The youngest members of K-pop groups are known as maknae in Korean. They are usually the most loved and pampered, not just by the other members but also by their fans. Not everybody is like Dino from Seventeen, though (only K-pop fans can relate).
We have seen many K-pop idols debut at such young ages, and it’s not even news now. But sometimes they shocked the fans with their age, especially the seniors or sunbaes in the K-pop world. These idols start their careers by training in the company from seven to eight years of age, or sometimes later.
Despite being young and debuting early, these young idols never disappoint and prove their worth. They never give up on their dreams, no matter what challenges they have to face. They are full of surprises when it comes to showcasing their talents.
The youngest K-pop idols are usually the center of attention. Not only are these maknaes the youngest and stand out visually from their groups, but they also possess extraordinary talents.
But in the year 2023, there will be several young idols in K-pop who have either already gained recognition or are left to impress the world with their skills.
Table of Contents
15 Best Youngest K-pop Idols in 2023
1. Chiquita from BABYMONSTER
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Riracha Phondechaphiphat |
| Birthday | February 17 |
| Age | 14 |
| Group Name | BABYMONSTER |
| Position | Vocalist, Dancer, Maknae |
YG Entertainment has created a buzz among K-pop fans by announcing the debut of an upcoming girl group. They got more excited after watching the survival show Last Evaluation, which aired in 2023.
The process used to select the group’s members served as the basis for the show’s concept. One of the members who caught our attention was the maknae of the group, Chiquita. She currently holds the title of the youngest K-pop idol as of 2023.
The 14-year-old member belongs to Thailand and is well-versed in dancing and singing. Chiquita received the training in the shortest time among the other members. She is fluent in Thai and English and is taking Korean classes.
2. Haeun from Lapillus
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Lim Haeun |
| Birthday | November 2 |
| Age | 14 |
| Group Name | Lapillus |
| Position | Singer, Rapper, Dancer, Maknae |
Previously, Haeun held the title of the youngest K-pop idol in 2022. She debuted at 13 on the 20th of July, 2022. Haeun is multitalented. She can rap, dance, sing, and play basketball.
She is the youngest member of Lapillus, and Lapis, the fandom name of the group, adores her. The group released their first Japanese single, Who’s Next, on the 2nd of August, 2023.
3. Hyein from NewJeans
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Lee Hyein |
| Birthday | April 21 |
| Age | 15 |
| Group Name | NewJeans |
| Position | Lead Rapper, Vocalist, Maknae |
New Jeans need no introduction. The group has made a reputation for itself and carved its name as one of Asia’s most thriving and famous acts. They have given back-to-back massive hits that have topped global charts.
The maknae of the group has the group’s maknae has captured the affection of their fans, known as bunnies, with her beautiful and soothing voice. Even IU got immersed in her voice when she was singing. And at such a young age, she was anointed as the brand ambassador of Louis Vuitton.
4. Seonyou from CLASS:y)
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Kim Seonyu |
| Birthday | March 20 |
| Age | 15 |
| Group Name | CLASS:y |
| Position | Main Dancer, Rapper, Vocalist, Maknae |
The 15-year-old member is the youngest in the CLASS:y family. Seonyu debuted on the MBC survival reality show My Teenage Girl. She was tagged as one of the 1st-grade aces in the show.
Seonyu once participated in CAPTEEN, the survival show, but got eliminated. Nicknamed baby duck, she debuted on the 5th of May, 2022. She is also good at drawing.
5. Boeun from CLASS:y
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Park Boeun |
| Birthday | February 11 |
| Age | 15 |
| Group Name | CLASS:y |
| Position | Lead Vocalist |
Like Seonyu, Boeun is also a member and the second youngest in CLASS:y. She was ranked sixth in the show My Teenage Girl. The group consists of seven members. Seonyu is known for being an aegyo queen.
She was given the name Little Jennie, as she looks a lot like her. Boeun has the most attractive voice in the group. Earlier this year, CLASS:y participated in 2023’s The Next Battle of the K-Pop Girl Groups. It was their third survival reality show.
6. Yeonji from tripleS
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Kwak Yeonji |
| Birthday | January 8 |
| Age | 15 years |
| Group Name | tripleS |
| Position | Maknae |
TripleS has a total of 24 members, with different sub-units created by MODHAUS. It is the first fan-participating K-pop group where fans choose and interact with the group’s content. The members will switch or alternate as the fans pick for the sub-units, groups, and individual activities.
The company has released a few groups and will continue to do so. At the age of 15 years, Yeonji is the youngest of them all. She will embark on her journey as an idol after debuting in the fifth subunit of the group EVOLution on the 4th of October, 2023.
She was the last member to be introduced to the group on the 28th of April, 2023. Her position in the group has yet to be revealed.
7. Jimin from CLASS:y
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Won Ji Min |
| Birthday | November 25 |
| Age | 15 years |
| Group Name | CLASS:y |
| Position | Lead Vocalist, Center |
Jimin from Class:y is the third-youngest member of the group. Before entering My Teenage Girl, she never took any singing classes. She was the first member to debut in the group because she ranked first in the show’s finals.
Jimin has always admired K-pop soloist IU. Fans love her bright and upbeat personality. She has participated in three survival reality shows with other group members. Jimin is known for her confidence.
8. Seungheon from 8TURN
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Lee Seungheon |
| Birthday | May 15 |
| Age | 16 years |
| Group Name | 8TURN |
| Position | Rapper, Maknae |
8TURN is unquestionably one of the most underrated K-pop boy groups. It is an eight-member group under MNH Entertainment that debuted on the 30th of January, 2023. The rookie group has a long way to go.
