[News Figures] BTS and Blackpink Also Captivated by UK’s 'Harry Styles'

Wearing a Gat and Waving the Taegeukgi... Korean Tour Performance Sparks Buzz
Born in 1994, Former One Direction Member with Global Fame
Also Named the Wealthiest Young Person in the UK

The UK pop star Harry Styles, often hailed as the 'idol of idols,' successfully concluded his visit to Korea with a sold-out concert. On the 20th, Harry Styles held his first Korean concert, 'HARRY STYLES LOVE ON TOUR 2023 - Live in Seoul,' at the KSPO DOME in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul.

Proving his immense popularity, the concert was attended by BTS members RM, Suga, Jungkook, and V, BLACKPINK's Jennie and Ros?, MONSTA X's Hyungwon, aespa's Karina and Winter, as well as actors Lee Dong-hwi, Park Hyung-sik, and Ryu Jun-yeol, who all illuminated Harry Styles' first Korean concert. Notably, Harry Styles delighted the audience by wearing a gat (traditional Korean hat) found among gifts thrown onto the stage, draping the Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) around his neck, and waving it above his head while singing, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

Harry Styles. Photo by Live Nation Korea

Born in 1994 and aged 29, Harry Styles rose to global fame as a member of One Direction, formed on the UK show 'The X-Factor' in 2010 alongside Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik.

In 2017, he debuted as an actor through the film 'Dunkirk.' He also played the role of Starfox in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It is known that Harry Styles has signed contracts for as many as five Marvel projects.

After One Direction went on hiatus, Harry Styles embarked on his solo career in 2017, achieving number one on the Billboard album chart with his second album 'Fine Line' and topping the singles chart with 'Watermelon Sugar.'

British pop star Harry Styles is performing wrapped in the Taegeukgi at his first concert in Korea, held on the night of the 20th at the KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Lloyd Wakefield

Harry Styles has revealed that his family influenced his music. In an interview released through the record label Sony Music in December 2017 for Korean fans, he said, "Every time I write a song, I feel that composing is a combination of the songs I heard as a child and everything I've listened to throughout my life. Especially the music heard during one's formative years has a huge impact, so my parents' musical tastes and the environment I grew up in are very important."

He added, "As you encounter new music every day, you come to know what songs you like and dislike, which helps you understand your own taste. This accumulates to form your own musical perspective on what kind of songs you want to create. So, even though the sources of inspiration may change from time to time, the foundation formed over a long period doesn't easily change."

As a highly popular pop singer, Harry Styles was also recognized as the wealthiest young person in the UK, drawing attention. In February last year, British media reported that Harry Styles ranked first in a list of 'The Wealthiest Celebrities Under 30 in the UK' published by a British magazine. His assets amount to ?116 million (approximately 186 billion KRW).

Meanwhile, in May last year, Harry Styles added to his achievements with the title track 'As It Was' from his third studio album, which topped the UK singles chart for 10 weeks and the Billboard singles chart for 15 weeks. At the Grammy Awards held last February, he won the prestigious 'Album of the Year' as well as the Best Pop Vocal Album trophy.