SHINee’s Key Shares Surprising Affection for Byeon Woo-seok: “Like Cheering for a Close Friend”
SHINee’s Key has delighted fans by revealing a heartwarming admiration for actor Byeon Woo-seok, who is currently enjoying a massive surge in popularity. Even though they’ve never met personally, Key shared that he feels emotionally connected to the rising star’s success.
In the May 3 episode of the YouTube variety show DdeunDdeun, titled “Episode 77 Is Just an Excuse,” Key joined hosts Yoo Jae-suk and Kim Dong-hyun, along with Girls’ Generation’s Yuri, for a candid and humorous chat. The conversation turned unexpectedly sentimental when Key brought up Byeon Woo-seok during a discussion about having someone to admire.
“Isn’t it nice to always have someone you love in your heart? It’s kind of like being a fan of a celebrity, like how people are into Byeon Woo-seok right now,” Key said. He continued, “A lot of people are really into him right now. I’ve even seen people setting him as their phone wallpaper. He’s the same age as me.”
Yoo Jae-suk chimed in with praise for Byeon Woo-seok’s growing appeal, pointing out that his popularity boom, years after his initial debut, adds to his unique charm. Key added, “I have a lot of friends from the modeling industry, so I knew of Woo-seok even during his modeling days. We weren’t personally close, but he was never unfamiliar to me. So watching him succeed like this makes me genuinely happy, as if someone close to me is doing well.”
When Yuri playfully asked whether they had ever been close, Key quickly clarified with a laugh, “I just said I wasn’t!” He then teased Yuri, joking, “If you and Dong-hyun oppa ever become close, that’ll be the end of the world,” sending the cast into laughter.
Key’s warm words not only highlight Byeon Woo-seok’s growing influence in Korean entertainment but also reflect the genuine camaraderie and cheerleader spirit within the industry, showing that sometimes, even distant admiration can feel like friendship.
