The latest announcement from HYBE and Source Music is the official name of their latest K-pop idol girl group: Le Sserafim (르세라핌). K-pop idol fans, and K-pop fans in general, is divided over the name. Some claim it is not pronouncable while others say it means nothing.
An idol group’s name is very important in the idol industry. It will be their identity, and their image and themes will revolve around their name. In addition, it should be catchy, meaningful, and easily remembered, after all, the objective in the idol industry is to sell an image, with songs and dances only coming second.
Having a name Le Sserafim, is at first, confusing and does not make sense for those not familiar with serafim. What is it? What does it mean? How is it pronounced? Why is it special than any other names they could have chosen?
To understand why Le Sserafim is the most appropriate name for the group, it is important to look at its etymology, the meaning behind it, and what it is about.
HYBE and Source Music first teased about their new girl group with their motto IM Fearless
on March 25, 2022. On March 28, 2022, they revealed that their motto is an anagram of the group’s name: Le Sserafim.
After the announcement of the group’s name, the talent agencies revealed that Le Sserafim will be composed of six members. A Japanese, a Dutch, a Korean-American, and four Koreans. 1 They are scheduled to debut in May 2022.
But what is their name about?
Short answer: The Seraphim!
Here are the reasons why:
The group’s name, Le Sserafim, is a play on the French word les sérafim
which is the seraphim
in English. The group’s motto IM Fearless
is an anagram of both the Hangugeo le sserafim
and the French les sérafim
.
The group’s name is written in Kana as ル セラフィム (Ru Serafimu); Sserafim is セラフィム (serafimu).
Le Sserafim is written in Hangul as 르세라핌. The Sserafim in the group’s name is written as 세라핌 which is romanised as selafim or serafim.
The Hangugeo word 세라핌
(selafim/serafim), the Nihongo word セラフィム
(serafimu), the French word sérafim
, and the Latin word seraphim
, all originated from the Hebrew word שרפים
(serafim), the plural form of שרף
(saraf).
It is in the name.
In Abrahamic faiths a seraphim closely resemble humans but with six wings. They primary guard the throne of God and regularly declare his eternal holiness and goodness. They also purify those who seeks an audience with Him who sits on the throne, that they may not die from His immense holiness and purity.
In other angelology circles, a seraphim is the highest order of angelic beings, followed by the more popular order, the cherubim.
Because:
The group’s theme will revolve around their name Le Sserafim and their motto IM Fearless
. As the seraphim is the highest order of angelic beings, these angelic ladies will prove they are the highest ranking girl group globally. Le Sserafim will fly high and reach heights where no other Asian idol girl group ever reached.
The 1st Generation of K-Pop Music started in 1992 and ended in 2001. Here are the pioneering groups and solo acts who started the modern K-pop that we all know today.
For an explanation on how we defined each generation, see: YourOnly.One’s K-pop Generations
[S.E.S.] YouTube: S.E.S. ‘Dreams Come True’ MV ↩︎
[Nylon Beat] YouTube: Nylon Beat - Rakastuin mä looseriin -live (27.1.1996) ↩︎
[Nylon Beat] Wikipedia: Nylon Beat ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: BoA 보아 ‘No.1’ MV ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: Every Heart-ミンナノキモチ- / BoA ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: BoA 보아 ‘Milky Way’ MV ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: BoA 보아 ‘아틀란티스 소녀 (Atlantis Princess)’ MV ↩︎
[BoA] YouTube: BoA 보아 ‘Only One’ MV (Dance ver.) ↩︎
[BoA] Heyday: Legend of Kpop? Korean Teenagers React to BoA’s golden days ↩︎ ↩︎
[BoA] Japan Times: No constrictions on BoA’s ambitions ↩︎
[PSY] YouTube: PSY - GANGNAM STYLE(강남스타일) M/V ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
[PSY] Guinness World Records: [PSY secures new YouTube world record with “Gentleman”](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/4/psy-secures-new-youtube-world-record-with-gentleman-48291 “PSY secures new YouTube world record with “Gentleman”) ↩︎ ↩︎
[Jang Na Ra] YouTube: 음악캠프 - Jang Nara - Sweet Dream, 장나라 - 스윗 드림, Music Camp 20021026 ↩︎
[Jang Na Ra] YouTube: [MV] 장나라(Jang Nara) - Someday [당신의 하우스헬퍼 OST Part.4 (Your House Helper OST Part.4)] ↩︎
[Jang Na Ra] YouTube: Jang Nara - Calling love, 장나라 - 사랑 부르기, Music Core 20070224 ↩︎
The 2nd Generation of K-Pop Music started in 2002 and ended in 2011 which was led by solo acts like Byul, Gummy, and Se7en; and the revival of K-pop groups by TVXQ!, SS501, and Super Junior.
