In a video uploaded to the Baek Ji Young YouTube channel on May 17 titled “Baek Ji-young asks 17-year-younger idol members about investments (ft. P1Harmony, stock talk)”, she sat down for a casual chat with Theo and Intak of P1Harmony.
Reacting to P1Harmony’s calm and understated greeting, Baek Ji-young commented, “That was so chic. Usually, when I’m in the music show greenroom, younger idols greet me loudly as soon as they see me. It makes me feel bad! But when someone greets me this calmly, I can return the greeting warmly too.”
Theo then gave a behind-the-scenes look at K-pop’s unspoken greeting rules, “We were like that when we debuted too. It’s something taught by the company that idols should greet everyone cheerfully and loudly. But at 19 or 20, you don’t really know better. By our second comeback, we realized it was too overwhelming. On music show days, you might run into the same person 100 times, and every time you’re supposed to say, ‘Hello, this is [group name].’ Even just going back and forth to the bathroom. It’s like an unspoken rule.”
Baek Ji-young was visibly stunned, saying, “That’s shocking! Everyone already knows each other. Back in the early 2000s when I was active, we never did that.”
Theo explained that the formality relaxes over time, “As you gain more experience, you shorten it. From ‘Hello, this is P1Harmony’ to just ‘Hello.’ It’s much better that way. Greenrooms are supposed to be a place to rest, but the echoes of greetings never stop.”
Intak added, “I think it’s because there are so many idols now. Even among broadcast staff, it’s hard to remember all the groups. Greeting loudly is one of the only ways to make a group known.”
P1Harmony, who debuted in 2020, recently released their 8th mini album DUH! on May 8. Their conversation with Baek Ji-young sheds light on the rigid structures still present in idol culture and how even long-standing customs are slowly evolving.
