FIRST READ · MON 7 AM ETTHE WEEKEND LEXICON · SAT 9 AM ETae·gyo
/ɛ.ɡjo/EH-gyon.
- Deliberate cuteness, usually on request from a host. Idols pretend to hate it.
Why Every K-pop Group Gives Its Fans a Name, From ARMY to FOHA
Our Lexicon entry on the fandom name: what it means, who picks it, and the wordplay behind CARAT, MOA, ONCE and hundreds more.
Read the full entry →Lexicon
The words you’ll hear in fan spaces, and how to say them. Every Monday one of them gets a full entry: where it came from, how fans use it now and the stories it shows up in.
all-kill
/ol.kʰil/ALL-killn., v.
- Topping every major Korean real-time chart at once. A “perfect all-kill” holds it for a day.
bi·as
/ˈbaɪ.əs/BY-usn., v.
- Your favorite member. “Bias wrecker” is the one who threatens that ranking.
come·back
/ˈkʌm.bæk/KUM-bakn.
- A new release and its promo cycle. Not a return from hiatus; groups “come back” every few months.
dae·sang
/tɛ.saŋ/DEH-sahngn.
- The grand prize at a year-end show. The one that counts.
de·lu·lu
/dəˈluː.luː/duh-LOO-looadj., n.
- Fan slang for knowingly delusional hopes. Said with affection.
fan chant
/ˈfæn ˌtʃænt/FAN chantn.
- Scripted shouts during a song. Learn them from the official guide before a U.S. show.
fan·dom name
/ˈfæn.dəm ˌneɪm/FAN-dum naymn.
- Every group names its fans (ARMY, BLINK, STAY). Using it correctly is the first sign you belong.
gen
/dʒɛn/JENn.
- Rough eras: 1st (H.O.T., Fin.K.L), 2nd (BIGBANG, SNSD), 3rd (BTS, TWICE), 4th (Stray Kids, aespa), 5th (KATSEYE, ILLIT).
hi-touch / fan·sign
/ˈhaɪ.tʌtʃ / ˈfæn.saɪn/HY-tuch / FAN-synen.
- Paid meet events. In the U.S. usually bundled with VIP packages.
Hot 100 / 200
/hɑt wʌn ˈhʌn.drəd/HOT one HUN-drudn. (proper)
- Billboard’s U.S. song and album charts. The numbers American press cares about.
lead·er
/ˈliː.dɚ/LEE-dern.
- The member who speaks for the group. Not always the oldest.
light·stick
/ˈlaɪt.stɪk/LYTE-stikn.
- Each group’s official light, synced to the show. Bring it or feel underdressed.
mu·sic show win
/ˈmjuː.zɪk ʃoʊ ˈwɪn/MYOO-zik shoh WINn.
- A weekly win on Music Bank, Inkigayo, etc. Based on sales, streams, broadcast and votes.
op·pa / un·nie / hyung / noo·na
/o.p͈a / ʌn.ni / çʌŋ / nu.na/OH-ppah / UHN-nee / HYUNG / NOO-nahn.
- Older-brother / older-sister terms, depending on who’s speaking. Fans use them for idols; it can read as flirty.
Pann / the·qoo
/pʰan / tʌ.kʰu/PAHN / TUH-koon. (proper)
- Korean forums whose posts get translated into English “netizen reaction” stories. Treat as rumor until confirmed.
pho·to·card
/ˈfoʊ.toʊ.kɑɹd/FOH-toh-kardn.
- Collectible card inside an album. Fans buy multiple copies to pull a specific member. Trading is a whole economy.
pre·sale
/ˈpɹiː.seɪl/PREE-sayln.
- Fan-club → app → venue → general sale. Codes arrive 24–48 h out.
sa·saeng
/sa.sɛŋ/SAH-sengn., adj.
- An obsessive fan who crosses privacy lines. The word carries real stigma.
sound·check pack·age
/ˈsaʊnd.tʃɛk ˈpæk.ɪdʒ/SOWND-chek PAK-ijn.
- VIP tier that gets you into rehearsal. Typically $350+ before fees.
sun·bae / hoo·bae
/sʌn.bɛ / hu.bɛ/SUHN-beh / HOO-behn.
- Senior / junior, by debut year. Governs who bows first.
We·verse / Bub·ble
/ˈwiː.vɝs / ˈbʌb.əl/WEE-vurs / BUB-uln. (proper)
- Label-run fan apps for posts, livestreams and paid messages. Where news breaks first.