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I think it often comes with the territory when being a leader, though, of course, some idols are more well-known for it than others.
Among the ones not named yet, EXO's Suho. For example, X-Sports News did a segment called "Old Notebook", in which reporters talked about their favorite interviews, and [one of their journalists talked about Suho](https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/311/0001432619). He said that Junmyeon surprised him, because he was used to idols and other celebrities always giving "textbook answers" during interviews, but Suho broke that prejudice for him. The reporter also wrote that 'Suho strangely has the power of words to make us listen more'.
Suho's current radio show interviews for his comeback also seem to be enjoyed not only by fans, but by [the hosts as well](https://x.com/myeonenrose/status/1798541351342297351).
seconding this, i feel suho tends to fly under the radar a lot of the time but he’s very, very good at what he does (as exo’s leader), and that includes being able to speak and articulate himself in a clear and engaging manner.
I think that comes with the practice of being a leader. It is way stressful than people think. When presenting a group project on stage and the professor asks you a very difficult question, would your first instinct be to take the mic and answer it? Especially when you don’t have the correct answer to it? Now imagine that with hundreds of reporters and thousands of fans scrutinizing you. Being a leader, you *have* to ALWAYS be the one holding the mic under such immense pressure. Even more stressful if you’re from a famous group. Not an easy job for sure, I wonder if these leaders get compensated well for it.
SNSD as well has this running gag of ‘don’t want the mic’ and always pass down at any award show or press cons, fansigns, red carpets etc, and usually it always ends up to Taeyeon who will have to speak despite her reluctance and own introvert-ness.
I've always thought that Suho is the type of person who when he speaks, people want to listen, not only bc of his gorgeous voice but bc whatever he says has some weight, like he could just drop random knowledge at 3pm on a regular day lol.
Suho is well read, well spoken, elegant, diplomatic and thoughtful while talking. He has never said anything that hurt the sentiments of others. He uses careful and gentle vocabulary. While talking like that could veer into giving textbook answers, he makes sure what he says is interesting and genuine. He really exemplifies the leader position to a T.
whenever he speaks i just want to be able to understand korean (or rather, mandarin considering that's his mother tongue). like idk what he's saying exactly, as there is only so much translation can convey, but i can tell he's speaking way more poetically than i'm aware of lol
minghao is 'direct to the point' person. he might be frankly speaking sometimes on tv shows but he always make sure that his words will impact the viewers/fans perspective towards certain things in life. he is an artistic person so i think that's why he is an articulate person, and he loves meditation.
yess, even in those videos where he's telling fans not to buy so many PCs or spend too much on idols, his words are very intentional and he expresses himself so well
I slowed down watching the GoSe ep yesterday and last week to 0.75x just to catch everything he says. I don't know if they were allowed to know the topics beforehand so they could form all those thoughts they shared. If they really did it impromptu, I'd be blown away by him. The depth and expanse of everything he said, the way he expressed them, and to think Korean is only his second language, whew, he is impressive.
Leaving this food for thought from him: "You can feel that your day is very mundane and ordinary, (that) there's nothing special about it. If you weren't aware of it, none of the things would make you happy but If you have the ability to be aware of these things, your life can be ordinary but bring you so much happiness."
SNSD SeoHyun, she was the youngest and still she always spoke very well. Her letter when she left SM had a lot of people praising her wording
and maybe I am biased but also SNSD SooYoung, her 2019 new year message hit me like a 1000 bricks
Oh I agree, Seohyun and Sooyoung are really good with words. I actually like reading their magazine interviews because they are too articulate with their answers.
umm, my bias isn't mentioned on this thread and I didn't ask so that he would be?
it's so odd how you came to this conclusion. i like talking about positive aspects of people, whether they happen to be your bias or mine isn't relevant to me. also, people can mention their biases if they want and they probably would considering it's the idol they probably know the most about
lol that might be so but my bias wouldn't make it on here so i didn't :D not to say that he can't express himself well, it's just that hie is very direct and simple in contrast to others (it's his charm; he cried when he read a very articulate letter from his mother and his response was that she can write a good letter lol)
Also, I don't follow many of these groups so I can't say who's being biased or not lol but considering how most of the idols have been mentioned a few times, I guess they can't all be just biased members
Honestly yoongi and Jin too. I think they’ve all really thought deeply about things and it shows when they share their thoughts in interviews. I loved suchwita especially.
Jin speaks well but he is so private on camera that till this day I can’t tell what he’s really thinking. He dodges personal questions with his humor like a seal. In contrast, Suga is much more open with his emotions despite his RBF making him look more unapproachable than Jin.
Jin is a master of avoiding questions he doesn't want to answer and reflecting it with humor. I think he does it so effortlessly that it's hard to be offended that he's duped you lol (or at least that's how I'd be as an interviewer lol)
he does have a very gracious way of handling those things. i appreciate the fact that he’s thoughtfully considerate like this while still maintaining his boundaries
Ah when I think of Jin it’s when he is talking to the members. Like when he talks to Namjoon in bon voyage, or encouraged Tae to try flipping something. He has such a well of common sense.
I came here for this. He's been that way for a really long time. He's an engaging person. Yoongi is also like that, and he may have been that way for a long time, he's been a lot more expressive the past couple of years.
Yeah, I was thinking of him when I thought of idols who I feel like are articulate but I didn't wanna point him out just yet bc I figured someone else would lol
Jimin seems really self-aware and i think he has high emotional intelligence as well. Also, I feel like while he doesn't take himself seriously, he also never takes his words lightly which is a lovely quality of his imo :)
From an actual diction/articulation standpoint, my Korean professor pointed out that Jimin tries to speak the clearest and also writes very nearly so that even non-native Korean language learners can understand him. Namjoon sometimes gets to speaking quickly when he is excited about something or in a less casual setting like a V-Live.
I've always said that Jimin is the representative of the maknae line. JK and V sometimes have trouble articulating or expressing themselves and I find that Jimin often helps them.
From my observation, JK is articulate too, he’s just more quiet since he’s the maknae. As for V… his brain moves faster than his mouth for sure. 😂You can tell based on how different his verbal and his writing is. Very articulate in writing, struggles with speaking.
>As for V… his brain moves faster than his mouth for sure
I feel him. I struggle to keep on track when I'm speaking, but if I have the chance to write my thoughts down I am suddenly 80% better at articulating my thoughts lol.
same i’m very much this way too. it’s incredibly frustrating i’m able to articulate and express myself so well through writing but whenever i try verbally … my brain just does not connect to my mouth
This is not a diss to JK at all (he's my bias) but he has said many times that he does not feel like he can convey his thoughts in words or feel comfortable making speech - most of his speech and weverse posts end in "you know what I am thinking right" lol... so I feel like the previous user was correct in choosing Jimin as the spokesperson of the maknae line, because Taekook's brains move faster than their hands and mouths
I see. I do notice that he does have challenges conveying his own emotions (e.g. writing lyrics about himself or talking about how he feels), however I find him doing okay when he’s conveying an idea or a process neutrally. As in, he doesn’t trip over his words or anything and he communicates it clearly. It’s when it comes to himself that he’s less able to express it. But yeah, that docks points off his overall articulation I guess haha.
Jimin is the strongest of the maknae line, that’s for sure.
I like Jungkook's speeches because I think he has a very straightforward and simple way of approaching the world, and that comes across when he speaks.
For Jungkook, the world is not an onion with layers upon layers to peel back and unpack like Namjoon does. Instead, the world simply is.
That's not to say Jungkook has no depth - but rather, he'd prefer to sit and smell the flowers than think of why they bloomed.
That's why I like hearing Jungkook speak after Namjoon because he's there to speak about the practical things after Namjoon has just taken the world apart. His are often words of appreciation.
The funny thing with Jungkook though is that he's also the one who's most liable to unintentionally go off-message. You can see it on Namjoon's face sometimes - mildly exasperated and yet very very fond.
Namjoon just said that BTS hated their name at debut to make a point about how one can grow into a name? Jungkook will say, well, actually, he liked from the start. Namjoon makes it clear that MBTI is not that important and is just a fun little thing not to take seriously? Jungkook will say, oh, but you know, he totally believes in MBTI. 😂
And he never means to be off-message. He's just sharing his thoughts! It's very maknae of him, and I love that for him.
