The legendary friendship among K-pop’s famous “97 liners” has once again captured the hearts of fans worldwide after a long-awaited update emerged from an unexpected source. When four of the industry’s most beloved idols—BTS‘ Jungkook, ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu, and GOT7’s Yugyeom—reportedly gathered for a private dinner in 2023, little did they know their casual meetup would become the talk of the town nearly two years later. The revelation came through a fan’s blog post featuring cherished autographs obtained during this rare encounter, reigniting discussions about the special bond these same-aged friends have maintained despite their increasingly demanding careers and separate agency affiliations.
As the evidence of their reunion spread like wildfire across social media platforms, fans collectively voiced their desire to see these charismatic performers share the screen in a dedicated variety show. The timing of this revelation proves particularly poignant, arriving when Jungkook’s military service keeps him temporarily away from the spotlight, making this glimpse into the enduring 97 line friendship all the more precious for their global fanbase.
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K-pop’s Famous 97 Liners Reunion: Fan Encounter Reveals Rare BTS Jungkook, Cha Eun-woo, Mingyu & Yugyeom Meetup
The K-pop community erupted with excitement when a fan blogger known as “Chocolate’s Blog” shared compelling evidence of a rare gathering between four prominent members of the famous 97 liners friendship circle. According to the April 3, 2025, Naver blog post, BTS’ Jungkook, ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu, and GOT7’s Yugyeom were spotted dining together at a restaurant in 2023, shortly after the release of Jungkook’s solo hit “Seven” but before his military enlistment later that year.
The blogger provided photographic evidence of autographs collected during this chance encounter—one page featuring signatures from Jungkook and Mingyu side by side, and another showcasing Cha Eun-woo and Yugyeom’s autographs, immediately validating the extraordinary meeting for fans who have long celebrated this cross-group friendship.
What makes this revelation particularly meaningful to fans is the rarity of seeing these four superstars together outside their professional obligations. Despite belonging to different entertainment companies with competing schedules and commitments, the 97 liners have maintained their bond over the years, often mentioning each other in interviews and variety show appearances. GOT7’s Yugyeom once shared during a talk show appearance that the friend group had gifted him a bracelet for his birthday, highlighting the thoughtful nature of their relationship beyond casual acquaintances. This latest reunion confirmation adds another chapter to their well-documented friendship saga, providing fans with reassurance that these connections persist despite the ever-changing landscape of the K-pop industry.
The timing of this revelation has struck a particularly nostalgic chord with fans, as Jungkook has been absent from the public eye since beginning his mandatory military service in December 2023. The BTS vocalist isn’t expected to complete his service until June 2025, making any glimpses into his pre-enlistment activities especially precious to the ARMY fandom. According to the fan account, when she mentioned enjoying his then-recent release “Seven,” Jungkook responded with a warm “Ah really? Thank you~” – a small but meaningful interaction that humanizes the global superstar. The blog post has effectively provided fans with an unexpected time capsule, transporting them back to a moment when all four idols were actively promoting.
The viral nature of these autographs sparked an immediate reaction across social media platforms, with fans expressing delight at seeing tangible evidence of the 97 liners’ continued friendship. Many X (formerly Twitter) users highlighted the symbolic significance of Jungkook and Mingyu signing on the same page, a visual representation of the ARMY and CARAT fandoms’ frequent collaborations and mutual support. “OMGOSH NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAM I SEE THIS ONE COMING!!! ARMYCARATS WE WON BIG-TIME!!!!” wrote one enthusiastic fan, while another remarked, “No but it’s crazy I never thought I’ll see Jungkook and Mingyu signing on same page like literally next to each other.”