For an explanation on how we defined each generation, see: YourOnly.One’s K-pop Generations
Debut: 2021-04-09 (as a member of We Girls)
Sample songs:
Did you know?
[Byul] YouTube: 별 byul - 내가 정말 사랑하는 사람이 있죠 Dear My Love Official M/V ↩︎
[Gummy] YouTube: [MV] Gummy(거미) - You Are My Everything l 태양의 후예 OST Part.4 ↩︎
[Gummy] YouTube: [MV] 거미 (GUMMY) - Remember me (기억해줘요 내 모든 날과 그때를) (Hotel Del Luna (호텔 델루나) OST Part.7) ↩︎
[Girls’ Generation] YouTube: Girls’ Generation 소녀시대 ‘Gee’ MV ↩︎
[Girls’ Generation] YouTube: Girls’ Generation 소녀시대 ‘소원을 말해봐 (Genie)’ MV ↩︎
[Girls’ Generation] YouTube: Girls’ Generation 소녀시대 ‘Oh!’ MV ↩︎
[Girls’ Generation] YouTube: Girls’ Generation 소녀시대 ‘Run Devil Run’ MV ↩︎
[WONDER GIRLS] YouTube: 【TVPP】Wonder Girls - Nobody, 원더걸스 - 노바디 @ Comeback Stage, Show! Music core ↩︎
[WONDER GIRLS] YouTube: Wonder Girls ‘NOBODY (Eng. Ver)’ M/V ↩︎
[Davichi] YouTube: 달의 연인 - 보보경심 려 OST - Davichi 다비치 ‘Forgetting You’ 그대를 잊는다는 건 ↩︎
[Davichi] YouTube: [MV] DAVICHI (다비치) - Today I Miss You (While You Were Sleeping OST Part.7) 당신이 잠든 사이에 OST Part.7 ↩︎
[Davichi] YouTube: [MV] Davichi (다비치) - Falling In Love (꿈처럼 내린) | Beauty Inside 뷰티 인사이드 OST ↩︎
[Davichi] YouTube: [더 킹 : 영원의 군주 OST Part 6] 다비치 (DAVICHI) - Please Don’t Cry MV ↩︎
[2PM] YouTube: 2PM ‘HANDS UP’ M/V ↩︎
[IU] YouTube: IU(아이유) - Good Day(좋은 날) (Sketchbook) | KBS WORLD TV 200918 ↩︎
[IU] YouTube: IU You and I live 2011 KBS drama awards ↩︎
[IU] YouTube: [ENGSUB] IU & Jo Jung Suk - Beautiful Song (예쁘다송) You’re The Best Lee Soon Shin FMV ↩︎
[IU] YouTube: [IU] Blueming Live Clip (2019 IU Tour Concert ‘Love, poem’) ↩︎
[IU] YouTube: IU(아이유) - BBIBBI(삐삐) (Sketchbook) | KBS WORLD TV 201918 ↩︎
[IU] YouTube: [최초 공개] 아이유(IU) ‘Celebrity’ 라이브🎤 | 스페셜클립 | Special Clip | 셀러브리티 | LYRICS | 4K ↩︎
[IU] YouTube: [MV] IU(아이유) _ strawberry moon ↩︎
[2NE1] YouTube: 2NE1 - I DON’T CARE M/V ↩︎
[2NE1] YouTube: 2NE1 - LONELY M/V ↩︎
[T-ara] YouTube: T-ARA - Bo Peep Bo Peep, 티아라 - 보핍보핍, Music Core 20091219 ↩︎
[T-ara] YouTube: T-ARA - Roly Poly, 티아라 : 롤리폴리, Music Core 20110716 ↩︎
[T-ara] YouTube: [쇼! 음악중심] T-ARA - Lovey Dovey, 티아라 - 러비 더비, Music Core 20120107 ↩︎
[T-ara] YouTube: [MV]티아라(T-ARA) - TIKI TAKA(티키타카)ㅣ딩고뮤직ㅣDingo Music ↩︎
