Idols’ original stage names evoke laughter among netizens

Posted by on July 17, 2012

A list of idol groups and members and what could have become their official stage names is attracting much attention among Korean netizens.

Recently on an online community site, a posting was made with the title "Idols' Original Stage Names".

Included was a list of idol groups and members and their amusing, and some downright hilarious, stage names that they could have made famous.

Super Junior's Leeteuk was close to becoming Kang Soo, as it is close to his birth name, Park Jungsoo. Fellow member Shindong almost became Udon, while Kangin could have been Woongdam (gallbladder of a bear), and Kyuhyun Gwee-Hyun (distinguished person).

TVXQ was considered to be named Oh Jak Yook Boo (Internal Organs), while Big Bang almost was named Diamond. T.O.P was originally going to be named Mark, Daesung Big Castle, Seungri Sonic, and Taeyang Taekwon. (Taekwon was Taeyang's stage name during GDYB days.)

Wonder Girls were almost named LC (Ladies Club)- Sunye was going to be Sunny, Sohee IC, Yenny Silver, Sunmi Berry, and now 4minute member HyunA who used to promote with Wonder Girls was going to be Mint. The girls even had a song they recorded under these names, but the name of a popular documentary they filmed before their debut was titled Wonder Girls, and they went with that name.

Shinhwa member Jun Jin was going to be Lee Gi Go (which translates to "winning" in Korean), and Minwoo was going to be either Parang (Blue) or Taeyang.

Netizens who came across the information exploded into laughs as they wrote, "IC is truly hilarious", "I heard Diamond was G-Dragon's idea", "Lee Min Woo could have been Taeyang!" and more.

Sources: Nate, allkpop.com, enewsworld via Yahoo.com

Filed under: Big Bang, News

  • http://www.facebook.com/Karmen1205 Carmen Bustamante

    Haha omg whoever thought of those names thank god didnt pass with them! whew Big Bang updates would be DIAMOND UPDATES HAHA :)
    And I cant imagine TOP being Mark >_<

    • BIG VIP

      Vips would be called jewels

      • http://www.facebook.com/Karmen1205 Carmen Bustamante

        I guess it would make sense because YG wanted a successful boy band that would create an impact but Diamond is too girly lol

  • Anni_BB

    OMG I remember how TOP was talking about how YG wanted to call him Mark!!!! lol that was so funny - coz TOP really didnt like it!!! lol ^___^

    Diamond, ay? lol I cant deny that I prefer Big Bang - but thats because they literally caught me like a big bang and knocked me right off my feet when i first heard them!!! lol that moment will never be forgotten! Still, they are my little diamonds too - my treasure until whenever!!! lol ^___^

    • http://twitter.com/estipratiwi Esti Dwi Pratiwi

      when TOP talked about it? did you watch it on the video or something? what's video? I wanna see..lol

      • Anni_BB

        haha I think it was on the show Night after Night (with GD and TOP), but i dont know which part. sorry - hope its the right one, I saw it ages ago! ^__^ Just google 'GD TOP Night after Night' and you should get the dailymotion videos! Enjoy!

        • http://twitter.com/estipratiwi Esti Dwi Pratiwi

          owh.. thanks ^^..

  • http://www.mykoreanhusband.com/ Nic

    Mark........... that is terrible. Such a common place name for such an extraordinary guy. That would not do at all.

  • iLuvTODAE

    Minwoo was going to be named Taeyang I am so happy he didn't choose that name cuz in my eyes and heart the one and only that is befitting of the name TAEYANG is YOUNG BAE ♥

  • kaneca

    thanks that you choose the name big bang not diamond, cause i think that big bang is better than diamond and it also nice for real man like all for you.;)
    i love real man<3

  • naomi

    imagine his name is really Mark now. hahaha

  • http://twitter.com/thettywetty thettywetty

    YO WUSSUP WE DIAAAAMOND!

