In most K-pop groups, the oldest member is given the position of leader as they are typically more mature and have the most experience. But, in some groups, the maknae serves as the leader, proving that age is truly just a number. Here are a few examples.
8 K-pop Groups Where the Maknae is the Leader: WINNER, SNSD-TTS, More
WINNER
In WINNER, Kang Seungyoon is both the leader and maknae. However, he initially didn't hold these two positions. He was a few months older than the team's then-maknae Nam Taehyun, having been born in January 1994 and the latter in May 1994.
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Additionally, Song Mino was the leader but after he injured his ankle, Yang Hyun Suk gave Seungyoon the position starting from "WIN: Who Is Next."
SNSD-TTS
While Taeyeon is the leader of Girls' Generation, Seohyun is the leader of the group's subunit TTS (Taeyong+Tiffany+Seohyun). Taeyeon revealed in a 2014 broadcast of SBS's Power FM "Kim Chang Ryul's Old School Radio'' that she and Tiffany picked their maknae to lead the team, and that Seohyun seems to be satisfied with it.
SNSD Oh!GG
Oh!GG has the same case as SNSD-TTS. Though Taeyeon leads the entire group, Yoona (born in 1990) acts as the leader of the subunit while being years younger than the other Oh!GG members- Taeyeon, Sunny, Hyoyeon, and Yuri are all born in 1989. Not only that, Yoona is also the lead dancer, lead rapper, vocalist, visual, and center of the unit.
READ MORE: These 5 K-Pop Leaders are Known For Always Prioritizing Their Members
Seo Taiji and Boys
Another K-pop boy group where the maknae is the leader is Seo Taiji and Boys, an OG K-pop group that was active from 1992 to 1996. Seo Taiji was the leader and face, as well as the youngest among the trio as he was born in February 1972. The other members Yang Hyun Suk and Lee Juno were born in January 1970 and February 1967, respectively.
2NE1
Although Minzy is the original maknae of 2NE1, CL became the youngest member of the legendary girl group after Minzy left the team in April 2016. As CL was already the leader since debut, this made her the maknae leader for only one month until the group disbanded in May 2016.
Playback
Another disbanded K-pop group whose maknae is the leader is Playback, a then-girl group under Coridel Entertainment (Tyler Kwon's company). Woolim was the youngest member at that time Playback debuted in 2015. Born in 1996, Woolim was a few years younger than her members Yunji (1992), Hayoung (1993), and Yujin (1994).
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Woolim was no longer the maknae-leader when Eunjin (1997) was added to the team in 2017. The girl group has since quietly disbanded without an official announcement.
PinkFantasy
PinkFantasy has the same case as WINNER. Aini was the original leader, while Heesun was the original maknae of the group. After Aini and Heesun both departed from the team, the two positions were given to Arang. However, Arang doesn't completely own the "maknae" title as Heesun returned as a guest member in 2021.
MyB
Finally, in the now-disbanded girl group MyB, Jookyung was the youngest and the leader of the group before a new member was added (like Woolim's case). Jookyung was born in September 1997, making her a year younger than eldest Heejoo (1996) and a few months younger than members Ujung (February 1997), Moonhee (April 1997), and G-Won (July 1997).
Hayoon, born in 1998, soon joined MyB for their comeback with "Ddoddo."
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Written by Maria Scott
