INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: Jackson Wang of 88rising performs onstage at the Coachella Stage during the 2022 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 16, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
Cover INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: Jackson Wang of 88rising performs onstage at the Coachella Stage during the 2022 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 16, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
He's a dancer, rapper, and fashion designer. At this point, there is nothing else that Hong Kong-born K-Pop idol Jackson Wang can't do; to prove this, Tatler lists five of his mould-breaking achievements in the past few years

1. Gave up Olympic fencing career to pursue passion in performing

Tatler Asia
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 22: Yugyeom, Youngjae, Jackson Wang, JB of GOT7 attend the 2017 Gaon Chart K-pop Music Awards at Jamsil Arena on February 22, 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images)
Above SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 22: Yugyeom, Youngjae, Jackson Wang, JB of GOT7 attend the 2017 Gaon Chart K-pop Music Awards at Jamsil Arena on February 22, 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images)

Wang was raised in a household full of medal-winning athletes. His mother, Sophia Chow, was a renowned gymnast from Shanghai, while his father, Wang Ruji has bagged the coveted gold medal for fencing at the 1978 Asian Games. When the K-Pop idol reached 16, it was not surprising that the trajectory of his career also led him toward sports.

In 2010, the young Wang represented Hong Kong at the Youth Olympic Games. 'My father always says if I lose, it's his fault, and if I win, it is my own glory. That's very supportive and I'm glad he is not a demanding coach. He lets me follow my own pace in competitions," he said.

While pursuing fencing, Wang has taken home several first-place accolades in the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships. Before going for gold, however, Wang decided to stay in South Korea and risk it all to pursue his passion for music. In 2014, Wang debuted as a member of Got7 after two years of intense training.

The rest, as they say, is history. 

In case you missed it: 5 Jackson Wang Music Videos We Can't Stop Rewatching: LMLY, Magnetic, And More

2. He founded his own record label 'Team Wang'

Wang's passion for music prevailed even in 2017 when he established TEAM WANG, a record label that released his hit single Papillon; In 2020, the performer also became the creative director and designer of the fashion brand Team Wang Design

More from Tatler: From Idol to CEO: 9 Korean Artists Who Started Their Own Music Label

3. He can speak five different languages

If you talk to Wang in Korean, English, Japanese, Cantonese, and Mandarin, chances are that he can reply using these languages fluently and without hitch. "Once you familiarise yourself with the culture, you need to learn the humour of that country. Learn a person’s lifestyle. Learn what’s regarded as humorous in that country," the star revealed in one interview.

"You need to observe. Then you watch a lot of entertainment shows in that language. That’s how I learned foreign languages," he added.

Tatler Trivia: A multilingual person may have acquired his or her language together from infancy or at different ages. According to a study from the University of Pompeu Fabra, Spain, polyglots are better at observing their surroundings and can easily detect anything that is irrelevant or deceptive.

4. He is the first-ever Chinese national who performed at Coachella stage

Tatler Asia
INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: Jackson Wang of 88rising performs onstage at the Coachella Stage during the 2022 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 16, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)
Above INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: Jackson Wang of 88rising performs onstage at the Coachella Stage during the 2022 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 16, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)

Wang broke the Internet when he performed on the 2022 Coachella stage over the weekend. He made history by being the first Chinese star to do so. 

This historical feat sets a premise among equally talented Chinese stars who also wish to make it big abroad someday.

Related: Red Velvet, Twice, And More: 5 K Pop Girl Groups To Watch Out For This 2021

5. He pulled off a Michael Jackson-inspired performance

Wearing his silver-blue hair and red gloves, Wang had a 10-minute performance that was inspired by Michel Jackson. This is not the first time he paid tribute to the late pop icon. It can be recalled that sometime in 2020, Wang teamed up with the dance-pop duo Galantis and released a track titled "Pretty Please" which may be seen as a subtle ode to Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel".

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