K-pop Positions Explained: Main vs. Lead
What is the difference between a Main Vocalist and a Lead Vocalist? Who is the Center? We break down the confusing hierarchy of K-pop group positions.
In Western pop groups, you usually just have members. Maybe a lead singer or a frontman, but everyone else is just… in the band. In K-pop, every member has a specific role, a title that defines their responsibility within the team.
If you’re new to K-pop, terms like main dancer, lead dancer, visual, and maknae can be incredibly confusing. Is the lead the leader? Is the visual just the prettiest one?
Here is your ultimate guide to understanding the K-pop position hierarchy.
The vocal & dance hierarchy
The most common source of confusion is the difference between main and lead. In English, lead usually sounds like the top spot (like a lead actor), but in K-pop, main is higher.
1. Main Vocalist / Main Dancer / Main Rapper
- The ace of that skill within the group.
- Vocalist: Gets the hardest notes, ad-libs, and high notes. Usually has the best technique. (e.g., Wendy of Red Velvet, Baekhyun of EXO).
- Dancer: Usually leads the dance breaks and has the most difficult solo parts. (e.g., Momo of TWICE, Taemin of SHINee).
2. Lead Vocalist / Lead Dancer / Lead Rapper
- The 2nd in command.
- Vocalist: Takes the intro, verses, and chorus leads. They are very stable but might not hit the whistle notes that the Main Vocalist tackles. (e.g., Nayeon of TWICE, Seulgi of Red Velvet).
- Dancer: Usually leads the group when the Main Dancer is not in the center.
3. Sub-Vocalist / Sub-Rapper
- The support.
- They get fewer lines, usually focusing on providing harmony or bridging verses.
The image & leadership positions
Beyond skills, there are positions defined by image and role.
4. The leader
The captain of the ship. They are responsible for introducing the group, speaking at award shows, and mediating internal conflicts. They are usually the oldest member (but not always—RM of BTS and Jihyo of TWICE are leaders based on leadership qualities and training time).
5. The visual
This is a controversial but essential position. The Visual is the member who best fits the strict Korean Beauty Standards. They are the “face” that draws people in.
6. The center
The member who stands in the middle during formations, photoshoots, and ending poses. They are the identity of the group.
- Often, the center and the visual are the same person, but not always. The center needs to have massive stage presence. (e.g., Wonyoung of IVE, Jungkook of BTS).
7. The face of the group
Often confused with the visual or center. The face of the group is the most recognizable member to the general public, the one that people who aren’t fans of the group think of when they think of the group, or the one who goes on variety shows and brings fame to the group.
Age-based titles
- Maknae: The youngest member. Known for being cute (aegyo), and often spoiled by the older members. (e.g., Eunchae of LE SSERAFIM).
- Mat-hyung / Mad-unnie: Way less used than maknae, but it exists. The oldest member. They carry the burden of looking after the younger ones.
You may also see maknae line and hyung line, which refer to the youngest and oldest members of the group, respectively. So, for example in a group with 6 members, the maknae line would be the 3 youngest members, and the hyung line would be the 3 oldest members.
The “all-rounder” vs. “ace”
Recently, fans have started using these terms to describe multitalented idols.
- All-rounder: Can do everything (Rap, Sing, Dance) at a good level.
- Ace: Is top-tier at everything. They could be a Main Vocalist AND a Main Dancer.
Obviously, these are not official positions, but they are a way of fans to highlight the talent of their idols.
⚠️ Important note: The shifting landscape
It is key to note that in the 4th and 5th Generation of K-pop, official positions are becoming rare.
Groups often debut without assigning official main/lead titles. Companies nowadays prefer to market all members as all-rounders, also it saves the members from being called less talented for not being assigned one of the main or lead positions, especially in big groups.
So, if you see a profile online listing someone as main dancer, double-check if it’s official or just fan consensus. In many modern groups, the lines are blurred, and that’s exactly how the companies want it.
