WHAT IS “TMI” IN K-POP?

What is “TMI”?

TMI originally stands for “Too Much Information.” In an English conversation, you might say “Whoa, TMI!” if your friends go into too much detail about an awkward topic, or something way too personal that you didn’t necessarily need to hear about.

However, in Korean popular culture, the term has evolved to mean “interesting personal details/trivia,” and is used in a much more positive context, especially in interviews of celebrities. They don’t have to be scandalous, awkward, or weirdly personal.

TMIs are usually personal preferences or interests, as opposed to information about the celebrity’s professional career - topics could include food, hobbies, siblings, interests, habits, etc.

You don’t have to be a celebrity or an influencer to discuss your “TMI.” You may say, for example, in a situation where you meet new people and are having an icebreaking session, something like

Let’s all share a “TMI” about ourselves and get to know each other better!

which is synonymous to

Let’s all share an interesting fact about each other!

Why is “TMI” so popular in K-Pop interviews?

A “TMI” interview, in which a celebrity talks about their personal preferences, interests, and other miscellaneous trivia, is not limited to K-Pop stars. Many actors, influencers, models, and sports stars will also participate in these interviews.

Unlike in regular interviews, where the celebrity might get questions on their professional career or their newest release or product, a TMI interview is relatively more relaxed, and is conducted under the impression that we are getting to know the celebrity as a person.

In K-Pop, and especially for newer groups, the TMI interview format is utilized especially well, as there are many members in a group. It is important for these members to all leave an impression on the viewers and potential fans, as distinct personalities with interesting personal tastes.

It is also fun to ask a single question to all members of a group, and see how their tastes differ. In many cases, the questions of a TMI interview are asked in a “balance game” or “What would you rather” format, in which the interviewees are provided with two choices on a single topic (ex. Hawaiian pizza: yay or nay? / early bird vs. night owl).

In a K-Pop group with multiple members, answers to these “balance game” type questions become more interesting, as these answers are used to group the members who had the same answers.

For example, in a six-member girl group, two members may love pineapples on pizza, but four members may be opposed to it. From these TMI questions, the members will get “grouped” based on different tastes, leading to “pairings” or “chemistry” within the group.

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