5+ K-pop Idols Who Changed Their Stage Names Mid-Career
Most of the time, K-pop idols debut with a stage name if they aren't using their real names. These stage names become a part of who they are, and is a name that they will be remembered by even when they retire from the idol life. While most idols stick to promoting with the stage names their debuted with during the course of their career, some end up changing their stage names in the middle of it!
With that, here are some of the K-pop idols who changed their stage names mid-career.
1. GOT7 Junior to Jinyoung
GOT7 Jinyoung
In January 2014, GOT7 made their debut under JYP Entertainment. Prior to being widely known as Jinyoung, the GOT7 member was first known as Junior. Initially, he chose the stage name Junior as his full name was the same as JYP Entertainment's founder and CEO Park Jin Young (J.Y. Park), making him quite literally Park Jin Young junior. However, he decided to just use his real name after discussing it with his family in August 2016.
2. E'Dawn to DAWN
DAWN
DAWN initially made his debut as a member of Cube Entertainment's boy group PENTAGON back in October 2016. At this time, DAWN was promoting under the stage name E'Dawn. But after leaving the agency and withdrawing from the group, the former PENTAGON member changed his stage name to just DAWN. Although he never explained the reason behind his name change, it is likely just to signal his new beginning as a solo artist.
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3. Yeeun to HA:TFELT
HA:TFELT
Yeeun debuted with Wonder Girls using her real name in February 2007. In fact, she used her real name for promotions with Wonder Girls for the next decade. But during her time with Wonder Girls, Yeeun made her solo debut in 2014, using the stage name HA:TFELT (pronounced as "heartfelt"). Since the group's disbandment in 2017, she has been promoting under her new stage name.
4. MONSTA X Jooheon to Joohoney
MONSTA X Joohoney
MONSTA X's rapper Joohoney debuted with the stage name Jooheon, which is actually his real name. However, he ended up changing his stage name to Joohoney back in 2019. According to Jooheon, he reason he decided to change his name was due to people often confusing his name with Joohyeon. He then chose Joohoney as his stage name, as it is easier for international fans to pronounce.
5. BTS Rap Monster to RM
BTS RM
In June 2013, BTS' leader and rapper chose a fitting stage name for his debut - Rap Monster. But following his debut, he found that he had a love-hate relationship with the name, and that it didn't hold an incredible value to him. He then changed his name to simply RM in November 2017, as he felt the name Rap Monster no longer represented who he was or the type of music he makes.
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6. iKON Members
Top (left to right) DK and Jay / Bottom (left to right) Song and Chan
In May 2017, iKON announced that several of its members would be changing their stage names as part of the group's "New Kids" concept at the time, which signifies new beginnings and a new style. While members Bobby, Ju-Ne, and then-member B.I. retained their stage names, Donghyuk changed his name to DK, Jinhwan to Jay, Yunyheong to Song, and Chanwoo to Chan.
Which other K-pop idols do you know changed their stage names?
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Written by Robyn Joan
