Cha Eun-woo vs. Ryosuke Yamada Sparks Visual Debate Between Korean and Japanese Netizens
A heated cross-border visual debate has erupted between South Korean and Japanese netizens, all sparked by a surprising comparison between ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo and Japanese idol-actor Ryosuke Yamada.
The controversy began with a viral post on South Korea’s popular Pann forum titled, “Are Japanese fans actually out of their minds?” The post has quickly amassed over 205,000 views in just two days, drawing intense reactions from both sides of the fandom spectrum.
The original poster shared screenshots of a trending discussion from Japanese Twitter, where fans were reportedly comparing the visual appeal of Cha Eun-woo and Ryosuke Yamada. While some Japanese fans praised Yamada, others went as far as downplaying Cha Eun-woo’s popularity and visuals, claiming he’s “not even well-known” and accusing him of having “facial asymmetry.”
The reaction from Korean netizens was swift and sharp. Many expressed disbelief that Yamada—reportedly 164 cm tall—was being seriously compared to Cha Eun-woo, often hailed as one of the top visuals in K-pop. “Are they really comparing him to Cha Eun-woo? Johnny’s fans have gone too far,” the post read, with sarcastic jabs like, “At least compare fairly.”
The discussion has since spiraled into a wider debate about cultural standards of beauty, height expectations, and international idol recognition. While the fan war continues to trend on social media platforms in both countries, others have called for a more respectful approach to celebrating each artist’s unique appeal without sparking unnecessary comparisons.
Comments on Pann:
- Honestly, I’ve always known Cha Eun-woo is handsome, but he wasn’t exactly my type, so I never reacted strongly to his looks. But seeing that Japanese guy really made me realize how good-looking Cha Eun-woo is… Was this whole debate just to uplift that guy? Are they seriously saying this stuff?
- That typical cheap-looking Japanese vibe lol. Greasy wind-blown hair, creepy circle lenses, overly shaped eyebrows, skinny thighs, and short legs that bend inward… Brown hair that doesn’t match his skin tone at all… and that silly puckered “chu~” expression — ughhhh. That’s really supposed to be the Japanese ideal guy? LOL.
- I was shocked reading the comments. I don’t understand what kind of fantasy people have about Japanese men, but even Japan’s top male celebrities are hard to look at. Their mouths protrude, their teeth are misaligned, they’re short, narrow-shouldered, have lots of skin issues, and give off a cheap vibe. On top of that, they’re often involved in scandals or anti-Korean behavior and are delusional about Japanese supremacy. Honestly, the Japanese idols who debut in Korea are way better. There’s a reason why someone like Kentaro is actually famous.
- Even if beauty standards are different, I really can’t understand how this comparison is even happening. Don’t they have someone on Cha Eun-woo’s level too? Why would they drag in such a random guy and do this?
- So that’s why short Korean guys prefer Japanese women.
As of now, neither Cha Eun-woo nor Ryosuke Yamada has responded to the online buzz. But one thing is clear: visuals in the entertainment industry remain a hot-button topic capable of crossing national borders—and igniting firestorms along the way.
