Jennie’s Adorable Reaction to Olympic Swimmer Fanboy Hwang Sunwoo Goes Viral
BLACKPINK‘s Jennie has once again taken social media by storm—this time not with a performance, but with a single photo. A snapshot of the global K-pop star standing bashfully next to a tall, handsome fanboy has gone viral, leaving netizens buzzing with questions: Who is he, and why did Jennie look so adorably shy?
The moment occurred backstage at BLACKPINK’s “DEADLINE” concert in Goyang, Korea, where nearly 78,000 fans gathered over two nights to witness the girl group’s highly anticipated reunion after more than two years. As always, the show attracted a massive number of celebrities, turning the concert into what many dubbed a “K-biz festival” rivaling even year-end award shows.
Among the flood of post-concert backstage photos, one image stood out: Jennie smiling sweetly next to a familiar-looking young man, her posture slightly leaning away in a surprisingly bashful pose. Fans were quick to joke that Jennie looked like the fangirl, not the idol.
Meet the Viral “Fanboy” – Olympic Swimmer Hwang Sunwoo
It didn’t take long for fans to identify the young man: Hwang Sunwoo, the 22-year-old Olympic swimmer and current World Champion in the 200m freestyle (2024). Towering at 187 cm, Hwang is not just a national athletic hero but also a self-proclaimed Jennie fanboy.
Hwang previously shared his admiration for Jennie on Instagram, to which Jennie sweetly responded during the Tokyo Olympics: “I’m cheering for you too, Hwang Sunwoo. Fighting!”
Hwang Sunwoo got to attend BLACKPINK‘s concert in person and meet his idol face to face. The viral image of the two showcases not only Jennie’s genuine joy after her powerful performance but also the heartwarming bond between an idol and a fan—both exceptionally talented in their fields.
Fans across platforms are swooning over their adorable interaction, with many “asking the universe” for Jennie and Hwang Sunwoo’s success to rub off on them. As BLACKPINK’s return continues to make headlines, Jennie’s radiant smile in that now-iconic photo perfectly captures the joy of reconnecting with fans—and being appreciated by extraordinary ones like Hwang Sunwoo.