The youngest of the eight members is Seungheon. The 15-year-old member is the rapper in the group. Like a maknae, Seungheon is also the shortest in the group. He loves listening to music and writing lyrics.
Seungheon has a talent for imitating One Piece‘s Luffy. He specializes in robotic dance. He likes his members.
9. Soomin from tripleS
| Full Name | Kim Soomin |
| Birthday | October 3 |
| Age | 15 years |
| Group Name | tripleS |
| Position | Vocalist |
Soomin from TripleS is the second-youngest in the group. Soomin has experience attending music and dance classes. She was added as the eighth member of the group. She has a shorter training period of six months.
Soomin is under +(KR)ystal Eyes, Acid Eyes, and EVOLution, the sub-units of tripleS. On the 23rd of September, 2022, she got introduced to +(KR)ystal Eyes. Acid Eyes debuted on the 6th of July, 2023. On the 27th of April, 2023, Soomin was revealed as the seventh member of the group EVOLution, which will debut in October 2023.
10. Jiyoung from PRITTI-G
| Full Name | Sin Ji Yeong |
| Birthday | April 7 |
| Age | 16 years |
| Group Name | PRITTI-G |
| Position | Vocalist, Maknae |
The youngest member of the K-pop girl group PRITTI-G is Jiyoung. In July 2020, the 16-year-old member entered the group. She is an active member, as half of them left the group.
PRITTI-G debuted on the 31st of August, 2021, under Enterrobang. But the group hasn’t had a comeback since 2022.
11. Yujin from ZEROBASEONE (ZB1)
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Han Yu Jin |
| Birthday | March 20 |
| Age | 16 years |
| Group Name | ZEROBASEONE |
| Position | Vocalist, Maknae |
Mnet’s 2023 survival reality show, Boys Planet, is undoubtedly one of the most popular, exciting, and entertaining shows. The concept was something to look forward to.
The survivors debuted as boy group members ZEROBASEONE, or ZB1, under WakeOne. The fans awaited their debut, which they did on the 10th of July, 2023. The youngest member of ZB1 is Yujin.
He ranked in the 9th spot in the Boys Planet finals and became the 9th member. Yujin has been with Yuehua Entertainment as a trainee for more than two years. In the group, he is particularly close to Gyuvin.
12. Eunchae from LE SSERAFIM
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Park Boeun |
| Birthday | November 10 |
| Age | 16 |
| Group Name | LE SSEARFIM |
| Position | Vocalist, Dancer, Maknae |
Eunchae debuted under Source Music in the girl group Le Sserafim on the 2nd of May, 2022. She is that maknae who nobody hates. Eunchae is loved and cherished by everyone, including those who do not identify as Fearnot, their official fandom name.
She is everyone’s favorite because she has no right to be this adorable. The most common phrase used by K-pop fans for her is that she is the maknaest of all maknae to every maknae.
Eunchae was introduced as the third member of the group. She is good at learning choreographies quickly. She is close to every group member, and they are always ready to show tenderness to her. Eunchae has been the MC of Music Bank since February 2023, along with actor Chaemin.
13. Leeseo from IVE
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Lee Hyun Seo |
| Birthday | February 21 |
| Age | 16 years |
| Group Name | IVE |
| Position | Vocalist, Dancer, Visual, Maknae |
Currently, IVE is one of the most acknowledged and popular K-pop groups. Their songs are always trending and bagging awards here and there.
The group’s youngest member is Leeseo. She was the last member to be revealed in the group. Leeseo debuted on the 1st of December, 2021, under Starship Entertainment. Even if you are not a fan, you cannot help but be impressed by her voice and the way she dances.
14. Woonhak from BOYNEXTDOOR
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Kim Woon Hak |
| Birthday | November 29 |
| Age | 16 years |
| Group Name | BOYNEXTDOOR |
| Position | Vocalist, Maknae |
Hybe has a knack for always displaying gifted and incredible talents. TXT, Enhypen, New Jeans, and Le Sserafim are a few of them. You can say that Hybe is ruling the industry. Not long ago, they debuted a boy group named Boy Next Door.
The youngest member of the group is Woonhak. The 16-year-old member is a vocalist but wants to try everything out. He is known for his selfless and caring nature toward everyone. The members are attentive to him since he is still young and has much to learn.
The group debuted recently on the 30th of May but has gained the popularity and recognition they deserve.
15. Seowon from Lapillus
View this post on Instagram
| Full Name | Jang Seowon |
| Birthday | December 5 |
| Age | 16 years |
| Group Name | Lapillus |
| Position | Main Rapper |
Seowon is the second-youngest member of Lapillus. She is 16 years old and was born in Gwangsan-gu, South Korea. The group’s main rapper debuted under MLD Entertainment on the 20th of June, 2022.
Seowon was the third member to get added to Lapillus, joining Yue on the 24th of May, 2022. Despite being the maknae of the group, she is the tallest of them all.
Conclusion
It’s a challenging course to choose to become a K-pop idol. They had to live in different places from their home and parents with unknown faces and practice for more than 15–20 hours a day, but these young K-pop idols worked hard and marked their names among the fans.
They never miss a chance to show why they have chosen to debut. And we all know it’s a tedious task to survive in this industry. You always have to perform better than you did yesterday. They deserve a shower of appreciation, love, and support for working their fingers to the bone.
Do small things with great love.
Follow us on Twitter for more post updates.
Also Read
Just a person who invests her time mostly updating herself with the news surrounding the Korean, Thai, and Japanese entertainment industries or watching Asian dramas. Her interest in and knowledge of them encourages her to write about them. Writing is her peace in this chaotic world.
