Climbing Moss

We are working on a Kpop post or two due in the next couple of weeks but we realise there are a hell of a lot of terms that we use that are native to just the KPop world. So In spirit of trying to help the newbies understand this weeks post is KPop/KDrama slang.

2nd Lead –
The B storyline in any K-Drama – Normally the more compelling storyline.
3rd Episode Rule
K-Dramas tend to be between 10 -22 Episodes but it doesn’t matter what the synopsis is the drama will never match. You have to wait for 3 episodes for the back story to end and get to the actual storyline.

Album
K-Pop Album – can be a Single normally consisting of 1 single and then the instrumental and English version so 3 in total. An Ep – Usually consisting of 3 tracks, Mini album – which is normally 4/5 songs or full album – between 14-22 songs.
Album variations
There are normally a bunch of options per album.
1 – Normally 3/4 versions which are different concepts per version with varying photoshoots, additions, looks and styles.
2. Member only editions where you can buy the bias of choice – which contains all photos from each concept of that one member.
3. Platform album – which doesn’t include a photobook or CD, but just a number of Photocards and a QR code in order to stream the Album.
4. Digipak Album – Which is a CD Case often made of card or Jewel Case in the traditional style, with the photo sleeve and and CD as and stickers.
5. Photobook and Box Style Albums – The Standard throughout the industry, where you get a full photo book and CD, Stickers and other ‘stuff’ the photo cards and one of members tend to be random and it’s a case of see who you ‘Pull’.
Ambassador
K-Pop idols are normally taken on as ambassadors for luxury brands.
Bias
The Bias is your favourite member of the band, the most talented or simply just the prettiest member
Bias Wrecker
This is one of the other members of the band who always steals your attention from you favourite member (your Bias).
Collab
Is a Collaboration between bands or individual members of two or more groups, often for Award Shows, Christmas Shows, or some special event.
Comeback
This is a term for when a band/group are releasing a new album, unlike western bands where a Comeback is when a previously disbanded group re-form for one last album or show before retiring. The Korean Comeback can happen three to four time in a year.

Dance challenge
With every new single or album release the group will have new dance choreography. In the routine there will be a snippet of the dance that is made specifically to be copied and performed by other artists and fans alike, usually for TikTok and Instagram Reels. Members of other groups will often film the Dance Challenge with one or two members of the ‘artists’ usually at M Countdown in the KBS Building on Friday Morning during the recording of the show.
Debut Group
A New Group – A group that is releasing their first single and performing on the Music Shows, doing the rounds trying to get attention and fans. Bands that fail to get a ‘Win’ or attention may fail to get a second comeback.
Dramas
K-Dramas are prevalent and varied, often with runs of anything from 8 to 32 episodes in a season and often only a single season, a lot of shows have long episodes of over an hour.
Ex Idols turn Actors
Former members of the KPop Bands will quit music in favour of becoming Actors in the Dramas, few continue doing both, but eventually they will end up as actors. They will always be known as former band members turned Actor.

Fandom
These are the fan bases or ‘Stans’ of the KPop groups, loyal fans that buy the albums, often multiples of every album in order to get every photocard etc.
Fandom Names
The Fandom of each group will take on a name, a term that identifies them as fans of the group, often a play on words or tie to the name of the group, most famously BTS fans are Army, BlackPink’s Blinks, Stray Kids = Stays, Girls Generation are S♡NE
Generation
Kpop groups that debuted between certain years are put into generations akin to Millennials etc it started at 1st Gen and now are at 5th Gen
Groups Weekly Shows
Most 4th and 5th Gen bands have a YouTube channel and show where they perform dance challenges, do interviews and have their Music Videos, but also they have they own Variety Shows where they play games, do silly tasks and other random stuff
Hangul
The Korean Writing System, the letters of circles and lines EXAMPLE 안녕하세요
Hanteo Chart
The Korean Physical Album Chart
Idol
A Highly trained and managed entertainer, typically a member of a group or a solo act sometimes can also refer to Actors.
Inkigayo
The Chart show recorded on Sunday morning airing on Sunday Night.

