K-pop and Fashion: Male Idols who walked Fashion Runways

K-pop idols have a profound impact on the fashion industry, blending charisma, style, and global influence. Many of these idols are brand ambassadors for renowned fashion houses like Chanel, Dior, Celine, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and others. Their appearances at fashion shows are highly anticipated and widely celebrated, whether they are sitting in the front row or gracing the runways.

Male idols, in particular, demonstrate versatility and charisma, effortlessly transitioning from the stage to the runway. Let’s check out some of them.

MINO

WINNER’s Mino made headlines with his runway debut in 2019 for the Louis Vuitton Spring 2020 menswear show, dressed in an outfit by the legendary late Virgil Abloh. He is the first K-pop idol to grace the Louis Vuitton runway at Paris Fashion Week.

CHANYEOL and KAI

In 2012, then rookie EXO’s Chanyeol and Kai made their runway debut for renowned Korean designer Lie Sang Bong at a mini fashion show during the K-pop Nature Plus Concert in Jeju Island.

FELIX

Felix, a popular member of Stray Kids who was appointed as Louis Vuitton’s house ambassador last year, made his runway debut at the Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week show on March 5, 2024.

JENO

NCT’s Jeno made history as the first K-pop idol to open a New York Fashion Week runway show in 2022. He opened Peter Do’s runway show for the 2023 Spring/Summer collection ‘Time’ in a deconstructed black suit.

B.M

B.M from the co-ed group KARD made his runway debut for the BOSS X Russell Athletic Fall-Winter 2021 show at Milan Fashion Week wearing an all-white ensemble.

DK

At the 2022 New York Fashion Week for the Spring-Summer 2023 show, Concept Korea featured iKON’s DK on the runway, dressed in two outfits by the eco-friendly and socially conscious brand UL:KIN.

SHOWNU

Shownu, leader of Monsta X, made his runway debut at 2024 New York Fashion Week as an ambassador and model for Concept Korea, adorned in outfits from MMAM, CHARMS, and KIMMY.J.

ROWOON

Tall and handsome multi-talented idol turned actor Rowoon debuted as a runway model for the Sewing Boundaries collection at the 2017 F/W HERA Seoul Fashion Week.

MINGYU

Seventeen’s Mingyu also graced 2017’s Seoul Fashion Week and made a remarkable runway debut. With model-like proportion and striking visuals, Mingyu stole the show as he walked for Big Park.

CHA EUNWOO

Face Genius Cha Eunwoo, a popular actor and member of ASTRO, graced the runway at renowned designer Ji Chun-hee’s Seoul Fashion Week show in 2020, which was streamed online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

YEONJUN and YANGYANG

TXT’s Yeonjun and WayV’s Yangyang walked on the digital runway for New York Fashion Week as a part of Concept Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

As the worlds of K-pop and fashion continue to intersect, we can expect to see even more idols making their mark on the runway in the years to come.