Have you ever heard the word “chiccam” (직캠) in the K-POP fandom?
If you’re new to K-POP, you might be thinking:
“What on earth is a chiccam?!”
Don’t worry—today I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about chiccams!
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The Meaning and Origin of Chiccam (직캠）
Origin of the word “직캠”
In Korean, 직캠 (chiccam) comes from “직접 캠코더로 찍은 동영상” which means “a video recorded directly with a camcorder.” The phrase was shortened to 직캠 (chiccam).
In English, many fans may be more familiar with the word fancam, which refers to the same concept.
Chiccam = Individual focus video
Originally, chiccams were filmed by fans. Broadcast footage always had to show the whole group, but fans wanted to focus only on their bias. So they started recording their favorite member at concerts and uploading those videos to YouTube.
Unlike group shots, chiccams capture every moment of your bias—even when they’re not in the center. Fans loved this perspective, so much that official TV channels later started uploading their own chiccams on YouTube.
Today, both official chiccams and fan-made chiccams exist.
Chiccam vs. Fancam
Same meaning, different language
Basically, “chiccam” (Korean) and “fancam” (English) mean the same thing: a video that focuses on one member.
Official chiccams vs. fan-shot chiccams
There are two types of chiccams:
- Official chiccams – uploaded by TV stations or music shows on their official YouTube channels.
- Fan-shot chiccams – usually filmed at concerts (since filming during music shows is prohibited).
Official chiccams are high-quality, with clear video and audio.
Fan-shot chiccams may be shaky, lower in quality, and sometimes include fans’ screams—but they capture the raw excitement of live stages.
Why Chiccams Are So Popular
You can focus only on your bias
The biggest reason chiccams are popular is simple: you can watch only your bias. Many fans first watch the full performance, then enjoy the chiccam to focus on their favorite member.
They capture subtle expressions and dance moves
Chiccams let you see facial expressions and small gestures that group shots often miss. You can catch the cute, cool, or charismatic side of your bias more clearly.
Perfect for going viral on social media
If a chiccam is especially charming or impressive, it spreads quickly on social media. That exposure can even bring new fans into the fandom. For example, aespa’s Winter once went viral because of her adorable chiccam that reminded fans of a small animal.
Famous Chiccams with Millions of Views
Some chiccams have reached incredible numbers of views, proving just how impactful they can be:
BTS V – Boy With Luv (140M views)
BTS Jimin – FAKE LOVE (100M views)
BTS Jungkook – Boy With Luv (62M views)
EXID Hani – UP&DOWN (38M views)
missA Suzy – Love Song (33M views)
MOMOLAND Nancy – BBoom BBoom (24M views)
BLACKPINK Lisa – Kill This Love (22M views)
Discover More of Your Bias Through Chiccams
Chiccams aren’t just about knowing the term—they’re a whole new way to enjoy K-POP performances. Watching chiccams of your bias is great, but exploring other members’ chiccams can also reveal hidden charms you hadn’t noticed before.
That’s the beauty of chiccams: they give you a deeper look into the individuality of every idol.
And to wrap things up… let me share my personal favorite chiccam of my own bias! 😉
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