[Eun Jung] YouTube: EUN JUNG 《DESIRE》 MUSIC VIDEO ↩︎
[Eun Jung] YouTube: Sweet Snow ↩︎
[f(x)] YouTube: f(x) 에프엑스 ‘Electric Shock’ MV ↩︎
[Hyolyn] YouTube: [명불허전 OST Part 2] 효린 (Hyolyn) - ALWAYS MV ↩︎
[Hyolyn] YouTube: [MV] Hyolin(효린) _ I Miss You(보고싶어) (Uncontrollably Fond(함부로 애틋하게) OST Part.5) ↩︎
[Hyolyn] YouTube: [MV] Hyolyn(효린) _ Good bye(안녕) (My Love From the Star(별에서 온 그대) OST Part 4) ↩︎
[Hyolyn] YouTube: [겨울왕국] ‘오늘도 또 들으러 왔어요’ 한 번만 들은 사람은 없다는 효린의 Let It Go | 디즈니OST ↩︎
[miss A] YouTube: miss A ‘Love Alone’ M/V ↩︎
[miss A] YouTube: miss A ‘Only You(다른 남자 말고 너)’ M/V) ↩︎
[Suzy] YouTube: Suzy(수지) ‘Yes No Maybe’ M/V ↩︎
[Suzy] YouTube: [SUZY - I’m In Love With Someone Else] Comeback Stage | M COUNTDOWN 180201 EP.556 ↩︎
[Suzy] YouTube: [MV] Sooji(수지)(miss A) _ Don’t forget me(나를 잊지말아요)(Kangchi, the Beginning(구가의서) OST Part 5) ↩︎
[Suzy] YouTube: [MV] Suzy(수지) _ Ring My Bell(Uncontrollably Fond(함부로 애틋하게) OST Part. 1) ↩︎
[Suzy] YouTube: [MV] Suzy (수지) - I Love You Boy (While You Were Sleeping OST Part.4) 당신이 잠든 사이에 OST Part.4 ↩︎
[Suzy] YouTube: [MV] Suzy (수지) - Words I Want To Hear (듣고 싶은 말) While You Were Sleeping OST Part.13 ↩︎
[Suzy] YouTube: [MV] 수지 - My Dear Love [스타트업 OST Part.14 (START-UP OST Part.14)] ↩︎
[Girl’s Day] YouTube: [Music Bank K-Chart] Girl’s Day - Don’t Forget Me (2012.11.02) ↩︎
[Girl’s Day] YouTube: Girl’s Day(걸스데이) ‘Expectation(기대해)’ Official MV (Dance.ver) ↩︎
[Girl’s Day] YouTube: [MV] GIRL’S DAY(걸스데이) _ Something (Dance ver.) ↩︎
[Ben] YouTube: Ben (벤) - Starlight Heart (잠들지 않는 별) The Red Sleeve (옷소매 붉은 끝동) OST Part 2 Lyrics/가사 [Han|Rom|Eng] ↩︎
[Ben] YouTube: [MV] 벤 - Whenever Wherever Whatever [앨리스 OST Part.2 (Alice OST Part.2)] ↩︎
[Ben] YouTube: Ben (벤) - 꿈처럼 (Like a Dream) FMV ↩︎
[Ben] YouTube: [FMV] Ben – STAY (Oh My Ghost OST) ↩︎
[Kimi] YouTube: Mammy Mammy ↩︎
[Apink] YouTube: [MV] Apink(에이핑크) _ NoNoNo ↩︎
[Apink] YouTube: [MV] Apink(에이핑크) _ Mr. Chu(미스터 츄) ↩︎
The 3rd Generation of K-Pop Music started in 2012 and ended in 2021. In this generation’s first year it was clear that K-pop is here to stay. Solo act Ailee together with groups Crayon Pop, NU’EST, EXO, and AOA showed what the third generation should be.
