Seventeen’s Mingyu on His Personal Style, Being a Dior Ambassador and That Calvin Klein Campaign

It takes mere seconds of scrolling through K-Pop fan spaces online to stumble upon Seventeen‘s Mingyu.

The 27-year-old rapper, a member of hit K-Pop boy group Seventeen, is an online favorite for his charming personality and cool Instagram posts. Seriously, social media account Pop Base has to presumably break out a dictionary every time he posts a photo.

Seventeen is in the midst of the U.S. leg of their “Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour,” hitting five cities including two stops in L.A. Before heading out on the road, Mingyu chatted with The Hollywood Reporter on Zoom, taking a break from his hectic rehearsals for the tour and the 13-member group’s latest EP, Spill The Feels.

“It’s currently 11:00 a.m. in Korea, and my entire body is aching,” the rapper cheekily tells THR of the preparations for the album and tour. Mingyu explains the rather intricate schedule of preparing for tour, releasing the album, performing the concert in Seoul.

Mingyu (left) with fellow Seventeen members Joshua, Dino, and DK last week at The Empire State Building in New York City.

Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust

The tour wraps in L.A. this coming weekend, where the group will perform two sold-out shows at BMO Stadium. It’s an exciting weekend for the group. Today, Mingyu’s bandmate Joshua, an L.A. native, accepted a certificate of appreciation on behalf of Seventeen from the L.A. City Council. The group also has a major pop-up planned in the city for the tour’s finale.

In the midst of an already booked and busy year for Seventeen, Mingyu has dipped into the world of style. Earlier this year, he secured a brand ambassadorship with luxury fashion house Dior. In a social media post announcing Mingyu’s new role, Dior referred to him as “the perfect embodiment of Dior’s aesthetic.” He also starred in a new Calvin Klein campaign, showcasing his range in a variety of denim looks.

Below, Mingyu opens up about his own personal style onstage and offstage, his style inspirations and how he feels about his viral Dior Paris Fashion Week appearance.

How would you describe your style at the moment?

I’m a sportsperson. I like working out, and I’m also an energetic person, and my job is a singer who dances on stage, so I think I tend to go for casual outfits and comfortable outfits.

How do you feel about your onstage style versus your offstage style? As you said, you’re a bit more casual offstage, and onstage your style is, presumably, a bit more exaggerated.

I think it’s very difficult to compare my style onstage and offstage. Like you said onstage, obviously, you have to be full of glitz and glamour. Whereas, offstage, I tend to go for styles that don’t really stick out and is understated [but] is uniquely me.

How do you feel your style has evolved over the years?

To be honest, I think earlier in my career, right after we debuted, I think I used to overdo things because I was really eager to show myself and to show off what I had. I think I was in the process of discovering who I was. Whereas, now, I have learned, I found out that what fits me best is things that are casual and natural. I’ve learned that outfits can be a channel to express myself, but it doesn’t equal me in and of itself. But, even now, there are days when I feel like I want to reach for flashy, showy outfits.

Mingyu of Seventeen for Dior.

Courtesy of Dior

You had what is fair to call a viral moment at Paris Fashion Week at the beginning of this year with the Dior show. Do you remember what you were feeling in that moment? How were you feeling after seeing that your appearance got such a good response?

Fashion week is a thing that I’ve always longed for and wanted to be a part of since I was very young. I was more than excited to be there with the Dior team, and I think I enjoyed every moment. I had a great, fun experience, from the moment I entered, until the moment I left after the show was over. It was an honor because I know that it counts for a big part of Paris’ culture. After learning that the video went viral and that I was coming under a lot of attention, I was a little shy and embarrassed. But it was a very inspiring experience because watching the show and thinking about what were the creative thoughts and processes behind each of the outfits and what kind of significance each of the garments carry was very inspiring. It was almost like watching an exhibition, so I think I would like to say that every little part of the experience was very exciting and inspiring.

Congratulations on the ambassadorship. Why do you feel Dior was the place for you in that space?

Dior has been one of my favorite brands since forever with its casual, its simple, yet natural, graceful and glamorous vibe. In that way, this is something that the brand Dior, and I have in common. Realistically speaking, I think the day that I went to the Dior women’s collection… I mean, that moment was not just an inspiring moment for me, but a good starting point for both of us.

What are you hoping comes from the ambassadorship? Do you have something that you’re really hoping to do while you’re an ambassador for the brand?

The number one thing that I’d like to do right now is to go to the men’s collection show. This time around, I went to the women’s collection. I’ve done a lot of photo shoots with Dior, and I made sure that I wear a Dior at important occasions, but I haven’t been to a men’s collection yet. I haven’t met Kim Jones (creative director of Dior Homme) in person, so I would love to meet him and talk about his creative process. That’s number one for me right now.

It seems like a rite of passage for celebrities to do a Calvin Klein campaign. How were you feeling when you found out you were going to do one? What were you excited or nervous about going into it?

It’s very difficult to say what exactly because the whole thing was exciting, and I felt nervous and excited about the whole thing. I think that Calvin Klein is a brand that everybody, regardless of age, loves and enjoys. I know what a strong presence the brand has in front of the general public, so I was really nervous about whether I could be the best fit for the brand, and whether I could embody the identity of the brand properly.

Do you have a favorite moment from either the shoot or after? Did anyone in your life react when they saw the photos?

When we were doing the photo shoots… showing some skin was something that was very unique to me this time around. There were a lot of staff there on set from the global Calvin Klein team, which was also a little nerve-racking, but exciting. They were very kind and encouraging. I tried to be cool-headed and think about whether I really was doing well objectively. After we were done with the photo shoot and the campaign, it was a little strange, but very exciting to see it be playing around, not just on people’s mobile phones, but on billboards and all the department stores all across the country. It was a very, very rewarding experience. I had a great time. But I haven’t seen the billboards or the ads in person, but I’ve heard a lot about it, so I’d like to go see it in person one day.

Mingyu of Seventeen for Dior.

Courtesy of Dior

Do you have someone that inspires you in terms of fashion?

I think I’m inspired by models who are working overseas because I wouldn’t call myself someone who really packs a lot of personality in my style. I’m also inspired by NBA basketball players, what they wear to the court. I consider outfits as a piece of art, and I love imagining which outfits would be the best choice at a fancy dinner or when I go to the traditional market because I believe that there are outfits that can really highlight that moment and add an extra layer of energy in certain points in time. I try to imagine myself in different situations depending on the outfit.

Do you have anything you’d like to say to Carats [the name for the group’s fanbase] at the moment or just as you’re getting ready for this next chapter?

We are going to celebrate our 10th anniversary soon. We have been dropping a new album every year. We’ve been touring, going on tours a lot as well. So, just going forward, we just want to keep paying attention to the smallest details when it comes to our albums and promotions.

And to the fans, Carats, who have been sending us a lot of love and support, I just want to say that we will try our best to pay back all the love and energy through great stages and performances.I just want to see them and reach out to them as regularly and frequently as possible, so, even if we get to see each other for one hour, and I have to get on a 30-hour flight, I wouldn’t hesitate to do that because I love them so much.