Do You Recognize These? K-Pop Fans Reflect on Iconic 2nd and 3rd Generation Photos and GIFs
Fans online are taking a nostalgic trip back to the heyday of 2nd and 3rd Generation K-pop idols, sharing some of the most iconic photos and GIFs from the late 2000s and 2010s. These moments once went viral on Korean online forums, capturing attention with looks that were hot, adorable, or just straight-up mesmerizing.
One name that kept coming up is Krystal, known for her various iconic images. Her blonde hair with digitally edited colors was so popular that it became everyone’s profile picture. She also inspired countless fans to go on diets, with some photos turning into widely used phone wallpapers. Alongside her, Sulli’s famous lip mask selfie started a trend where everyone wanted to copy her style, and she was affectionately called the “Human Etude House” for her endless charm and visuals in beauty campaigns.
Over in the girl group scene, Jiyeon’s headband and strawberry curlers became an instantly recognizable look from the "Dream High" days, while her GIF showing off her beauty from a side profile made her a visual queen among idols. Meanwhile, Suzy had her fair share of legendary pictorials, from a classic Ceci shoot to one in a wedding dress—which was practically a must for girl group members back then—and even a hanbok pictorial that many Koreans have definitely seen.
Seungyeon’s fairy-like GIF reminded fans of KARA’s massive popularity in Japan, and Na-Eun’s leggings photo sparked a stylish boom in Korea. Male idols also had their moments—Xiumin had a huge fan phase with his overall suspenders and a now-famous flower petal GIF where he earned the nickname "Muggle King."
TRENDINGThen there was Sehun and his “parrot hair” style, which became quite a sensation, and Nichkhun’s napkin GIF that some still love today. L was often joked about looking like a wax figure, praised with the comment, “Congrats on being born handsome,” while Zico caught attention early on when he reacted to a fan calling his real name, showing a sweet side before he was a full-blown PD.
From VIXX, N’s silver hair during the legendary "On And On" era stands out, and Youngjae made waves even with a brief appearance at ISAC thanks to his good looks. Baekhyun’s burgundy eye makeup was copied by beauty YouTubers everywhere, showing how idols influenced not just music but style.
Fans also recalled memorable moments like YoonA pointing out her mic wasn’t working, confirming her reputation as a “beautiful goddess,” and IU switching between short and long hairstyles, with her look during "Red Shoes" being especially talked about. D.O.’s unique “Rudolph nose” photo was another popular profile shot, while Hyeri’s short blonde haircut became a huge trend, and her aegyo moves were so well-known that “If you didn’t know this, you were considered an international spy.”
Taemin’s crossdressing stunned fans with just how pretty he looked, reminding many of the versatility and charm that made him stand out. Ren’s “Something” stage performance brought back strong memories, labeled as “the real deal.” For a quick throwback to internet culture, L.Joe’s lemon tea background song is a must-watch relic for long-time fans.
Fans reacted enthusiastically to this flood of memories on the forum:
"Ha, the memories."
"Wow, insane."
"Do people also remember Lemon Candy and Azalea Boy? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ"
"There’s nothing you don’t know."
"SM takes up a lot of screen time ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"
"Ahhh I know all of this…"
"Our Ren… that gif is such a throwback ㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"
"I think I’ve seen that hanbok photo of Suzy somewhere."
"I know all of this ㅠ"
"Not a single thing to skip."
"That unedited photo of Jiyeon—every time I see it, she’s just insanely, insanely, insanely beautiful… it totally makes sense that other idols picked her as the top visual. She seriously looks like she was sculpted."
"Looks like everyone missed this just like I did."
"Xiumin’s nickname was Baozi, right…"
"I want to go back to that time…"
"I’m an 03-liner, so I thought maybe I’d only vaguely know this stuff, but I know all of it…"
"Ren dressed as a woman was iconic…"
"The nostalgia is unreal."
"Wow, pure nostalgia ㅠㅠ Even the comments end with people bringing up their ult bias."
"I became a fan the moment Zico smiled when a fan called out ‘Jiho-ya~~’…"
"I’m seriously scared at how I know almost all of this…"
"I wasn’t even into idols back then—why do I know all of this ㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋ"
"Muggle King, it’s been ages ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ"
"Seriously… Xiumin was absolutely incredible."
"Xiumin is a true legend… how does someone look like that."
"My friend was a hardcore parrot Sehun fan, so I first tried bubble tea in middle school because Sehun liked it."
"I want to go back…"
"Seriously, what a throwback…"
Looking back at these iconic snapshots and clips, it’s clear that the 2nd and 3rd Gen idols left a lasting mark on K-pop fans’ hearts that still resonates today. With the 5th Gen idols creating their own buzz now, these classic images serve as a reminder of the early internet fan culture and how certain looks and moments became timeless.
How many of these legendary idol moments do you recognize?