Nichkhun

Nichkhun of 2PM: The Thai-American Idol Who Opened K-pop’s Doors

Long before “global idol” became a buzzword, 2PM‘s Nichkhun was already living it. Born in California, raised in Thailand, schooled in New Zealand, and trained in South Korea, he’s often credited as one of the first Southeast Asian stars to break into K-pop and stay at the top of it. If you’re exploring 2PM’s members, Nichkhun’s story is a genuine multicultural K-pop idol journey — and it’s a big part of why 2PM’s fanbase stretches so far beyond Korea.

A Childhood on Three Continents

Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul was born on June 24, 1988, in Rancho Cucamonga, California, to a Thai father and a Chinese-Thai mother. At age five, his family moved to Thailand, where he grew up attending Dhepkanjana School and Tangpiroondham School. At twelve, he spent time studying in New Zealand before eventually finishing high school back in California. That patchwork upbringing gave him fluency in Thai, English, and later Korean and basic Mandarin — a skill set that made him a natural fit for JYP Entertainment’s global ambitions.

He was scouted at a Korean music festival in Los Angeles’s Koreatown and later auditioned for JYP Entertainment, eventually appearing on the talent competition Superstar Survival, where he actually served as a host before becoming a trainee himself.

Debut, “Thai Prince” Fame, and a Growing Acting Career

Nichkhun debuted with 2PM on September 4, 2008. His visuals and easygoing charm quickly earned him the nickname the “Thai Prince,” and Thailand’s Tourism Authority even tapped him as the face of a national campaign. He’s built a steady acting résumé alongside his idol work, appearing in the Japanese film Ouran High School Host Club and the Thai film Seven Something, and later making his Hollywood debut in 2023’s The Modelizer.

As a soloist, Nichkhun released his debut mini album, Me, in December 2018 — a project notable for being written and composed entirely in English, including a fan-dedicated track called “Umbrella.” It’s a fitting release for an idol whose whole career has been about bridging cultures.

Why Fans Around the World Root for Him

For many HOTTEST outside Korea, Nichkhun was the first idol who looked and sounded like someone from their own part of the world. That representation, paired with his easy charm on variety shows like We Got Married and Running Man, has made him one of 2PM’s most internationally recognizable members.