  • VIPTONIGHT

    Can't imagine if YG went on with Big Castle. Smiling angel Big Castle! lol ^_^

  • Chilly

    Taekwon... channeling Raekwon from Wu-Tang? LOL @ Big Castle! What is that even? Definitely glad they all ended up with the names they have now, and are Big Bang instead of Diamond!

    • HttestBlckjckVIP

      I pretty sure it's what Daesung translates too (like his Chinese name). Although, I know tht HK press translates it to "loud voice"..but it should translate to along the lines of big castle hahaha

  • BaeBae

    "Anyonghaseyo, M.A.R.K. imnida" o_O

  • TotobearTop

    Hahahhaha the names. I can't. Gall bladder of a bear and internal organs XDDD And Big Castle?!?! For Daesung?? LOL what kind of name is that for a guy

  • BearBrick Jia

    DIAMOND UPDATES and anyeonghaseyo MARK imida~
    LOL you guys are hilarious XDDDDD

  • https://twitter.com/#!/elanieyzww blackvip

    gosh. it really evoke big laugh. Diamond? it kinda great name, but i keep imagine their introduction, whats up, we're Diamond ! or annyeong haseyo, Mark ipnida, or Big Bang's Big Castle. ok. that's weird -.-
    i'm glad they're called Big Bang and TOP.

  • ArielLM13

    I think all of us VIP's need to bow down and thank whatever deity it was that saved us from the monstrosity that could have been Diamond, staring Mark the main rapper, Big castle(what even inspired this?) the main vocal, and Sonic(really not that bad but come on) the maknae.

    • choichoi

      The main vocal is Taeyang, not Daesung :0

      • HttestBlckjckVIP

        Cool story bro.

        • lyu

          I can't get who voted against the truth >.< YG specified Taeyang as the main voclist of BB from the first, and GD said "I personally think Taeyang is the best male solo in korea" and added "I think Taeyang's album was the best. Taeyang proved it by winning a lot of awards and I think tons of experts praised him highly especially because he has sensibility that no korean ever could have. I'm very proud and happy we can tell to the world that an artist(means Taeyang) from a small country like korea aims at high quaility of music and stage like this." and TOP said "
          TOP said about Taeyang like this...
          "When he’s on stage he’s very polished up. And, he has a style that no other Korean singers have, so there are many people that copy him. His voice is very deep; it’s full of ‘soul’ that no other Korean singer has. I think the level of our group went up thanks to SOL(Taeyang)."
          High notes is not everything, tons of experts and kpop stars of the same music industry picked Taeyang as one of the best vocalists :)

          • HttestBlckjckVIP

            ..okay...i never hated on Taeyang so no need to get defensive and touchy like that. You just made yourself look a bit crazy..I really like Taeyang and his music. I know all his solo songs from both albums.

            If I came across as troll or whatever then my bad, but all I wanted to get across was that as a VIP, I don't see any main vocalist and all that. Even though I have my own bias in Big Bang, I think that ALL 5 are equally talented and ALL 5, to me, are mains.

          • lyu

            Hmm.. I didn't mean to reply to you. I wanted to reply to choichoi. So never mind :) I was not defensive and not complaining to you haha. I just wonder why some biased vips voted against the fact. Whatever you think, Taeyang is the main vocalist, I'm not saying about how many lines they sing. It's not important. It depends on the opinions of GD and BB.

            I mean Taeyang sings the main chorus and his voice is the basis of BB's music. BB's music is different from other kpop groups and Tae's voice is important in BB's music. Of course all the 5're talented all the 5 voices're important, without one there's no Bigbang. I just don't like the ppl who deny the fact with biased opinions ^^

