K-Pop idols are multitalented human beings. We have seen them sing, dance, produce and write music. A lot of the idols have said they have hobbies and interests outside their profession. Many of them like to read, cook and have hobbies like photography and filming. There are a lot of idols like RM of BTS and Wonwoo of Seventeen, who are known as bookworms and are always reading books in their leisure time. What you might not know is quite many of them K-pop idols have even published books and are published authors.
You might assume that idols are naturally good at writing since they do songwriting all the time. Songwriting and writing a book are two extreme ends. Writing songs involves writing small poetic lines while penning a whole book is another thing. It is a tough nut to crack, but some of these idols have proven their caliber here too. It is quite motivating how these busy personalities manage to get so much done despite their hectic schedules. Being a voracious reader myself, I have found myself some new reads that too from my favorite idols. Below we will see some K-Pop idols authors who have published books, and you can add them to your reading list too at the latest.
1. Jonghyun of SHINee
The late SHINee singer was a talented soul, and we knew that he was an avid reader. His writing skills did show through his amazing songwriting, and he proved his talent by publishing a book. His book is titled “Skeleton Flower: Things that have been released and set free”. The book came out in 2015, and Jonghyun elaborates on songs he has written and also contains some short stories written by him.
2. Lay of EXO
Lay Zhang is a talented singer, songwriter, and rapper. But not many know he has a flair for writing hidden in him. The idol came out with his autobiography “Standing Firm at 24” in 2015. The book is an insight into his journey from a trainee to an idol. Further, putting more emphasis on the title of the book, he has mentioned 24 moments from his life that he believes have shaped him. The book is a collection of stories and photographs.
3. BIGBANG
The legendary veteran group BIGBANG are not just great K-Pop idols but have another feather to their cap of being published authors. They came out with the autobiographical book titled “Shouting Out To The World”. The book outlines the time and hardships they endured from being a trainee to the time they debuted as idols. The piece also contains each member’s personal stories and the memories they have together as a group.
4. Jessica Jung of Girls’ Generation
The former Girls’ Generation member proved that she is not just a great performer but also a great writer. In 2020 she released her book “Shine- a novel,” which follows a Korean-American teenager’s journey to becoming a K-Pop idol. The book might sound autobiographical to some, and it is quite plausible that Jessica wrote about moments from her trainee days to becoming an idol. The book was a New York Times Bestseller. It debuted at #5 on the Young Adult Hardcover list upon its release.
5. Lee Hyori
Lee Hyori has established herself as a great singer, but she is also an exemplary writer. Her first book dropped in 2012, titled “Closer: The Story of Hyori and Soon Shim. Now Hyori is known as an advocate for animals and their rights. Soon Shim is the dog she adopted. The book also highlights her efforts for animal protection and other animals she has adopted throughout the time. All the money that came from the book’s sales was donated to Korea’s animal protection organization, Korea Animal Right Advocates. Now that’s what we call art for a cause!
6. Leeteuk of Super Junior
The very talented idol singer of Super Junior is also credited with writing a book. Now unlike other works mentioned above, this book is a different genre altogether. We saw idols writing about their life-changing moments that all led up to the moment of them debuting as idols. But Leeteuk is an author of a cookbook. He had hosted a cooking show for a long time, and that’s what inspired him to create new recipes of his own, and they all got compiled and published in his cookbook “Lee Teuk Cook Book”. I am a reader but also a foodie, and I really can’t wait to get my hands on this piece!
These were some of the K-Pop idols who are also published authors. Did the list surprise you, or did you already know about some of them? Most of the books can be found on Amazon, so get your copies of your favorite idol’s labor of love!
Also Read: Top 8 Books Recommended by BTS’ Suga You Must Know Of!
