BLACKPINK member Jennie has been actively promoting her new song, “Less Than A Lover.” On October 18, she surprised fans by sharing a polaroid photo on social media, showing her intimately resting her head on the shoulder of a man in a blue shirt, both looking at the camera. Jennie deliberately obscured the man's face with a heart emoji and provided no caption, immediately sparking intense speculation about his identity. Many netizens exclaimed, “Could this be a new romance revealed?”
As more teasers for the “Less Than A Lover” music video were released, the mysterious man's true identity gradually came to light. Many netizens compared clues and concluded that the male lead is Nah Kai (凱), a 23-year-old Taiwanese model currently active in Korea, who instantly became a trending topic online.
However, what truly ignited the discussion was not the male lead himself, but his name. “Kai” happens to be the same name as Jennie's former boyfriend, EXO member Kim Jong-in (김종인), known professionally as Kai, instantly bringing back memories for many fans. Jennie publicly confirmed her relationship with Kai in 2019, and although the romance ended shortly after, the “JENKAI” couple still has a significant following.
Some netizens even created analytical videos, suggesting that Jennie's new song—from its main visual color palette and styling to the male lead's name—might contain “Easter eggs” referencing her past relationship. These theories continue to spread across social media.
On October 20, Jennie officially unveiled the MV poster for “Less Than A Lover,” revealing the male lead's face for the first time and further confirming that the collaborator is Nah Kai. Following the announcement, netizens commented, “Kai? That name sounds too familiar!” “My 2020 memories just flooded back,” “He really does resemble Kai a bit,” and “JENKAI shippers are going to riot!”
However, as of now, Jennie's representatives have not responded to these external speculations. All current discussions stem from the male lead sharing a name with EXO's Kai, and there is no evidence to suggest a direct link between the MV's content and Jennie's past relationship.
Meanwhile, Nah Kai, who gained attention for appearing in Jennie's new MV, has also become a focal point of discussion. Born in 2002, the 23-year-old is a Taiwanese model currently active in Korea. He previously shared his journey of developing his career in Korea during an interview with Korean fashion media outlet eyesmag.
Kai revealed that he was born in Taiwan and later moved to Korea to pursue his modeling dreams, often interacting with fans in English and Korean. When discussing his appearance, he laughed, saying he is often compared to other celebrities. While many think he resembles RIIZE member Wonbin (원빈), he doesn't personally see it, instead being more frequently told he looks like Japanese actor Kento Yamazaki, a comparison even the interviewer agreed with.
Beyond his work experiences, Kai has also shared his views on relationships. He mentioned being single for about half a year at the time of the interview, describing his ideal type as cute, polite, and gentle. He admitted he isn't a fan of the “sexy type.” As for his favorite Korean celebrities, he named actress Kim Tae-ri (김태리), praising her elegant demeanor and charming smile. He also mentioned ILLIT member Wonhee (원희), finding her adorable and impressed by her stage presence and dance skills.
In fact, Kai did not debut through acting projects but initially gained popularity by sharing daily life and fashion photos on Instagram and Threads before being discovered and entering the modeling industry. Now, his collaboration with Jennie on the MV, coupled with the leaked polaroid photo, has caused his public profile to surge, with his social media followers rapidly increasing.
