BTS Jungkook-Inspired Comeback, Welcome '5:5 Parting' Hairstyle

Report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)

Recently, the 5:5 middle-part hairstyle that was popular in the 1990s has been making a comeback among American men, and reports suggest that the popularity of K-pop stars has played a significant role in this trend.

On the 27th (local time), the U.S. Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published an article titled "Why Many Men Now Love the 'Cool' 1990s Hairstyle." The article identified British actor Hugh Grant as the original star of the 5:5 middle part, as he sported this hairstyle during his early 1990s career. The media also explained that around the same time, young Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonathan Taylor Thomas also wore this hairstyle.

Jungkook of BTS. Photo by Big Hit Music

Recently, American actor Charles Melton and comedian John Mulaney have adopted this hairstyle, leading to a resurgence of the 5:5 middle-part style. In particular, the media diagnosed that the revival of the 1990s hairstyle is linked to the resurgence of the K-pop industry.

Takamichi Saeki and Julian Howard, hair creative directors in New York, said, "Recently, mainly young men have been requesting this hairstyle more often." Some experts noted that this hairstyle suits not only young men but also middle-aged and older men. Especially, Takamichi mentioned that the popularity of this hairstyle has greatly increased due to the influence of K-pop stars. Howard also said, "The 'Korean style,' where the hair is often permed and parted, creates a cooler impression." Since the 5:5 middle part divides the hair into two sides, a considerable amount of hair is needed to prevent the scalp from appearing sparse. For this reason, experts explain that this style slightly showcases healthy hair.

Rachel Gibson, a British historian who studies hairstyles, described the 1990s hairstyle as "romantic, non-threatening, and classic," comparing it to the hairstyle of a Disney prince. She also noted that Generation Z (born in the late 1990s to early 2010s) has a strong interest in 1990s culture, saying, "Short videos on TikTok have helped fuel the revival of 1990s hairstyles." The media also included a photo of Jungkook from the K-pop group BTS, who sports a middle part, in the article.

Meanwhile, on the 28th, Jungkook donated 1 billion won to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to support wildfire damage recovery. Jungkook said, "I hope this small help reaches everyone going through tiring and difficult times," and added, "I wish for those suffering from the wildfire and everyone working hard on the firefighting efforts to regain peaceful daily lives as soon as possible."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.