SINGAPORE: Malaysian singer Gary Chaw’s 18-year-old son, Joe, has an unexpected link to K-pop boyband CORTIS, having previously played hockey on the same team as the group’s Taiwanese-Thai member, James.
Joe revealed the connection during a recent livestream with his mother, Taiwanese fashion blogger Wu Shuling, mentioning that the pair used to be teammates.
The revelation has sparked interest among fans, especially as Joe has been vocal about his support for CORTIS on social media.
He has reportedly posted on Douyin about wanting to see the group live and even travelled to Singapore to catch their performance at the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.
Despite his friendship with James, Joe’s favourite member appears to be Seonghyeon—he was recently spotted at a CORTIS event wearing a T-shirt featuring the singer.
Still, he has not forgotten his former teammate, sharing photos of himself in a James T-shirt to wish him a happy birthday.
Joe, who turned 18 in August, has also been turning heads online for his looks and tall stature during livestreams with his mother.
Wu has reportedly said she supports her son’s interest in exploring opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Joe—whose parents also have a younger daughter, Grace—first became a familiar face to television audiences when he appeared on the Chinese reality show Where Are We Going, Dad? in 2014.
Now an adult, he is increasingly stepping into the spotlight in his own right, with his friendship with James adding a surprising link between the Chaw family and the K-pop scene.