On October 27, YouTube personality Anthony Po unknowingly kicked off a new trend when a large group of contestants gathered in Manhattan for a Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest, hoping to win a $50 prize. This event has since sparked a wave of similar competitions across the United States, with future editions set to feature look-alikes of stars like Dev Patel, Jeremy Allen White, and Zayn Malik.

This unforeseen yet rapidly turning viral trend has now flowed into the community of K-pop fans in the US.

Earlier this week, a social media post announcing a "Mark Lee Look-alike Contest" caught attention, inviting "serious contestants" to the Washington Square Arch in Lower Manhattan, New York City, on December 7. 

The compelling post from @brokekpopgirls revealed that the winner would receive a watermelon, a favourite fruit of NCT's Mark Lee, and take part in random dance performances featuring popular NCT songs. 

Reflecting the group's theme, the dress code was set as "NEO." The original post quickly gained traction within the K-pop community, with fans spreading it across social media and South Korean media outlets also covering the event.

Alongside the Mark Lee contest, a Jungkook look-alike competition is set to bring excitement to Chicago a week earlier.

As reported by the BTS Charts Daily fan account on X/Twitter, the Jungkook look-alike contest will take place at Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chicago, Illinois, on November 24. The winner will receive a $20 cash prize and a bottle of Soju. 

This led some fans to humorously suggest online that the prize could include "taking his place in the military."

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BTS' youngest member, Jungkook, is anticipated to return in June 2025. Meanwhile, Mark Lee, a Canadian rapper residing in South Korea and often referred to as the "busiest man in K-pop," recently released "DREAMSCAPE," the fourth full-length album from his group NCT DREAM. As per previous statements from SM Entertainment, Lee is also scheduled to drop his debut solo album in February 2025.