Music Bank staircase
If you like K-Pop then you will know this staircase – every single idol and group has taken a picture there.
K-Addy
A Korean address that you can get your albums or merch sent to to send it on to you.
Kit Album
You get a little plastic cartridge looking thing that you connect to you phone’s microphone to get access to the album through the KiT player app for 24 hours before you have to reconnect again.
Korean/Japan release
There is a vast difference between the two types of album most groups have to release something for the Japanese audience – the albums aren’t bad but the physical copies are lacking in every department. The quality isn’t as good.
Kpop Music shows – Arirang Show, The Show, Show Champion, M! Countdown, Music Bank, Show Music Core, Inkigayo.
Music Shows that air throughout the week – a group releasing a new album will make the rounds of each show during the week but starting on Thursday with Melon. Each show has its own vibe etc.
Kprofiles
A website that lists every single thing to do with Kpop – extensive information on the groups, the members in great detail.
Leader
Less common in the 4th/5th Gen groups – originally the members had assigned positions and roles and one member was assigned The Leader – often the eldest member or the one can take control.

Lightstick
See any concert and there will be a lightstick per group – seems stupid but it is quite amazing when you witness the lightshow. Each group has a unique design and style with a LED light that connects to an app which connects to the lighting rig at the concert. They also work when watching the music videos of that group which is magic!
M Countdown
See Shows
Maknae
The youngest member of the Group.
Main
Like the Leader there are normally Main Dancer, Rapper, Vocal & Visual.
MBTI
Myers-Briggs -Type-Indicator the personality test that dictates almost all of South Korea every single person knows what they are and you will be asked if you visit.
Member version album
See album versions.
Merch
Merchandise additional to all the albums bands can release specific items from clothing ranges, collabs with major design chains, there are plushies, masks, food and sometimes random things the members have designed.
Military Service
All Korean men between the ages of 18 and 35 are required to perform military service this includes your favorite Actors and Idols.
MV
Music Video – as it sounds but with a bigger budget and more action.
My Drama List
This is one of the most extensive Drama libraries that you can check in the dramas your currently watching, review them and even get recommendations and an analysis at the end of the year showing who you watched the most of.
Photobook
In each album there is usually a Photobook usually containing 83 pages of photos of the group based around the version concept – see above.

Photocard
A credit card sized photo of a specific member of the group bought – in one of a myriad of poses – you never know who you are going to get it’s a ‘potluck pull’ There are some crazy people that collect thousands – we know one girl who will order 400 of the same albums just to get all the cards of 1 member. Some cards can be worth hundreds if you have pulled it.
Plushies
With some groups there are plushies that the members themselves have designed – from what we know it’s only a handful of groups but all the same.
POB
Pre-Order Benefit – on top the photocard you receive in the album you if you preorder you can get special cards that only come from preordering.
Pull
As mentioned previously albums come with photocards and it’s a lottery as to who you get this is referred to as a pull.
SBS
The broadcast company for the Music Shows
Ship
Normally each group has a fan ship mixing the names of people that you support the relationships. Like Brangelina but with Idols.
Shop
Kpop shops are few and far between in the UK and when you find one the albums are extortionately expensive. Better to order from Korea but the shipping sucks. The best way to do it is go to South Korea and load your suitcase with all the cheap albums.
Sham/Scam
A Fake Photocard – normally a trader will make a trade with fake photo cards printed at home. There is also unofficial merch.

Stans
The fans of the groups.
Units/Sub Units
In some groups there are Sub Units – A smaller group formed from a larger group. They have separate music releases and usually different concepts.
The big agencies – JYP, Hybe, SM, Starship, Jellyfish, KQ, Cube
There are some labels that are better and bigger that others that scam their artist left right and center. These are the bigger ones we know of.
Ult Bias
Ultimate Bias – is the one member of a group that is your ultimate no other idol can compare!
Ult Group 

The group you support the most.
All rounder
The member from a group that can do all of the positions well (Rap, Dance, Sing, Visual etc)
Unboxing
The act of unboxing and looking at your albums and inclusions – Some of the fans make Youtube videos and Tiktoks opening the albums to show what you can get in yours (if your lucky)
Unofficial Merch
Some groups end up with unofficial merch – something that everyone from the fandom has collectively decided is the groups – whether its shoes that a specific group wear all the time or makeup.
Variety Shows
There is a lot of shows that idols and actors star in where they do a variety of things – from games, camping, vacations, adventures – It’s the best way to get to know the people away from the stage personas it is random as hell though.
Visual
The member of the group that is the most beautiful.

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What did we miss? If you see a term (and not a song or member) we forgot then comment. Come back for more KPop and KDrama stuff soon.