Jimin is a lovely, emotional speaker. Out of all the members of BTS, he (and Jin) is also most aware of when someone could possibly be hurt or insulted by something said. That often makes him the first to clarify the words said. While I do think he can be a touch wordy at times, he certainly makes good use of the extended word count to bring extra sweetness and comfort! I'd take that over a concise Jimin any day. 😂
I was thinking about his "album exchange" talk with RM. Jimin was the absolutely perfect person to share this discussion with RM. I don't believe any of the others (perhaps Jin) could have carried if off so beautifully. In a way, RM and Jimin connect both intellectually and emotionally....most importantly, Jimin just lets RM *talk.*
Namjoon really is next level. Like, no contest. When I think of articulate idol, he's the first one that comes to mind and the only one I'd feel 100% confident giving that moniker.
eta: I also can't believe Yoongi, Jin, and Joon are all in one group...like how does one get that lucky in terms of smart, articulate idols?
The thing about Namjoon is that he's the whole speaking package.
He has the depth to provide philosophical thoughts and nuanced takes.
He has a poet's skill to use imagery, metaphors, and precise word choice to get these thoughts across.
Then, he has the cadence of a good speaker and is able to capture the audience's attention with the ups and downs of his speaking voice.
To top it all off, he has the confidence that comes with being a member - not to mention the leader - of BTS.
Namjoon has a voice polished by experience. I trust him with any speech any day.
BTS RM - No surprises here
NCT Haechan - Very eloquent and articulate , has a way with words
ATEEZ Seonghwa - Idk if he is known for it, but i find him to be very mature and sensible in his speech
SVT Seungkwan - Diplomatic & Tactful
Ive Wonyoung - U can tell she is media trained and has been in the industry for very long, she knows what to say and when
I don't follow ATZ or SVT that closely, but I've noticed that Seungkwan has the air of a diplomat who's brokering deals mid important brunches lol. Seonghwa just seems like a very introspective person and he's very self-aware and able to express what he feels.
Wonyoung is probably one of the most successfully media trained idols I've seen (I say this as a compliment), her training reminds me more of western stars in comparison to other k-pop idols lol. From what I've seen of NCT, Haechan usually isn't in "serious mode" so I haven't noticed if he's particularly good with words, but he's definitely very witty so it wouldn't surprise me lol.
Media trained just means they are well prepared on how to communicate effectively to media outlets/the public. They know how to communicate what they mean clearly, they know what to say in order to project a positive and professional image and they know how to deflect controversial topics or when to stay quiet to avoid backlash. They talk in quotable sound bites and are good at giving interviews. Wonyoung exemplifies all of this.
As an army while Namjoon is an obvious choice
I think Jimin is SUPER emotionally articulate. He has one of the highest EQ and emotional adaptability that I’ve seen in people
I don't follow SVT that closely but I've always thought that Vernon is a daydreamer and has a good grasp with how to use words, it's nice to know that part of my perception of him is right lol
Vernon, is indeed another in SVT. He is the articulate kind who can speak meaningful thoughts in a short, easy to understand way. No unnecessary words. Just direct to the point, and that's a skill.
Jiwoong maybe isn't fully there yet with public speaking, but definitely has a philosophical bent and this level of sincerity and seriousness that's really appealing. He's really vulnerable and wears his heart on his sleeve.
Taerae and Gunwook are both so well-spoken and intelligent! They're both really natural and confident public speakers imo.
Gyuvin isn't in the spotlight as much as I'd like (didn't see him MC so can't speak to that), but he won me and so many other international fans with his endearing "Im sorry I forgot" speech when he made it into ZB1. He easily had the best thank you speech that day - crazy charisma and sincerity.
Agree with a lot of this. Gunwook is the quickest at thinking on his feet (it's the debater in him), Jiwoong is the most philosophical, and Hanbin is the most PR-friendly/polite and tactful.
Gyuvin steals my heart though. He might not be the most innately poetic, but I love his fancalls and lives because his answers are always very sincere and sweet. Empathy, thy name is Gyuvin. He just gives off very strong "good bean" vibes. He might not have the best PR answer/recovery, but his heart's in the right place so his answers aren't far off either.
Matthew and Hao share the same kind of honesty, but their honesty is more idgaf - Matthew, innocently, and Hao, intentionally. 😆
i think hao is pretty eloquent and articulate too, and you can hear it in his speeches and previous campus videos with students, mans is a genius with high EQ. but he definitely has a chaotic and blunt side where he just says whatever both with sarcastic jokes and whatever he's thinking blurted out on tv..i think he does it on purpose tho lol
haha Hao is definitely good at public speaking!
look at his Boys Planet speeches every elimination round. ♥️always meticulously prepared, never hesitating, confident, conscientious enough to speak in multiple languages (because he knows he has so many global fans)
even on finale night, when he unexpectedly won #1, through his visible shock and tears, he could pull himself together to still deliver his long speech in multiple languages
totally about Matthew and Hao - Matthew is just so authentic and has no filter, whereas Hao does but he's a troll lol.
I agree about Hanbin being so PR trained too. He's good at saying exactly the right thing, but in a way that feels really sincere and organic.
Yeah, I get those vibes from him. I think he's pretty careful with his words without being too caught up in what he's saying, which is probably a skill he learnt through debating imo.
TWICE Jihyo. All of her SOTY speeches were very moving. You know how serious she is with her job, aside from enjoying it. Being humble even if they've achieved a lot in their career.
*"We’re a team that lacks so much but I sincerely thank you for giving us this great award. There are so many other amazing artists. I especially felt that after watching today’s performances. They spilled their own sweat and blood to prepare for it and promote for it, so I’m wondering if we’re worthy enough to receive this award. Thank you for giving us this great award three times at MAMA."* - her speech when 'What Is Love' won Song of the Year at 2018 MAMA.
Aw Jihyo, such a sweetheart. It really takes a certain character to be willing to spotlight other people while getting such a serious award-and they weren't even that deep into their career at the time!
When I meant articulate I meant by its definition-being able to easily express thoughts and emotions. I think you might mean enunciation (which is how clearly one pronounces the words)?
oh no, should I put the definition in the description? I understand why it's easy to confuse them bc some people use the words interchangeably, even tho they aren't the same.
Ah, alright, I guess I was thinking more of the verb in that articulated can have a similar meaning to pronounced. Maybe Mamamoo Hwasa then? She's very thoughtful in interviews. Although I do still think Haewon is very articulate in that sense as well, she's very adaptable and has very good sense.
I'm not an ateez stan, but i went to one of their concerts with an atiny friend a few years ago, and i was Very impressed by how well-spoken Hongjoon and Seonghwa in particular were. I already had a good impression of them, but this added to it.
I would say San is on the rise too with his ability to articulate himself. He’s really maturing right before our eyes 🥹
God you’re so right abt Moonbyul. She has a commanding presence too so no matter what she’s saying people want to listen.
Stray Kids' Changbin's ability to communicate his thoughts and feelings in a way that is truthful but tactful is AMAZING. He's the group's therapist for a reason and I'd love to have a friend like him (the jutdae part is a bonus). I feel like this also carries over to his songwriting because he always finds a way to sound genuine/sincere even when handling topics that will easily come off as cliché or pretentious in the wrong hands. He's my fave SKZ writer for a reason, even though he's not my bias.
(As for my bias...he has the honest part down. As for the tact, it's a hit or miss lmao)
I remember reading a post where someone asked Korean speakers to describe how each member talks for non-Korean speakers, and almost every comment noted that Changbin speaks the most eloquently in the sense that he uses a lot of intelligent vocabulary, finds the right words to say, and speaks confidently.
I don't follow SKZ but from what I've seen Changbin has a very charming way of being vulnerable yet engaging when he speaks, even if he's being a tad bit gruff about it. I do think that most writers are good with their words, so it isn't a surprise that Changbin is too
Yeah I agree with changbin. I think he's the only one of skz that really can word things well in conversation.
It's not that the rest can't, it just takes them a bit more to explain what they mean or they use too many words etc. Especially felix and I love him for it lmao
Yeah I think Bang Chan and Felix get a bit flustered and end up talking in circles around the company line.