For an explanation on how we defined each generation, see: YourOnly.One’s K-pop Generations
[Crayon Pop] YouTube: Crayon Pop-Dancing Queen 2.0 MV(크레용팝 댄싱퀸2.0 뮤직비디오) ↩︎
[Crayon Pop] YouTube: Crayon Pop - Bar Bar Bar, 크레용팝 - 빠빠빠, Show Champion 20130724 ↩︎
[Crayon Pop] YouTube: [Official M/V] 히어로(HERO)-김장훈&크레용팝(Kim Jang Hoon&Crayon Pop) ↩︎
[Crayon Pop] YouTube: [Crayon Pop] 크레용팝 ‘어이’ Uh-ee M/V ↩︎
[Crayon Pop] YouTube: Dancing All Night (댄싱 올 나잇) ↩︎
[Crayon Pop] YouTube: [Crayon Pop]《Dancing All Night / (댄싱 올 나잇)》 ミュージックビデオ- Official MV ↩︎
[Ailee] YouTube: [도깨비 OST Part 9] 에일리 (Ailee) - 첫눈처럼 너에게 가겠다 (I will go to you like the first snow) (Official Audio) ↩︎
[Ailee] YouTube: [MV] 에일리 (AILEE) - Blue Bird [스타트업 OST Part.9 (START-UP OST Part.9)] ↩︎
KProfiles: TEMPEST Profile and Facts ↩︎ ↩︎
[SKarf] YouTube: SKARF - Luv Virus (2013.06.22) [Music Bank w/ Eng Lyrics] ↩︎
[SKarf] YouTube: SKARF @ Super KPop - Love Virus, Bye Bye Bye, Hana’s Aegyo ↩︎
[SKarf] YouTube: My Turn (내 차례) ↩︎
[SKarf] YouTube: SKARF (스카프) SHOW EP.2 - Sunny Day Vocal Performance (써니 데이 보컬 퍼포먼스) ↩︎
[HIGHTEEN] YouTube: Jessica Lee ↩︎
[Kim Se Jeong] YouTube: [MV] KIM SEJEONG(김세정) _ Baby I Love U ↩︎
[Kim Se Jeong] YouTube: [MV] KIMSEJEONG(김세정) _ Warning (Feat. lIlBOI) ↩︎
[Kim Se Jeong] YouTube: 🎬Like a scene from a movie, singing in front of the skyline🏙✨ SEJEONG - SKYLINE LIVE 4K | dingomusic ↩︎
[Kim Se Jeong] YouTube: 세정(SEJEONG) - ‘Whale’ LIVE CLIP ↩︎
[Kim Se Jeong] YouTube: [MV] SEJEONG(세정) _ Plant(화분) ↩︎
[Kim Se Jeong] YouTube: [ENG SUB] 세정 (SEJEONG) ‘터널 (Tunnel)’ Lyric Videoㅣ리릭비디오 | 4Kㅣ딩고뮤직ㅣDingo Music ↩︎
[BLΛƆKPIИK] YouTube: BLACKPINK(블랙핑크) - How You Like That @인기가요 inkigayo 20200719 ↩︎
[Cherry Bullet] YouTube: [Cherry Bullet - Really Really] Comeback Stage | M COUNTDOWN 190523 EP.620 ↩︎
[Cherry Bullet] YouTube: [Cherry Bullet - Aloha Oe] Comeback Stage | M COUNTDOWN 200806 EP.677 ↩︎
[STAYC] YouTube: STAYC(스테이씨) ‘ASAP’ MV ↩︎
[STAYC] YouTube: STAYC(스테이씨) ‘색안경 (STEREOTYPE)’ MV ↩︎
[æspa] YouTube: (ENG sub) [쇼! 음악중심] 에스파 - 드림스 컴 트루 (aespa - Dreams Come True), MBC 220108 방송 ↩︎
[Nylon Beat] YouTube: Nylon Beat - Rakastuin mä looseriin -live (27.1.1996) ↩︎
[Nylon Beat] Wikipedia: Nylon Beat ↩︎
The 4th Generation of K-Pop Music started in 2022 and will end on 2031. Already an exciting generation as it was opened by supergroup Girls On Top through its subgroup GOT the beat which was quickly followed by newcomer girl group Kep1er, a generation which will definitely become a Girls’ Generation and everyday a Girl’s Day.
In February, VIVIZ and NMIXX strenghtened the girl power theme with their powerful debut songs.
For an explanation on how we defined each generation, see: YourOnly.One’s K-pop Generations
[TEMPEST] YouTube: Covered by TPST|SEVENTEEN - HIT ↩︎
KProfiles: TEMPEST Profile and Facts ↩︎
