K-Pop Stars Who Flawlessly Rock The Neon Trend

If there’s one thing you can’t remove from K-pop — aside from the charismatic idols, complicated dance moves, style, catchy music, and overall exciting fandom — it’s definitely color. And one hue that is standing out this Spring/Summer season is neon, which is arguably not really something new, but based on the recent music videos, performance outfits, and daily looks of the stars, it is here to stay. Here are some of the best neon moments in K-pop:

Fluorescent Femme

From her “Lip and Hip” promotions until this day, it is pretty clear that HyunA is the queen of neon. She rocked bright shades not only through her outfits from head to toe but also with her makeup that she pulled off effortlessly. She also posted a photo of herself wearing a bright, fluffy tulle dress (from Giambattista Valli’s capsule collection with H&M) and it made her look like a princess on her birthday.

Who could forget singer and rapper Jessi’s body-hugging neon green dress that she wore when she took a photo with labelmate HyunA?

Hyolyn is proving that this trend looks great as sportswear or sexy look.

Another star that’s giving these bright shades a strong look is MAMAMOO’s Hwasa, who brought this difficult to pull off trend onstage with confidence and really owned it.

When Apink’s Son Naeun attended an event by Fendi and Gentle Monster, she brought color to the red carpet with a stunning orange dress with a sheer neon green sporty overlay that seemed like it changed into a bright yellow shade when it hit the lights. Her look was fashion forward and exciting, which is something new from the star as she often wears classic pieces and silhouettes in black and neutral colors.

It’s all in the details for Sunmi as she likes to switch up her looks with key pieces like blinding yellow shoes or a cute top, a fun Powerpuff Girls dress and a chic pink dress with a gorgeous back detail.

T-ara member Hyomin’s look for her “Mango” song literally embodied the fruit itself: sweet and bright. She even had matching microphones!

Chungha took us on a “Rollercoaster” ride with her shocking neon outfits for her video and glow-in-the-dark beauty looks!

Bright Gentlemen

It’s not just the ladies who are shining in this trend. Kai, who’s known for his impeccable classic style and great taste for designer brands, rocked this trend from time to time, showing that he can be experimental in fashion too.

The8 of SEVENTEEN didn’t think twice about what color he was going to wear for his airport outfit: full lime green from the top down to his socks. Even though it’s hard to wear this as a daily outfit, he still looked cool and comfortable.

Yunho just had a major comeback as a solo artist and fans are excited to see not only his sleek dance moves but also his unique stage outfits. In one of his special MVs, he sported a matching canary yellow suit with a printed blue polo and channeled a retro look. For his stage performance, he wore a leather pink jacket, which both showed, as his mini album is called, his “True Colors.”

Whether it’s full, complete looks or pops of neon color, BTS always knows how to brighten their look, not just individually but as a group. They always look cohesive and put together, and not to mention, it matches their fun, captivating personalities.

Song Mino might be the most adventurous when it comes to style, but the members of WINNER are also pretty style-savvy themselves. They’re wearing a different element to the neon trend for their “Ah Yeah” promotions: tie dye and color combinations. It captures the vibe of summer and it’s the perfect look for their upbeat song.

Group Glam

Who knew neon can be glamorous too? EXID is showing that this trend is perfect for their electro-pop single “Me & You” with unique details like animal print and fringes in their latest styles.

Red Velvet is always an eye candy with their eclectic styles that match their catchy songs. What makes their neon looks amazing is that each member shows that they can rock either the cute or fierce/edgy concept.

TWICE is always like a vitamin to their fans, giving them energy through their fun songs, cute styles, and overall adorable personalities. This can be seen in their latest single, “Fancy.”

BLACKPINK is a group that is always on top of the discussions when it comes to fabulous style. They’re always on trend and each member is able to rock different kinds of looks no matter what occasion. They made the neon trend look chic, street, and glam.

ITZY is a fairly new group that is definitely a force to reckon with not only for their beauty, high energy, and amazing skills but also for their styles that speak to today’s Gen Z. For their “Dalla Dalla” stages, they wore a mix of sporty and school-inspired outfits that had touches of, you guessed it — the bright neon trend.

Hey Soompiers! Which of these K-pop stars rocked the neon trend the best? Let us know in the comments below!

DianneP_Kim is an English magazine and online editor and stylist based in South Korea. She has recently authored a book on K-pop style published by Skyhorse Publications, New York. The book tells the story of how K-pop and the corresponding fashion evolved not only in Korea but also around the world. It is filled with fashion images recreating the style and beauty looks of some of today’s top Korean stars: G-Dragon, BTS, EXO, Red Velvet, BLACKPINK, TWICE, among many others. It is available in different languages and in major bookstores like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Check out the book here! 

For inquiries, please send a DM to instagram.com/dianne_panda.