IN PHOTOS: Interesting facts about GOT7's Jackson Wang
Jackson Wang, Chinese name Wang Jia er, has grown popular over the years thanks to his amazing good looks, pleasing personality, and top-notch musical ability, making him one of the most bankable Asian artists of his generation.
Besides being a member of the K-pop boy group GOT7, Jackson is also the founder of his own record label Team Wang and the creative director and lead designer for his fashion brand Team Wang Designs.
Before his rise to superstardom, Jackson Wang was a saber fencer for Hong Kong's fencing team. He ranked eleventh in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics and even won first place at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in 2011.
But because of his passion for his musical endeavors, this Hong Kong native gave all of that up to start his K-pop training that eventually led him to debut in GOT7, together with JAY B, Mark, Jinyoung, Youngjae, Bambam, and Yugyeom.
Following his success as a K-pop idol, Jackson grew to become a force to be reckoned with as he expanded his horizons to make a name for himself in the music industry and all forms of entertainment and fashion both in Korea and around the globe.
While we can go on and on about his many achievements, here are some of the most interesting facts about Jackson Wang and why he is the King of All Trades.
Jackson Wang
Jackson Wang is a Hong Kong rapper, singer, dancer, composer, writer, founder, creative director, and lead designer. Yep, that's a mouthful.
Hong Kong national fencing team
Before training in JYP Entertainment, Jackson Wang was a member of the Hong Kong national fencing team. He even won first place at the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championship in 2011.
Despite not being a professional fencer for a long time, Jackson still got it, as proven when he competed with Korean Olympian fencer Gu Bon-gil in an episode of GOT7's 'Hard Carry.' Gu Bon-gil even said, “He's doing really well. He's not rusty at all.” You can search for their match on YouTube.
Scouted at school
Like most K-pop idols, Jackson was scouted by a JYP Entertainment representative while he was playing basketball in school. His audition earned him 1st place among the 2,000 competitors, and though he was eager to pursue his dreams, his parents weren't entirely convinced about him being a singer.
He was then able to convince them under the condition that he wins his next fencing competition. The result? He won two gold medals at the Asian International Competition and placed 11th worldwide.
Scholarship at Stanford University for fencing
Besides giving up his fencing career, Jackson also gave up his prestigious scholarship at Stanford University to pursue his passion. When asked why he did so, the idol said, “Yes, I was preparing for the London Olympics, and I had a scholarship from great universities, but I asked myself, 'Would I regret this decision [being an idol] in the future?'”
Reason he joined JYP Entertainment
One of the most hilarious things about Jackson is that he is very candid when it comes to retelling his experiences, including his reason for joining JYP Entertainment. In a VLive session with JAY B and Mark, the singer recalled, “I thought Big Bang was a part of JYP,” which most K-pop fans would know belongs to YG Entertainment.
Variety Show King
Right after his debut with GOT7 in 2014, Jackson joined his first variety show called 'SBS Roommate' that eventually catapulted his status from K-pop idol to variety show favorite. He even won the SBS Newcomer Awardee the same year for 'Roommate.' His appearance in the show eventually led him to appear in other variety shows in Korea and his homeland China.
Our favorite? His appearance in 'Let Go Of My Baby' Season 3, where Ahgases' hearts continue to melt as they see Jackson taking care of Haohao and MeowMeow for 500 hours.
Miracle in Cell No. 7
If you ask Jackson what his favorite movie of all time is, don't expect a Hollywood blockbuster film. In fact, his favorite flick is the drama movie 'Miracle in Cell No.7.' Though the movie is quite sad, Jackson said he finished it despite crying a lot.
No spicy foods
You can feed Jackson Wang any meal you like except spicy food. According to the singer, he is “allergic” to spices, but he can eat hamburgers, chicken, dim sum, and cheese.
When he's dieting, his go-to breakfast meal is a healthy blend of vegetables and fruits mixed with chicken breasts. He says it's a delicious way to start his morning, though GOT7 members might disagree with his description.
Comical videos
Thanks to the internet, you can find many comical videos of Jackson Wang lurking around. Don't let him know, but there's a video of himself washing the dishes, doing a hilarious set of push-ups, and his legendary popping dance.
Multilingual
Jackson Wang can speak multiple languages, including Korean, English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and a little bit of Japanese and French -- the perfect travel buddy! Though he admits he is not very fluent in all languages, he says it is enough for him to survive in any environment.
Close with his parents
Jackson has the most adorable relationship with his parents, most especially his mom. Who could forget the time when he cried on national television when he got a surprise visit from his parents for Christmas in 2014?
CEO of Team Wang and Creative Director of Team Wang Designs
This K-pop idol knows the value of hard work. That's why in 2017, Jackson established his own label named Team Wang for all of his solo activities. He then expanded his label by launching Team Wang Design, where he serves as its creative director and lead designer.
Behind Team Wang is the philosophy that says, “Know Yourself, Make Your Own History.”
Instagram royalty
In 2020, Jackson ranked 31st in Forbes China's Celebrity 100 list thanks to his growing number of social media followers. To date, Jackson's Instagram account, @jacksonwang852g7, has already amassed more than 22.3 million followers.
Astigmatism
Idols, they're just like us. Jackson has astigmatism, which results in his eyesight being blurry or distorted at times. In several interviews, the singer said that things might appear blurry or wavy for him when viewed from a certain distance.
Multiplayer
Aside from being the CEO of his own company, Jackson is very hands-on when it comes to his many music and fashion projects. As an example, he was the one who wrote, produced, and arranged the song “Magnetic” for K-pop icon Rain, and was even the one who wrote the script for their music video.
Gentleman
Jackson Wang is known to be quite the gentleman among the ladies he interacts with whether they are idols or his fans. In December 2020, fans praised the idol for having "manner hands" while performing Jessi's “Nunu Nana” at the KBS Song Festival.
Wang Puppy, Squirtle, King, and so much more
Because of his growing fanbase, Jackson Wang has earned many nicknames starting with his debut name “J-Flawless” to becoming Ahgases very own “King.”