          • Vipjk

            Regardless of what experts who like R&B songs compliments or what other members said 'before', there is no 'main' vocal / 'main' rapper in Bigbang. Firstly they don't introduce themselves like that now. :)
            Secondly, i agree with you, i also think that it's not important how many lines each vocal sings. But you said that you depends on the opinions of GD, then i'd like to say this. GD also mentioned that he thought Das as 'main' vocal when he made Tonight album last year.(you can refer to GQ magazine). And he also mentioned that Bue in this alive album, he told Seungri that 'your voice is the most important in this song. this song is for your voice.' (you can refer to Ri's interview in japan media. Ri mentioned this several times.) Main role can be changed whenever it should be like this. i hope you understand what i mean.
            Thirdly, you don't have to mention about each members' solo activities here. Becasue they all a 'main role' / 'main player' in their each solo album. So there is no need to say about compliments from others about solo activites when you mention bigbang's music and activities.
            i think the fans who denied the first comments must have thought of 'there is no particular main member in bigbang. they are all main'. not to mention 'A is main / B is not' like choichoi said 'Tae is main, don't deny the fact'.
            There is no 'fact' in music when we say 'main' thingy.
            What is 'the fact thing' to you? :)
            i understand you feel that Tae's voice is the most important in bigbang's song and it makes the music different from others, well, but there are lots of rookies who try to copy bigbang like high tone rapper / low tone rapper in one group together, or rapper doing producing the group etc. That kind of thing remind us of GD,TOP in bigbang.
            See? all 5 memebrs are unique and basis in bigbang itself and bigbang's music. It made the team different from other groups.
            Furthermore, songs such as lalala, lie, haruharu, last farewell etc which made bigbang as big hit group, there was little part of Tae. At that time, Dae sang the main part.
            I'm not saying Dae should be 'main' vocal. i'm just saying that the 'fact' that you seem to rely on.
            Because you said that Tae's voice is basis in 'BB's music'. what is 'BB's music' then? That songs which are well known to public in BB's old days are also BB's music. So you don't need to decide which color or which voice is/should/ be the basis of BB's music.
            Even in recent BB's music, for example, Fasntastic baby, Blue, monster, Still alive, Bad boy... I don't think only one member's voice made BB's music different or one voice should be basis or main for the all songs.
            I just don't like ppl who is too biased to one member and get to have got narrowed- minded when they say about BB's music.

          • lyu

            Hey! IT's not me who lied about main vocalist of BB, ArielLM13 told Daesung is the main vocal, totally not the fact. The fact is Taeyang is the main vocalist. You don't know who is the main vocalist in BB? YG specified Taeyang as the main vocalist of BB on YG home page from the first!!! But Daesung bias kept spreading a wrong information lying Daesung is the main vocalist. And YG spefified Taeyang as the main vocalist of BB once more in english on Androids for ivips !!! Taeyang is the main vocalist, it's the fact, not opinion! Why can't I correct a wrong information?

            And GD didn't say Daesung is the main vocalist of "tonight' album. He said he wrote the song 'cafe' as if Daesung is the main vocalist. Daesung was supposed to sing Taeyang's falssetto but Dae said he couldn't sing falsetto no matter how hard he tried, so GD changed the song and parts for Daesung, got it? GD is the producer and he needs to praise all the members, even if he praised Daesung there, he's praised and respected Taeyang way more than him here and there. In 'lie' 'Haru haru' 'Last fare well' have lots of high notes, so Daesung stands out there but it's not Daesung's voice that makes those songs sound different from other general kpops. It's Taeyang's voice in the chorus, Taeyang's voice makes the songs sophisticated and unique from other kpops. Daesung has beautiful high notes, Taeyang has the most unique and sophisticated voice and grooves that no other koreans ever have similar. You can't change the fact whatever you say, the fact is Taeyang is the main vocalist of BB and it's YG's decision!!!

    • btkwon

      BIG CASTLE was Daesung's secret stage name:) His name DAESUNG has the meaning "loud" (Dae) "voice" (Sung).. so with the purpose of spreading his loud voice to many people, he used his real name. :)

      But in Korean, Dae can also translate to "big", "loud", "great" etc while Sung can be "castle", "voice", "sound", "success" etc :D

      That's the fake stage name Dae came up with :DDDH Haha

      • ArielLM13

        In that case it's just funny!=P

  • mizskullzzz

    i prefer BIGBANG than diamond...
    diamond is more suitable for girl group...

