Even though the 4th generation of K-Pop is on the rise — including by now-established groups like ATEEZ and ITZY but also newly-debuted rookies like IVE — the 3rd generation is still going strong. It’s the generation that was in full swing when most current K-Pop fans discovered this whole magical world, and it has produced some of the most iconic songs that have pretty much become classic— as well as some of the most beloved groups in the industry. Think BTS, TWICE, BLACKPINK, Red Velvet, EXO, NCT— and GOT7.
When it comes to 3rd generation boy groups, GOT7 is definitely up there with a stellar discography, an almost ten-year-long career and a devoted fandom, the Ahgase, who have stuck with the group through all of their ups and downs— and there’s definitely been many of them.
So, let’s start with a bit of history before delving into the details about each member. GOT7 debuted as a seven-people group in January of 2014 under JYP Entertainment— their debut single, Got It?, and their debut single, Girls Girls Girls, immediately shot to the very top of the music charts, peaking at number one on Billboard’s World Albums Chart and at number two on the South Korean Gaon Album Chart. And they never really got down from there throughout all their many releases— which include five studio albums and sixteen EPs.
Then came 2021, which brings to K-Pop contracts. While most of them are quite long — usually seven years, even though variations of course exist — they’re not eternal and they do expire eventually. When that happens, idols are presented with two choices— renew it and remain signed with their entertainment agency for another seven or however many years, or not renew and leave the company entirely. If everyone in the group chooses not to renew the contract, then that almost always means that said group is going to disband and stop all activities together. But it was not true for GOT7.
In 2021, when their contract with JYP Entertainment ended, the members of GOT7 chose to leave. In an interview with GQ Australia this past May they cited the fact that the company was too restrictive and controlling and that they wanted more freedom and space to be their own artist as some of the reasons that pushed them all to leave JYP Entertainment. Since they all left, one might expect the group’s career to be over— but as you might have guessed, GOT7 have continued working together, now under Warner Music Korea, while also focusing on solo projects.
So, now that you know a bit about their story, let’s meet the seven members of GOT7.
K-Pop group members are always introduced starting with their leader— who in GOT7 is Im Jaebeom, stage name Jay B. Born on January 6, 1994, he’s also the group’s center and a member of its vocal line — as the main vocalist — and dance line — as the lead dancer — even though you should always keep in mind that “official” positions blur together somewhat the longer a group has been active.
Moving on following age order, there’s Los Angeles-born Mark Tuan— stage name Mark, born on September 4, 1993. He’s the group’s lead rapper and visual, as well as the resident martial arts expert who takes center stage whenever a performance includes tricks and kicks— something that GOT7 are actually quite well-known for.
Jackson Wang, born in Hong Kong on March 28, 1994, is the face of the group as well as its main rapper and lead dancer. Together with Mark, he also has some martial arts skills with which he wows audiences left and right. A former professional fencer and a massive superstar in China, Jackson Wang is also by now become somewhat of an archetype in K-Pop fanfiction— if characters are going to a party, you can be almost 100% certain that party is being hosted by none other than Jackson Wang.
Another member of the 1994 line, Park Jinyoung, stage name Jinyoung, is part of the group’s vocal line as well as being its visual, center and face. Then there’s Choi Youngjae, stage name Youngjae, born on September 17, 1996, and the group’s main vocalist.
Finally, there are the youngest of the group— BamBam and Yugyeom.
BamBam, full name Kunpimook Bhuwakul Bambam, was born in Bangkok, Thailand on Mat 2, 1997. He’s the group’s sub rapper, and he’s famously childhood friends with Lisa from BLACKPINK— the two were in a dance crew in Bangkok together as pre-teens before moving to South Korea and starting their trainee journey. As a member of the overall “Thai line” in K-Pop, BamBam is also close friends with all the other Thai idols currently active in the industry— like Ten from NCT, Chorn from CLC and Minnie from (G)I-DLE.
Yugyeom, birth name Kim Yugyeom, born on November 17, 1997, is the group’s maknae as well as its main dancer and sub-vocalist. Together with BamBam he’s in the famous “97 liners” group chat with several other male idols who were born in 1997— such as Jungkook from BTS, The8, Mingyu and DK from Seventeen, Jaehyun from NCT and Eunwoo from Astro.
All members are very active on social media, and you can find them on both Instagram and Twitter:
- Here are Jay B’s Instagram and Twitter pages, as well as his SoundCloud and his YouTube channel
- You can follow Mark Tuan’s updates on Instagram, Twitter, Twitch, TikTok and YouTube
- Jackson’s official social media accounts are on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok
- You can follow Jinyoung on his Instagram profile
- Youngjae has both an Instagram and Twitter page, as well as a SoundCloud profile
- BamBam has profiles on both Instagram and Twitter, as well as a Facebook page and a YouTube channel
- Finally, you can follow the maknae Yugyeom on both Instagram and Twitter
Now go, budding Ahgase, and spread your love for GOT7 into the world!
(image: Billboard)
