NO.1 Wu Yi Fan

Stage Name: Kris
Nationality: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Height: 187cm
Weight: 70kg
Birthdate: 6 November 1990
Horoscope: Scorpio
Debut Date: 8 April 2012
Company: SM Entertainment Company
Group: EXO-M
Group Duties: Leader, Rapper

In a recent release of ranking of Korean Idols, popular male group EXO has plenty of love from thousands of fans, topping the list. Being EXO-M’s leader, Wu Yi Fan became fans’ most supported “Korea’s New Influence”. When he just made his debut, because of his handsome appearance, with his proficiency in Mandarin, Cantonese, English and Korean, fans has deemed Wu Yi Fan as a model “senior student”. “Dream senior” also had youthful experience in school. For this reason, Nan Du’s reporter had an exclusive interview with Mr Zhou, Wu Yi Fan’s class teacher from Guangzhou Seventh Middle School, a few days ago. According to Mr Zhou recollection, although Wu Yi Fan only studied in Seventh Middle School for a year, he has left a deep impression: “At that time, Wu Yi Fan was using his real name Li Jiā Héng, he was in third grade in Seventh Middle School, and he was transferred out of the school before he graduated. He was transferred into the school because of his specialty in basketball. My first impression of him was “He’s very tall!” Hence, I could only arrange him to seat at the last row.”

1. “Warm Male” Kris loves basketball, in fact he is an “Inspirational Brother!”

- In the eyes of the teachers, he loved learning and was the well-behaved student

During third grade, because of Kris’ good appearance, many girls from other classes would be attracted to “crowd around”, even his English teacher would say: “The new student that got transferred into our class is a handsome young man!” Handsome Wu Yi Fan was a well-behaved student when he was studying in junior high. Mr Zhou keeps complimenting him: “My deepest impression of Wu Yi Fan is that, he was well-behaved and innocent.” Because of Wu Yi Fan’s talent in sports, and usually he had many basketball practices and competitions, he was unable to take part in the class’ late night self-study. Whenever a teacher or a classmate asks if he is able to understand the lesson, Wu Yi Fan would always reply: “No problem!” In Mr Zhou’s impression, Wu Yi Fan went to his office once at afternoon release and consulted about studies. He is certainly a “good senior”!

Mr Zhou admitted to Nan Du’s reporter, that Wu Yi Fan’s character at that time was relatively quiet, belonging to “long affection” that kind of category: “Although he won’t voluntarily communicate with the classmates, but he is more familiar with schoolmates from the school’s basketball team. Even until now, if he were to come back to Guangzhou, he would contact the schoolmates from the basketball team from before.” Talking about Wu Yi Fan’s dreams, Mr Zhou was also surprised, that his own student chose the performance path, which was totally different from the dream that he had that year. “Wu Yi Fan once told me, he really loves basketball. Also, I didn’t hear him mention about being aspired to be in the entertainment career.”

In the next few classes that Mr Zhou has taught, some of them “admired”, directly asking Mr Zhou is he has ever taught Wu Yi Fan. There were even some loyal fans on Wu Yi Fan’s birthday eve last year, came to Mr Zhou to ask him to write birthday greetings for Wu Yi Fan. “They even gave me a photograph of Wu Yi Fan.” Mr Zhou expressed, there will be fans from all around the world that will specially come to Seventh Middle School to have a look around, “to see the path that Wu Yi Fan has once walked”.

- In the memories of the juniors, he has a ‘god-like’ existence

After debut, Wu Yi Fan would often be revealed in front of the public, and would frequently be identified by “old acquaintance”. While interviewing, Nan Du’s reporter discovered that a junior who is 2 years younger than Wu Yi Fan, always regarded Wu Yi Fan’s existence as ‘god-like’: “Not only is senior Wu Yi Fan tall and handsome, also when he wears his earphones and play basketball, he is fierce and swift. Whenever he does a layup shot and he bounces the ball of the backboard, it’s simply rare talent!” Gradually, Wu Yi Fan’s power from the “glory days” of his Seventh Middle School basketball team is being pieced together: He is the leader and point guard of the basketball team, and he has led his team to win the “2005 Youth CBA Junior Basketball League”, champion of South China. Even after he changed his name, his junior would praise Wu Yi Fan that he is a leader worthy of respect: “Without him, there won’t be South China championship. He is really Li Jiā Héng (Wu Yi Fan’s original name).”

