The Different Positions In A Kpop Group - The Leader

When I first got into Kpop there were many things that struck out as odd to me, and one of them was that each member in a group had a certain position, a responsibility assigned to them. This was not something I had much experience with, because when I don't listen to Kpop, I listen to rock music. I really like bands, and bandmembers have their positions because they play different instruments, but I didn't think it worked quite the same way with non-instrumental groups. However, when you think about it you realize that it's not so strange for them to also have different positions after all.

For a non-Kpop fan, it seems as if they all do the same things, you know? They all dance, sing (or rap), wear similar clothes and look similar in makeup and hair. But, you'll soon discover that there's more than what meets the eye. 

I'm going to discuss the meaningful position of being a leader, what's it's like and what is expected from one. How is one a leader? Well, just like in a sports-team , there is one person that possesses a higher responsibility within the group, the team captain. The same thing goes with Kpop groups, as the leader is the one to lead the group forward, be the one that has the last word and also is the public voice of the group. The position is a bit complex and can vary between groups, but that's what the general impression of a leader is like. For the most part, the responsibility falls on the oldest member of the group, but it's not always like that. 

Some notable leaders (in my opinion) are:

B.A.P's Bang Yongguk

This guy is really funny because he looks like such a rough, bad guy and his deep voice makes him a bit intimidating as well, but he's such a sweetheart. He is such a great role model for the rest of the group, and you can tell how much the other members look up to him. Furthermore, because he has a big hand in their music too, he truly plays a huge part in the group's image and musical identity. 

Block B's Zico

This guy shares a similar spot as the one mentioned above, with having a huge influence over his group's music, but he is also what makes Block B what they are. Zico is the core of the group, the voice, the face and the image. He has enormous talent, as well as stage presence and witty character, so it's obvious the group relies on him a great deal. 

2ne1's CL

Just like the other two, CL is by far the one in 2ne1 that most embodies their image. She is cool, fierce and confident, and I don't think the group would have been this successful without her. Sure, Dara is the face, but she has nothing on CL as far as being a spokesperson and representative of their group. CL leads the way, and the others follow gratefully. 

TVXQ's Yunho

I don't think anyone is more like a leader than this person. I'd say, if there was one person to be the leader of the entire Kpop world with every group included, it would be Yunho. And he would probably be happy to do it as well. He takes his job seriously, even now when there's only two of them, and that says a lot. He is responsible, takes initiative, is a good speaker, is calm and collected and possesses the biggest heart of them all. This might be my inner bias speaking, but that doesn't make any of it less true. 

For honorable mentions, I would like to give a shout out to: 

Vixx' N, Infinite's Sunggyu, BTS' Rap Monster, Big Bang's GD, Kara's Gyuri, Nine Muses' Sera, CNBlue's Yongwha, Rainbow's Jaekyung and AOA's Jimin. 

Who are some of your favorite leaders?