Renjun of NCT Dream, Chinese K-pop star who is passionate, focused and goal-driven

Renjun, born Huang Ren-jun, was so determined to become a K-pop singer that he travelled hours to go to an audition with less than a day’s notice

The singer speaks fluent Korean, having grown up near the China-Korea border, and recently released his first solo cover, of Troye Sivan’s Fools, in English

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Published: 10:15pm, 5 Sep 2020Updated: 10:58pm, 5 Sep 2020

While some K-pop idols begin their careers with an unexpected on-the-street casting or because they were convinced by friends to attend an audition, others got started because it’s been a dream of theirs for a long time.

Renjun was so determined to make it that, with less than one day’s notice, he made the life-changing decision to travel hours to reach an audition. How that decision has paid off for him.

His early life

Renjun was born Huang Ren-jun in Jilin province, northeast China, in March 2000. Korean is commonly spoken in the area because it is close to the Korean peninsula, so he grew up bilingual.

Renjun was born Huang Ren-jun in China’s northeast Jilin province in March in 2000.

A young Renjun was not just interested in studying the Korean language, but Korean music as well. He was inspired by the boy band Exo and, in particular, the international success of the band’s Chinese member Lay.

While his schoolmates set their sights on university, Renjun wanted to become an idol and elected to study at the Beijing Contemporary Music School (alongside NCT band member Chenle), from where he graduated with full marks.