Over the years of my (K-pop) fangirl life..

From teens to adults, everyone can fangirl over someone/something (be it a movie, book, anime, band or artist) and they have probably done it at least once in their lives. Most people started stanning in their teen, and so did I. Like most teenagers, I literally fangirled over everything and K-pop was one of them. Just a little flashback, my first exposure to K-pop happened a long time ago; way back in 2008 when I was 15. K-pop started out as a guilty pleasure for me and I used to be so obsessed with it. You know that amazing overwhelming feeling you get when you discover something great? Basically, I just liked the music. Yeah, K-pop songs were pretty catchy and unique. But I'm not gonna lie, K-pop was indeed full of eye candy and talent that will leave us in awe all day. It had a wide range of concepts, styles, and genre to enjoy. The music videos were aesthetically pleasing and beautiful. Not to mention the jaw-dropping dance moves and the fantastic stage performances. The whole package had brought me joy on so many levels haha.

I religiously followed everything about my fave groups; their latest news and activities. You know, the teenage fangirl stuff (checking out their SNS, watching their shows, buying merchs, and joining forums). Everything about them just grew on me. I even stayed up all night until 5 AM only watching random K-pop videos on YouTube. Every comeback had me jumping in excitement. Needless to say, I was in full fangirl mode.

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My, how time flies. I've been into K-pop for 8 years or so now, and a lot has happened since then. Today, old groups start dying out and it's only a matter of time for them to announce their disbandment. Meanwhile, new idol groups keep popping out are being debuted almost every week. I don't know if it's only me, but I can't really get into rookies for whatever reason. Nothing much draws me in. It just feels weird stanning idols younger than me..it's probably a sign that I'm getting too old for fangirling over them lol. All the overly cute concepts (especially for boy groups) sometimes make me cringe. Not a lot of groups are bringing something refreshing and new. I'm not saying that every group looks like a carbon copy of each other, but they are more or less the same. On the bright side, the new generation of K-pop is rising and it's completely undeniable.

In truth, I gradually lost interest in K-pop and I kind of feel bad for it. As I'm growing up, I realize that my real life is too consuming and I almost got no time to fangirl like before. I no longer follow K-pop as much as I used to. I already stopped checking up on my favorite groups and any news related to them because I barely care for it anymore. Yes, I've officially downgraded myself from fandom trash to a "casual listener". My mom said fangirling was just a phase of life (sort of, maybe); as we grow older, it decreases naturally. Obviously, there also comes a point in our life where we'll lose interest in these certain things. It doesn't mean that the scene is getting boring, though. It just naturally happened. I may be an old fan, that's why I feel this way. I know it doesn't makes sense, but well.. Over the years of my (K-pop) fangirl life, I'm just going to stop right here. 

I don't regret fangirling over K-pop one bit because honestly it made my life more exciting and fulfilling. Fangirling was like some kind of stress relief to me besides reading, drawing and coloring. Thanks to it, I also met some great people (online) who share the same interests as me. I don't care what anyone says, but becoming a fangirl was the best thing that has ever happened to me. Looking back, there were so many priceless moments and unforgettable memories that I'd remember for life. Smiling, screaming, crying, squealing, jumping, dying.. All the feels! I can't even imagine my life without it. One thing, though, I still can't believe I finally stopped fangirling over my bias groups. I still love them, anyway.

At the end of the day, K-pop is just like any other genre of music. I still like jamming listening to my favorite groups.. It is fun, however it just doesn't feel the same anymore. It's really hard to say, but this would probably be my last post related to K-pop. I think I'll get over it at some point in my life. Whenever that will be..

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DIY K-pop Bookmark

Earlier this year, I made my own K-pop bookmarks from pictures I found in past issues of teen magazines. There are lots of them, but the one below is my favorite. I am currently using Luhan as my bookmark for my current read. Anyway, it only took minutes to make and it looks sooo adorable. All we need are just a cute picture from unused magazines and some white cartons, not to mention scissors, tape and glue. When the bookmark was finished, it should have been laminated to ensure it would be sturdy enough to last for long years and not damage the papers inside. Sadly I forgot to laminate it and so in less than a year, mine is getting a little bit crumpled and the colors start running, too. However, I am so in love with it and I'd make another if I had to.

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Top 10 Lovable Korean Boy Group Maknaes (Personal Picks)

For those of you who are new to K-pop, maknae (막내) is a Korean word used to describe the youngest member in a group. If two or more members were born in the same year, the maknae is simply the one born last.

A maknae is usually expected to be the cutest one. Adorable, charming, and full of personality. But let’s be honest, they’re not just cute. Most maknaes are incredibly talented. They can be childish, playful, and sometimes.. a little evil 😏 Still, they always have that innocent side that makes them impossible to dislike.

Honestly, I believe the real job of a maknae is to make noonas fall for them ㅋㅋㅋ And it’s kind of true, when a group has a popular maknae, the whole group shines even more. No wonder so many people end up biasing the maknae. They have a special talent for ruining bias lists, including mine. If you’ve ever had your bias list completely ruined by a maknae, welcome. You’re not alone.

Here are 10 maknaes from 10 Korean boy groups (in no particular order). This list is purely my personal opinion, so please don’t take it too seriously. If your favorite isn’t here.. well, you can always make your own list 😉 Trust me, choosing only ten was hard.

