Call me typical for enjoying K-Pop groups that are clearly tight knit together. I mean, I grew up in the era of SHINee, which was made up of goofballs that were more like brothers than bandmates. So, when LE SSERAFIM came onto the scene with members like Huh Yunjin aka Queen and Hong Eunchae aka Manchae? I was sold. These girls had a dynamic that works and they had me hooked.
Hong Eunchae is called Manchae because of LE SSERAFIM’s oldest member, Sakura, combining Eunchae’s name with the word ‘Maknae’, which is used to refer to the youngest member in an idol group. And, yeah, Eunchae really came into the role being the baby of the group, especially post Garam leaving the group. She’s the energy of LE SSERAFIM, bringing a lightness in a group that’s more gritty girl crush coded.
And I love that for her. Eunchae was one of those members that felt like they were going to be sidelined when LE SSERAFIM first debuted with ‘Fearless’, because of how the focus was mainly on the other girls in the group. Namely Sakura and Kim Chaewon, who were part of Iz*One and Yunjin, a former Produce 101 trainee. But recently, Eunchae has really come into her own as the Maknae or ‘Manchae’. So let’s discuss that and other titles in idol groups in K-Pop Karousel!
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Hong Eunchae: The Bubbly Manchae!
So, it’s really not that hard to see how Eunchae got popular enough to warrant her own cute little title. She is so much fun! Hong Eunchae being Manchae really cements her position in the group, which wasn’t as apparent before. Then again, the group only debuted in 2022, and had to face a major controversy where they lost a member.
But since then, LE SSERAFIM has only becomebigger. With their ‘tough girls’ image, they tend to stand out much more. And it makes sense, it houses some real powerhouses. Chaewon and Sakura already had a massive fanbase prior to debuting with LE SSERAFIM. And Yunjin was a fan-favorite known for her intense stage presence. And then there is Kazuha, with her extremely toned build and impeccable dancing skills. So, where does Eunchae stand?
Well, Eunchae is what makes the other girls feel so much more relatable! I think my favorite part about LE SSERAFIM’s dynamic is how all the other girls absolutely adore Hong Eunchae, lovingly calling her Manchae or being protective of her. And you can see why, Eunchae is just super lovable. She’s got this lovely, bubbly personality and feels like she gels with everyone. You could almost call her a social butterfly, with how much her seniors in the K-Pop industry dote on her.
K-Pop Idols And Nicknames
Okay, admittedly, the way Hong Eunchae became Manchae was a bit of an accident, thanks to Sakura mixing up her name and title together. But that doesn’t mean cute nicknames and titles in K-Pop haven’t been a thing. A lot of idols in the K-Pop industry have little nicknames, either given to them by their groupmates or bestowed upon them by their fanbases.
An example of this is BTS, where J-Hope is more known as Hobi amongst the general fans. I don’t think I’ve ever heard an ARMY member refer to him as anything but Hobi, actually. And then there is King Taeyeon which, listen, as a Girls Generation stan? I love that all the fans refer to her as King Taeyeon because, yes, she is just that iconic of a performer.
In general, nicknames are a fun quirky thing in K-Pop and have been for a pretty long time now. And I love how Hong Eunchae got hers. Long Live Manchae, Princess of the FEARNOTS!
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