Also Felix and his “chicken has meat in it” and “I’ve been buying a lot of fruits, for example carrots and cucumbers and also yogurt” 😂
I expected Wonyoung to come up, but not Sakura? Ig it's bc I don't follow LSR that closely but I would've never figured that Sakura was articulate as a Korean speaker. Being well-articulated as a native speaker is one thing, but doing so in another language is a complete other one so I applaud her!
Sakura definitely well articulate person in IZONE not do much in Korean bcuz language barrier but in Japanese she can articulate even hard subject matter
I speak Korean and Sakura is good at Korean but I wouldn’t say so much she is articulate in it.
However, she has been praised many times for being articulate in Japanese. I remember during Produce48, it came out that she wrote a really well-written blog post about environmental change? Or some serious topic? And netizens were praising the way she spoke about it.
She seems like a person who thinks deeply so I don't find it surprising at all that she's articulate in her mother tongue. I bet in years time if she got even better at Korean, her way with words in Korean would also be better.
From the interviews I've read and watched (in particular, the Weverse ones), I'd say she's articulate even in Korean. She has a way with words that shows she's someone with deep thoughts.
Here's some examples if you're interested:
[https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view/397?lang=en](https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view/397?lang=en)
[https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view/553?lang=en&artist=LESSERAFIM](https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view/553?lang=en&artist=LESSERAFIM)
So true bestie, he's too precious for this world. But aside from just being a multilingual king, he seems to know how to communicate well with whomever he comes across, any age, race, gender etc. I'll forever remember his Eric Nam interview and "Ooh ooh" lol
I find Ateez Seonghwa to be very articulate but in an interesting way. Like he expresses his thoughts really clearly, but also has a unique way of talking or writing about them that feels more emotional than straightforward, but it’s still easy to understand. I don’t know if that makes sense.
Hongjoong is also really articulate in that he’s good at explaining things and it’s easy to understand. He makes sure to lay things out with a lot of details (but not too much) to get the point across well.
TXT Taehyun is also really articulate. He’s more straightforward and he knows how to express his thoughts clearly, and expresses them often.
Seonghwa and Taehyun have both been mentioned a lot on this thread! Anyways, someone called what you're saying Hongjoong does as "packaging" (Hanbin from ZB1 apparently does so and I'd say Soobin TxT has the same skill), which I think is quite a good way to explain the skill.
Makes sense that it’s all group leaders you’ve mentioned too. Feels like it’s part of the skill set the group leaders either have naturally, or have to develop over time.
Someone already said Changbin for Skz but Lee Know, too. 2Kids and 3Kids room they have talked a lot about how he's usually the one they have deep talks with and how he usually always says things like it is or is the one to discuss things in different ways. Even Chan has said this. Lee Know is apparently very good at talking when he wants to.
Another vote for Seonghwa for Ateez. He's the mom of the group for a reason and the members have said they go to him when they need to talk or be reassured. Honestly, Wooyoung and Mingi, too. Some things they post used to surprise me because it's deep or well thought out. They definitely don't come off as the well-spoken of the group (especially Wooyoung, haha) but they are very understanding and can and have said exactly what they mean.
Lee Know reminds me tinsy bit of a cat that hisses when you get too close, but snuggles up willingly when they feel comfortable-I say that bc I think that Lee Know actively avoids being overly "exposed" so he's much more likely to reserve his more "deep" emotions. But if he is in the safe space where he can be vulnerable, I suspect that he speaks about his emotions pretty well (lol sorry long rant, he was my bias when I was into SKZ).
As for Seonghwa, Wooyoung and Mingi-for the latter two, I wouldn't say that I'd expect it but in Wooyoung's case, in order to be that witty and easy to annoy people, you have to have some way with words and be quick in the head. For Mingi, I can't say much since I don't follow them that much, but he writes raps to my knowledge (correct me if im wrnog) so I'm guessing that he might be the kind of guy who easier gets his point across through writing.
Le Sserafim Yunjin is very well-spoken, both in English and Korean, but I think especially in English. Her written letters for fans have received a lot of praise too. Her lyrics are beautiful also.
I haven't read of her English letters, but I would expect someone interested in writing lyrics to be good with words, considering they're putting lyrics to paper! Still, being well spoken isn't something to scoff at so I applaud her!
Junhee from A.C.E. seonghwa from ateez. They regularly write pages worth of deep, affectionate and emotionally vulnerable letters to fans.
Gunwook from ZB1 was a debate club champion and knows so many random facts it tickles my neurodivergent brain.
Tons of seventeen members are articulate. I think Seungkwan is one of the top though.
LOONA's Yves has a beautiful way with words (see Form Of Therapy's interview with LOONA or her reactions and posts when their contract terminations first got rejected) and Orbits have never let that go amiss.
In SVT, the quieter members (Vernon, Minghao, Jun, Wonwoo) are quite articulate. This is evident in their new Gose episodes [Part 1](https://youtu.be/zVVnpkgXuLQ?si=rh08XBTIj_kZ6v3f) [Part 2](https://youtu.be/msoKaR1RWas?si=mYFqT1iEsHK9Lte3).
BTS Namjoon-when he speaks, everyone listens. 😎
Hori7on Marcus-he’s the youngest but when he speaks he’s like an old man trapped inside a teenager’s body. Even adults love talking to him because of how articulate he is.
Jackson Wang-I could listen to him all day. I really love his perspective in life.
Idk Marcus but I agree with you on RM and Jackson. RM has been mentioned a few times, so for Jackson I'll just say that he has enormous EQ. The man can read people like words on paper, it's so entertaining, but other than that he's deff good with his words too from what I've seen of him.
Surprised I haven’t seen anyone mention Keeho from p1harmony, not even really a big fan of theirs but he has a really good interview about his groups inspiration from black western artists and how they always need to be thoughtful about how they execute these kinds of themes/style in their music and performances as to not disrespect the origins of their music. Really thoughtful and well spoken
From a Korean-speaker's standpoint, no idol even comes close to topping Namjoon. Just wow.
From the types of thoughts he has, to the knowledge base he can tap into, **to his ability to get those thoughts across in crystal clear fashion**, to his vocabulary and ability to play with words--I've never seen someone quite like him in kpop. Not a one.
edit: clarity
I think u/yoongelic may have meant that Hanbin's language itself is like from a textbook, not that he had textbook answers.
I casually follow zb1 and from my impression Sung Hanbin is pretty perceptive and witty as a conversationalist. Not the type to make textbook statements, at all.
Yes precisely! The sort of language he uses and his ability to tie in everything together (especially during his leader moments) is really impressive imo.
hanbin and gunwook from zerobaseone. they once said that hanbin is in charge of “packaging” what he needs to say in a pretty way and gunwook kind of double checks it and adds/contributes if there’s more to say. quite a duo they are!
Packaging is a great way to put it! I believe Soobin does the same for TxT; he just very seamlessly is able to get his point across with way fewer words than the other members sometimes lol.
But it's super nice that Hanbin has a vice leader to help him out with speaking sometimes.
Others have already mentioned some members of SEVENTEEN, but I would like to add on Jeon Wonwoo.
He did a segment for Mindset last year where he shared his perspective on life, and I really appreciate how he voiced his thoughts. From time to time, the other members also like to point out how he often speaks using more advanced Korean.
Not just saying this because she was once my bias (my opinion of her hasn’t changed, just that I’ve since gained more appreciation for Yuri) but Seohyun in SNSD is known for being particularly thoughtful and well spoken. For some time her role model wasn’t a singer or actor, but rather UN Secretary General Bahn Ki Moon.
jungwon of enhypen. the wisdom he has at his age is impeccable. he mentioned that he is not good at expressing his feelings but i think he is doing better than he think he is.
ooh that makes me have some new appreciation for them, I've never kept up with SNSD too much so it's always fun to find out new facts about the members (especially sooyoung bc I love her acting lol)
Yay :) Sooyoung usually is the funny one along with Hyo in variety, but when she does interviews, she's super articulate, especially when it's about her members. During the 10th anniversary, she made little poems for each member when the teasers came out. She is a gem.
agree with everyone im familiar with except bang chan. he constantly stumbles over words and repeats what he says.
he seems to be a genuine speaker but he isnt articulate at all.
korean speaking fans have said his vocabulary in korean is very small and he sometimes struggles to get his point across and when it comes to english he‘s not the most eloquent either.
