K-pop fandoms have always been quite competitive: From streaming songs and buying physical albums to top the charts and help win in music shows, to rooting for their idols to win in year-end music and popularity awards shows–the competition is fierce.
This somewhat extreme competitiveness among fans has led to incessant fandom wars, which is almost always seen online. However, did you know that amidst these fandom wars, the majority of the idols we’re pitting against each other are actually friends in real life?
Here are some of those idols with enviable friendship:
BamBam and Lisa
From Thailand to South Korea, BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Got7’s BamBam have been best friends since their childhood way back in their home country. The two became close as they were part of the same dance group as kids. Not only that, Lisa is also said to be close with BamBam’s family, including his sister and mother.
Egg Yolks
Egg Yolks is a friend group comprised of MAMAMOO’s Moonbyul, OH MY GIRL’s Hyojung, former April’s Naeun, and Red Velvet’s Seulgi. The group was formed through the members’ connection with Seulgi.
Oh-Jung-Park
Talk about friendship goals. These three best friends and high school friends ended up achieving their dreams to debut as an idol – (Oh) Hayoung, (Jung) Yerin, and (Park) Sooyoung (known by her stage name Joy) were close friends and classmates at Seoul Performing Arts High School (SOPA) before debuting under girl groups Apink, GFriend, and Red Velvet, respectively.
97 liners
Dubbed the “visual killer” friend group known for their looks, this group includes ASTRO’s visual Cha Eunwoo, BTS’ youngest Jungkook, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu, The8, and DK, Got7’s Yugyeom and BamBam, and NCT’s Jaehyun. Aside from their killer looks, these friends share the similarity of being born in the same year in 1997, hence their group name. This friend group, which started out as a chat group, regularly hang out together.
9879s
One of the industry’s most well-known and loved idol friend groups, 9879 consists of idols who are also born in the same year as the 97 liners, but this time it’s from 1998. The group, which consists of Viviz’ Umji and SinB, singer Lee Suji, IMFACT’s Na Ungjae (known by his stage name HELLO GLOOM), and SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan, is known for their unending support for each other. The late Moonbin of ASTRO was also part of this group.
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