and will also enrich their experiences … we’re putting a lot of time and effort into the collectable items – it’s not just throwing up random JPEG or MPEG files, which anyone can do,” adds Iwase. “And for the artists themselves, it needs to be about creating sustainable value.”

By launching their first project with Woo, whom Iwase describes as a kind of “older brother of the current K-Pop stars”, there’s already the footprints of global expansion. The K-pop figure has fans in Korea but also Japan and the US, where he grew up and lives now (his latest drop, “Got It”, is in English). Woo and Miyahara have worked closely together for a while, so it made sense to launch with an artist “who’s willing to trust us and take a leap of faith in this experiment,” says Iwase.

Japanese rocker Miyavi has always been an innovator at the forefront of integrating new technologies with his music. A pioneer in the field even in Japan, he’s even tested virtual-reality performances. His NFTs with KLKTN aim to offer a “collecting” experience rather than merely owning digital assets, with digital ArtKards, candid Moments and a virtual CD cover with notes.

“We used to own photo albums, pieces of vinyl, CD sleeves or whatever we could collect as precious treasures,” says Miyavi. “That experience of collecting is the core of this project. It’s just happening in the digital world.” Music artists understand the fan-club framework has changed radically in the digital era. KLKTN is banking on a long-term structural shift as people spend more time in the digital world. Gaining access to private Moments of your favourite artists – things you wouldn’t see on Twitter or Instagram – is valuable to superfans.

Woo’s fans are already curious and supportive. “They’re enthusiastic about starting something new with me, especially because we’re making history together,” he says. “They feel appreciated and deeply connected to my project, feeling a sense of community … we have perks included in my NFTs, such as giveaways, livestreams, and virtual meet and greets, which they loved.”
This new kind of engagement has implications for future metaverses and how the celebrity-fan dynamic might shift in these all-digital worlds.

“The possibilities are endless,” admits Miyahara, “because now we’re not working on just one certain platform, but we’re creating native data for the entire digital future.” For Miyavi, the draw to be part of “this huge transition, or ascension” means there’s an element where “less physicality actually feels spiritual at the same time as it feels digital”. We’re all curious about what the future holds for how we live, interact and communicate. “I’m also excited to witness what comes from myself in making chemistry with this new experience,” he says.

What can we expect from artists like him in the future, as well as your own personal favourites? Exclusive NFT music drops or virtual concerts with special access? Artist mini-metaverses? “Absolutely yes,” says Miyavi. “I see this as an extension of my Virtual Live project. Since last year I’ve been hosting multiple virtual live concerts and just did one in partnership with Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. NFTs will be a means of my expression and, yes, I’d love to do that in the future. Music is a big part of the world of art. It’s something you can’t see but can most definitely feel.”

The post Inside KLKTN: The Digital Collectible Where Asian Stars Enter the Much-hyped NFT Space appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

If you have an urge to radiate the effortless good looks of a K-pop star, Dr Lisa Chan explains how it’s done.

With the explosion in popularity of global K-pop superstars, such as Blackpink and BTS, many of my clients have come to me with requests for the kind of skin and contour enhancements that make such artists look impeccable without make-up. Some recent favourites include:

Glass Skin: Poreless, luminous skin that glows from within. As any good make-up artist will emphasise, foundations and concealers can only do so much to cover blemishes and pockmarks. Dewy, hydrated and radiant-looking skin is the basis for flawless make-up and, depending on the initial condition of the skin, this can be achieved via deep dermal hydrating injections and sessions of intense pulsed light.

Eyelid Contouring: Prominent creases that widen and increase the charisma of the eyes. Over time, sagging of the upper eyelid skin and loss of volume under the brow area can result in a tired, defeated appearance. Biostimulant and hyaluronic acid filler injections can fill in creases and make up for fat loss and bony resorption, while devices utilising high-intensity focused ultrasound and radiofrequency energy can help tighten and lift sagging skin. Opaque lenses will need to be worn to protect the eyeballs during treatment.

Aegyo Sal: The creation of “charming fat” under the eyes radiates youth and good cheer. If you’ve ever wondered why so many Korean celebrities always look as if they’re smiling, this is one of their best-kept secrets. Tiny cannulas are used to deposit minuscule amounts of hyaluronic acid fillers under the bottom lash line to mimic the muscular action of “smiling eyes” and create a highlighted, cheerful effect.

Smile Lipt: A lip reshaping and “smile” formation technique. To add to the impression of effortless serenity, gone are the days of puffy overblown lips, in favour of delicate petal-shaped borders with upturned corners. Carefully placed botulinum toxin injections and low-viscosity hyaluronic acid fillers can smooth out wrinkles and gently lift lip corners, while intense pulsed light can reduce unwanted pigmentation.

Jaw Contouring: A sculpted, defined appearance to the jawline. Double chins and loose skin can make it difficult to be camera-ready at all angles, but there are multiple ways to combat these issues. Deoxycholic acid, a fat emulsifier naturally found in the body, can be injected to reduce stubborn fat under the chin area, while a combination of hyaluronic acid fillers, polydioxanone threads, high-intensity focused ultrasound and radiofrequency treatments can be used to tighten, lift and improve the definition of the chin and jaw.

K-pop artists are known for their meticulous attention to detail and high beauty standards that make it seemingly impossible for unflattering photos to surface. Beauty filters and Photoshop aside, there’s nothing quite like the glow of confidence that comes from looking and feeling your best.

Follow Dr Chan on Instagram for more beauty tips and musings.

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