NAVER News: 위에화, ‘템페스트’ 상표권 출원…형섭X의웅 속한 보이그룹 론칭? [엑’s 이슈] ↩︎
[Le Sserafim] LESSERAFIM (레세라핌) OFFICIAL FANCLUB & OFFICIAL COLOUR’S (공식 팬클럽 & 공식 팬콜럴) 🙌👏👏 ↩︎ ↩︎
There are many proposals on how to divide K-pop into different generations, unfortunately most are subjective. While there is nothing wrong with a subjective approach, we need to have something we can all, or most, can agree on—at least as a common basis or starting point. Allow me to present YourOnly.One’s objective approach to K-pop Generations, the only one you will ever need.
For an objective approach in K-pop Generations, we should avoid using any criteria that we can not fix or draw a line. Some examples are: (a) the use of social media platforms; (b) fashion style; (c) dance choreography; and (d) music genre. Instead of using these, we can use the simplest of all: calendar year.
To define this, we have to ask these questions.
Fortunately this is well-documented: it started in 1992 with the first ever boy group called Seo Taiji & Boys (서태지와 아이들). Their experimentation with different styles and genres of music and integration of foreign musical elements helped reshape and modernize South Korea’s contemporary music scene. 1
The next step is identifying when the 1st Generation of modern K-pop music ended. This is tricky because we can easily fall into a subjective approach. To help avoid this, let’s define what a “generation” is.
One definition of a “generation” is “people within a delineated population who experience the same significant events within a given period of time”, according to Jane Pilcher’s paper entitled Mannheim’s Sociology of Generations: An undervalued legacy published in The British Journal of Sociology in September 1994. This is a common method in defining a generation, examples are: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z, and Millennials; and not everyone agrees as to when each generation starts and ends.
Let’s find another method we can use.
It is also generally accepted that a generation is between 20–30 years, and it is shorter in certain cases like in console gaming generations and MMORPG generations. But there is one thing that we can safely use and that is calendar years. As was mentioned above, we describe those who grew up in, say, the 1960s, as belonging to ’the sixties generation’
. This is a good basis because it is fixed to ten (10) calendar years.
If so, then the 1st Generation of K-pop music ended in 2001.
The .5 generations simply exist because of subjective criteria. A K-pop act debuted in a period wherein they clearly fall into a particular subjective criteria for an earlier generation and into another subjective criteria for the next generation. Since we are not using these criteria, we do not have .5 generations.