  • Jenis Miranda

    BIG CASTLE? and SONIC? lmfao. ahahaha~~~

  • daesung_wings

    Terrible names XD so glad they weren't chosen :3

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001898577951 Alexandra Ayame

    'Diamond' so thats why they have so many diamon form icons lol.

  • Bbhangover

    Daesung as Big castle.. errrr dafuq?? lollolol

  • missyeppeo

    I love diamond!
    And my bias is Mark and big castle! :))

  • ybkdik91

    Could you guys imagine going around saying "I'm a fan of Diamond" or " I melt every-time I see Big Castle smile" LOL. Thank the heavens above they have their current names now.

  • loisvip

    LOL.........

  • sakurah

    i dont mind Diamonds.. kinda cool actually. reminds me of Top's (then, Tempo) "Diamonds r Forever".. then maybe VIPs will be known as Sparkles or something.. Banjjak Banjjak

    • MyDarlingLove

      Then we would be known as DAF.... Thank God for not letting us go through immense embarrassment, that would have been really crazy

  • V/. |I|. |P.

    Is hilarious that all stage names for Choi Seung Hyun are in english and he has nothing to do with it :))). I mean now, maybe, knows more english, but first, in the debut days was jgftgrt o_O :)) LOVE YA' TOP FOREVER!!

  • NaToTheWak

    Big Bang's "Japanese" stage names ain't better... Honestly "D-Lite" always cracks me up, it sounds like a snack bar! And "Sol"... "Sol" in French means "ground", quite far away from the sun isn't it? ^^ I hope they'll tour worldwide with their Korean names!

    • Mitsukuri

      LOL, "Sol" in Portuguese is really " Sun" LOL

      • Mizu

        Yeah and "Sol" means sun in Swedish too :3

        • Mitsukuri

          ReallY? AWESOME :D
          Although , "Tempo" in Portuguese means Time LOL

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1318193727 Kach Arumäe

      Sol means 'sun' in a lot of latin languages, even in French, it's Soleil which comes from Sol. Sure in some languages it has some other meanings but the main one is sun :)

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003909072092 Naomi Chen

      D-Lite,,, well he certainly is a DeLight to many Japanese fans!!! :P

  • VIPandaWife

    Good thing Se7en was there to intervene with Mark's name, right? His idea was T.O.P, but Seunghyun was shy about being that.

  • babytabi

    I prefer TOP--very unique. soo like him. on TOP of everything. Taekwon would also be cute on Taeyang but it sounds too similar. Taeyang the best--SUN. Worst are TVXQ and Daesung's supposed stage names. good thing they choose the right names.

  • http://twitter.com/AviWill Avi Will

    I think BIGBANG is freakin original and one of the best k-pop group names ever, all those rookie groups have such ridiculous names these days >.>

  • marsmallow92

    yeah.. i'm reading DIAMOND UPDATES.

  • bigbangismylife

    okay, BB individuals names does not sound right ... seriously, big castle, sonic mark and taekwon... O.O .... AND "DIAMOND" - sounds like a girl group... oh well, if BB did stick with "Diamonds", they will be girls-bestfriends... oh wait , they still are !

  • Vyki_5215

    wad was truly hilarious and had me luffin was not e names but our reactions to the said names!! omg..hahaha..now i knw...im a Big Castle-bias...hahahaha....

  • http://twitter.com/michalin_ah Michalin AH

    I know that T.O.P's stage name was Tempo ~ before Se7en helped him to come up with his current stage name

    • silversnowvip

      Tempo also suits him...:)

  • myeolraVIP

    "D" to the "I" to the "A" "M" to the "O-N-D." Hahaha.

    • Genlisa

      ahahah...i get the picture. it's alot to spout when you rap!

  • http://twitter.com/rinicnbluestar LOvelyDae

    "i am a big fan of DIAMOND and my fav bias is Big Castle"
    OMG, i cant imagine i say like that

    • GD Babe

      and no VIP but VID? Very important DIAMOND XD

      • hanana1990

        omg hahaha..