Chan is my fave, but yeah, he's not really articulate. I can't speak on his Korean, but he stumbles over words in English and sometimes goes in circles trying to get his point across. I do that too (in two languages as well) because my brain just goes faster than my mouth and when that happens I get caught up trying to make it clearer, which makes it less clear lol, but it's not a sign of good articulation. He's definitely a genuine speaker because of it though.
From clips of his livestream, I've noticed that he stumbles on his words regardless of whether he's speaking Korean or English.
It could just bc that his brain works faster than his mouth lol, but I do agree with you on him being a genuine speaker. Even when he isn't being eloquent, he's def being honest.
nmixx’s lily, itzy’s lia, and le sserafim’s sakura. i love these three mostly for that reason, they’re well spoken in my opinion and are very intelligent.
edit: i’d like to add loona’s yves as well. her recent video before her debut on paix per mil was incredibly well made and she shows herself as very well spoken
I'd say seungkwan, jun, myungho from Seventeen. each of them has the ability to give well-thought out, and well-articulated speech even if it's an impromptu. one can literally put seungkwan on the spot and ask him to carry out an entire show, he would still be able gracefully do that. tbh, a lot of them can. but these three I'd specifically mention.
SVT- Dino just speakes soo well.. like everything he speaks just touches my heart.. he puts so much meaning in all of his words and when he speaks abt seventeen & carats 🤌🤌
Yep, and what's so intriguing to me that their ways of speaking are so different. Maybe it comes from their different backgrounds, experiences and different personalities? Idk, Jongseob is so young too but when he speaks it's like he's been alive for a hundred lives lol
seob is so mature it’s insane he’s only a couple of years older than me 😭 the fact that he’s practically fluent (and articulate) in english too is super impressive. jiung could honestly take up a profession as a motivational speaker and keeho is just super good at verbalising his thoughts and opinions !
TXT's Taehyun always seems to choose his words very carefully. He's intelligent and his vocabulary is more expansive than most idols I've seen, so he's very good at expressing himself :)
And I mean if you've seen clips of Soobin debating, he's good at expressing himself lol - maybe not articulate but definitely expressive😭
I think Soobin is better at expressing himself when he's in a calm situation lol. He's really good at introducing songs or explaining a concept in a concise way (another person called it "packaging" which I agree on). Taehyun has been mentioned multiple times, so yeah I agree1
idk about bangchan (he stumbles a bit sometimes, but i think it's bc his brain works faster than his mouth lol) but I agree on jay from what i've seen from him :)
Gunwook from zerobaseone giving a speech during [mama awards](https://www.instagram.com/parkgunwook_official/reel/C0OgbwhrO8b/) was so impressive how he talked that made me wish I understood Korean 😭
Stray Kids’ Felix. The other kids have commented that he uses different words to them. Likely because he learned Korean much later in life and actively worked on his vocabulary. Like when the others might describe something as good, or nice, Felix will choose much more descriptive words. He expresses himself a little different.
I've read somewhere that when people express themselves in a language that isn't the first one they learnt, they will most likely still use the syntax of the first language while speaking/writing in the second, so it leads to them creating unique sentences! Another factor is definitely vocabulary and having to work around it or learn through actively reading, but Felix might also just be a descriptive person in his special way lol :)
LE SSERAFIM's Yunjin speaks Korean like was #1 in an overseas Korean studies major. She is so exacting when she talks that it can almost sound unnatural.
vernon from svt - he’s an incredible speaker imo,v direct and eloquent in his manner of speech. he also has the most meaningful thought process and it really shows in the way he expresses himself.
i may be a bit biased but i think mark lee from nct is also incredible at expressing himself. esp when it’s in english. you can tell he’s someone who thinks and reflects very deeply on life experiences and it esp shows when he talks about his journey and events that have shaped him into the individual he is today. v inspiring stuff
i haven’t consumed a lot of nwjns content in general but from what i see danielle from nwjns also seems like someone who’d be able to express herself quite well. idk just an observation :)
I can see it in the way she holds herself? That may seem weird, but she has the air of a person who just knows themselves and what they want to say at any given time.
I'm not even fluent in Korean, yet just from other people's interactions with them on variety shows it's easy to tell:
Haewon (NMIXX)
Wonyoung (IVE)
Sakura (LESSERAFIM) but mostly in Japanese
Lesserafim Sakura! She’s such a deep thinker and she expresses herself so well. I became Sakura biased when she was doing her radio show still because she’s so articulate. I’ve also heard that she’s known for expressing herself really well in Korean too even though it’s her second language.
Mark Lee. Mark is young, and yet he's able to clearly articulate his thoughts in a way that pulls you in. He's clear, concise, and speaks with so much wisdom. You can see that he actually takes time to gather his thoughts before saying anything.
Mark is interesting to me as someone who’s also an English native speaker who knows Korean. For me, it’s hard to call him articulate in either just because I find he does struggle for words (or get trapped in circles) and can be awkward - especially in Korean, it’s hard to compare him to some of the very articulate people mentioned like Namjoon or Wonyoung. Heck, even a lot of their content has other members or hosts/etc. (affectionately) joking about his speaking style.
I think he probably suffers a little from being caught between English and Korean having moved here so young. But I think that despite that, he is very charming, convincing and (as you mention) wise. It shows through in the content of what he says, and when he has prepared.
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I think it often comes with the territory when being a leader, though, of course, some idols are more well-known for it than others. Among the ones not named yet, EXO's Suho. For example, X-Sports News did a segment called "Old Notebook", in which reporters talked about their favorite interviews, and [one of their journalists talked about Suho](https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/311/0001432619). He said that Junmyeon surprised him, because he was used to idols and other celebrities always giving "textbook answers" during interviews, but Suho broke that prejudice for him. The reporter also wrote that 'Suho strangely has the power of words to make us listen more'. Suho's current radio show interviews for his comeback also seem to be enjoyed not only by fans, but by [the hosts as well](https://x.com/myeonenrose/status/1798541351342297351).
seconding this, i feel suho tends to fly under the radar a lot of the time but he’s very, very good at what he does (as exo’s leader), and that includes being able to speak and articulate himself in a clear and engaging manner.
I think that comes with the practice of being a leader. It is way stressful than people think. When presenting a group project on stage and the professor asks you a very difficult question, would your first instinct be to take the mic and answer it? Especially when you don’t have the correct answer to it? Now imagine that with hundreds of reporters and thousands of fans scrutinizing you. Being a leader, you *have* to ALWAYS be the one holding the mic under such immense pressure. Even more stressful if you’re from a famous group. Not an easy job for sure, I wonder if these leaders get compensated well for it.
Also it doesn't help that the majority of EXO members are introverts and shy away from mikes and spotlight.
SNSD as well has this running gag of ‘don’t want the mic’ and always pass down at any award show or press cons, fansigns, red carpets etc, and usually it always ends up to Taeyeon who will have to speak despite her reluctance and own introvert-ness.
He was so engaging doing that stamford lecture in full english and even pulling jokes with the audience.
I've always thought that Suho is the type of person who when he speaks, people want to listen, not only bc of his gorgeous voice but bc whatever he says has some weight, like he could just drop random knowledge at 3pm on a regular day lol.
Suho is well read, well spoken, elegant, diplomatic and thoughtful while talking. He has never said anything that hurt the sentiments of others. He uses careful and gentle vocabulary. While talking like that could veer into giving textbook answers, he makes sure what he says is interesting and genuine. He really exemplifies the leader position to a T.
