Have you ever come across the term “97 line” while diving into K-Pop idol content?
In K-Pop, the “97 line” refers to a group of idols born in 1997, and it’s one of the most well-known line groups among fans.
Famous idols like BTS’s Jungkook, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu, and ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo are all part of this iconic birth year.
In this post, we’ll break down what the 97 line means, who’s in it, and share some fun stories about this legendary squad.
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🧾 What Is the “97 Line”?
In K-Pop, the term “line” refers to a group of idols born in the same year.
For example, those born in 1998 form the 98 line, and those born in 2000 make up the 00 line.
While a one-year age gap may feel minor in Western cultures, in Korea, age is socially significant—even a one-year difference can mean using honorifics and maintaining formal behavior.
This is why being the same age feels special in Korean society: it allows idols to interact more freely and casually, building deeper bonds.
But why is the 97 line especially famous, even though many idols share birth years?
It’s because this line includes several of the most successful and handsome idols in K-Pop—like BTS’s Jungkook, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu, and ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo.
They’re not just famous individually—they’ve also been seen hanging out together and showing genuine friendship, which makes them beloved by both fans and media.
Among all the “line” groups in K-Pop, the 97 line stands out as the most iconic.
🌟 Members of the 97 Line
Here are some of the idols most commonly associated with the 97 line:
🐰 Jungkook (BTS)
Known as BTS’s “Golden Maknae,” Jungkook is one of the central figures of the 97 line.
Though he doesn’t seem to have a wide social circle, he’s attended SEVENTEEN’s concerts and even gone out to Korean BBQ with other 97-liners.
Photos from those hangouts show a relaxed, natural side of Jungkook that fans rarely get to see.
🐶 Mingyu, DK, THE8 (SEVENTEEN)
SEVENTEEN has three members in the 97 line: Mingyu, DK, and THE8.
Among them, Mingyu is particularly close with the group and is often seen at gatherings.
Jungkook even once mentioned Mingyu as one of the people he’s closest to.
🍑 Jaehyun (NCT)
Jaehyun from NCT is also a 97-liner.
At the 28th Seoul Music Awards in 2019, fans witnessed a brief but sweet handshake between Jungkook and Jaehyun as NCT 127 went onstage to receive an award.
🐍 BamBam & Yugyeom (GOT7)
Though GOT7 is no longer actively promoting as a group, both BamBam and Yugyeom are proud members of the 97 line.
Back when GOT7 was under JYP, they were one of the most popular groups, adding even more star power to this already stacked birth year.
🌟 Cha Eun-woo (ASTRO)
Cha Eun-woo of ASTRO is also part of the 97 line.
Let’s be honest—Jungkook, Mingyu, Jaehyun, and Cha Eun-woo all in one squad? That’s an insane level of visual perfection.
📸 Famous Moments from the 97 Line
📅 Their Origin: 2016 KBS Song Festival
The 97-line group’s bond began with a special performance during the 2016 KBS Song Festival.
Jungkook, DK, Mingyu, THE8, Yugyeom, and BamBam shared the stage with female 97-liners in a collaborative performance.
BamBam later posted a group photo from the day on Instagram, fueling fan excitement.
🗨️ How Did They All Become Friends?
It started with Jungkook and Yugyeom becoming close.
Later, Jungkook got closer to SEVENTEEN members through MAMA events and invited Mingyu, THE8, and DK.
Yugyeom brought his groupmate BamBam, and Jaehyun—who went to the same school as DK—joined in too.
According to BamBam and Yugyeom, Mingyu is the most talkative in the group chat, while Jaehyun is the quietest.
🐺 When Bang Chan (Stray Kids) Joined—Just Once
Interestingly, Bang Chan of Stray Kids is also a 1997-liner.
He was invited to join a 97-line gathering once, and fans were overjoyed: “Bang Chan finally made it into the 97 line!”
However, he’s not considered a regular member.
As Stray Kids rose in popularity, Bang Chan also took on leadership and production duties—likely making him too busy for regular hangouts.
😷 The 97 Line Today
You don’t hear much about 97-line gatherings lately.
Why? A major reason is a controversy during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Jungkook (BTS), Jaehyun (NCT), Mingyu (SEVENTEEN), and Cha Eun-woo (ASTRO) were spotted hanging out in Itaewon.
The timing led to heavy media criticism, especially with rumors about partying.
Since then, although they may still be friends, they haven’t been seen together publicly much.
Also, some have entered military service or paused group activities, making get-togethers more difficult.
💗 Why Fans Love the 97 Line
Why is the 97 line so beloved by fans?
- It includes many fan-favorite members from major groups
- Their cross-group friendships feel genuine and touching
- Let’s be honest: they’re all ridiculously good-looking
Whether it’s a group hangout or a music show moment, whenever 97-line members are seen together, fans go wild.
🔗 Other “Lines” in K-Pop
Besides the 97 line, there are other common “line” terms in K-Pop, like the “maknae line” (youngest members) or “hyung line” (older brothers).
Exploring different lines can be a fun way to understand group dynamics and K-pop culture even more.
➡️ Check out our post on the Maknae Line here.（Coming soon…）
📝 Final Thoughts
The 97 line is more than just a group of idols born in the same year—it’s a symbol of friendship, chemistry, and shared growth in K-Pop.
Let’s keep watching and cheering for any future reunions or stories from this legendary squad.
Want to know more about how intense fan behavior can cross the line?
Read our deep dive on sasaeng fans and how K-POP idols deal with extreme invasions of privacy.
