ICYMI, it’s Aquarius season. While the Aquarius people in our lives could at times be unbearable for being in their own worlds, we gotta love them for their quirky and bubbly personalities. One Aquarius whom we can’t get enough of is none other than K-pop superstar Lucas Wong. The rapping and dancing beast celebrates his 22nd birthday (he’s turning 23 if you’re going to count his Korean age) today, but he’ll always be the giant baby loved by his bandmates and fans.
Towering at 182 cm (which is around six feet), Lucas caught the attention of NCTzens, Weishennies and SuperM fans (why they still haven’t decided a fandom name is beyond me) for his deep voice, powerful dancing skills and out-of-this-world visuals. While many know him as the tall handsome rapper from NCT, WayV and SuperM (yes, he’s a member of three boy groups), there is way more to Lucas than his striking good looks.
He’s hardworking
A lot of K-pop stans know that training to be an idol is no joke. These performers-to-be enter South Korea’s top entertainment companies at such a young age to pursue their dreams of being an artist with no guarantee of them actually making their debut. You can just imagine how difficult that must have been for a foreigner like Lucas who was born and raised in Hong Kong to a Chinese father and a Thai mother. While many knew him as one of NCT’s new members in 2018, he actually passed SM Entertainment’s global auditions to be a model before being scouted as a rapper to train with the boy group.
Not only did he have to learn to sing and dance, but he also had to study Korean, Mandarin and recently English to promote his music since his mother tongue is Cantonese. From starting his career as a rookie rapper with NCT to joining its Chinese sub-unit WayV and being chosen to be a part of the K-pop supergroup SuperM, you can only imagine how booked and busy the 22-year-old performer really is.
He’s confident about his looks and he wants you to be, too
In case you haven’t noticed, Lucas is very good looking and he knows it. While he constantly jokes about being the best looking among his band members, he remains humble and encourages his fellow members to be confident as well. He compliments his members a lot for looking good or doing well during performances and music videos. During NCT’s full group promotions last year, Lucas made the extra effort to encourage new members Shotaro and Sungchan to be more comfortable during their debut shoot and rehearsals. He also compliments his fans at every chance he gets—whether it’s through sending cheeky Dear U. Bubble messages or giving heartfelt advice at fansigns.
He’s sensitive and empathetic
Nicknamed “giant baby” by his fans and his bandmates, Lucas has one of the kindest hearts despite looking fierce and intimidating on stage. During one of WayV’s interviews for a Chinese program, both Lucas and their leader Kun admitted that he is responsible for uniting the group. During an interview with Billboard, Ten described Lucas as the member who encourages the group to bond together when they’re running low on energy. When asked how their sibling-like dynamics came to be, Lucas answered that they really depended on each other for support since they came to South Korea.
“We feel that we have a very real relationship, especially because we come from different parts of the world and have come together to be in a group together,” said Lucas. “It shows our determination and passion to be together, and we also depend on each other and receive help from one another.”
He’s incredibly funny
Lucas was never shy to conceal his goofy and eccentric personality since his debut in 2018. During a lot of unscripted livestreams and interviews, you could see the Aquarius in him jump out whenever he makes his band members laugh. From joking about looking like a tree if he joined NCT Dream to broadcasting on Instagram Live that WayV got stuck in an elevator, Lucas’ unhinged humor never fails to lift the mood of whichever group he’s with. Our personal favorite is his “Tom and Jerry” relationship with Exo’s and SuperM’s Kai—you can catch them bickering like brothers throughout every episode of their variety show “Mtopia” or every band interview.
In fact, if you search for videos about Lucas on YouTube, you’d find a lot of fanmade compilations of him being chaotically funny. That’s why it didn’t come as a surprise when several NCT members voted him the most cheerful member out of all 23 of them. He also showed his wit and humor during an episode of SuperM’s variety show “As We Wish” where he wrote and starred in his own short film as part of a contest with the other members. Get you a man who’d dance to your favorite song at your deathbed, am I right?
He speaks his mind
A lot of Aquarius people are known to be outspoken for the things they believe in and the things they’re passionate about. For a lot of K-pop artists, their management controls a lot of what they say and do in front of the public. While they’re bound to encounter uncomfortable situations like rude fans or sasaengs following them in both announced and unannounced schedules, most artists stay quiet about these things until management allows them to release a statement later on. However, Lucas was one of the WayV members who immediately spoke up about sasaengs following the band during one of their shoots on Jan. 18. Stalking idols is never OK as Lucas wrote in his Dear U. Bubble messaging service, “This is so ridiculous, really. I’m so angry. But I’m sorry everyone, for suddenly being like this.”
During both WayV’s and SuperM’s variety shows “Dream Plan” and “As We Wish,” there were hidden pranks or staged situations that the staff members arranged to challenge the members. Lucas was vocal about the situations in both shows that he wasn’t OK with and went out of his way to encourage the members and staff in distress. He protected WayV’s Hendery when they were put in a room full of frogs knowing about his phobia in “Dream Plan,” while he comforted one of the actors who pretended to be sad over a rejection in “As We Wish” by running after the woman who rejected him.
There are a lot more moments that made us and several fans fall in love with Lucas. While we wish him a happy 22nd birthday, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for him this year. Could it be a WayV comeback soon?
Art by Neal Alday
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