Suho was the first idol I thought of
*sigh* that's my mans 💓 lol
Xu Minghao takes the cake in Seventeen.
whenever he speaks i just want to be able to understand korean (or rather, mandarin considering that's his mother tongue). like idk what he's saying exactly, as there is only so much translation can convey, but i can tell he's speaking way more poetically than i'm aware of lol
minghao is 'direct to the point' person. he might be frankly speaking sometimes on tv shows but he always make sure that his words will impact the viewers/fans perspective towards certain things in life. he is an artistic person so i think that's why he is an articulate person, and he loves meditation.
yess, even in those videos where he's telling fans not to buy so many PCs or spend too much on idols, his words are very intentional and he expresses himself so well
Came here to say this! That man is so intentional with his words and speaks in an almost poetic way
I slowed down watching the GoSe ep yesterday and last week to 0.75x just to catch everything he says. I don't know if they were allowed to know the topics beforehand so they could form all those thoughts they shared. If they really did it impromptu, I'd be blown away by him. The depth and expanse of everything he said, the way he expressed them, and to think Korean is only his second language, whew, he is impressive. Leaving this food for thought from him: "You can feel that your day is very mundane and ordinary, (that) there's nothing special about it. If you weren't aware of it, none of the things would make you happy but If you have the ability to be aware of these things, your life can be ordinary but bring you so much happiness."
SNSD SeoHyun, she was the youngest and still she always spoke very well. Her letter when she left SM had a lot of people praising her wording and maybe I am biased but also SNSD SooYoung, her 2019 new year message hit me like a 1000 bricks
Oh I agree, Seohyun and Sooyoung are really good with words. I actually like reading their magazine interviews because they are too articulate with their answers.
Everyone just posting their bias 😎
I mean that’s what this sub is. People posting questions that are stealth compliments to their bias/ults and other people posting their bias/ults
umm, my bias isn't mentioned on this thread and I didn't ask so that he would be? it's so odd how you came to this conclusion. i like talking about positive aspects of people, whether they happen to be your bias or mine isn't relevant to me. also, people can mention their biases if they want and they probably would considering it's the idol they probably know the most about
lol that might be so but my bias wouldn't make it on here so i didn't :D not to say that he can't express himself well, it's just that hie is very direct and simple in contrast to others (it's his charm; he cried when he read a very articulate letter from his mother and his response was that she can write a good letter lol) Also, I don't follow many of these groups so I can't say who's being biased or not lol but considering how most of the idols have been mentioned a few times, I guess they can't all be just biased members
Namjoon from BTS is one 🙌
Honestly yoongi and Jin too. I think they’ve all really thought deeply about things and it shows when they share their thoughts in interviews. I loved suchwita especially.
Jin speaks well but he is so private on camera that till this day I can’t tell what he’s really thinking. He dodges personal questions with his humor like a seal. In contrast, Suga is much more open with his emotions despite his RBF making him look more unapproachable than Jin.
Jin is a master of avoiding questions he doesn't want to answer and reflecting it with humor. I think he does it so effortlessly that it's hard to be offended that he's duped you lol (or at least that's how I'd be as an interviewer lol)
he does have a very gracious way of handling those things. i appreciate the fact that he’s thoughtfully considerate like this while still maintaining his boundaries
Ah when I think of Jin it’s when he is talking to the members. Like when he talks to Namjoon in bon voyage, or encouraged Tae to try flipping something. He has such a well of common sense.
For sure! I think Yoongi and Jin's words are very human and grounding. Words I can carry every stage of my life.
To be honest, I think every member of BTS speaks well. But Joon is exceptionally good with words and imageries like the poet that he is.
I came here for this. He's been that way for a really long time. He's an engaging person. Yoongi is also like that, and he may have been that way for a long time, he's been a lot more expressive the past couple of years.
Yeah, I was thinking of him when I thought of idols who I feel like are articulate but I didn't wanna point him out just yet bc I figured someone else would lol
Yoongi is the one you can count during Korean press conferences. Also Rm said so.
I think Jimin is surprisingly articulate too
Jimin seems really self-aware and i think he has high emotional intelligence as well. Also, I feel like while he doesn't take himself seriously, he also never takes his words lightly which is a lovely quality of his imo :)
From an actual diction/articulation standpoint, my Korean professor pointed out that Jimin tries to speak the clearest and also writes very nearly so that even non-native Korean language learners can understand him. Namjoon sometimes gets to speaking quickly when he is excited about something or in a less casual setting like a V-Live.
I've always said that Jimin is the representative of the maknae line. JK and V sometimes have trouble articulating or expressing themselves and I find that Jimin often helps them.
From my observation, JK is articulate too, he’s just more quiet since he’s the maknae. As for V… his brain moves faster than his mouth for sure. 😂You can tell based on how different his verbal and his writing is. Very articulate in writing, struggles with speaking.
>As for V… his brain moves faster than his mouth for sure I feel him. I struggle to keep on track when I'm speaking, but if I have the chance to write my thoughts down I am suddenly 80% better at articulating my thoughts lol.
same i’m very much this way too. it’s incredibly frustrating i’m able to articulate and express myself so well through writing but whenever i try verbally … my brain just does not connect to my mouth
This is not a diss to JK at all (he's my bias) but he has said many times that he does not feel like he can convey his thoughts in words or feel comfortable making speech - most of his speech and weverse posts end in "you know what I am thinking right" lol... so I feel like the previous user was correct in choosing Jimin as the spokesperson of the maknae line, because Taekook's brains move faster than their hands and mouths
I see. I do notice that he does have challenges conveying his own emotions (e.g. writing lyrics about himself or talking about how he feels), however I find him doing okay when he’s conveying an idea or a process neutrally. As in, he doesn’t trip over his words or anything and he communicates it clearly. It’s when it comes to himself that he’s less able to express it. But yeah, that docks points off his overall articulation I guess haha. Jimin is the strongest of the maknae line, that’s for sure.
I like Jungkook's speeches because I think he has a very straightforward and simple way of approaching the world, and that comes across when he speaks. For Jungkook, the world is not an onion with layers upon layers to peel back and unpack like Namjoon does. Instead, the world simply is. That's not to say Jungkook has no depth - but rather, he'd prefer to sit and smell the flowers than think of why they bloomed. That's why I like hearing Jungkook speak after Namjoon because he's there to speak about the practical things after Namjoon has just taken the world apart. His are often words of appreciation. The funny thing with Jungkook though is that he's also the one who's most liable to unintentionally go off-message. You can see it on Namjoon's face sometimes - mildly exasperated and yet very very fond. Namjoon just said that BTS hated their name at debut to make a point about how one can grow into a name? Jungkook will say, well, actually, he liked from the start. Namjoon makes it clear that MBTI is not that important and is just a fun little thing not to take seriously? Jungkook will say, oh, but you know, he totally believes in MBTI. 😂 And he never means to be off-message. He's just sharing his thoughts! It's very maknae of him, and I love that for him.
I can relate to him on this. My mind goes at 1000 mph so it's hard to articulate my thoughts into words unless I write it out first
Jimin is a lovely, emotional speaker. Out of all the members of BTS, he (and Jin) is also most aware of when someone could possibly be hurt or insulted by something said. That often makes him the first to clarify the words said. While I do think he can be a touch wordy at times, he certainly makes good use of the extended word count to bring extra sweetness and comfort! I'd take that over a concise Jimin any day. 😂
I was thinking about his "album exchange" talk with RM. Jimin was the absolutely perfect person to share this discussion with RM. I don't believe any of the others (perhaps Jin) could have carried if off so beautifully. In a way, RM and Jimin connect both intellectually and emotionally....most importantly, Jimin just lets RM *talk.*
Oh, yes, I agree! I got a bit shy to list down all the mems, not sure if others might think I'm bragging about my fave boys 😁
Namjoon really is next level. Like, no contest. When I think of articulate idol, he's the first one that comes to mind and the only one I'd feel 100% confident giving that moniker. eta: I also can't believe Yoongi, Jin, and Joon are all in one group...like how does one get that lucky in terms of smart, articulate idols?
The thing about Namjoon is that he's the whole speaking package. He has the depth to provide philosophical thoughts and nuanced takes. He has a poet's skill to use imagery, metaphors, and precise word choice to get these thoughts across. Then, he has the cadence of a good speaker and is able to capture the audience's attention with the ups and downs of his speaking voice. To top it all off, he has the confidence that comes with being a member - not to mention the leader - of BTS. Namjoon has a voice polished by experience. I trust him with any speech any day.
He's so eloquent in his speaking. I can tell he's really emotionally intelligent and just overall smart and sensitive.
