What is the ’97 line in K-Pop?

The wondrous world of K-Pop has been around for far longer than most of us might have guessed. Tracing its roots back to the 1950s, the oldest K-Pop groups are the foundation for what has now become one of the most lucrative businesses worldwide. Their influence set the stage for today’s South Korean superstars, although it would take a few more decades for the genre to firmly establish itself in the Western sphere.

In the last few years, groups like BTS, EXO, BLACKPINK, and TWICE rose to prominence and became some of the most sought-after South Korean artists in history. Even beyond their groups, many of these artists have developed mutual respect and friendships, which might not have blossomed had they not been part of the same industry, almost in a game of fate. And that’s exactly what happened for the squad known as the ’97 line in K-Pop, so here’s all you need to know about them.

Who is the ‘97 line in K-Pop?

For many foreigners, it may come off as a surprise that in South Korea, people are often drawn to those with whom they share a birth year. In this specific instance, the ‘97 line squad gets its name from the members, who were all born in 1997. All hailing from the major successfully popular groups in K-Pop, this squad is comprised of BTS’ Jungkook, GOT7’s Yugyeom and BamBam, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu, The8 and DK, ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo and NCT’s Jaehyun.

These members from different K-Pop groups first revealed their friendship to fans in 2016 through a selfie posted by Yugyeom on Instagram. Even after this unexpected gathering of pop stars, the origin of the group has yet to be unveiled, however, it is believed that Jungkook and Yugyeom share a close-knit friendship, which drew the other ’97 liners together to form this incredibly cool squad.

While there are other friend groups who share the same birth year, the ’97 line squad has undoubtedly become the most popular one. Not only does it consist of many of the youngest members (maknaes) in their respective groups, but they also spend a surprising amount of time together despite their busy schedules. Another notable friend group is the ’92 line squad, consisting of Moonbyul from MAMAMOO, Jin from BTS, Baro and Sandeul from B1A4, Hani from EXID, and Ken from VIXX.

Considering the highly competitive nature of the K-Pop industry, it is certainly heartwarming to see these members set aside their differences and form genuine friendships, and we all eagerly hope to continue witnessing the blossoming friendship of the ’97 liners in the years to come.