| 97 Liner | Group | Current Status (April 2025) | Notable Recent Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jungkook | BTS | Military Service (until June 2025) | Completed first full year of service |
| Cha Eun-woo | ASTRO | Active | Cast in upcoming film “First Ride” with Kang Ha-neul |
| Mingyu | SEVENTEEN | Active | Performed at Tecate Pal Norte festival in Latin America (April 4, 2025) |
| Yugyeom | GOT7 | Active | Completed Latin American leg of solo “TRUSTY” tour |
| DK | SEVENTEEN | Active | Ongoing group activities with SEVENTEEN |
| THE8 | SEVENTEEN | Active | Ongoing group activities with SEVENTEEN |
| BamBam | GOT7 | Active | Solo activities and collaborations |
| Bang Chan | Stray Kids | Active | Group promotions and producing activities |
| Jaehyun | NCT | Active | Group and unit activities with NCT |
Beyond the simple joy of confirmation that the meetup occurred, fans have channeled their excitement into calls for the entertainment industry to capitalize on this friend group’s natural chemistry. A widespread sentiment emerged across social media platforms, with numerous fans requesting that the 97 liners film their own edition of “In The Soop,” the popular reality variety show format that has previously featured both BTS and SEVENTEEN in separate seasons.
“Nation needs a 97z in the soop,” declared one fan, succinctly capturing the collective desire to see these friends interact in a relaxed, natural environment away from the pressures of their professional personas.
The enthusiasm for such a project stems from the unprecedented nature of this friendship that transcends competitive company boundaries—something relatively unusual in the highly structured K-pop industry. While each member continues their separate path to success, fans find something uniquely heartwarming about their continued connection. As one fan commented, “The friendship between 97 liners is so precious, I love how they always explore restaurants and eat together,” highlighting how these simple, human moments of connection resonate deeply with audiences who primarily see these idols in carefully managed professional contexts.
As each of the featured 97 liners continues their respective career journeys—from Mingyu’s recent festival performance with SEVENTEEN at Tecate Pal Norte to Cha Eun-woo’s casting in the film “First Ride” alongside “Squid Game 2” star Kang Ha-neul—fans remain hopeful that this friendship will continue to flourish and perhaps one day manifest in the collaborative variety show content they’ve been eagerly awaiting.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who exactly are the K-pop 97 liners, and how did their friendship begin?
The “97 liners” refers to a group of K-pop idols born in 1997 who have formed close friendships across different entertainment companies—a somewhat rare phenomenon in the highly competitive K-pop industry. The core members include BTS’ Jungkook, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu, DK, and THE8, ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo, GOT7’s Yugyeom and BamBam, Stray Kids’ Bang Chan, and NCT’s Jaehyun. Their friendship reportedly began forming during music show promotions around 2016-2017 when many of their groups were promoting simultaneously. As rookie idols navigating similar career pressures at the same age, they naturally gravitated toward each other during waiting periods backstage at shows like “Music Bank” and “Inkigayo.”
Their bond strengthened through shared meals, occasional outings, and group chats, with several members mentioning each other on variety shows and live broadcasts. Yugyeom once revealed on a talk show that the group gifted him a friendship bracelet for his birthday, indicating the depth of their connection. Over the years, despite increasingly busy individual schedules and global careers, they’ve maintained their friendship, occasionally being spotted by fans dining together or mentioning each other in interviews, demonstrating a genuine connection that transcends professional competition.
What is “In The Soop” and why are fans requesting the 97 liners to appear in this specific show?
“In The Soop” (meaning “In The Forest”) is a popular South Korean reality variety show format produced by HYBE Labels that showcases celebrities in relaxed, natural environments away from their professional lives. The show has previously featured separate seasons with BTS, SEVENTEEN, and a group of actors known as the “Wooga Squad” (including Park Seo-joon and Choi Woo-shik).
The format follows the cast members as they spend several days in a serene forest location, cooking meals together, engaging in recreational activities, and simply enjoying downtime—offering fans a rare glimpse into their authentic personalities and friendships. Fans are specifically requesting the 97 liners appear in this show because its unstructured, relaxed format would perfectly showcase their natural chemistry and long-standing friendship. Unlike more challenge-based or heavily produced variety shows, “In The Soop” emphasizes genuine human connections and allows participants to be themselves, making it ideal for highlighting a friendship group that crosses company boundaries.
The show would provide the perfect opportunity for fans to witness these friends interacting in a natural setting, cooking together, sharing stories, and potentially revealing the dynamics that have sustained their friendship despite their increasingly separate career paths and demanding schedules.