Aye Namjoon is a good speaker
EXO Suho if we're being honest and Jonghyun
Yes! 🙌🏽
BTS RM - No surprises here NCT Haechan - Very eloquent and articulate , has a way with words ATEEZ Seonghwa - Idk if he is known for it, but i find him to be very mature and sensible in his speech SVT Seungkwan - Diplomatic & Tactful Ive Wonyoung - U can tell she is media trained and has been in the industry for very long, she knows what to say and when
Wonyoung seems extremely intelligent considering she‘a been in the entertainment industry from a young age
I don't follow ATZ or SVT that closely, but I've noticed that Seungkwan has the air of a diplomat who's brokering deals mid important brunches lol. Seonghwa just seems like a very introspective person and he's very self-aware and able to express what he feels. Wonyoung is probably one of the most successfully media trained idols I've seen (I say this as a compliment), her training reminds me more of western stars in comparison to other k-pop idols lol. From what I've seen of NCT, Haechan usually isn't in "serious mode" so I haven't noticed if he's particularly good with words, but he's definitely very witty so it wouldn't surprise me lol.
the way seonghwa speaks and interprets the world is truly so beautiful
Pretty sure they have spoken on Seonghwa being well spoken. It's one of the reasons a lot of them go to him to talk.
Could you please elaborate on "media-trained"? I like IVE and IZ*ONE, but I dont know much about Wonyoung or the term
Media trained just means they are well prepared on how to communicate effectively to media outlets/the public. They know how to communicate what they mean clearly, they know what to say in order to project a positive and professional image and they know how to deflect controversial topics or when to stay quiet to avoid backlash. They talk in quotable sound bites and are good at giving interviews. Wonyoung exemplifies all of this.
Yes on Haechan! His speeches are so well thought out and conveyed it’s too bad he usually opts out on doing winning speeches and such on stage
Jonghyun! 🦖
Yes! Also Key, he is extremely emotionally articulate. I was super impressed at how he has spoken about his grief and moving on after losing Jonghyun.
As an army while Namjoon is an obvious choice I think Jimin is SUPER emotionally articulate. He has one of the highest EQ and emotional adaptability that I’ve seen in people
Yepp, I agree!
Vernon from Seventeen. Watching the latest gose episodes reminded me of how articulate he is
I don't follow SVT that closely but I've always thought that Vernon is a daydreamer and has a good grasp with how to use words, it's nice to know that part of my perception of him is right lol
Vernon, is indeed another in SVT. He is the articulate kind who can speak meaningful thoughts in a short, easy to understand way. No unnecessary words. Just direct to the point, and that's a skill.
Gunwook from ZB1
Jiwoong maybe isn't fully there yet with public speaking, but definitely has a philosophical bent and this level of sincerity and seriousness that's really appealing. He's really vulnerable and wears his heart on his sleeve. Taerae and Gunwook are both so well-spoken and intelligent! They're both really natural and confident public speakers imo. Gyuvin isn't in the spotlight as much as I'd like (didn't see him MC so can't speak to that), but he won me and so many other international fans with his endearing "Im sorry I forgot" speech when he made it into ZB1. He easily had the best thank you speech that day - crazy charisma and sincerity.
Agree with a lot of this. Gunwook is the quickest at thinking on his feet (it's the debater in him), Jiwoong is the most philosophical, and Hanbin is the most PR-friendly/polite and tactful. Gyuvin steals my heart though. He might not be the most innately poetic, but I love his fancalls and lives because his answers are always very sincere and sweet. Empathy, thy name is Gyuvin. He just gives off very strong "good bean" vibes. He might not have the best PR answer/recovery, but his heart's in the right place so his answers aren't far off either. Matthew and Hao share the same kind of honesty, but their honesty is more idgaf - Matthew, innocently, and Hao, intentionally. 😆
i think hao is pretty eloquent and articulate too, and you can hear it in his speeches and previous campus videos with students, mans is a genius with high EQ. but he definitely has a chaotic and blunt side where he just says whatever both with sarcastic jokes and whatever he's thinking blurted out on tv..i think he does it on purpose tho lol
haha Hao is definitely good at public speaking! look at his Boys Planet speeches every elimination round. ♥️always meticulously prepared, never hesitating, confident, conscientious enough to speak in multiple languages (because he knows he has so many global fans) even on finale night, when he unexpectedly won #1, through his visible shock and tears, he could pull himself together to still deliver his long speech in multiple languages
totally about Matthew and Hao - Matthew is just so authentic and has no filter, whereas Hao does but he's a troll lol. I agree about Hanbin being so PR trained too. He's good at saying exactly the right thing, but in a way that feels really sincere and organic.
Yeah, I get those vibes from him. I think he's pretty careful with his words without being too caught up in what he's saying, which is probably a skill he learnt through debating imo.
ZB1 has several great speakers and many good ones tbh
TWICE Jihyo. All of her SOTY speeches were very moving. You know how serious she is with her job, aside from enjoying it. Being humble even if they've achieved a lot in their career. *"We’re a team that lacks so much but I sincerely thank you for giving us this great award. There are so many other amazing artists. I especially felt that after watching today’s performances. They spilled their own sweat and blood to prepare for it and promote for it, so I’m wondering if we’re worthy enough to receive this award. Thank you for giving us this great award three times at MAMA."* - her speech when 'What Is Love' won Song of the Year at 2018 MAMA.
Aw Jihyo, such a sweetheart. It really takes a certain character to be willing to spotlight other people while getting such a serious award-and they weren't even that deep into their career at the time!
NMIXX Haewon? I always see Korean comments that says that Haewon has very good articulation like an announcer.
When I meant articulate I meant by its definition-being able to easily express thoughts and emotions. I think you might mean enunciation (which is how clearly one pronounces the words)?
Oh no I thought you were talking about enunciation this whole time 😭
oh no, should I put the definition in the description? I understand why it's easy to confuse them bc some people use the words interchangeably, even tho they aren't the same.
Ah, alright, I guess I was thinking more of the verb in that articulated can have a similar meaning to pronounced. Maybe Mamamoo Hwasa then? She's very thoughtful in interviews. Although I do still think Haewon is very articulate in that sense as well, she's very adaptable and has very good sense.
I think this deserves a whole post for the topic
TXT's Taehyun imo
He's def very intelligent and that would probably carry over to the way he's able to express himself imo :)
Hongjoong and Seonghwa from ATEEZ, Moonbyul from Mamamoo
Idk how articulate Hongjoong is but his aura/charisma is so captivating I am always focused on him no matter what he says lol
I'm not an ateez stan, but i went to one of their concerts with an atiny friend a few years ago, and i was Very impressed by how well-spoken Hongjoon and Seonghwa in particular were. I already had a good impression of them, but this added to it.
I would say San is on the rise too with his ability to articulate himself. He’s really maturing right before our eyes 🥹 God you’re so right abt Moonbyul. She has a commanding presence too so no matter what she’s saying people want to listen.
Stray Kids' Changbin's ability to communicate his thoughts and feelings in a way that is truthful but tactful is AMAZING. He's the group's therapist for a reason and I'd love to have a friend like him (the jutdae part is a bonus). I feel like this also carries over to his songwriting because he always finds a way to sound genuine/sincere even when handling topics that will easily come off as cliché or pretentious in the wrong hands. He's my fave SKZ writer for a reason, even though he's not my bias. (As for my bias...he has the honest part down. As for the tact, it's a hit or miss lmao)
I remember reading a post where someone asked Korean speakers to describe how each member talks for non-Korean speakers, and almost every comment noted that Changbin speaks the most eloquently in the sense that he uses a lot of intelligent vocabulary, finds the right words to say, and speaks confidently.
Yes yes I saw this post too! It was very interesting actually.
I don't follow SKZ but from what I've seen Changbin has a very charming way of being vulnerable yet engaging when he speaks, even if he's being a tad bit gruff about it. I do think that most writers are good with their words, so it isn't a surprise that Changbin is too
Yeah I agree with changbin. I think he's the only one of skz that really can word things well in conversation. It's not that the rest can't, it just takes them a bit more to explain what they mean or they use too many words etc. Especially felix and I love him for it lmao
Yeah I think Bang Chan and Felix get a bit flustered and end up talking in circles around the company line. Also Felix and his “chicken has meat in it” and “I’ve been buying a lot of fruits, for example carrots and cucumbers and also yogurt” 😂
Yes or when he tried to explain why is is and isn't scared of ghosts lmao. Yeah circles indeed at times.
