December 25th will forever be etched in the minds of K-pop fans as the day Stray Kids’ Hyunjin shocked the world with a bold and edgy transformation. Unveiling his buzzcut blonde hairstyle on the red carpet at the 2024 SBS Gayo Daejun, Hyunjin set social media ablaze, proving once again why he’s a global icon.
Hyunjin is now the highest-trending K-pop male idol in the US, according to United States X (Twitter) Trends. In the last 24 hours, he is the only K-pop idol to make the list, racking up a staggering 2,350,555 tweets in just nine hours, with his peak position reaching number 3.
But the phenomenon didn’t stop there. Hyunjin is also trending worldwide, becoming the highest-trending K-pop idol globally in the past 24 hours. In Japan, his buzzcut debut peaked at number 1, amassing 196,000 tweets in just seven hours.
Over on Google Trends, Hyunjin exploded onto the charts with a perfect score of 100 in interest over time, signifying peak popularity. Even after this initial surge, he continues to maintain a high score globally, a testament to his unparalleled star power.
Fans expressing their disbelief and appreciation in the most iconic ways 👇
HYUNJIN'S BUZZCUT IS TRENDING ALL OVER THE US HARD!!!! 🔥🔥 Like, HOW does he look this good with a buzzcut?! The internet is losing it, and so am I. 😭🖤 Someone please call 911...#Hyunjin #BuzzcutEra #StrayKids #현#현진 #스트레이키즈 #SKZ pic.twitter.com/ZuS8nSwRqP
— Teresa Kim (@kim_teresa36491) December 25, 2024
hyunjin is trending on #8 of weibo MAIN chart with his new hair#현진 #Hyunjin #ヒョンジン pic.twitter.com/Qp8qkeDFgN
— Hyunjin China Data Chart (@HHJ_Data) December 25, 2024
Hyunjin trends worldwide at #7 following his 2024 sbs gayo daejeon appearance.
— Viral Takes (@viraltakes) December 25, 2024
Only K-Pop idol in top 10 right now. pic.twitter.com/QlVo0RIIGC
Fans—known as Stays—were caught completely off guard by this daring transformation. Hyunjin’s boldness and innate ability to pull off a look as striking as this have solidified his status as a true fashion trendsetter. It’s rare to see a K-pop idol take such a risk and not only succeed but dominate. For fans, this transformation is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.
Adding fuel to the frenzy, Hyunjin treated fans to an Instagram update showcasing his new look with a series of intimate photos that sent everyone into a meltdown. The post has already garnered almost 2.5 million likes, with fans swooning over his raw and timeless beauty.
This buzzcut debut brings back memories of Hyunjin’s iconic Maxident album promotion days, but this time, he’s shattered the internet. Fans who somehow missed his meteoric rise are now discovering this trendsetting giant, and they’re hooked.
Stray Kids recently returned to Korea on December 23rd, and in just two days, Hyunjin and Felix debuted jaw-dropping new styles. Felix traded his signature blonde hair for a chic black look, while Hyunjin’s dramatic buzzcut left fans speechless.
Meanwhile, Stray Kids continues to dominate the charts, achieving unprecedented success with their album “合 (HOP).” The group topped the Billboard 200 for the sixth consecutive time, with 187,000 copies sold in the US in the first week. This makes them the only artist to achieve six consecutive number-one albums since the chart’s inception in 1956.
Hyunjin’s daring transformation and Stray Kids’ record-breaking achievements are the ultimate embodiment of true pop star energy, reminiscent of legendary artists from the golden era of music.
This is more than a moment—it’s a movement. Hyunjin isn’t just trending; he’s redefining what it means to be a global icon. Fans can only wonder: what bold move will he make next?