Popular Korean actor Kim Young-dae (김영대) has unexpectedly become a viral sensation online due to his appearance after enlisting in the military. Known for his handsome image in K-dramas, Kim recently appeared at a military event sporting a drastically different hairstyle, leaving many fans unable to recognize him at first glance.
Kim Young-dae gained significant popularity through his roles in K-dramas such as Extraordinary You, The Penthouse, Sh**ting Stars, No Gain No Love, and Dear X. He has often appeared on screen with a neat and polished look. Typically, Korean celebrities enlist in the military and adopt the standard short haircut, leading to noticeable changes in their appearance.
However, Kim Young-dae seems to have deviated from the usual military short cut. At a recent military event, he appeared with a brand-new 'side-parted fade' hairstyle. This marks the first time he has publicly showcased such a haircut since his debut.
The simple change in hairstyle dramatically altered his overall aura, making many fans initially unable to recognize him. Photos of his new look quickly spread across social media platforms, with netizens eagerly hoping he will maintain this style even after his discharge from military service.
One fan jokingly commented, "Kim Young-dae might be the only Korean celebrity I've seen who got even handsomer after enlisting. Please, please keep this hairstyle." Others exclaimed, "Kim Young-dae really needs to ditch his usual hairstyle and stick with this one. Hair is truly so important!" and "We finally know what Kim Young-dae was missing. This hairstyle suits him perfectly; he looks ridiculously handsome."
Some fans directly appealed to Korean stylists: "He absolutely must keep this hairstyle after he's discharged. Please stop giving all male idols bangs; they should try more styles like this!" Even more netizens were surprised, commenting, "Is this Kim Young-dae? I was completely unprepared!" "He looks so incredibly handsome!" and "Everyone, don't let him go back to his old hairstyle. This look really suits him."
Kim Young-dae is currently still serving his mandatory military duty. Despite it being a simple change in hairstyle, it has unexpectedly sparked a discussion about how much 'hair determines visuals.' Fans are eagerly anticipating his return to the entertainment industry, hoping he will retain this unexpectedly popular new look.