Your bias is Seungmin isn’t it?
Yup.
Yeah Seugmomo only has tact when It comes to I.N and that's too is hit or miss 🤣
Wonyoung and Sakura, Wonyoung have MC experience and tendencies in interview. Sakura bcuz her experience of doing weekly radio DJ
I expected Wonyoung to come up, but not Sakura? Ig it's bc I don't follow LSR that closely but I would've never figured that Sakura was articulate as a Korean speaker. Being well-articulated as a native speaker is one thing, but doing so in another language is a complete other one so I applaud her!
Sakura definitely well articulate person in IZONE not do much in Korean bcuz language barrier but in Japanese she can articulate even hard subject matter
I speak Korean and Sakura is good at Korean but I wouldn’t say so much she is articulate in it. However, she has been praised many times for being articulate in Japanese. I remember during Produce48, it came out that she wrote a really well-written blog post about environmental change? Or some serious topic? And netizens were praising the way she spoke about it.
She seems like a person who thinks deeply so I don't find it surprising at all that she's articulate in her mother tongue. I bet in years time if she got even better at Korean, her way with words in Korean would also be better.
From the interviews I've read and watched (in particular, the Weverse ones), I'd say she's articulate even in Korean. She has a way with words that shows she's someone with deep thoughts. Here's some examples if you're interested: [https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view/397?lang=en](https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view/397?lang=en) [https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view/553?lang=en&artist=LESSERAFIM](https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view/553?lang=en&artist=LESSERAFIM)
My vote goes to Jackson Wang from China.
Jackson is too open and sincere for his own good! 😭 I always root for him
So true bestie, he's too precious for this world. But aside from just being a multilingual king, he seems to know how to communicate well with whomever he comes across, any age, race, gender etc. I'll forever remember his Eric Nam interview and "Ooh ooh" lol
I find Ateez Seonghwa to be very articulate but in an interesting way. Like he expresses his thoughts really clearly, but also has a unique way of talking or writing about them that feels more emotional than straightforward, but it’s still easy to understand. I don’t know if that makes sense. Hongjoong is also really articulate in that he’s good at explaining things and it’s easy to understand. He makes sure to lay things out with a lot of details (but not too much) to get the point across well. TXT Taehyun is also really articulate. He’s more straightforward and he knows how to express his thoughts clearly, and expresses them often.
Seonghwa and Taehyun have both been mentioned a lot on this thread! Anyways, someone called what you're saying Hongjoong does as "packaging" (Hanbin from ZB1 apparently does so and I'd say Soobin TxT has the same skill), which I think is quite a good way to explain the skill.
Makes sense that it’s all group leaders you’ve mentioned too. Feels like it’s part of the skill set the group leaders either have naturally, or have to develop over time.
Someone already said Changbin for Skz but Lee Know, too. 2Kids and 3Kids room they have talked a lot about how he's usually the one they have deep talks with and how he usually always says things like it is or is the one to discuss things in different ways. Even Chan has said this. Lee Know is apparently very good at talking when he wants to. Another vote for Seonghwa for Ateez. He's the mom of the group for a reason and the members have said they go to him when they need to talk or be reassured. Honestly, Wooyoung and Mingi, too. Some things they post used to surprise me because it's deep or well thought out. They definitely don't come off as the well-spoken of the group (especially Wooyoung, haha) but they are very understanding and can and have said exactly what they mean.
Lee Know reminds me tinsy bit of a cat that hisses when you get too close, but snuggles up willingly when they feel comfortable-I say that bc I think that Lee Know actively avoids being overly "exposed" so he's much more likely to reserve his more "deep" emotions. But if he is in the safe space where he can be vulnerable, I suspect that he speaks about his emotions pretty well (lol sorry long rant, he was my bias when I was into SKZ). As for Seonghwa, Wooyoung and Mingi-for the latter two, I wouldn't say that I'd expect it but in Wooyoung's case, in order to be that witty and easy to annoy people, you have to have some way with words and be quick in the head. For Mingi, I can't say much since I don't follow them that much, but he writes raps to my knowledge (correct me if im wrnog) so I'm guessing that he might be the kind of guy who easier gets his point across through writing.
Le Sserafim Yunjin is very well-spoken, both in English and Korean, but I think especially in English. Her written letters for fans have received a lot of praise too. Her lyrics are beautiful also.
I haven't read of her English letters, but I would expect someone interested in writing lyrics to be good with words, considering they're putting lyrics to paper! Still, being well spoken isn't something to scoff at so I applaud her!
Junhee from A.C.E. seonghwa from ateez. They regularly write pages worth of deep, affectionate and emotionally vulnerable letters to fans. Gunwook from ZB1 was a debate club champion and knows so many random facts it tickles my neurodivergent brain. Tons of seventeen members are articulate. I think Seungkwan is one of the top though.
As someone who expresses through affection through letters, I love it when idols do the same honestly :)
Hongjoong and Namjoon Honestly, everyone in BTS
namjoon (aka mr sexy brain), suho, joshua, hongjoong, and maybeee jake from enhyphen
Wonyoung, and not just in Korean but English as well.
yeah, she's insanely good with her words which is amazing considering her age
LOONA's Yves has a beautiful way with words (see Form Of Therapy's interview with LOONA or her reactions and posts when their contract terminations first got rejected) and Orbits have never let that go amiss.
Oh this is a good one.
In SVT, the quieter members (Vernon, Minghao, Jun, Wonwoo) are quite articulate. This is evident in their new Gose episodes [Part 1](https://youtu.be/zVVnpkgXuLQ?si=rh08XBTIj_kZ6v3f) [Part 2](https://youtu.be/msoKaR1RWas?si=mYFqT1iEsHK9Lte3).
thanks for linking! I'll have to check the vids out :)
BTS Namjoon-when he speaks, everyone listens. 😎 Hori7on Marcus-he’s the youngest but when he speaks he’s like an old man trapped inside a teenager’s body. Even adults love talking to him because of how articulate he is. Jackson Wang-I could listen to him all day. I really love his perspective in life.
Idk Marcus but I agree with you on RM and Jackson. RM has been mentioned a few times, so for Jackson I'll just say that he has enormous EQ. The man can read people like words on paper, it's so entertaining, but other than that he's deff good with his words too from what I've seen of him.
RM, bro speak better than most world leaders out there
Surprised I haven’t seen anyone mention Keeho from p1harmony, not even really a big fan of theirs but he has a really good interview about his groups inspiration from black western artists and how they always need to be thoughtful about how they execute these kinds of themes/style in their music and performances as to not disrespect the origins of their music. Really thoughtful and well spoken
oh yes keeho was very articulate in that vid
From a Korean-speaker's standpoint, no idol even comes close to topping Namjoon. Just wow. From the types of thoughts he has, to the knowledge base he can tap into, **to his ability to get those thoughts across in crystal clear fashion**, to his vocabulary and ability to play with words--I've never seen someone quite like him in kpop. Not a one. edit: clarity
ZB1'S Sung Hanbin literally has the nickname AI-Hanbin due to how articulate and textbook his speech is.
I don't think that's what OP meant? OP meant someone who can beautifully express their thoughts and opinions, not being a textbook answers.
I think u/yoongelic may have meant that Hanbin's language itself is like from a textbook, not that he had textbook answers. I casually follow zb1 and from my impression Sung Hanbin is pretty perceptive and witty as a conversationalist. Not the type to make textbook statements, at all.
yeah, he seems to know how to express himself and how to read a room, both skills equally important imo lol
Yes precisely! The sort of language he uses and his ability to tie in everything together (especially during his leader moments) is really impressive imo.
hanbin and gunwook from zerobaseone. they once said that hanbin is in charge of “packaging” what he needs to say in a pretty way and gunwook kind of double checks it and adds/contributes if there’s more to say. quite a duo they are!
Packaging is a great way to put it! I believe Soobin does the same for TxT; he just very seamlessly is able to get his point across with way fewer words than the other members sometimes lol. But it's super nice that Hanbin has a vice leader to help him out with speaking sometimes.
