K-pop idol Nichkhun is starring opposite Byron Mann in Hollywood’s Hong Kong Love Story – everything you need to know about boy band 2PM’s toned ‘Thai Prince’ born in the US to Chinese parents
Directed by Keoni Waxman, the film borrows from the real-life experiences of Mann. According to Deadline, Nichkhun and Mann will play sons of wealthy families who travel to Hong Kong to see what life there has to offer. Their friendship is put to the test when a model, played by Polish actress Dominika Kachlik, comes into the picture.
Before he debuts on the big screen, here’s a look at Nichkhun’s early years.
He was born into an affluent family
Nichkhun was born in America and raised in Thailand to Chinese parents. His mother hails from the island of Hainan, while he has extended family members and ancestors in Guangzhou province.
Before even debuting as a K-pop idol, Nichkhun already lived a lavish lifestyle. According to Soompi, his mother is the CEO of Thai pharmaceutical company Union Medical, one of the country’s leading importers and distributors.
He attended an exclusive school
According to the same Soompi report, Nichkhun studied at the exclusive Whanganui Collegiate School in New Zealand. The school counts Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, as one of its well-known alumni. Then he returned to California to finish his secondary education. His wealthy upbringing, complemented by his well-built body and boyish charm, has earned him the nickname“Thai Prince”.
He was scouted at 18
In 2006, a JYP scouting manager noticed Nichkhun at a Korean music festival in Los Angeles. Despite this coincidence, the star later said that his training was difficult because he could not speak Korean and he did not know anything about Korean culture. Besides teaching him the language, JYP put him in singing, dancing, rapping, and acting classes – even acrobatics.
He was a happy-go-lucky teenager
In an episode of Eric Nam’s podcast, “K-pop Daebak”, Nichkhun recalled how he auditioned in front of Starbucks while onlookers starred at him as he posed, sang and danced. He also admitted he wasn’t great at school – preferring to ditch his studies and play badminton with friends – so he passed the audition he went along with the idea of a career in show business simply because he had no other clear plans.
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Scouted by JYP Entertainment at 18 in Los Angeles, he had to learn Korean as well as to sing and dance, but worked hard to make it alongside bandmates Taecyeon and Junho – now his talent, charm and good looks are taking him back to Hollywood