Taecyeon: The 4th Gold Gala

“It’s quite different now,” Ok Taecyeon tells Timid Magazine. “When I started 17 years ago as part of a K-pop group, it was all about standing out, sometimes in weird, unique, even bizarre styles, just so people would notice you. But these days, it’s more about staying true to what I believe in, and leaning into something timeless. Classic.”

Few idols possess the kind of enduring gravitas that Taecyeon commands. The vocalist, rapper, and actor first captivated audiences in 2008 as a founding member of JYP Entertainment’s boy group 2PM. Over the course of the group’s initial nine-year run before their hiatus and eventual return, Taecyeon’s aesthetic was brazen, visceral, and undeniably bodacious. It perfectly aligned with a group that upended the prevailing "kkonminam," or “flower boy,” trend dominating K-pop. While their peers favored ethereal delicacy, 2PM stormed the scene with sculpted physiques and an electrifying energy that felt primal. Their debut single, “10 Out of 10,” showcased not only acrobatic choreography but a seductive confidence that would crown them jimseungdol, or “beast idols,” a term coined to capture their wild charisma. Taecyeon, in particular, became known for his signature move that often ended with his shirt dramatically torn away.

And as much as tearing off a shirt might have been justified in Saturday’s sweltering Los Angeles heat, Taecyeon kept things cool and considered at Gold House’s fourth annual Gold Gala. Held at the Music Center and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA, the event brought together over 600 Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander changemakers and their allies—across entertainment, tech, fashion, media, sports, and social impact. The atmosphere buzzed with a vernal vitality, fresh with possibility and forward motion. Amid this constellation of cultural powerhouses, Taecyeon stood as a quiet cynosure, drawing eyes not through flash but through refinement. He wore a tailored Balmain Spencer cropped blazer, distinguished by its subtle departure from the brand’s signature lion-embossed buttons. His version instead featured understated logo fastenings that nodded to evolution over excess. A crisp white shirt and black Panerai Luminor Marina watch completed the look, radiating a confidence that was elegant and entirely self-assured. If his early style thrived on spectacle, this was something else: presence without provocation.

“When I started out as a Korean idol, my style was all about standing out and expressing myself—being bold, unique, and catching people’s attention,” Taecyeon says. “But as I transitioned into acting, I began expressing myself through the characters I played. It became less about standing apart and more about blending into the role and the story. Now I see style as a way to communicate something deeper. It’s still a form of self-expression, but now it carries more layers, more intention, and more meaning.”

The evening carried profound meaning. This year’s honorees spanned generations and industries, from Wicked director Jon M. Chu to screen legends Zhang Ziyi and Ang Lee, whose Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon reshaped global perceptions of Asian cinema. The cast and creators of Moana 2, Olympic and Paralympic athletes like Suni Lee, Chuck Aoki, and Lee Kiefer, and even first responders who aided during the devastating Los Angeles wildfires were among those recognized. Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO of The Pokémon Company, took the stage alongside Pikachu to accept his honor. During her speech, gymnast Suni Lee reflected on her path: “Growing up, I didn’t always see people who looked like me on the world stage. My journey hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been shaped by my culture. This honor is not just for me—it’s for the young girls watching who now know that they can dream big and that they belong.”

That sentiment from Lee about rarely seeing herself reflected on the world stage is something Taecyeon understands intimately. “Growing up in the States, I didn’t see many Asian American role models,” he says. “It felt like I was always pushing against stereotypes.” Born in Gangnam, South Korea, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts at the age of ten with his parents and older sister. He spent seven formative years there, adjusting to a new culture while attending Bedford High School, where he excelled academically and took part in a wide range of activities. He was a member of the chess club, the jazz band, the junior varsity soccer team, and the National Honor Society. Now, decades later, standing among a pantheon of giants, that sense of absence has given way to abundance. “Being here at the Gold Gala surrounded by so many talented Asian artists is powerful,” he reflects. “It makes me proud, and I hope it inspires the next generation to dream even bigger.”

Those future dreamers do so in part thanks to Taecyeon. This year, K-pop boy group SEVENTEEN were among Gold House’s A100 honorees. In a 2021 interview with Weverse, member Joshua cited 2PM as a formative influence, saying, “If you look at 2PM seniors, there’s a sense of maturity and coolness, and I think that aura is important.” Rowoon, who also attended the Gala, has echoed similar sentiments, with his group SF9 frequently naming 2PM as role models for their own spin on the beast idol concept.

The theme of this year’s Gold Gala was “First Lights,” a tribute to those who’ve paved the way and those now carrying the torch forward. The presence of K-pop made that theme feel palpable. BLACKPINK’s Rosé and Lisa were honored on the A100 list, while aespa was recognized in the New Gold category for rising stars.

“IVE, aespa, and TWICE are all on my playlist right now,” Taecyeon says with a laugh. “Wait—I think I’m listening to way too many girl groups.”

He shared a dinner table with soloist Eric Nam and Rowoon. Super Junior member Siwon Choi was an attendee, while SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo Man arrived to the afterparty with Girls’ Generation members Tiffany, Hyoyeon, and Sunny. Lee Soo Man also brought his latest project with him, the China-based girl group A20 May. Later at the afterparty, Taecyeon was spotted snapping a photo with Lara Raj of KATSEYE, who attended with fellow member Manon. In that glittering space were idols who lit the way, and those now shining because they did.

The cadre of K-pop stars in attendance reflected a new chapter in the Hallyu wave where borders blur and the old binaries of East and West, idol and actor, no longer hold. The phenomenon that 2PM helped accelerate is no longer just a wave—it’s a current, reshaping the contours of culture itself. Today’s artists are not just crossing over; they’re occupying a liminal, multicultural space that feels wholly their own.

Taecyeon, once the heartthrob of beloved dramas like Cinderella’s Sister and Dream High, shattered expectations with his chillingly duplicitous turn as Jang Jun Woo in Netflix’s 2021 series Vincenzo—a breakout villain role that reintroduced him to new audiences. His 2023 signing with U.S. talent behemoth WME cemented his standing as an artist capable of moving fluidly between Asia and America." In 2024, he expanded his repertoire once more, playing a chef in the Japanese film La Grande Maison Paris. At the Gold Gala dinner, in partnership with Rakuten VIKI, a trailer debuted for Taecyeon’s latest drama The First Night with the Duke. Based on a popular webcomic and set to premiere June 11, the series stars Girls’ Generation member Seohyun.

When asked how he feels now, after years of navigating a cross-continental career, Taecyeon only sees direction. “I don’t really see it as a matter of balancing identities anymore, especially in a time when people everywhere are watching everything through global streaming platforms,” he says. “For me, it’s about focusing on telling the best stories and making the best work I can. I believe that if something is good, it will resonate beyond borders.”

It’s a fitting final word from an artist who once felt the absence of role models, and now quietly stands as one. In a space filled with first lights and future legends, Taecyeon doesn’t chase the spotlight, he simply is a steady and boundless beacon.