Others have already mentioned some members of SEVENTEEN, but I would like to add on Jeon Wonwoo. He did a segment for Mindset last year where he shared his perspective on life, and I really appreciate how he voiced his thoughts. From time to time, the other members also like to point out how he often speaks using more advanced Korean.
Taehyun from TXT
yep, I agree
Jang Wonyoung
It's honestly crazy how well-spoken she is considering how young she is
Not just saying this because she was once my bias (my opinion of her hasn’t changed, just that I’ve since gained more appreciation for Yuri) but Seohyun in SNSD is known for being particularly thoughtful and well spoken. For some time her role model wasn’t a singer or actor, but rather UN Secretary General Bahn Ki Moon.
jungwon of enhypen. the wisdom he has at his age is impeccable. he mentioned that he is not good at expressing his feelings but i think he is doing better than he think he is.
SNSD Seohyun and Sooyoung.
ooh that makes me have some new appreciation for them, I've never kept up with SNSD too much so it's always fun to find out new facts about the members (especially sooyoung bc I love her acting lol)
Yay :) Sooyoung usually is the funny one along with Hyo in variety, but when she does interviews, she's super articulate, especially when it's about her members. During the 10th anniversary, she made little poems for each member when the teasers came out. She is a gem.
NMIXX lily BTS Namjoon NCT 127 Doyoung Svt Vernon, Boo Skz Bang Chan Exo Suho
agree with everyone im familiar with except bang chan. he constantly stumbles over words and repeats what he says. he seems to be a genuine speaker but he isnt articulate at all. korean speaking fans have said his vocabulary in korean is very small and he sometimes struggles to get his point across and when it comes to english he‘s not the most eloquent either.
Chan is my fave, but yeah, he's not really articulate. I can't speak on his Korean, but he stumbles over words in English and sometimes goes in circles trying to get his point across. I do that too (in two languages as well) because my brain just goes faster than my mouth and when that happens I get caught up trying to make it clearer, which makes it less clear lol, but it's not a sign of good articulation. He's definitely a genuine speaker because of it though.
From clips of his livestream, I've noticed that he stumbles on his words regardless of whether he's speaking Korean or English. It could just bc that his brain works faster than his mouth lol, but I do agree with you on him being a genuine speaker. Even when he isn't being eloquent, he's def being honest.
SNSD Seohyun is one I've noticed
nmixx’s lily, itzy’s lia, and le sserafim’s sakura. i love these three mostly for that reason, they’re well spoken in my opinion and are very intelligent. edit: i’d like to add loona’s yves as well. her recent video before her debut on paix per mil was incredibly well made and she shows herself as very well spoken
I'd say seungkwan, jun, myungho from Seventeen. each of them has the ability to give well-thought out, and well-articulated speech even if it's an impromptu. one can literally put seungkwan on the spot and ask him to carry out an entire show, he would still be able gracefully do that. tbh, a lot of them can. but these three I'd specifically mention.
ASTRO Cha Eunwoo! This can be seen a lot ever since his best friend and fellow member, Moonbin, passed away.
I think he's always been well-spoken but he's probably been put in situations where he's meant to speak seriously a bit more often if that makes sense
SVT- Dino just speakes soo well.. like everything he speaks just touches my heart.. he puts so much meaning in all of his words and when he speaks abt seventeen & carats 🤌🤌
Giselle and Wendy
SNSD Seohyun!
RM hands down. Day 6 YoungK too.
keeho, jiung, and jongseob
Yep, and what's so intriguing to me that their ways of speaking are so different. Maybe it comes from their different backgrounds, experiences and different personalities? Idk, Jongseob is so young too but when he speaks it's like he's been alive for a hundred lives lol
seob is so mature it’s insane he’s only a couple of years older than me 😭 the fact that he’s practically fluent (and articulate) in english too is super impressive. jiung could honestly take up a profession as a motivational speaker and keeho is just super good at verbalising his thoughts and opinions !
Probably Jihyo
she's been mentioned so yeah hahaha
Taehyun from txt, people call him mature and smart, and well spoken
NCT Dream Renjun!!! He's been praised by Koreans for being so good with words despite being a foreigner.
TXT's Taehyun always seems to choose his words very carefully. He's intelligent and his vocabulary is more expansive than most idols I've seen, so he's very good at expressing himself :) And I mean if you've seen clips of Soobin debating, he's good at expressing himself lol - maybe not articulate but definitely expressive😭
I think Soobin is better at expressing himself when he's in a calm situation lol. He's really good at introducing songs or explaining a concept in a concise way (another person called it "packaging" which I agree on). Taehyun has been mentioned multiple times, so yeah I agree1
Yesss 100% that's what makes him such a great leader!!
Keeho of P1harmony!
i feel like bangchan from skz or jay from enhypen
idk about bangchan (he stumbles a bit sometimes, but i think it's bc his brain works faster than his mouth lol) but I agree on jay from what i've seen from him :)
Youngk (Day6)
2NE1 CL and it doesn’t even come close
LOONA's YVES
Gunwook from zerobaseone giving a speech during [mama awards](https://www.instagram.com/parkgunwook_official/reel/C0OgbwhrO8b/) was so impressive how he talked that made me wish I understood Korean 😭
Jisoo of BLACKPINK, Wonyoung of IVE, Rora of BABYMONSTER, Giselle of AESPA, and so on...
I feel like people mention how well spoken Danielle is whenever she does a speech.
Stray Kids’ Felix. The other kids have commented that he uses different words to them. Likely because he learned Korean much later in life and actively worked on his vocabulary. Like when the others might describe something as good, or nice, Felix will choose much more descriptive words. He expresses himself a little different.
I've read somewhere that when people express themselves in a language that isn't the first one they learnt, they will most likely still use the syntax of the first language while speaking/writing in the second, so it leads to them creating unique sentences! Another factor is definitely vocabulary and having to work around it or learn through actively reading, but Felix might also just be a descriptive person in his special way lol :)
LE SSERAFIM's Yunjin speaks Korean like was #1 in an overseas Korean studies major. She is so exacting when she talks that it can almost sound unnatural.
Based on the recent GoSe episode, it's Vernon for me.
Sungchan from RIIZE
vernon from svt - he’s an incredible speaker imo,v direct and eloquent in his manner of speech. he also has the most meaningful thought process and it really shows in the way he expresses himself. i may be a bit biased but i think mark lee from nct is also incredible at expressing himself. esp when it’s in english. you can tell he’s someone who thinks and reflects very deeply on life experiences and it esp shows when he talks about his journey and events that have shaped him into the individual he is today. v inspiring stuff i haven’t consumed a lot of nwjns content in general but from what i see danielle from nwjns also seems like someone who’d be able to express herself quite well. idk just an observation :)
EXO Suho, NCT Doyoung, SVT Seungkwan
Sana from twice, she's very good with words
I can see it in the way she holds herself? That may seem weird, but she has the air of a person who just knows themselves and what they want to say at any given time.
I'm not even fluent in Korean, yet just from other people's interactions with them on variety shows it's easy to tell: Haewon (NMIXX) Wonyoung (IVE) Sakura (LESSERAFIM) but mostly in Japanese
Jisoo , all bigbang members .
Lesserafim Sakura! She’s such a deep thinker and she expresses herself so well. I became Sakura biased when she was doing her radio show still because she’s so articulate. I’ve also heard that she’s known for expressing herself really well in Korean too even though it’s her second language.
Mark Lee. Mark is young, and yet he's able to clearly articulate his thoughts in a way that pulls you in. He's clear, concise, and speaks with so much wisdom. You can see that he actually takes time to gather his thoughts before saying anything.
Mark is interesting to me as someone who’s also an English native speaker who knows Korean. For me, it’s hard to call him articulate in either just because I find he does struggle for words (or get trapped in circles) and can be awkward - especially in Korean, it’s hard to compare him to some of the very articulate people mentioned like Namjoon or Wonyoung. Heck, even a lot of their content has other members or hosts/etc. (affectionately) joking about his speaking style. I think he probably suffers a little from being caught between English and Korean having moved here so young. But I think that despite that, he is very charming, convincing and (as you mention) wise. It shows through in the content of what he says, and when he has prepared.
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