Even after debut, Kris is still unforgettable towards basketball. He has admitted in a radio show: “Before, I really want to be a basketball player. That was my real childhood dream.” Although being a singer isn’t Wu Yi Fan’s initial dream, but he happily expressed, that he likes to “live in the moment”: “Even if I still miss basketball, I still enjoy everything that I do in the entertainment world.” In this regard, Wu Yi Fan’s team members also have something to say: “After debut, Kris would often call us to play basketball. His skills are very impressive; his strength isn’t simple inferior to professional athletes.”

- In the hearts of the fans, he is a “warm male” that loves to confess

“Past people” (Seventh Middle School basketball team members) and “past love” (basketball), can’t compare to Wu Yi Fan’s loyalty. Privately, he is a gentle “warm male”; often he will caringly provide fans with many benefits. Previously, Wu Yi Fan once used his Ren Ren account to “confess true feelings” to the fans: “I like every one of you, I can’t bear to let go every one of you.” Hearts of girls melted into spring water, and names of fan groups have changed to “Méi Gé Nī” (Homonym of every one of you in Chinese)!

On 18 July, after Wu Yi Fan opened a Weibo account, in less than two weeks, he has 370 thousand fans. Although he has only posted two Weibo posts till today, but the repost count have exceeded 130 thousand times, and 520 thousand comments! Every day on Weibo for the top 10 on the search list, there will be his name. On Baidu search, his ranking is also among the best. Comparing to posting Weibo, Wu Yi Fan seem to prefer posting “long essays” on his personal profile. After debut and always using “I’m a dragon and I can fly” as a pet phrase, Wu Yi Fan originality used “Can fly” as his Weibo profile description, being very adorable in front of the fans. Recently, Wu Yi Fan changed his profile description to “No worries… … Being tough and calm is my life goal. Hwaiting!” Some fans said: The dragon that “can fly”, has changed to an inspirational path! 2 months before, EXO released a new album XOXO, in Thursday this week, EXO released a follow-up album, and Grow is their title song. 

2. Who is Wu Yi Fan? He is “Guangzhou Youth!”

Wu Yi Fan (Kris) and EXO-M’s debut, is SM company’s long planning of ambition. EXO’s 12 Korean and Chinese members are divided into 2 groups (EXO-M and EXO-K), every one of them have a special skill. In addition to the 22 short teasers that were released in three months and were “indignant” and as if someone “dawdle over their work”, SM’s plan of seek fresh things, has gotten the benefit of this group of “alien youths” that come from “EXO Planet”. Amongst is EXO-M’s leader Wu Yi Fan, who was dressed in a white robe, leaping off a roof with open arms. This has made the fans fully anticipate this new generation of “male god”. In the official MV, accompanying Wu Yi Fan’s appearance is a dragon spreading its wings, puffing out flames. Till today, he remained has fans’ great love: “Kris’ fist has opened the day, transforming into a dragon!”

It seems like SM company has a tradition, when a trainee is good looking, before debut they will made a guest appearance in their senior’s MV, to allow others to familiarize their faces. Seeing that Wu Yi Fan’s debut experience states “appeared in Girls' Generation’s Taiwan Tour VCR”, fans were surprised: So, that man in the video with black semi-long hair, like a “prince” from “mysterious” wonderland, is Wu Yi Fan!

With the increase of talk shows after EXO’s debut, fans will gradually get to know the true colours of this “mysterious prince” - - - Unexpectedly, Kris is a Chinese boy who is true to his roots, and he even has a native nickname of “Guangzhou Youth!” According to reports, Wu Yi Fan studied third grade in Guangzhou Seventh Middle School, before migrating to Canada with his mother, and studied at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School. In 2007 when he was studying eleventh grade (which is Mainland High School second grade), Wu Yi Fan took part in SM’s global audition, becoming one of their trainee. From Canada to Korea, after 5 years of “living in seclusion”, Wu Yi Fan has officially debuted.

Source: 南都全娱乐 Weibo (http://e.weibo.com/ndent)

Translated by:  Adora
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