Buzz
K-pop might not be a stranger to the Vietnamese youth anymore. With catchy tunes, mesmerizing choreography, and the charming looks of the idols, it captivates a significant portion of the young generation. If you're considering becoming a K-pop fan, the first step is to grasp the fundamental terminology that every K-pop fan should know. Below, Mytour presents to you the most common K-pop terms you need to be familiar with.
1. Idol
Idol translates to 'idol' in English, referring to a public figure with a large fanbase. When you admire any K-pop idol, you become a K-pop fan.
2. Debut
Debut, an English term, signifies an appearance or introduction. In K-pop, Debut refers to the debut stage, the first appearance of a music group or singer, or certain idol. For trainees under major entertainment companies, debut is the most anticipated and crucial event, demanding the best skills and meticulous preparation. A successful debut earns the artist or group recognition from the audience, paving the way for a flourishing career. Conversely, a lackluster debut often leads to disappointment and uncertainties. Thus, a debut event resembles a game of chance, entirely dependent on the audience's reception. However, with thorough preparation and extensive PR efforts, a debut event for a music group or individual member is bound to achieve certain achievements.
3. Trainee
Trainee refers to apprentices, individuals accepted into a group but still undergoing training, yet to be introduced to the public. Most trainees are recruited by entertainment companies through competitions organized by the company or direct invitations. Upon acceptance, trainees undergo training in various aspects such as vocal training, acting, and dancing, based on the contract they sign with the company. Additionally, there are freelance trainees, not affiliated with any management company.
4. Comeback
This term is used to denote an artist or a music group making a return to the stage and promoting their new songs or album after a period of hiatus or inactivity.
5. Fandom
Fandom is the term used to refer to a community of dedicated fans who cherish, support, and shower affection upon a particular idol or idol group, always standing by their side. Each fandom of an artist or music group will have its own name, carrying its own significance.
For example, BTS's fandom is known as A.R.M.Y
EXO's fandom is called EXO - L
TWICE's fandom is referred to as ONCE
Black Pink's fandom is known as BLINK
6. Fancam
These are videos recorded by fans capturing their idols performing at events or concerts, which are then uploaded or shared on YouTube or other social media platforms. These fan-recorded videos may or may not have the consent of the original recorder, with the majority being without consent. Despite being fan-made, many fancams surpass professional recordings in quality.
7. Flop
Flop, an English term roughly translated as decline, disappointment, or someone unworthy of expectations. In the context of K-pop, it refers to idols or music groups who have received and are receiving love and attention from the audience. However, due to various reasons, they experience a decline, losing their image, lacking professionalism, and gradually losing their fame.
8. Bias
This term refers to the member you favor the most within a music group. While you may like the entire group, the member you favor the most, treating them differently from other members, is your bias. However, bias is only applicable to fans of idol groups with more than 2 members. Additionally, Bias Wrecker is a term used to denote the second-favorite member, standing behind one's bias.
For example: If someone claims to be a BTS Bias Jin, you can understand that they admire the BTS music group, and Jin is their favorite member within BTS.
9. Stan
Within the fan community, fans are divided into 3 levels: regular fans, Stans, and Sasaeng fans. These are the passionate, true fans. They meticulously follow every detail of their idol, never missing anything, always supporting every decision made by that person.
10. Saesang fan
These are the type of fans who are obsessed with their idols. Saesang fans often have the habit of stalking their idols everywhere, sometimes even resorting to illegal methods to obtain personal information about their idols, invading their private lives. Some would even give up their jobs or education to chase after their idols or sneak into their bathrooms to take secret photos, hence Saesang fans are also known as the nightmare of idols.
11. Maknae
This term is used to refer to the youngest member or the youngest sibling. In a music group, the youngest member is called the maknae. If the youngest member of the group is talented, outstanding, and significantly contributes to bringing the group's image closer to the public, they are referred to as the golden maknae.
For example: In the BTS music group, the golden maknae is Jungkook, in EXO it's Oh Sehun, in BigBang it's Seungri, and so on.
12. OT
OT stands for One True. K-pop fans often use OT along with the number of members in the music group. For example, the BTS A.R.M.Y fandom commonly uses OT7, meaning to care for, love, and support all 7 members of the group. 7 members, 7 pieces to complete a perfect picture, without missing or adding anyone else. In the Super Junior fan community, OT13 or OT15 is often used, meaning to support the original 13 members of the group or 15 members, including the 2 new members later on.
Additionally, there's OTP (Only True Pairing) which means the idol pair you love and support the most within or across groups. Conversely, NOTP is used to denote the pair you dislike, not necessarily hating one of the individuals, just disliking them as a pair.
13. Fanchant
Fanchant is a term coined by fans, unanimously agreed upon from the beginning to cheer for their idol by specifically chanting or repeating lyrics during the performance. Not only popular in K-pop, fanchants are also widely used in our country.
14. Fan Only
The concept of fan only appears within the fandom of a music group, idol group with two or more members. Fan only refers to fans who only like and care about one member of the group, while the others remain neutral, neither hating nor liking.
15. Akgae fan
Akgae fan is a term used to describe the most malicious fan-only individuals within a fandom. Instead of maintaining a neutral attitude towards other members of the group, Akgae fans express their intense love for their idol by being willing to discredit other members in the group in order to prove that their idol is the best. They are willing to spend a lot of time scrutinizing and finding fault with other members of the group if they behave improperly towards their idol, even willing to ridicule and curse other members. Akgae is the cause of division, causing disunity within the fandom by constantly fueling unnecessary conflicts.
16. Bash
To put it simply, when you dislike someone, always criticize a K-pop idol regardless of their actions, you'll be called a Bash. The clearest evidence of Bash is opposing, disliking every aspect of that person. It's also opposing idols, but bash is more personal. The phenomenon of bash can also occur within the same idol group, when fans like one person but dislike others or only bash one member of the group.
17. Netizen
Netizen is a combination of Net and Citizen, used to refer to the online community. In K-pop, Netizens are extremely active and powerful. The main content discusses topics related to music groups, idols, from professional matters to personal stories. Netizens are also the obsession of K-pop idols.
18. Nugu
Nugu in K-pop means Who? or Who is that? It's also a question, but with the purpose, implication of derogating a certain idol or music group that is not famous, obscure, or little-known. Sometimes it's also used when you want to introduce your idol to others.
19. Repackage Album
Repackage Album means re-releasing a certain album. This album will contain old songs, some new songs, or remixes, edits of songs from the original album. Usually, repackage albums are released right after the marketing activities of the old album have just ended. One of BTS's repackage albums is You Never Walk Alone and Love Yourself: Answer.
20. Selca
Selca is a combination of Self (self) and Camera (photo) so Selca, Selfie, or self-portrait all refer to the same action. Before the term Selfie emerged, Selca was widely used in Korea to describe the act of taking a self-portrait using a mirror without needing someone else to take it.
Above are the terms that any K-pop fan should know. Hopefully, through this article, you will learn more terms to easily engage with the K-pop community.