      • knightowlnessie

        Haha, we'd probably get stuck with something ridiculous, like Jewelers or carats or sparkles. No, I much prefer Big Bang and VIPs.

        Good choice, YG.

        • choomseukaaa

          lmfao. our fanclub wouldve have been carats

          • http://www.twitter.com/enalefay EnaLeFay

            LOL...imagining myself telling my sis, "I'm a Carat. I'm hardcore fan of Diamond!" LOL...she will think I super materialistic. XD

          • choomseukaaa

            i cracked up at "Mark" because that's my dad's name LOLOL.

          • http://twitter.com/ueie guniguningbaby

            Lol! Nice one!

  • florizza

    Wow...these are really interesting. But honestly, who'd want to called a nickname that translates as "gallbladder of a bear?!" lol Diamond would've been really weird...:P

  • http://twitter.com/Kadinoona Kadija

    DIAMOND?? really sound like a girl name lol ofc they are diamonds or better but BIG BANG really suits them much better they are the BIGBANG of Kpop!!! lol MARK is the most epic! can't imagine TOP being called Mark lol Seung ri Sonic?? so weird and more weid for DS with Big Castle (reading that name I'm like WTF?????)

  • silversnowvip

    Glad seungri is not being called Sonic.......it sounds like name of chemical...Diamond is quite cool but not suit with their image..what Big castle for Daesung? haha......

  • myeolraVIP

    You guys are the best. XD Keep LOLing while reading all your comments.

    • Jazz

      LOL,i thought im the only 1 scrolling down the comments~ XD

      • http://twitter.com/ueie guniguningbaby

        LOL same here! ^^

  • http://twitter.com/emayeney Misa

    They would've rocked any name anyway LOL

  • VIPUSA

    LMFAO!!! this is just hilarious!! Diamond?! LMAO sounds like a stripper name!..however if I had to pick between "Internal Organs" and "Diamond"..Diamond it is LOL......Big Castle!! LMAO it reminds me of this burger place in the States..

  • BBvip♥

    im so glad DAESUNG is not being called Big Castle!!!
    thanks Diamond updates making me laugh! Haha Lol lol lol

  • GD Babe

    And VIP will become VID: Very important DIAMOND XD

  • http://twitter.com/IonaKwon Heartbreaker

    xDDD Diamond members Big Castle,Mark,Sonic, TaeKwon and GD... xDDD That's amazing xDD

  • MR.HOTNESS★OVERLOAD

    ~~ well i actually like V.I's "SONIC" sounds really cool! but about the rest of their ideas...... GOD NO! especially "DIAMOND" hahhahaha sorry GD but that just sounds so wrong for a manly BOYband x)

  • leahulquiorra

    daesung?!?! big castle hahahahah and im so glad they stuck with BB not diamond. but i would have liked V.I as sonic..i guess cause i like sonic? and tae's name Taekwon sounds cool (~^.^)~

  • http://marvelikalife.blogspot.com Mia

    puhahahahah..XDD

  • subdee

    Diamonds are forever, right? :p

    (All this "Swear you'll NEVER leave me...SWEAR IT!" stuff is a bit unhealthy, though, to be honest.)

    TaeKWON is also killing me, over here.

  • TWINKLE♥

    DIAMOND: with G-Dragon, Big Castle, Taekwon, Sonic and Mark! XD

  • http://twitter.com/glyn_n muggledore

    I'm sorry but MARK and Diamond are COMPLETELY SANE...
    Imagine having a bias named - Gallbladder of a bear
    ..and Favorite band named - Internal Organs..

    AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003909072092 Naomi Chen

    my fave band is diamond, members are: Big Castle. Sonic. Taekwon. (V!) G-Dragon and Mark. -.- That'd sound weird... sounds like some superhero thing... I can't imagine saying: My bias is Taekwon or Sonic. xD but they'd still be as hot as ever!

  • linunrata

    Diamond- prefer it as jewelry..
    If they had been called "Diamond", I'm not sure I'd have loved this name as much as Big Bang....BB!
    However, I'm absolutely sure about one thing I'd love their music as I do now since Diamond members would be Mark=T.O.P, Big Castle=Daesung, Sonic=Seungri, Taekwon=Taeyang,GD=GD!

