South Korean actor Kim Moo Yeol found himself at the center of a global social media frenzy after Hollywood star and former WWE champion John Cena unexpectedly shared his photo on Instagram, reigniting a long-running debate among fans who believe the two celebrities look strikingly alike.
According to AllKpop, Cena, who boasts more than 21 million followers on Instagram, posted an image of Kim on June 9 without any caption or explanation. The seemingly simple post quickly gained traction online, prompting thousands of reactions from fans around the world who immediately focused on the resemblance between the two actors.
Many social media users joked that Cena had finally discovered his "Korean twin," while others described Kim as the wrestler-turned-actor's long-lost doppelgänger. Comments flooded the post, with fans expressing amazement at the similarities in their facial features, head shape and expressions.
This viral post brought the name of Kim Moo Yeol into the trend on many entertainment communities, bringing the actor to more international audiences and also bringing back the discussion about this ongoing joke in the community.
The likeness between Cena and Kim has become an ongoing joke among many fanatics, especially now that Kim is gaining more prominence internationally through Netflix shows like "Juvenile Justice" and "Sweet Home", which have garnered many memes comparing the two actors.
The current controversy was fueled further by the official Netflix Korea account joining in the discussion. The streaming giant acknowledged the viral discussion by sharing a humorous reaction image featuring Kim, adding to the growing online buzz.
For many fans, Cena's post appeared to validate years of comparisons. However, some people saw it as a joke about the similarities from the actor himself since Cena has never officially addressed why he uploaded this video online.
Both of the celebrities have been experiencing a lot of career success lately. Cena is still one of the most famous faces of sports entertainment to date, having won 16 World Championships in his WWE career before venturing into Hollywood. He has since starred in major projects including the "Fast & Furious" franchise, "The Suicide Squad" and the television series "Peacemaker".
Meanwhile, Korea Times said that Kim is gaining international recognition through Netflix's "Teach You a Lesson', a drama about a specialized agency tasked with restoring authority within the education system. The series recently reached No. 1 on Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English TV rankings and entered the Top 10 in 48 countries.