1. Sehun - EXO (1994)

We don’t really need a reason to love Sehun. He’s known for his poker face, but when he smiles.. the sun shines ☺ Naturally handsome with perfect facial features, Sehun may look cold and shy, but he’s actually a cute maknae with plenty of aegyo.

Let’s be honest, he might not be the best rapper or vocalist in EXO. Even though he’s a pretty good dancer, I think his true specialty is attracting noonas. Effortlessly sexy, broad shoulders, and visuals that work with any hairstyle, especially the rainbow hair. Yehet!

2. Taemin - SHINee (1993)

SHINee’s adorable dancing-machine maknae. Taemin was the one who got me into K-pop in the first place, thanks to his outstanding dancing skills. It’s no surprise he’s often mentioned as one of the best dancers in K-pop.

He’s always smiling, no matter what. Watching Taemin grow from a young boy into a more mature and masculine performer has been amazing. His singing and dancing just keep improving with every comeback.

Sometimes I still miss the mushroom hair, angelic smile, innocent face, and that blinking habit when he gets nervous 😭

Even so, he’s still the sweet Taeminnie we all love :’)

3. Jungkook - BTS (1997)

BTS’s Golden Maknae, Jungkook. Young, talented, and good at everything. Besides being the maknae, he’s also a vocalist, main dancer, visual. And yes, he can rap too. A complete package.

Have you ever seen sleeping Jungkook? Absolutely adorable, like a baby. But when he talks, he’s surprisingly mature for his age. And once you watch Bangtan Bomb.. yeah, it’s over. A true bias-list wrecker.

4. Kyuhyun - Super Junior (1988)

The legendary Evil Maknae. Whenever I hear that phrase, Kyuhyun instantly comes to mind, especially with those puppy eyes!

Known as the “Prince of Ballad” and one of Super Junior’s main vocalists, Kyuhyun has a gentle yet powerful voice that makes every song sound beautiful. One of the best vocalists in K-pop, in my opinion. He’s great on variety shows too! Dancing isn’t his strongest point, but he’s become much more confident over time.

Despite his evil reputation and habit of teasing his hyungs, he actually respects them a lot ☺ And yes, he still looks cute.

5. Chansung - 2PM (1990)

The mature “Old Italian” maknae of 2PM. Seriously, who would believe he’s the maknae? He looks older than everyone else.

Chansung loves bananas.. so much that the members nicknamed him “Chanana.” He actually debuted as an actor before joining 2PM. Tall, well-built, handsome, with a great smile and six-pack abs. Yup, the definition of an ideal namja! His cat is almost as famous as he is.

Serious, hardworking, and unexpectedly adorable when he laughs.

(●´艸｀)ヾ Oppa~~~

6. Seungri - Big Bang (1990)

Big Bang’s Baby Panda. At first glance, Seungri doesn’t look like the maknae, he looks more mature than the others. But once you get to know him, his playful and funny side really stands out.

He’s often teased by his hyungs, but he enjoys it and clearly loves them. Known mainly for his dancing, he also has a surprisingly nice voice. He once said he didn’t want to stay as Big Bang’s cute maknae.. but sorry, Seungri. You’ll always be our manly maknae.

7. Sungjae - BtoB (1995)

Sungjae is a funny and dorky maknae. If you’re a Melody, you probably remember the legendary watermelon-breaking incident, hence the nickname Master of Hitting Watermelon.

Extremely talented, a little crazy, but also well-mannered. That combination makes him even more lovable ☺ He’s still my personal favorite among all the maknaes.

8. Changmin - TVXQ (1988)

The most charismatic maknae? Of course, Lord Voldemin.

Changmin debuted with DBSK at just 14 years old. Ten years later, he’s grown into a tall, handsome, and powerful vocalist. TVXQ wouldn’t be TVXQ without his high notes and screams. Over the years, he’s become more mature and charismatic, and as a duo with Yunho, their performances are always solid.

9. Zelo - B.A.P (1996)

A ’96-liner and the Giant Baby. Zelo is known for his rapid-fire rapping skills at such a young age, 16 syllables per second!

Despite being the maknae, he’s the tallest member of B.A.P. His ramen hair era was probably his cutest look ever. Pinchable cheeks, playful expressions, and endless baby energy. Cherry tomato.. naekkeoya! 😆

10. Mir - Mblaq (1991)

Maknae rapper. Loud? Hyper? Absolutely. Mir is childish, energetic, and endlessly funny.

As the group’s mood maker, he knows exactly how to entertain people. Always joking, teasing his hyungs, and causing chaos. People often say Thunder is the maknae.. but honestly, Mir’s behavior says it all. He’s the real wild maknae.

K-pop dictionary:

• Bias: The member who completely owns your heart
• Aegyo (애교): Acting cute (sometimes dangerously so)
• Hyung (형): Older brother (male → male).
• Oppa (오빠): Older brother (female → male)
• Naekkeoya (내꺼야): “It’s mine”
• Namja (남자): Man / guy
• Noona (누나): Older sister (male → female). Since I’m older than Sehun, Zelo, Jungkook, and Sungjae… they should call me Noona. Just saying 😌

Maknae really have a special power. They sneak into your heart quietly, mess up your bias list without warning, and somehow stay there. Whether they’re charming, evil, awkward, or way too mature for their age, one thing is certain: life as a K-pop fan is never safe when a maknae exists.

So here’s my list. Loud, biased, and completely unapologetic. Because in the end, loving maknae is part of the fun!

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