5th-Gen Male Idol’s Dramatic Hair Change Causes Heated Debate Among Korean Netizens

RIIZE‘s Wonbin — known for his insane visuals — recently shocked fans and netizens alike with a dramatic hair transformation. The heartthrob, who had recently enjoyed a lot of attention due to his long blonde hair, took the bold step of chopping off quite some hair.

The change has unexpectedly caused a heated debate among Korean netizens, who can’t seem to decide whether they like it or not.

The RIIZE star changed from long-ish wavy blonde hair to a sleek, short black hairdo for the group’s first-ever fan-con RIIZING DAY. Fans have welcomed the change as they are always appreciative of Wonbin’s determination to explore new styles. And, though netizens are quite divided on it, the change still became a trending hot topic on multiple community sites.

GAISSS WONBIN SHORT HAIR WONBIN SHORT HAIR WONBIN SHORT HAIR pic.twitter.com/Kgk7IO4Y6K

— RIIZE BASE (@RIIZEfess) May 4, 2024

WONBIN SHORT BLACK HAIR OMFG pic.twitter.com/nOi0nQ4KkB

— wiz (@jhyngae) May 4, 2024

A post on TheQoo discussing Wonbin’s new look has amassed over 35,000 views and sparked more than 450 comments. Netizens have been passionately sharing their thoughts in the comments under the post.

WONBIN'S NEW HAIR????? pic.twitter.com/LJL3bCHkCx

— wonbin pics (@parkwonbinpics) May 4, 2024

Some fans lamented the loss of Wonbin’s iconic long blond hair, expressing a desire to see it make a swift return. Others, however, welcomed the change, praising the idol’s versatility and asserting that he looks handsome regardless of hairstyle.

in loving memory of wonbin’s blond hair, you may be gone but never forgotten pic.twitter.com/cLbC6UOvxo

— (@binjinsu) May 4, 2024

Despite the division, there was a consensus among fans that Wonbin’s natural good looks transcend hairstyle preferences. Many emphasized that his charm remains undiminished, regardless of his chosen hairstyle and color.

• “My favorite long-haired guy…ㅜㅜ If it makes Wonbin fans happy, okay…
• “Why leave it on the side? It’d be better to cut it neatly, but blonde suits him well.”
• “I wanted to see more of the blonde, but it’s a shame. Black hair is also handsome. I want to see various hairstyles.”
• “He looks handsome no matter what.”
• “He’s naturally good-looking, but I hope the long hair comes back soon.”
• “I thought the hair in the video was a bit too much, but seeing these comments, it looks fine.”
• “If he styles it a bit more there, it’ll look really pretty. Seriously, it’s great.”
• “I wish they had cut the bangs a bit more while they were at it… But still, it’s his life, haha.”
• “He’s handsomeㅋㅋ A handsome guy looks good no matter what.”
• “He’s just handsome, but they keep saying this and that. He’s not even done with his styling.”

As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: Wonbin’s hair transformation has sparked passionate discourse within the K-Pop community.