It’s an epic love story, spanning decades of musical magic: K-pop and its devotion to acronyms. From SMAP to BTS, EXID, and beyond, k-pop bands revel in the double-meaning of an acronymic name. Sometimes the initials spell out something simple and catchy, a name that could stand on its own but strives for something ~deeper.~ Other times, it’s a seemingly meaningless jumble of letters that only makes sense(ish) when translated as shorthand code.
Either way, the results are often hilarious. The meaning of those K-pop band name acronyms will keep you up at night, wondering WHY? Just WHY?
MBLAQ: Music Boys Live in Absolute Quality
TEEN TOP: Teenager Emoboys Emoticon Next generation Talent Object Praise
EXID: EXceed In Dreaming
U-KISS: Ubiquitous Korean International idol Super Star
G.O.D: Groove Overdose
TRAX: Typhoon of the Rose Attack on X-Mas
GLAM: GirLs be AMbitious
TOUCH: The Original Undeniable Charismatic Homme
BEAST: Boys of the EAst Standing Tall
CNBLUE: Code Name Burning Lovely Untouchable Emotional
VIXX: Voice, Visual, Value in Excelsis