    All in all their talent and music matters..(but I can't deny:Thank God..they didn't have these strange names....!)

  • FLYLIKEABIRD

    I love Diamonds does not have the feeling as to when I'm saying 'I love BIGBANG'. Diamond sounds more like a girl group name!
    Their stage names just sound REALLY awkward lol. As long as they were producing the same quality of music as they are doing as BIGBANG, I don't think I'd really mind! Diamond just sounds weird, but I found the name 'BIGBANG' weird at first?
    Lets just be grateful to YG for not sticking to those names lol!

  • http://twitter.com/evelyn_ipeh Evelyn Lambintara

    if T.O.P going to be named Mark, Daesung Big Castle, Seungri Sonic, and Taeyang Taekwon... then what GD's named before? Is it still G-Dragon? XD

    • skyharufly

      probably. HAHAHAHA. im glad se7en was there. TOP's sunbae who saved him from being called MARK. so happy ^^ HAHAHAAH

  • http://twitter.com/pomsterr promi ferdousi

    LMFAO OMG I CAN'T EVER IMAGINE CHOI SEUNGHYUN BEING CALLED MARK INSTEAD OF T.O.P
    lmfao
    Geezus could have been a nice name for G Dragon :p
    he's my Geezus

  • sophiawantsacookie

    Naming him Mark would make him sound like "that one awkward guy"... TOP is too cool for that.

  • http://twitter.com/fishcakemonster alyson

    hahaha M.A.R.K. just cracks me up everytime LOL XDDDD

  • http://twitter.com/ImStiIIAIive Lillian~

    these are so funny xD like I cant even

  • bigbangvip1234567890

    daesung 's name sounds like a rapper's name. yo this is big castle what up*
    lol

  • http://twitter.com/adri_adrienne ♛Adriana 아드리아나♛

    I can't imagine them with those names kkk
    Thank god they came with better and unique names that I love !

  • http://twitter.com/sorasoraa IMSORA

    I'm sorry but these names are a bit too... tawdry ( '-__-) hahaha.
    Thank God they didn't debut under the name Diamond... omg *cringe cringe*

  • http://twitter.com/shojo_a shojo_a

    I'm so glad that TOP isn't called Mark! My dad's name is Mark! Hahaha

  • jessicasnow

    omg good thing they didn't take taeyang's name xD

  • clay maryel san jose

    BIG CATSLE is the funniest stage name ever..LOL..DIAMOND duh? hahahahahaha "we are Diamond" o_O FAIL group name...;D

  • Genlisa

    i thank SE7EN for his sensibility...
    he must have said:"you're serious? MARK? guitarist? who... Mark Knopfler? Mark Farner? they're are quite famous, Tabi. funk and blues guitarists. famous, Tabi. then again...why not use Tabi. but since you've graduated above now from the underground scene, so where are you now?"
    "on top?
    ""okay so, you're TOP"
    "......uhh. not getting it"
    "DUDE, underground, you are Tabi. on the music stage, you're TOP"
    "swaaagg, bro..."

  • TheFruitkiwi

    D to the I to the A, M to the O, N, D .. freaky freaky!! O_O

  • choomseukaaa

    omg hahaha "Mark" thats my dad's name and i think TOP is his fav member. but srsly? MARK?

  • skyharufly

    LOL. hahaha. to think GD suggested the diamond. HELLO, MARK XD

  • http://twitter.com/ueie guniguningbaby

    I am Mark of Diamond! Whoah! Ahahaha out of place introduction! Kekeke

  • http://sydneyren.blogspot.com/ Sydney

    "Hi, I'm Mark from Diamond."
    LOLOLOLOL

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=608249423 Lindsay He

    haha i remember the mark for top :)

  • http://twitter.com/HoZsike Erzsébet Hozsváth

    VIPs are so funny, i love my fandom so much <3333 ^.^