Sweater, Tod’s; Jeans, Coach; Ring, Chaumet; Crossbody bag, Montblanc
Intense are the feelings usually associated with K-pop stars, with doting fans who give their all in support of their bias’s projects — investing time, money and effort into consuming the main offerings alongside merchandise, live events and their online presence. As the physical embodiment of escapism, the celebrities and their artistry are often met with an outpouring of affection. You see it through the video views, which would normally take their Western counterparts much longer to achieve; the comments section on any livestream where their faves will soon appear; and the endless stream of fancams and edits updated in real time. Parasocialism runs deep; their work touches lives far beyond the names in their phone book.
Sweater, jeans, all Prada; Ring, Chaumet; Meisterstück Gold Coated Fountain Pen, Writing Traveler Handbag, all Montblanc
Jacket, pants, all Prada; Meisterstück Gold Coated Fountain Pen, Montblanc; Tanktop, Stylist’s own
Sweater, pants, shoes, all ZEGNA; Crossbody bag, Montblanc
As a seasoned actor, the 36-year-old has had ample time to prepare for this kind of response. Praised for the wide range of characters portrayed — from an undercover cop in The Merciless (2017) to a bullied high schooler in the series Boyhood (2023) — Yim Siwan does not have a specific strategy set aside when picking out projects. “Setting strict criteria could narrow my perspective, so I try to stay flexible and look at each project from various angles. Ultimately, I’m drawn to projects that challenge me,” he shares. The challenge in question is about finding ways to ground his characters. Even as he takes on the role of a contract killer in his most recent project, Mantis (2025), he tries to instil a sense of humanity to make his acting believable. “I try my best to create realism, even when I sometimes find many of these characters difficult to relate to. Since it’s not easy to understand the mindset of someone who makes terrible choices, I focus on drawing out the most human parts of them and try to find empathy within.” Something else he picked up from playing an assassin? “There were many scenes in Mantis that involved balancing on one foot while wearing these high-heeled boots, so I practised balancing on one leg daily. It might sound trivial, but my balance has definitely improved since,” he laughs.
Jacket, t-shirt, pants, all Dior Men; Boots, Givenchy; Companion Briefcase, Montblanc
Sweater, pants, all Hermès; Crossbody bag, Montblanc
Sweater, ZEGNA
Given his proficiency in both acting and singing, does Yim consider both art forms to stem from the same creative muscle? “Being a singer is about delivering explosive energy and spontaneity in a short moment, whereas acting feels more like a craftsman shaping pottery over a long period of time — carefully, patiently, until something meaningful emerges,” he compares. Straddling both forms of creativity, he has strengthened the intensity of the bond he shares with his fans, whether it is a 3-minute track or a 2-hour thriller. Once shared that he will not give up on music, “or else it would feel like denying his entire 20s”, as he puts it, what he hopes fans to witness in him, growth-wise, is his commitment to always outperform himself. “We can’t always be perfect, but I never want to approach my career with an easy or careless mindset, expecting others to overlook my flaws. Although I’m far from perfect, I hope fans will remember me as somebody who strives to do his best,” Yim shares. Having been in the industry for over a decade, he has also observed improvements in fan culture. When asked about the phenomenon of idols who almost have to live their lives by their fans’ standards — where private matters become public — he feels that awareness of privacy has improved over the years. “Fans today are a lot more respectful of boundaries.”
Creative Direction & Styling Izwan Abdullah
Photography Chee Wei
Fashion Coordination Manfred Lu
Art Direction Danessa Tong
On-Set Styling E.Joo Kim
Grooming Choi Soo Il
Hair ahnhongmoon
Production & Artiste Booking Hee Woong Kang | Thiziscompany
Production Assistant Eunjin Hong
Set Design Gin Khoo
Styling Assistants Liew Hui Ying, Asha Farisha
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