However, we can probably consider the borderline debuts as .5 generations. For example, K-pop acts which debuted in the years 2021 and 2022 can be considered as 3.5 generation, squeezed between the 3rd Generation and the 4th Generation. These acts can fall in either generations but any acts which debuted prior to 2021 and after 2022 clearly belongs to the 3rd and 4th respectively.
If you prefer this approach, there is no harm in it. Think of it as “when did the 3rd millennium start, was it in the year 2000 or was it in 2001?” But for this purpose of this list, we are not listing separately the “border year” debuts.
With me so far? Based on the above, here are the K-pop music acts per generation:
Around 2001 to 2002, the K-pop music industry slowed down and many groups from the 1st Generation went on hiatus and later disbanded. It was not until 2003 that it started to pick-up again thanks to the continued efforts of solo acts from 1st Generation BoA and Jang Na Ra; and 2nd Generation Gummy and Se7en. By 2004 and 2005 we have seen the resurgence of K-pop groups which was re-ignited by TVXQ!, SS501, and Super Junior.
In 2009 and 2010, we have seen the best girl groups in the likes of 2NE1, T-ara, f(x), SISTAR, miss A, and Girl’s Day, to mention a few. The following year, 2011, marked the end of the 2nd Generation of K-pop music with Block B and Apink. The 3rd Generation of K-pop started in 2012 with a bang. This was the year when EXO debuted and in 2013 BTS followed.
These are the border years where there are a lot of disagreements: when did the 3rd Generation end and the 4th Generation start?
Some fans claim that groups like NCT, who debuted in 2016, are 4th Generation but groups which debuted in the same year like I.O.I, gu9udan, and BLΛƆKPIИK are still 3rd Generation acts. Moving to 2018, IZ*ONE and (G)I-DLE are 3rd Generation but Stray Kids and LOOΠΔ are 4th Generation. It continues on in 2019 and 2020, some K-pop acts, be it a group or solo, are 3rd Generation while some of those who debuted in the same year are 4th Generation. In yet another list, they claim that the 4th Generation of K-pop started in 2018 but they tagged LOOΠΔ as a 2016 girl group in the 4th generation.
It does not end there, boy groups and girl groups have different start and end years for each generation because of all the subjective criteria being used, while the solo acts are largely ignored or just lumped to whichever generation they fit.
None of it makes any sense. This is why a calendar year-based list is the best option to put order into chaos that is K-pop Generations.
This means that the 3rd Generation of K-pop music [acts] ended on December 31, 2021 and the 4th Generation started on January 1, 2022. The last to debut as a 3rd Generation K-pop was IVE and the first 4th Generation debut are GOT the beat (a subgroup of supergroup Girls On Top) and newcomer group Kep1er (hailing from the talent competition Girls Planet 999).
Is setting the K-pop Generations on 10 calendar years the right thing to do? It probably is. Consider the following …
Every generation was practically led by a boy group:
1st Generation:
2nd Generation:
3rd Generation:
But by January 1, 2022, when the 4th Generation of K-pop music [acts] started, a major change happened. It was opened by a supergroup of women who GOT the beat:
Which was quickly followed with the debut of Kep1er two days later on January 3, 2022.
If each generation of K-pop music is set into 10 calendar years, a beautiful story emerges. K-pop, whether we like it or not, is a story of group acts. While girl groups were popular the scene was still dominated by boy groups for three generations. With GOT the beat opening the 4th Generation of K-pop music, then quickly followed by newcomer Kep1er, girl groups are now on the forefront and for the first time they will define a generation.
The 4th Generation is set to become the true Girls’ Generation and Everyday is Girl’s Day. 2NE1 out there, it is time to set the Fire and Clap Your Hands. For hereon we will see TWICE the Happiness as we see more Dream Girls in Wonderland blooming along the Flower Way.
We know it is your Sweet Dream that you are our Only One, and ladies, in Every Heart you are still our No.1.
How You Like That?