bias
noun
a favorite K-pop idol
What does bias mean?
Bias has a K-pop sense that refers to a favorite “idol,” or performer in that genre. One can have an overall favorite bias (sometimes known as one’s “ult”), a favorite (sometimes more than one) bias in each group, etc. K-pop fans also use bias as a verb similar to stan. To bias a particular performer is to consider them your favorite.
Examples of bias
While I am a devoted J-Hope fan, my sister Mary favors Jimin, and Christine loves Jungkook, V, and RM. At least we are not fighting over our biases! Honestly, we love them all.
—Grace Kao, The Korea Herald (Seoul), 30 June 2026
Picking biases and identifying with specific members sustains the RIIZE fanbase. “My favorite is Anton, because I like how he’s a well-faceted musician,” Isorena said. “I just like how soft-spoken he is.”
—Originally my bias was Hyunjin. I was obsessed with his dancing, and his sassiness always made me laugh. Slowly but surely, my bias is now Seungmin. Seungmin has my sense of humor, and I love how he just swoops in unexpectedly with the funniest thing you’ve ever heard and just leaves.
—Who do you bias in each group 💖💖💖💖
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Where does bias come from?
The K-pop bias represents an extension/expansion of the existing word bias, which can be used for an inclination of temperament or outlook (especially a personal judgment), as well as a bent or tendency, as in “a strong bias toward the performing arts.” The innovation of the K-pop bias is that while a person could long say that they have “a bias for,” say, Yunah (Illit) or Felix (Stray Kids)—that is, they are temperamentally disposed to prefer a particular performer—now it also makes sense to say that the particular performer is one’s bias.
How is bias used?
This new sense of bias has not yet moved into general use; it is still very much slang, and specific to this type of music. In addition to ult being used to refer to one’s “ultimate” bias, a bias “wrecker” is someone who makes someone reconsider their top pick.
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